“India and China are our two key growth markets in Asia. We are organising a roadshow in China in September 2025 and another in South Africa in January next year, specifically targeting the Chinese market. Additionally, fam trips are planned for China. As part of our efforts, we will be hosting 30 to 35 travel agents from India at our annual trade show, Indaba 2025,” said Gcobani Mancotywa, regional general manager for Asia, Australia and Middle East, South African Tourism on the sidelines of a roadshow in New Delhi.
South African Tourism’s 21st annual India roadshow series commenced in New Delhi on March 18, followed by stops in Chennai and Mumbai on March 19 and 20, respectively.
A major factor impeding tourism growth from India and China to South Africa has been visa constraints. To address this, the South African government introduced the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) last year for both India and China, simplifying visa procedures.
The scheme allows approved tour operators from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs to submit group visa applications on behalf of their clients, reducing the number of required supporting documents. Phase 1 of the scheme saw fourteen tour operators from India and twenty-nine from China accredited, and plans are now in place to expand TTOS and accredit more tour operators in Phase II of the scheme this year.
“TTOS provides an opportunity for ease of visa processing. The commitment that we have given to the market through our home affairs is a maximum of three days turnaround in visa issuance which for example in the case of India was previously taking more than 12 days,” said Mancotywa.
In 2024, South Africa welcomed approximately 75,000 tourists from India, representing around 80 per cent of pre-Covid arrival numbers. Meanwhile, about 50,000 Chinese tourists visited the country during the same period, nearly half of the 95,000 recorded before the pandemic. South African Tourism is expecting a full recovery of tourist arrivals from India by the end of this year and from China by the end of next year.
Source: Agencies
