Tourism stakeholders have raised an alarm about long-standing and unresolved challenges in visa processing for travellers applying to visit South Africa from Mexico via the countrys consulate in Mexico City.
The issues, which industry players say have persisted for at least three years, are said to be affecting South Africas appeal in the Central American market.
The most recent complaints centre on systemic inefficiencies, poor communication and unprofessional behaviour at the consulate.
Andy Brosou , CEO of Triumph Travel, and Robert More , MORE Family Collection CEO, told Tourism Update , although they do not interact directly with the consulate, their inbound tourism businesses are being harmed by the breakdown in visa facilitation for clients and agents in Mexico.
These agents in Mexico, those dealing with the consulate, are not being heard and this is directly impacting all our businesses, said Brosou. We are handling this complaint because they cannot.