South Africa’s tourism sector is thriving after the launch of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, a digital visa pilot by Home Affairs.
In just three months, 11,144 tourists from China and India have entered the country using digital visas issued through TTOS.
This streamlined process replaces the long-standing challenges of in-person paper applications, with visas now issued within hours via an online platform. Daily applications have surged from 50 in March to 210 in May, indicating strong demand from these high-potential markets.
The initiative is credited with generating approximately 857 new jobs, based on research showing that one job is created for every thirteen tourists who visit South Africa. The TTOS currently operates with 65 vetted tour operators under a risk-sharing model that allows them direct access to submit and receive group visa decisions digitally.
Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, who spearheaded the project, described the early results as a “resounding success,” noting that nearly a third of all Chinese visitors to South Africa in 2023 have now been matched in just three months through this single platform.
With plans to expand the scheme and launch a comprehensive Electronic Travel Authorisation system later this year, the government aims to extend digital visa access to all international tourists. According to Minister Schreiber, this move could mark the most significant tourism reform in decades, eliminating inefficiencies and unlocking major job creation potential.
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