South Africa earlier in the week announced the addition of seven countries to its list of visa-free list. Of the seven, two were African nations ; Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe.
Three were from the Gulf region; Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. New Zealand are the sole South Pacific nation on the list.
São Tomé and Principe is an island nation in the South Atlantic off the west coast of Africa that achieved independence from Portugal in 1975. The country has enormous offshore oil reserves.
According to authorities, of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the South African Department of Home Affairs has granted visa – free status to 75 countries.
Of the latest seven, Ghana and Qatar already had visa on arrival arrangements with South Africa which is Africa’s most industrialized nation and an economic giant.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, South Africans can visit 99 countries around the globe visa-free. The country is also a key tourist destination, a boost for the industry according to authorities.
