South Africa’s new visa scheme gives Indians 90-day visa-free access, ET TravelWorld

South Africa has announced the launch of a new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) aimed at enhancing the country’s appeal to tourists from India and China. The scheme, set to be implemented in January 2025, is expected to reform the visa process and significantly boost job creation in the tourism sector, according to the Home Affairs Department.

TTOS is designed to remove key obstacles that have hindered South Africa from becoming a top tourist destination for visitors from the world’s second and fifth largest economies. Currently, Indian tourists make up only 3.9 per cent of all international visitors to South Africa. The Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, the Presidency, and Operation Vulindlela, is focused on addressing this “unacceptable economic underperformance” by removing barriers to tourism from these crucial markets.

The initiative follows the success of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), which streamlined visa processing for businesses seeking to attract critical skills. Inspired by TES, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber directed that a similar approach be taken to improve efficiency for tourists from non-visa-exempt countries like India and China.

Under the TTOS, vetted and approved tour operators from India and China will be invited to register with the Department. These operators, after undergoing thorough screening, will assume responsibility for travelers in their groups. In return, the Department will process group visa applications for these tourists, marking the first time such a system will be implemented.The visa applications under TTOS will be handled by a dedicated team of adjudicators, ensuring swift and reliable processing. The scheme will also eliminate restrictive red tape that has previously hampered South Africa’s tourism potential.

Minister Schreiber emphasized the economic benefits of this initiative, stating, “Research indicates that boosting tourism by only 10 per cent per year can boost annual economic growth by 0.6 per cent and create tens of thousands of new jobs for South Africans.” He noted that many tourists from countries like India and China prefer to travel in large groups, and the new visa system is designed to cater to this preference.

Schreiber also highlighted that TTOS is just the beginning of Home Affairs’ efforts to position itself as an economic enabler. “Exciting as it is, TTOS is itself but an interim measure to boost tourism while we move with speed to digitally transform Home Affairs. Ultimately, our vision is for a fully automated process that delivers secure tourist visa outcomes digitally and within seconds to tourists from around the world,” he said.