The Department of Home Affairs’ selection of 65 tour operators for the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) marks an important milestone in what the industry has long advocated for.
“While our first prize would still be a visa waiver, this practical step, based on international best practice, is encouraging,” said David Frost, CEO of inbound industry association SATSA.
Responding to the announcement yesterday (Tuesday, January 14) by Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, Frost told Tourism Update SATSA reached out to the Minister for a complete list of approved operators.
“This information is crucial for our industry as these operators will serve as conduits through which visa applications can be expedited. Other operators will be able to use the services of these accredited operators to facilitate applications and we have been assured that this list will be shared with us for distribution to our members.”
Selection process
In a press statement, Schreiber explained the selection process: “Through a joint process that involved the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Tourism and the State Security Agency, the 65 tour operators from South Africa, China and India were selected out of 141 applicants for enrolment in the programme after a thorough inter-departmental vetting and screening process.”
As part of Home Affairs’ ongoing journey of digital transformation, all TTOS applications were received through a dedicated online portal. The screening process also used artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure applicants met the qualifying criteria of at least 12 months’ operational experience as well as a track record of legal compliance and cross-country collaboration.
Among the 65 selected tour companies are major industry operators described by ChatGPT as follows:
- Thomas Cook India: A well-established name in the travel industry, providing various travel-related services including tours, travel insurance and more.
- China International Travel Service: A major state-owned travel agency in China that offers a wide range of travel services and operates internationally, making it one of the largest travel operators in the country.
- MakeMyTrip India: One of India’s leading online travel companies, offering a wide range of travel services including flight bookings, hotel reservations and holiday packages.
- Shanghai Ctrip International Travel Service: A major player in travel services in China, providing comprehensive travel solutions.
- Springbok Atlas Tours and Safaris: A prominent name in South Africa, specialising in tours and safaris, known for its extensive experience and service excellence.
- SOTC Travel: A well-known travel company in India offering a variety of travel packages including group tours, customised trips and honeymoons.
- Kesari Tours: Another prominent travel operator in India specialising in group tours and offering a wide range of itineraries domestically and internationally.
- Beijing Caissa Sunho International Travel Service: A reputable travel agency in China that provides comprehensive travel services and packages for domestic and international travel.
Frost commented: “The inclusion of major international operators like Thomas Cook India and China International Travel Service demonstrates the scheme's credibility and potential. However, the real measure of success will be in the implementation. We need to ensure that the dedicated team of adjudicators is well-trained, culturally aware and equipped to handle the unique requirements of these markets efficiently.”
‘Significant ground to make up’
Frost also highlighted a concern that Chinese tourists account for only 1.8% of South Africa’s international visitors. The country received just 93 000 of the over 100 million Chinese outbound trips in 2023. Indian tourists represent only 3.9% of our international visitors.
“When compared to Australia's 1.4 million Chinese visitors, it's clear we have significant ground to make up,” he noted.
Rosemary Anderson, Chairperson of national hospitality association FEDHASA, said: “Even a modest increase in this percentage will deliver significant economic benefits across the tourism value chain, creating the employment opportunities South Africa desperately needs.
“The tourism and hospitality sector feels poised for real growth and, hopefully, the TTOS is just the beginning. Visa reforms to attract skills and promote tourism in South Africa is an important economic driver.
“It has to be prioritised as such and every sector should be championing it. We look forward to seeing the positive impact on the hospitality sector – and the economy as a whole.”
‘Complete digital transformation of visa systems’
Frost emphatically agreed, pointing out that, while the TTOS is an important interim measure, SATSA maintains its position that the ultimate goal must be complete digital transformation of the visa systems.
“Each day we operate without a fully functioning electronic system, we lose valuable business to our South and East African competitors who have more efficient visa processes in place. We strongly urge the Department of Home Affairs to work towards implementing an efficient and fully electronic visa system and process.”
Standardisation of entry requirements and the Minister's recent directive preventing additional documentation requests are positive steps. However, Frost noted this needs to be part of a sustained reform agenda.
“We'll continue engaging with the Department of Home Affairs around the final implementation of the TTOS,” he said. “China and India hold enormous potential for South Africa and we cannot afford to drop the ball. The success of this scheme will be an important blueprint moving forward but it must be part of a broader journey towards making South Africa one of the world's most accessible destinations.”
Final phase
Schreiber said, in the final phase of preparatory work, the Department of Home Affairs will turn its attention to ensuring participating tour operators seeking to bring Chinese and Indian tourists to South Africa are able to conveniently submit visa applications through a secure and reliable platform.
“Once this technical work is concluded, Home Affairs looks forward to welcoming the first large groups of Chinese and Indian tourists to our shores who would previously have been deterred only by visa red tape from spending their valuable foreign currency in South Africa.
“Our foremost goal remains the total digital transformation of all Home Affairs processes including the application, adjudication and communication of visa outcomes, which will altogether eliminate visa delays as an obstacle to tourism.”
