South Africa Unveils Trusted Tour Operator Scheme to Boost Tourism From India and China
Johannesburg, Sept 2 – South Africa has announced the launch of an innovative Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), targeted initially at expanding the tourism market from India and China. The scheme, which will commence in January 2025, aims to overhaul the visa system, thereby accelerating job creation within the tourism sector, stated the Department of Home Affairs.
Current statistics reveal that Indian tourists constitute merely 3.9% of all international visitors to South Africa. TTOS seeks to dismantle barriers preventing South Africa from becoming a premier destination for travelers from the world’s second and fifth largest economies. The Home Affairs Department, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, the Presidency, and Operation Vulindlela, aims to resolve this economic underperformance by easing tourism obstacles from these pivotal markets.
Inspired by the success of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), which streamlines visa processing for vetted businesses to attract critical skills, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber has endorsed applying similar principles to enhance efficiency for tourists from non-visa exempt countries like India and China.
Under TTOS, vetted and approved tour operators from India and China will register with South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. These operators will undergo thorough upfront screening and take responsibility for travelers in their groups. Consequently, the department will process group tourist visa applications for the first time from these approved operators. A dedicated team of adjudicators will manage these applications to ensure swift and reliable processing, eliminating bureaucratic hurdles that currently impede South Africa’s tourism potential.
Minister Schreiber highlighted that a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost economic growth by 0.6% and create tens of thousands of jobs. "Travelling in large groups is preferred by many tourists from certain countries, and it’s time our visa system adapts to this reality," he said.
The TTOS is a precursor to a broader digital transformation strategy for a fully automated and secure tourist visa process, aimed at global tourists.
IANS
Original Story https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/09/02/south-africa-announces-new-scheme-to-boost-tourism-from-india/
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