At Meetings Africa yesterday (February 25), Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber and Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, expanded on how the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) could boost South Africa’s tourism sector.
The session centred on trust as the critical foundation of seamless visa facilitation to boost tourism, create jobs and position South Africa as a premier destination for business events.
The TTOS exemplifies this by streamlining visa processes and ensuring tour operators meet high safety and accountability standards.
Schreiber explained: “Visa inefficiency has long been a barrier to growth, especially for key tourism markets like China and India. With the TTOS, we are digitally transforming our visa processes – sometimes issuing visas within three days or even hours. This rapid digital transformation not only eases entry for international visitors but also bolsters investor confidence.”
Tshivhengwa added valuable insights on the importance of trust and collaboration.
“Coming out of the challenges posed by COVID-19, we knew we had to reimagine our tourism strategies, particularly to attract markets like China and India where the middle class is rapidly expanding,” he said.
“This initiative is not merely about facilitating travel; it is about building and maintaining trust. Tour operators must ensure every visitor has a memorable experience and government must deliver on its promise of a seamless process. When both sides honour their commitments, we create a virtuous cycle of growth that benefits everyone.”
Digitalisation and air access
The discussion also highlighted the critical role of digitalisation. Panellists noted that establishing South Africa’s electronic travel authorisation was a further step towards a fully digitalised system that eliminates paper-based processes and minimises potential for corruption.
“Digitalisation is the lowest hanging fruit. It ensures every traveller who wishes to visit South Africa can do so quickly and securely,” said Schreiber.
De Lille and Schreiber met with airlines at Meetings Africa to discuss route development and enhanced connectivity that will support the visa enhancements.
“While the visa exemption is a significant breakthrough, it must be supported by robust air access. We need carriers to develop more routes, specifically direct, to South Africa so that our relaxed visa regime translates into tangible visitor numbers,” said De Lille.
This dialogue with airlines underscores collaborative efforts between government and industry stakeholders – a central tenet of the Government of National Unity’s approach to inclusive growth and job creation.
“This is not just about policy; it is about ensuring that every tour operator, every digital process and every flight connection contributes to a safe, efficient system. Our aim is to not only attract more tourists but also to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism reach every corner of our country from urban centres to villages, townships and small dorpies,” she added.
Rosemary Anderson, FEDHASA National Chairperson, said the Ministers’ hands-on engagement demonstrated their genuine commitment to advancing South Africa's tourism sector.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this ground-breaking visa scheme and trust both Ministers will continue to champion South Africa's tourism industry, fostering innovation and showcasing our remarkable country to the world,” she said.
