South Africa Plans to Relax Visa Regulations for Visitors from China and India
In mid-February, South Africa will begin accepting group visa applications submitted by designated tour operators for Chinese and Indian tourists, as announced on Tuesday by an official from the Department of Home Affairs.
TroibNews 
Starting in mid-February, South Africa will begin accepting group visa applications from selected tour operators for Chinese and Indian tourists, according to an official from the Department of Home Affairs.
Yusuf Simons, the Western Cape provincial manager at the Department of Home Affairs, stated in a recent interview with Xinhua that 65 tour operators from South Africa, India, and China have been chosen for the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to facilitate visa applications for groups of tourists from these countries.
The TTOS, which was introduced last year, aims to enhance tourism from China and India, as tourists from China currently represent only 1.8 percent and those from India 3.9 percent of all international visitors to South Africa.
"The TTOS was created to attract tourists from China and India. The population of India and China is one third of the world's population, so we are trying to divert many tourists from those two countries to South Africa as a preferred destination. The selected 65 tour operators will start submitting applications from the middle of February," Simons explained.
He noted that travelers from these countries typically prefer group travel and seek a streamlined application process. "The TTOS is expected to increase the tourist arrivals from the two countries, growing the South African economy and creating jobs."
"Research has shown that for two tourists who visit South Africa, a job is created. If we increase the number of tourists from those countries, the jobs created will be extensive," Simons added.
He also mentioned that the time required to process applications will be shortened to two to three days, compared to the previous wait of three weeks. Furthermore, the requirements for the online application process have been simplified.
Simons indicated that the TTOS is currently in its pilot phase, and the department plans to include more tour operators to attract a greater number of tourists from these populous nations.
He acknowledged that there is significant interest among tourists from China and India in visiting South Africa, though many have faced difficulties with the visa application process, particularly due to language barriers.
According to South Africa's Department of Tourism, there were 41,651 tourists from China who visited South Africa in 2024, marking an increase of 11.4 percent from 2023. Conversely, South Africa saw 75,541 tourists from India in 2024, which reflects a decline of 5.3 percent from the previous year.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
Yusuf Simons, the Western Cape provincial manager at the Department of Home Affairs, stated in a recent interview with Xinhua that 65 tour operators from South Africa, India, and China have been chosen for the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) to facilitate visa applications for groups of tourists from these countries.
The TTOS, which was introduced last year, aims to enhance tourism from China and India, as tourists from China currently represent only 1.8 percent and those from India 3.9 percent of all international visitors to South Africa.
"The TTOS was created to attract tourists from China and India. The population of India and China is one third of the world's population, so we are trying to divert many tourists from those two countries to South Africa as a preferred destination. The selected 65 tour operators will start submitting applications from the middle of February," Simons explained.
He noted that travelers from these countries typically prefer group travel and seek a streamlined application process. "The TTOS is expected to increase the tourist arrivals from the two countries, growing the South African economy and creating jobs."
"Research has shown that for two tourists who visit South Africa, a job is created. If we increase the number of tourists from those countries, the jobs created will be extensive," Simons added.
He also mentioned that the time required to process applications will be shortened to two to three days, compared to the previous wait of three weeks. Furthermore, the requirements for the online application process have been simplified.
Simons indicated that the TTOS is currently in its pilot phase, and the department plans to include more tour operators to attract a greater number of tourists from these populous nations.
He acknowledged that there is significant interest among tourists from China and India in visiting South Africa, though many have faced difficulties with the visa application process, particularly due to language barriers.
According to South Africa's Department of Tourism, there were 41,651 tourists from China who visited South Africa in 2024, marking an increase of 11.4 percent from 2023. Conversely, South Africa saw 75,541 tourists from India in 2024, which reflects a decline of 5.3 percent from the previous year.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
