S. Africa strongly objects to Australian travel advisory

CAPE TOWN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Wednesday voiced strong objection to a travel advisory issued by Australia to deter Australians to visit the African country.

The travel advisory has the potential not only to deter Australians from visiting South Africa but also to tarnish the country's image, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said.

The advisory, issued on Tuesday, urges Australian visitors to exercise a "high degree of caution" in South Africa and offers an extensive list of dangers under the heading "safety and security."

"Crime, including violent crime, is a serious issue in South Africa. Most types of crime are increasing. Be alert. Don't expect the same level of service from South African police as you would in Australia," warns the advisory.

The advisory lists murder, rape, car hijackings, civil unrest, water shortages, spiked drinks, drunk drivers and terrorism as potential threats to tourists.

The advisory contains misleading information about South Africa in general and, in particular, about the experiences of foreign tourists visiting South Africa, DIRCO said in a statement.

South African Minister of International Relations, Lindiwe Sisulu will raise the concerns of the government with her Australian counterpart Minister Julie Bishop, according to the statement.

"Officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have in the past requested, without success, that the advisory be amended to reflect the situation in South Africa as it relates to the true experiences of foreign tourists," the statement said.

The decision to escalate the matter follows these unsuccessful attempts and indicates the seriousness with which the South African government values the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy, the statement said.

"South Africa remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and tourists in most instances have pleasant experiences of our country," the statement quoted Sisulu as saying.

Tensions between South Africa and Australia have been runing high since Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton criticized the South African government last month for prosecuting its white farmers.

Dutton said he would prioritize granting visas to "prosecuted" white South African farmers who deserve special attention from his government over South Africa's land redistribution.

But later both Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop retracted Dutton's offer to help white South African farmers, saying Button's words "are not in line with Australian immigration policy." Enditem