Meet new stages set to unlock billions of dollars in the film and mouse sector
Johannesburg – The Federal Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) praises the introduction of two new visa categories: screen talent and global entertainment schemes (stages) for the film sector and conferences, events, exhibitions and tourism schemes (conferences).
“It's refreshing and heartwarming to witness a minister who has a very clear understanding of our outdated visa system as a sincere sacrifice to South Africa,” says Rosemary Anderson, national chairman of Fedehasa. “Meeting the stage and visa categories is not just a policy reform. It is a powerful economic enabler to show the world that South Africa is truly open to business.”
Past visa delays are severe. As Minister Schreiber pointed out, South Africa recently lost major Netflix production from Mexico worth an estimated R400 million due to visa-related hurdles. Stage visa allows international production companies to apply online and receive decisions within hours, removing one of the key bottlenecks for the growth of the industry.
Globally, the economic potential of being “movie-friendly” is immeasurable. Canada has made great profits from streamlined visa processes and incentives for filmmakers, exceeding $11.3 billion (R15.5 billion) in direct film and television production spending in 2022 alone. Similarly, Georgia has seen a 250% increase in foreign film production over five years thanks to its efficient visa and incentive program.
“South Africa, with its stunning location and skilled crew, is very well suited to emulate this success,” explains Anderson. “In 2019/2020, our film sector contributed R7.2 billion to the economy, a number that has declined due to both Covid-19 and administrative delays. These new reforms give us all the reasons to believe they will not only recover but will soar.”
Meets Visa brings out incredible value in the South African mouse sector. This is worth R120 billion in 2023, with potential for further growth. Countries like Singapore and Thailand are using rationalization of visa access to establish themselves as leaders of global mouse. Singapore's mouse industry generated SGD3.8 billion (R53 billion) in 2022, and Thailand hosted more than 1.3 million mouse travelers in 2023.
“The rich culture, world-class facilities and natural beauty of South Africa can position us as the best mouse destination, but that's only if the deficit is removed,” Anderson says. “Meets Visa is a huge step forward in that direction.”
Job creation, economic growth and global competitiveness depend on practical, fast, and business-friendly policies. Fedhasa is encouraged by the promise of a fast turnaround time digital system. We also look forward to further involvement in the timeline and implementation.
“When we meet the stage, South Africa sends a clear and confident message to the world. We are ready, we are open, we are welcoming the world on the coast, doing business, creating jobs, telling stories,” concludes Anderson.
