Aerial view of deforested areas in African montane forests showing environmental impact and climate change effects.
South Africa will launch the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in January 2025 to boost tourism from China and India. The scheme will streamline visa processes for vetted tour operators to reduce red tape for Chinese and Indian tourists. In 2023, 93,000 Chinese nationals visited South Africa. However, the government believes this number could increase significantly; hence, the new visa system. Currently, Chinese tourists make up just 1.8% of total visitors, while Indian tourists account for 3.9%. According to the Department of Home Affairs, a 10% annual increase in tourism could contribute to a 0.6% rise in South Africa’s economic growth and create thousands of jobs. The hospitality industry has welcomed the initiative, lauding it as a way to attract more clients and boost the nation’s economic growth. TTOS will also apply to tourists from non-visa-exempt countries.
SOURCE: AFRICA NEWS