A new initiative, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), will be introduced in January 2025 with the aim of enhancing tourism in South Africa. The scheme is set to invite vetted and approved tour operators from various countries to register with the Department of Home Affairs.
This move comes as part of a broader strategy to attract more international tourists, particularly from China, and streamline the visa application process.
In 2023, South Africa saw 93,000 Chinese nationals visit the country. Despite this, Minister Leon Schreiber has highlighted a significant underperformance in attracting more visitors from China. Research and feedback from the tourism sector indicate that excessive red tape and bureaucratic hurdles have been major obstacles for Chinese tourists and tour operators looking to visit South Africa.
Minister Schreiber emphasized that the TTOS aims to address these issues by reducing red tape and simplifying the process for large tour groups. The new scheme will facilitate easier access for Chinese tourists and make it more efficient for tour operators to manage their travel arrangements. “In terms of the scheme itself, the goal here is basically to facilitate less red tape for Chinese tourists and specifically also to make it easier for large tour groups to come and visit South Africa,” Schreiber said.
The implementation of TTOS will involve a dedicated team of adjudicators who will process tourist visa applications under the scheme. This team is tasked with ensuring that the visa processing is both swift and reliable, addressing one of the key concerns that have been raised about the current system. By improving efficiency in visa processing, South Africa hopes to make the country a more attractive destination for tourists from China.
Currently, Indian tourists make up just 3.9% of all international visitors to South Africa, while Chinese tourists account for only 1.8%. The TTOS is expected to improve these figures by making South Africa a more accessible and appealing destination. The hospitality industry in South Africa has warmly welcomed the initiative, recognizing its potential to boost tourist arrivals from China and other non-visa exempt countries.
Angela Wu, director of the travel service department at upGrowth, a marketing company in South Africa, expressed strong support for the scheme. “We are doing inbound tours which means we bring tourists from China to South Africa and our main market is the business delegations and exhibition groups. Also, we do customized leisure groups. If the visa application process can be efficient and simplified, then definitely it will attract much, much more clients from China,” Wu noted.
South Africa is among the five most visited countries on the African continent, and the introduction of TTOS is seen as a crucial step in further enhancing its position as a top tourist destination. According to the Department of Home Affairs, a 10% annual increase in tourism could contribute significantly to the nation’s economic growth, potentially boosting it by 0.6% and creating thousands of new jobs. This potential economic benefit underscores the importance of the TTOS in supporting South Africa’s broader economic and development goals.
In addition to targeting tourists from China, the TTOS also aims to address challenges faced by visitors from other non-visa exempt countries. This broader focus is intended to make South Africa more competitive in the global tourism market and to ensure that the country can effectively attract and accommodate tourists from a diverse range of international markets.
The launch of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme marks a significant step towards revitalizing South Africa’s tourism sector. By streamlining visa processes and reducing bureaucratic obstacles, the scheme is expected to enhance the overall visitor experience and drive higher tourism numbers. As South Africa prepares for the official launch of TTOS, the country’s tourism industry is optimistic about the positive impact it will have on attracting more international visitors and bolstering the economy.
With the new scheme on the horizon, South Africa is poised to capitalize on its potential as a premier tourist destination. The focus on improving visa processing and facilitating access for large tour groups is expected to yield substantial benefits, both in terms of increased tourist arrivals and economic growth. As the tourism landscape evolves, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme represents a forward-looking approach to enhancing South Africa’s appeal and competitiveness on the global stage.
