The South African Department of Home Affairs has unveiled plans for a new visa system aimed at boosting tourism from China and India. Set to launch in January 2025, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) will streamline visa processes for approved tour operators from these countries.
Currently, Chinese and Indian visitors account for only 1.8% and 3.9% of international arrivals respectively, despite China’s 100 million outbound trips in 2023. The new scheme aims to address this disparity by fast-tracking visas for tourists travelling with vetted operators.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated, “This is only the start of Home Affairs’ embrace of our role as an economic enabler.” The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Department of Tourism and the Presidency, is expected to significantly boost South Africa’s tourism sector.
The TTOS is part of a broader vision to transform visa processing, with the ultimate goal of implementing a fully automated, secure digital system. Regulations and application details for tour operators will be published soon, ahead of the 2025 rollout.
