The City of Cape Town has welcomed new digital visa schemes for the film and events industries. Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth and Tourism – Alderman James Vos released an official statement.
The announcement by the Department of Home Affairs on the launch of two digital visa categories aimed at events and film production companies is a major step forward for economic growth.
Reportedly, it is the first initiative, called STAGES – Short for Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme, which will use digitization to simplify visa access for film production companies. According to Vos, this will be a game-changer for Cape Town and South Africa’s film Industry, opening the door to more productions, investment and importantly the job opportunities.
The second programme is the Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme (MEETS) that will enable international attendees at conferences, exhibitions, and global events to apply for visas entirely online.
Minister of Home Affairs – Leon Schreiber further confirmed that the process will offer rapid turnaround times. The announcement comes at the perfect time for global meetings, conferences, and events.
In the 2024-25 financial year, the Cape Town and the Western Cape Convention Bureau – powered by Wesgro and supported by the City of Cape Town has secured 36 new bids. These are projected to generate an economic impact of R745 million and attract around 27, 230 delegates to the city through, by the year 2028.
Further as a part of the continued drive to build a thriving visitor economy, James Vos is currently consulting the stakeholders across the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors to shape a bold new tourism strategy for Cape Town.
The strategy will focus on key levers such as boosting international arrivals, driving volume, and creating economic spin-offs that benefit local communities. Tourism is a powerful job creator and a key economic enabler in Cape Town, and we are determined to unlock its full potential, said James Vos.
These newly introduced digital visa schemes will be vital tools in that mission. They not only signal a more responsive and modern approach from national government but will also help to drive economic activity and, most importantly, it will create thousands of jobs for our people, stated Vos.