South Africa Launches Trusted Tour Operator Scheme to Boost Foreign Tourism

In a bid to streamline tourism and reduce red tape, South Africa's Department of Home Affairs will launch the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in January 2025. The initiative aims to facilitate easier travel for Chinese tourists and large tour groups, targeting a significant increase in visitor numbers.

Credit: Newscentral

According to Minister Leon Schreiber, current bureaucratic hurdles have hindered tourism growth, with only 93,000 Chinese nationals visiting South Africa in 2023. The TTOS seeks to address this by providing a dedicated team for swift and reliable processing of tourist visa applications.

The scheme has received a warm welcome from the hospitality industry, with Angela Wu, director of upGrowth's travel service department, noting that an efficient visa application process will attract more clients from China.

Credit: Newscentral

South Africa, one of the continent's top 5 most visited countries, stands to benefit significantly from increased tourism. A 10% annual growth in tourism could boost economic growth by 0.6% and create thousands of jobs, according to the Home Affairs ministry.

The TTOS will also target tourists from non-visa exempt countries, further expanding South Africa's tourism potential. By reducing bureaucratic barriers, the scheme aims to capitalize on the vast Chinese market, currently accounting for only 1.8% of international visitors to South Africa.