TRAVEL to Schengen
countries showed
significant growth last
year, according to stats from
SchengenVisaInfo.com.
Schengen visa applications
in South Africa grew by 21%
from 170 436 in 2016 to
201 786 last year.
The growth is attributed
to the favourable rate of
exchange last year, but the
current weakness of the rand
will likely retard this growth.
In the beginning of 2016,
the euro-rand exchange
rate was just under R17 to
the euro, while it reached a
low of R12,40 last year. On
September 3, 2018 the rand
closed at R17,36 to the euro.
“Although 2018 has started
really well, we expect the
growth levels to start slowing
down mainly due to the
weakness of the rand,” says
Carlos Luis, Flight Centre
Travel Group brand leader –
Leisure Land and Sea Product.
For 2017, FCTG’s topperforming
Schengen country
was Italy. This is consistent
with the stats, which show
that Italy received the most
Schengen visa applications –
for the second year running.
Italy was followed by France,
Germany, Spain and The
Netherlands.
“Going forward I see Italy
still performing well with
the increasing popularity of
cruising packages,” says
Carlos. He says Portugal
and the Czech Republic offer
fantastic value, even in rand
terms, and should continue to
see good growth in 2018.
Visa applications to Portugal
showed the most growth at
52,4%, with Denmark following
closely behind with a 50%
increase. Other countries
showing significant growth
include Austria, Norway, the
Czech Republic and Spain.
Only two countries showed
a decline in applications –
Slovakia was down 31,2% and
Poland was down 4,5%.
In percentage terms, the
consulate of Slovakia in
Pretoria had the lowest
amount of visa rejections –
one out of 200 applications.
Cape Town consulates with
low rejection rates included
Spain with a 0,8% rejection
rate, Germany at 1,1%, and
France at 1,1%; in Pretoria,
Germany was 1,2%, Austria at
1,2% and Switzerland at 1,2%.
The Lithuanian embassy had
the highest rate of rejections
at 12,8%, but also the second
lowest number of applications
at 218. Other Schengen
consulates with a high level
of rejections included Portugal
(Pretoria) at 8,3%, Italy (Cape
Town) at 4,7%, Belgium
(Johannesburg) at 4,7% and
Poland (Pretoria) at 3,6%.
