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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
QATAR'S recent decision to waive entry visa requirements for citizens of 80 countries including South Africa, has come as a big relief to many South African businessmen and tourists who wish to visit the Gulf nation, HE Shirish M Soni, the Ambassador of South Africa to Qatar, has said.
In a recent interview with Qatar Tribune, the ambassador said:"Many South African nationals had to drop their plans to visit Qatar in the past because of entry visa issues such as delay in getting visas. But now with visa on arrival available for South African citizens they can pay a hassle-free visit to Qatar."
"Qatar Airways' flights to three South African cities including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban make the visit even easier. People can come to Qatar even for short visits during their holidays. We have direct flights between Doha and Cape Town as well as Doha and Johannesburg. One of the flights flies three times a week from Durban to Johannesburg to Doha," he added.
The ambassador further said that the visa waiver announced by Qatar will boost the country's tourism industry as more people will be inclined to include Qatar among their holiday destinations."It will also allow South Africa's businessmen to visit Qatar and thus fast track business-to-business relationship between the two countries."
The ambassador mentioned that during His Highness the Emir's visit to South Africa earlier this year, at a meeting with South Africa's President Jacob Zuma, it was agreed that Qatar and South Africa will aim to double the current trade figures."We also aim to promote investments. Therefore, the granting of visa on arrival for South Africa's business people will be of great advantage," he said.
Pointing out that applying for a visa to a Gulf nation is not a simple affair, he explained:"South Africans would submit their passports to Pretoria and it takes at least a week for the Gulf nations to grant a visa, sometimes more. Therefore, we welcome this step by Qatar as it will help both Qatar and South Africa."
According to him, those engaged in arts, music and cultural exchange in South Africa will be able to visit Qatar and attend events hosted by Katara, Museum of Islamic Art, Sheikh Faisal Museum, among other landmark sites. He also said that Qatar's dazzling skyline, world-class flights and affordable and good hotels are set to attract a host of visitors from South Africa.
The ambassador said that the visa waiver will be of great help to owners of medium-sized manufacturing companies in South Africa who would like to do business with Qatar. He added that owing to the FIFA 2022 World Cup, there will be a lot of movement between Qatar and South Africa to finalise plans such as to open an office in the tourism sector.
"We are now making dedicated and focused efforts to bring more South Africans to Qatar based on particular projects that we are working on," the ambassador concluded.
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01/10/2017
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