SA’s Trusted Tour Operator Scheme Drives Chinese Tourism Surge at Sun City
South Africa's 90-day visa waiver and the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme are revitalising its tourism sector, with 1,200 Chinese visitors celebrating Chinese New Year at Sun City over the weekend. The relaxed visa process, which no longer requires in-person applications for Indian and Chinese travellers, is expected to attract more tourists from China, a market already showing signs of recovery after COVID-19 disruptions. Sun City general manager, Brett Hoppe, emphasised the positive impact on job creation and hopes to return the resort to its earlier peak booking levels during the Chinese New Year period.
While the visa reforms are a positive step, industry leaders are calling for better air connectivity to support a sustained influx of Chinese tourists. Currently, direct flights between China and South Africa are limited, making travel challenging. Airports Company of South Africa CEO, Mpumi Mpofu, noted a slight year-on-year increase in passenger capacity but highlighted that airlines have yet to significantly expand routes. Despite these challenges, the tourism sector remains optimistic, with stakeholders eyeing a return to pre-pandemic visitor numbers by next year.
Source: Business Report