SA not expecting increase in tourists from India

South Africa is not expecting any increase in tourist arrivals from India this year due to a change in visa regulations.
"In 2013, the total tourist arrivals from India was 127,000. Figures for 2014 are not yet available but since then our visa rules have changed. We are expecting the numbers to remain flat this year," South African Tourism's country head Hanneli Slabber said here.
Under the new visa rules, all visitors under the age of 18 years would need to carry an unabridged birth certificate in addition to passport and visa during their visit to South Africa.
Travellers to the country would have to make a personal appearance during visa application process, she said and hoped that tourists would soon get adjusted to the new regime and arrivals would start increasing in the coming years.

She said the scare due to Ebola disease has also affected the country's tourism industry.
"We never had Ebola incidents but people think otherwise," Slabber said.

Betting big on adventure tourism, the country has made a list of 130 adventure activities that Indians could opt for.
"Among all tourists, Indians show the highest interest in adventure. 20,000 Indians participate in bungee jumping from a height of 700 feet. We have more women than men participants. Even kids are looking for adventure appropriate for the age group," she said.
The other popular adventure sports are sky diving, shark diving and mountain trail.

Indians want upto four to ten activities in a day and their budget has also increased over the last four years, Slabber said.