The Western Cape Minister for Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, has welcomed the national Department of Home Affairs’ progress in modernising South Africa’s visitor visa system and is calling on local event organisers to adopt the new MEETS visa scheme. This reform is a critical lever for the Western Cape’s strategic objectives of economic growth, job creation, and improved wellbeing.
The Department of Home Affairs is transitioning toward a secure, scalable digital visa ecosystem designed to strengthen risk-based decision-making while facilitating tourism and business travel.
According to Dr Meyer, the Western Cape stands to gain significantly from these reforms.
“A modern visa system is essential for a globally competitive tourism and events economy,” said Dr Meyer. “Digital visa processing enhances predictability and efficiency for international travellers, directly supporting our province’s goals of accelerating economic growth, stimulating job creation, and improving the overall wellbeing of our communities.”
The reforms include the Electronic Travel Authorisation platform and the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, both of which expedite group processing for priority tourism markets.
The newly launched Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism visa Scheme (MEETS) enables accredited event organisers to submit group visa applications for international delegates through a secure digital portal.
“For the Western Cape’s events industry, the MEETS visa scheme is a game changer,” Dr Meyer added. “By reducing administrative barriers for event organisers and delegates, we can attract more international business events, boosting hotel occupancy, local transport, restaurants, tourism services, and the many small businesses that depend on visitor activity. This means more economic activity, more jobs, and a stronger, more resilient provincial economy.”
The MEETS selection framework uses a points-based system assessing regulatory compliance, event capacity, and readiness. Organisers are encouraged to register international events at least four months in advance. The Department of Home Affairs aims to issue decisions within sixty days of submission.
Visa reforms are widely recognised as a catalyst for growth in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector. Increased delegate arrivals generate immediate and widespread economic benefits from hospitality to transport while strengthening the province’s reputation as a premier global events destination.
“If we want to keep winning major international conferences and exhibitions for Cape Town and the Western Cape, we must make full use of reforms that improve our competitiveness,” said Dr Meyer.
“Every event we secure brings income into the province, supports jobs, and enhances the quality of life of our residents. A streamlined visa process is essential for that success.”
Enquiries:
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Meyer
Daniel Johnson
Cell: 079 9904 231
E-mail: Daniel.Johnson@westerncape.gov.za
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