Monday, January 20, 2025 South Africa has introduced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), aiming to significantly increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country. This initiative, set to be implemented shortly, seeks to address longstanding challenges in the visa process, which has hindered the country’s appeal to the Chinese market. However, experts caution that while TTOS is a promising step, it is not a complete solution to transforming South Africa into a preferred destination for Chinese travelers.
Currently, individual Chinese travelers face an eight-week wait for South African tourist visas, while group visas take three to four weeks—far longer than competing African destinations such as Kenya and Tanzania, which offer visa-free or visa-on-arrival options. These delays have discouraged Chinese tourists from considering South Africa, despite its rich offerings of safaris, cultural experiences, and iconic landmarks. Under TTOS, 22 South African operators, 29 Chinese outbound tour operators, and 14 Indian outbound operators will benefit from expedited visa processing.
Among the Chinese operators are major players like Ctrip (China’s largest online travel agency), CYTS, and Utour. This streamlined process is expected to make South Africa more marketable, reversing years of declining interest caused by cumbersome visa systems and outdated itineraries. South African Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and Home Affairs Minister Dr.
Leon Schreiber have be.
