South African Tourism Department Celebrates Success of Trusted Tour Operator Scheme
South Africa’s Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) has issued over 11,000 digital visas to tourists from China and India since its launch in late February 2025. The scheme, introduced by the Department of Home Affairs, allows select tour operators to fast-track visa applications for group travellers via a secure digital platform. Daily applications have grown steadily, from 50 in March to 210 in May, reflecting rising demand from key source markets previously hindered by time-consuming visa processes.
The TTOS pilot currently involves 65 tour operators and marks a shift toward more efficient, scalable entry systems for tourism. Based on data from Operation Vulindlela, the scheme is estimated to have generated 857 new jobs by facilitating 11,144 additional tourist arrivals. Plans are underway to expand TTOS through a second operator intake and to launch a fully digital Electronic Travel Authorisation system aimed at streamlining all short-stay travel to South Africa.
Source: Department of Home Affairs