By Adrian Ephraim
CAPE Town’s position as a global hub for film production and business events just received a major boost, thanks to the national government’s launch of two new digital visa schemes.
Designed to attract international delegates and productions, the schemes are set to deliver a projected R745 million economic injection into the Mother City and bring over 27,000 visitors by 2028.
Unveiled by Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, the digital visa programmes – STAGES (Screen Talent and Global Entertainment Scheme) and MEETS (Meetings, Events, Exhibitions and Tourism Scheme) – aim to streamline access to South Africa for two high-value visitor segments: film crews and business event delegates. Both categories will now benefit from fully digital visa applications, with faster processing and fewer administrative hurdles. The MEETS scheme, targeted specifically at business tourism, will enable international delegates to apply online for event-related visas, cutting out the red tape that often deters attendance.
For Cape Town, the timing could not be better.
Visa-driven events forecast for the Mother City
According to Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, the city has already secured 36 international business events through the Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau for the 2024/25 financial year. These events are expected to attract approximately 27 230 delegates and inject R745-million into the local economy over the next four years.
“This announcement comes at the perfect time for Cape Town, which is fast becoming a premier hub for global meetings, conferences, and events,” said Vos. “The STAGES and MEETS digital visa categories will make it significantly easier for international organisers, producers and delegates to choose Cape Town as their destination.”
Unlocking jobs and investment
The STAGES visa category for film crews is being welcomed as a potential game-changer for Cape Town’s creative economy. Already recognised as a leading location for international film and TV productions, the city offers world-class infrastructure, skilled crews, and diverse natural backdrops, but bureaucratic delays have previously dampened its competitiveness.
“The film industry is a high-impact sector,” Vos said. “Every production generates employment, brings in hard currency, and creates long-term economic value through skills transfer and local supplier spend. With STAGES, we remove a major barrier to entry.”
Industry reaction
The move by Home Affairs has been welcomed by the events industry, which is eyeing a boom in events and attendees in the coming years. “The introduction of the digital visa system will significantly streamline the travel process for international delegates,” says Devi Paulsen-Abbott, an events management consultant. “By replacing cumbersome, inconsistent application procedures with a mobile-enabled platform it reduces wait times and logistical hurdles. This ease of access will make South Africa a more attractive destination for exhibitors, speakers, and visitors.”
Paulsen-Abbott says the use of AI technology will help standardise visa procedures for large markets like China and India, ensuring a more uniform, reliable process that minimises the risk of cancellations – an essential factor for attracting high-value participants and maintaining the integrity of our exhibitions.
She has a message for the events industry as it prepares for the September 2025 roll out: “Industry stakeholders should begin educating clients, partners, and international audiences about the upcoming digital visa system and its advantages – highlighting how AI will address current inconsistencies, especially for large markets like China and India, reducing cancellations and delays,” Paulsen-Abbnott says. “Updating marketing materials, hosting informational webinars, and encouraging early engagement with the platform are key steps.”
Glenton de Kock, CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), says, “We are pleased that our work and engagements have yielded this progress, which will aid our bidding process. The changes will enhance accessibility and improve the country’s global competitiveness as a destination for international business events.”
