Vat Hike To Have A 'major Impact'

The majority of respondents in our latest poll are of the view that South Africas proposed 0.5 percentage point increase in value-added tax VAT will have a significant impact on tourism and hospitality businesses.

Supporting the sentiments of industry leading associations such as FEDHASA, which has expressed its concern about the effects of the VAT hike , 48 of respondents believe the increase will have a major impact.

Another 35 of respondents said the VAT hike will only have a minor impact while 17 believe there will be no impact.

The proposed 0.5 percentage point hike in each of the 2025/26 and 2027/28 financial years announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in his March 12 budget speech is a bone of contention among political parties in South Africas Government of National Unity. If approved by Parliament, the increase will come into effect on May 1.

Namibias new visa policy, which enforces a visa-on-arrival requirement for travellers from 31 previously exempt countries, comes into effect on April 1.