At the recently held BARSA Aviation Summit, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille announced the launch of the Trusted Tour Operators Scheme (TTOS), developed in collaboration with the Department of State Security, Operation Vulindlela in the Presidency, and the Department of Home Affairs. The TTOS, aimed at travellers from India and China, officially went live on 12 February 2025, with the first arrivals processed through the system on 22 February.
This digital visa system is seen as a major step forward in facilitating tourism from these two high-potential source markets, key to achieving South Africa’s target of 15 million annual arrivals by 2030.
Designed to be faster and more seamless, the TTOS is already in use by 65 registered tour operators. In Phase 2, the Department of Tourism and its partners aim to significantly expand participation.
Alongside the TTOS, the Digital Nomad Visa and the Electronic Travel Authorisation are now in operation, offering streamlined visa processing. These visa regime improvements are part of a broader strategy to grow tourism and business travel to South Africa.
