The South African government said on Sunday that it will introduce e-visas to promote tourism.

The introduction of e-visas is necessary as the African continent is on the verge of an unprecedented tourism boom over the next two decades, the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said.

E-visas will allow international visitors and intra-African travellers to move more freely and efficiently, to the benefit of the African continent, the GCIS quoted Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk as saying.

"In a mere three years from now, there will be just over 50 African cities with populations exceeding three million," Van Schalkwyk said. "There are opportunities to accelerate the creation of regional visa schemes," he said.

He said the continent has a long way to go to capitalize on its unique attractions and cultural diversity but that visa barriers still need to be overcome.

"The bureaucracy and costs involved in applying for and issuing visas are a major impediment to foreigners wishing to visit our shores, and to our own people who travel on our continent," he said.

Another barrier, he said, is old air connectivity models which "inhibit growth and only serve to keep our destinations dependent on air arrivals from economically hard-pressed traditional source markets."

"We need a long-term plan to create an intra-continental air transport architecture that facilitates intra-African travel and trade, including tourism," he said.

He said new-model lower cost airlines that could cater for market segments that are currently underserved are needed on the continent.

Currently only Australia, the US, and Sri Lanka offer an e- visa option to citizens of certain countries.

E-visas are believed to present an opportunity to simultaneously enhance security and facilitate travel.

Van Schalkwyk said earlier that three main barriers to international travel and tourism in South Africa that can be overcome quite easily by upping technology in the industry.

"We must harness technology to take the trouble out of travel. By 2020, I am convinced we will have implemented a system of e- visas that will improve security while also facilitating hassle- free travel," he said.