India

South Africa is setting its sights on increasing visitor numbers from China and India with the introduction of a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) scheduled to launch in January 2025. The TTOS will invite vetted and approved tour operators from these countries to register with the Department of Home Affairs. This initiative aims to streamline the process and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for tourists, particularly targeting large tour groups and business delegations. In 2023, South Africa welcomed 93,000 Chinese visitors. However, Minister Leon Schreiber noted that the country has been underperforming in attracting tourists from China and India. He attributes this partly to the existing red tape that complicates the visa process. The TTOS is designed to address these issues by providing a dedicated team to expedite visa applications, ensuring a more efficient and reliable process. Currently, Indian tourists represent only 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors, while Chinese tourists account for just 1.8%. The TTOS is expected to make significant strides in improving these figures, with strong support from South Africa’s hospitality industry. Angela Wu, Director of the Travel Service Department at upGrowth, a South African marketing company, emphasized that a simplified visa process would greatly enhance the attraction of Chinese clients, particularly for business and customized leisure tours. South Africa, one of the top five most-visited countries on the continent, anticipates that a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost the nation’s economic growth by 0.6% and generate thousands of new jobs. The TTOS will also focus on tourists from non-visa exempt countries, as announced by the Department of Home Affairs on September 2.