The Department of Home Affairs has announced the implementation of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing job creation through tourism.

Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, initiated the scheme following consultations with the tourism sector and the minister of tourism.

Research shows that a mere 10% increase in tourism can drive annual economic growth of 0.6%, translating into thousands of new jobs for South Africans.

The TTOS specifically targets established tour operators, both domestically and internationally, with a focus on attracting tourists from China and India.

According to Schreiber, in 2023, China saw over 100 million outbound trips, yet South Africa only welcomed 93,000 of these travellers.

In contrast, Australia attracted more than 1.4 million visitors from China. Currently, Indian tourists make up only 3.9% of South Africa’s international visitors, while Chinese tourists account for just 1.8%.

The TTOS aims to address critical issues such as visa processing bottlenecks, capacity constraints at foreign missions, and language barriers.

Approved tour operators will benefit from streamlined processes and reduced red tape, ensuring quicker turnaround times for group visa applications.

A dedicated team will oversee all TTOS applications to guarantee efficient processing. However, tour operators will also be responsible for any legal transgressions by the tourists travelling under their banner.

The qualifications for the TTOS were developed through public consultation with the tourism sector and relevant stakeholders.

Applications will be assessed fairly via a points-based system, focusing on factors like legal compliance, operational experience, and cross-country collaboration. A minimum of 12 months’ operational experience is required for applicants.

The call for expressions of interest will remain open for 30 days, after which applications will be evaluated, aiming to welcome the first tourists through TTOS in January 2025. Further intakes may occur based on the initial rollout's success and the department's capacity.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the launch of the TTOS, emphasising its potential impact on tourism and job creation.

Haseena Ismail, DA Spokesperson on Tourism, stated, “This is a step in the right direction to enhance South Africa’s tourism competitiveness and create much-needed jobs.”

She further highlighted that the success of the scheme will depend on effective implementation and ongoing collaboration with the tourism sector.

In addition to launching the TTOS, the Department has introduced a distinctive logo to promote awareness and commitment to growing secure and efficient tourism in South Africa.

The application process has also been digitised, allowing for a user-friendly online portal that enhances transparency and improves turnaround times.

Schreiber, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the officials involved, stating, “I salute the officials who have been working overtime to bring this pathbreaking scheme to life.

The speed at which Home Affairs has moved from conceptualisation to execution on TTOS demonstrates our deeply-held commitment to supporting our colleagues in the Department of Tourism and in the tourism sector, in order to create thousands of new jobs for the people of South Africa.”

He further emphasised the significance of the TTOS as part of broader reforms aimed at improving the efficiency of Home Affairs.

“I am confident that this scheme will make an immediate contribution towards growing tourism and job creation, and I look forward to welcoming the first tour groups facilitated through TTOS as early as January 2025,” he said.

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