South Africa launches new visa scheme to boost Chinese tourism,economic growth

South Africa has introduced a new visa scheme aimed at simplifying the application process for Chinese tourists, a move expected to significantly boost the country’s tourism sector and stimulate economic growth.

Minister Leon Schreiber highlighted the current inefficiencies that have hindered Chinese tourists from visiting South Africa, noting that “a lot of the blockage has to do with the red tape that is actually put in place.” The new system aims to eliminate these barriers, making it easier for tourists, particularly large tour groups, to visit the country.

“The goal here is basically to facilitate less red tape for Chinese tourists and specifically also to make it easier for large tour groups to come and visit South Africa,” Schreiber added.

Tourist visa applications will now be processed through the Tourism and Travel Online System (TTOS) by a dedicated team of adjudicators, ensuring faster and more reliable processing times. Currently, Chinese tourists make up just 1.8% of international visitors to South Africa, with Indian tourists accounting for 3.9%. The hospitality industry is optimistic that this new scheme will help increase those numbers.

Also Read: Egyptian govt focuses on maximizing state-run irrigation and drainage firms: Sweilem.

Angela Wu, director of the travel service department at upGrowth, a South African marketing company, expressed enthusiasm about the visa changes. “If the visa application process can be efficient and simplified, then definitely it will attract much, much more clients from China,” she said.

South Africa is already one of the top five most visited countries on the African continent, and according to the Department of Home Affairs, a 10% annual increase in tourism could boost the country’s economic growth by 0.6% and create thousands of jobs.

The TTOS visa initiative, announced by the Department of Home Affairs on September 2, also targets tourists from non-visa-exempt countries, further broadening the scope of potential international visitors.