THE Democratic Alliance has lashed out at the ANC government for failing to move on the the visa changes they agreed to in October.

Shadow tourism minister James Vos issued a statement last night saying that UK news reports are giving South Africa a bad press.

"The delay in the implementation of concessions to the draconian visa regulations, continue to repel tourists from South Africa, and deny boarding to many tourists on their way to South Africa this festive season, at a time when the weaker rand should see tourism booming. It is pure ANC government stubbornness that is costing our tourism economy billions of rands, as tourists resist travelling to our country because South Africa makes their entry difficult and cumbersome.

"Today’s Independent Newspaper in the United Kingdom reports that between 10 and 20 families per day are being denied boarding to South Africa at Heathrow Airport, during the pre-Christmas travel period, simply because they do not strictly meet the new draconian visa requirements.

"With the rand being at its lowest point in 14 years, South Africa’s tourism industry should be thriving, but it is not because onerous visa regulations are repelling tourists interest in our country. If the ANC government acted to relax the visa regulations, as it promised to do in October, festive season in-bound travel could have been seamless and booming," said Vos.