South Africa’s government has introduced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in a bid to attract more visitors from India and China, two of the world’s largest outbound tourist markets. Despite the fact that more than 100 million Chinese tourists traveled abroad in 2023, South Africa hosted only 93,000, while Australia welcomed over 1.4 million.

In tandem with the TTOS, South Africa is also exploring a 90-day visa waiver for Indian and Chinese visitors, which would allow for visa-free stays of up to three months. Currently, Indian tourists must apply for a short-term tourist visa to visit South Africa, a process that involves submitting various documents, including proof of accommodation, return flights, and financial means. The processing time for such visas is typically 5-7 business days.

Indian tourists make up just 3.9% of South Africa’s international arrivals, while Chinese visitors account for a mere 1.8%. According to the Department of Home Affairs, even a modest 10% increase in tourism could drive 0.6% growth in the economy and create thousands of jobs. Schreiber's department is also aiming to increase its Indian tourist numbers from 16,000 to 100,000 by the end of the year.

The scheme, proposed by Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber, is designed to address the bottlenecks that have historically impeded tourism from these countries, including long visa processing times, limited embassy resources, and language barriers. In July, Schreiber also made clear his vision for extending leniency and time to those who overstay their visas.

The TTOS aims to streamline operations by offering faster visa processing for tour operators, cutting through the bureaucratic delays that have hampered group bookings, particularly for Indian operators. A dedicated adjudication team will be assigned to handle TTOS applications, ensuring quicker processing times. However, tour operators will remain accountable for any legal violations committed by tourists in their groups.

Applications for the TTOS will be assessed using a points-based system, where tour operators will be evaluated on criteria such as legal compliance, operational experience, and ability to manage large groups. A minimum of one year of operational history is required for eligibility.

The Department of Home Affairs expects the first tourists to arrive under the TTOS by January 2025, with plans to expand the initiative depending on its success.