In a bid to attract more tourists from China and India, South Africa will introduce a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in January 2025. The scheme will invite vetted and approved tour operators from these countries to register with the Department of Home Affairs, aiming to simplify the process for tourists from non-visa-exempt countries.
In 2023, 93,000 Chinese nationals visited South Africa. However, the country still faces challenges in tapping into the full potential of this market. “Currently, we are underperforming, and research shows that much of the blockage stems from the bureaucratic red tape facing Chinese tourists,” said Minister Leon Schreiber. The TTOS aims to reduce this red tape and make it easier for large tour groups from China to visit South Africa.
Tourist visa applications processed through TTOS will benefit from a dedicated team of adjudicators to ensure quick and reliable processing. While Indian tourists currently account for 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors and Chinese tourists just 1.8%, the government hopes the new initiative will boost these numbers significantly.
The scheme has received widespread support from the hospitality industry. “If the visa process can be simplified, it will attract many more clients from China,” said Angela Wu, Director of Travel Services at upGrowth, a marketing company in South Africa that specializes in inbound tours from China.
South Africa is already one of the top five most-visited countries on the continent, and the Department of Home Affairs believes that a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost the nation’s economic growth by 0.6% and create thousands of jobs.
