In a significant move aimed at overhauling the visa system and establishing the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) as a catalyst for economic growth through enhanced job creation in the tourism industry, the department has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative known as the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS).

This scheme is scheduled to launch in January 2025.

"Initially targeting the rapidly expanding tourist markets of China and India, the TTOS will eliminate several major barriers that hinder South Africa's potential as a preferred travel destination for the world's second and fifth largest economies," the DHA stated in a press release on Monday.

In 2023, Chinese tourists undertook over 100 million outbound trips, with South Africa welcoming only 93,000 of these visitors.

In contrast, Australia attracted more than 1.4 million visitors from China during the same year, according to the department.

Currently, Indian tourists represent just 3.9% of all international arrivals in South Africa, while Chinese tourists account for a mere 1.8%.

Working in conjunction with the Department of Tourism, the Presidency, and Operation Vulindlela, the Department of Home Affairs is committed to addressing the concerning economic underperformance by swiftly removing barriers to tourism from these two key markets.

Following the success of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), which streamlines visa processing for vetted businesses to attract essential skills, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has instructed that similar measures be implemented to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and enhance efficiency for tourists from non-visa exempt nations such as China and India.

Group Applications

Through the TTOS initiative, approved and vetted tour operators from designated countries will be invited to register with the department.

In return for completing a comprehensive screening process and taking responsibility for their group travelers, the department will, for the first time, accept group applications from Chinese and Indian tourists traveling with authorized operators.

Tourist visa applications submitted via TTOS will be managed by a specialized team of adjudicators to ensure efficient and dependable processing. This initiative will also eliminate the cumbersome red tape that currently hinders South Africa’s tourism growth.

State Visit to China

“I am particularly pleased that we are able to make this announcement during the President’s State Visit to China, as it sends a powerful message that the Government of National Unity is serious about unlocking our country’s vast tourism and economic potential,” stated Minister Schreiber.

Studies show that a mere 10% annual increase in tourism can lead to a 0.6% rise in economic growth and generate tens of thousands of new jobs for South Africans. Many tourists from certain countries prefer to travel in large groups, highlighting the need for our visa system to evolve in order to leverage this trend effectively.

“This marks just the beginning of the Department of Home Affairs recognizing its role as a facilitator of economic growth. While the Temporary Tourist Visa Online System (TTOS) is an exciting development, it serves as a temporary solution to enhance tourism as we swiftly work towards the digital transformation of Home Affairs.

“Our ultimate goal is to establish a fully automated system that provides secure tourist visa approvals digitally and instantaneously for travelers from across the globe,” stated the Minister.

Details regarding the TTOS regulations will be released soon, along with guidance for tour operators on how to engage with the Department of Home Affairs prior to the program’s launch in January 2025.