South Africa Aims to Boost Tourism from China and India with New Scheme
South Africa is set to launch a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in January 2025, aimed at attracting more tourists from China and India. The scheme will invite vetted and approved tour operators from these countries to register with the Department of Home Affairs, with the goal of simplifying the visa application process and reducing red tape for Chinese tourists.
According to Minister Leon Schreiber, the current visa application process is a major blockage for Chinese tourists, with many applications taking a long time to process. “At the moment, we are really under-performing and from the research that we’ve conducted and that we know from the tourism side as well, a lot of the blockage has to do with the red tape that is actually put in place of Chinese tourists and visitors to South Africa,” he said.
The TTOS will handle tourist visa applications through a dedicated team of adjudicators, ensuring swift and reliable processing. The scheme has been warmly embraced by the hospitality industry in South Africa, with Angela Wu, director of the travel service department at upGrowth, a marketing company in South Africa, stating that efficient and simplified visa applications will attract more clients from China.
Currently, Indian tourists account for only 3.9% of all international visitors to South Africa, while China accounts for only 1.8%. The scheme aims to increase tourism from these countries, which could have a significant impact on the nation’s economy. According to the Home affairs ministry, a 10% annual increase in tourism could drive up the nation’s economic growth by 0.6% and create thousands of jobs.
The TTOS also targets tourists from non-visa exempt countries, with the Department of Home Affairs announcing the scheme on September 2. South Africa is among the 5 most visited countries on the continent, and the new scheme is expected to boost tourism and economic growth in the country.
