South Africa Introduces Trusted Tour Operator Scheme to Attract Tourists from India and China

South Africa has introduced a new initiative to boost tourism, particularly from India and China. The scheme invites tour operators from these nations to collaborate with local counterparts. Two months after Dr. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, proposed the idea, the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) was announced. This aims to create jobs by increasing tourism, following discussions with the tourism ministry and sector to address visa inefficiencies.

The Department of Home Affairs stated, "To resolve bottlenecks and reposition Home Affairs as an economic enabler, the Department has today gazetted a call for expression of interest by established tour operators from South Africa and abroad who wish to sign up to the scheme to bring more tourists from China and India to our country." Statistics reveal that in 2023, Chinese tourists made over 100 million outbound trips, yet only 93,000 visited South Africa. In contrast, Australia attracted over 1.4 million Chinese visitors.

Tourism Potential from India and China

Currently, Indian tourists make up just 3.9% of international visitors to South Africa, while Chinese tourists account for only 1.8%. Research shows that a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost economic growth by 0.6% and create numerous jobs for locals. TTOS aims to tackle issues like processing group visa applications, capacity constraints at foreign missions, and language barriers.

Approved operators will experience reduced bureaucracy and faster visa processing for large groups. Indian operators have long complained about visa delays for their clients, which TTOS seeks to resolve. A dedicated team will handle all TTOS applications to ensure efficient processing. Operators will be accountable for any legal issues involving tourists under their care.

Application Process and Criteria

The criteria for joining TTOS were developed through public consultation with the tourism sector and other stakeholders. "All applications to TTOS will be fairly and transparently adjudicated according to a points-based system that allocates points on the basis of a company’s legal compliance, operating experience, proof of operational capacity, and cross-country collaboration," the department explained. Applicants must have at least 12 months of operational experience.

The call for expressions of interest is open for 30 days. After this period, Home Affairs will assess applications with other departments' help to enrol the first group of tour operators. "Our target remains to welcome the first tourists brought to South Africa through TTOS in January 2025," stated the department. Future intakes depend on internal capacity and scheme success.

Indian companies interested in participating can visit touroperator.dha.gov.za:8443 or access the portal via the TTOS banner on www.dha.gov.za.