CAPE TOWN, May 19 (Xinhua) -- The Western Cape province on Wednesday wrote to the cabinet ministers of South Africa to request the introduction of a remote working visa, which it said could allow international visitors to stay longer and work remotely while traveling in the country.
The Western Cape seeks, through this innovation, to attract visitors by embracing new forms of global travel that have emerged with the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby supporting tourism recovery in the province, said David Maynier, the provincial minister of finance and economic opportunities, in a statement released here.
The letter was sent to Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, Minister of Home Affairs Aaron Motsoaledi and Deputy Minister of Finance David Masondo.
The Western Cape believes that this will help drive investment in South Africa and stimulating overall economic recovery and growth, read the letter, noting that many countries are competing to capture the market for the longer-stay tourists who can work online from anywhere in the world while earning and spending foreign currency in the country they are visiting.
The official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape and its captial Cape Town, Wesgro, will launch a dedicated portal to curate accommodation establishments that can be longer-stay options. Enditem