South Africa’s tourism sector is set to benefit from recent changes to the country’s visa regime, which were welcomed by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille on Wednesday. De Lille commended the Department of Home Affairs for the progress made in simplifying visa procedures, particularly through the introduction of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, Electronic Travel Authorisation, and Digital Nomad Visas.
These changes aim to ease the visa process for travelers and tour operators from key markets like China and India, which are vital to South Africa’s tourism growth. The new initiatives will provide a more seamless application system, improving access for visitors from these regions.
Visa Regime Update. #WeDoTourism pic.twitter.com/LIflmqNXKf
— Dept of Tourism (@Tourism_gov_za) February 12, 2025The tourism sector has seen a steady recovery, with nearly 9 million arrivals to South Africa in 2024, up by 5.1% from the previous year. De Lille expressed appreciation for the collaboration between the Department of Home Affairs, the Presidency’s Operation Vulindlela, and the State Security Agency in driving these reforms.
The first phase of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme was launched on Wednesday, enabling 65 approved tour operators from South Africa, China, and India to process visa applications through a fully digital system, making the process faster and more efficient.
