South Africa's Department of Home Affairs has launched the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to expedite visa applications for tourists from India and China, with the first arrivals expected to arrive within weeks. A total of 65 travel companies have been certified under the program, including Thomas Cook India, MakeMyTrip India, China International Travel Service and South Africa's Springbok Atlas Tours and Safaris. Developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the National Security Agency, the scheme streamlines the visa process, addresses language barriers and reduces red tape for customers of approved operators, thereby increasing the The aim is to increase the arrival of
China and India are among the untapped tourism markets for South Africa, despite their large potential for outbound travel. Only 93,000 Chinese tourists will visit South Africa in 2023, a fraction of the more than 100 million Chinese tourists traveling abroad that year. Visitors from India account for only 3.9% of all international arrivals to South Africa. Interior Secretary Leon Shriver described the initiative as a step toward fostering economic growth and job creation by improving tourist access. The scheme ensures that participating travel companies are held accountable for customer misrepresentations, and we are currently finalizing a secure platform for visa applications. Cape Town city authorities are further supporting this effort, with trade missions to India and China planned to attract both tourists and investors.
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Source: News24
