Publish Date: 09/09/2024
The South African government has announced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to increase the flow of tourists from India and China. Slated for the year beginning January 2025, the TTOS shall effectively act as a visa consolidator to simplify visa procedures as well as open many job vacancies in the tourism industry the Department of Home Affairs has said.
The TTOS is aimed at addressing traditional barriers that have always rendered South Africa not easily accessible to two of the world’s most populous nations India and China for tourists. Indian visitors presently form only 3 ¼ of the total tourists visiting a world country. Of international tourists to the country it is ranked 9%.
In the new arrangement, only qualified tour operators from the Asian giants and India will be allowed to seek accreditation with the South Africa Home Affairs Department. These will be operators who have been subjected to a competitive vetting process to steer tourists in their respective groups.
The TTOS will include visa applications and will be processed by a specific team to enhance efficiency and reduce the time of authorization. Further, the scheme will also remove existing barriers to tourism which would otherwise be a dampener to South Africa’s tourism receipts origination from India and China.
The government believes these shifts will greatly enhance the prospects of the tourism sector, and contribute to future export revenues, investment, and employment.
India: +91 9650116699
Canada: +1 647 641 0944
Australia: +61 415 383 393
