South Africa to simplify visa rules for tourists from some BRICS countries to boost arrivals

South Africa is set to streamline its visa process for travellers from India and China, aiming to attract more visitors from the two most populous nations as part of a broader effort to enhance tourism. The Republic plans to introduce a Trusted Tour Operators system in January, which will simplify the entry process for tourists from these key BRICS countries, according to BusinessTech.

Leon Schreiber, South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, outlined the new strategy, stating that vetted tour operators will oversee tour groups from India and China, easing the administrative burden that has previously hindered travel from these markets. The move aims to make South Africa a more accessible destination for these countries, which represent crucial sources of tourism potential.

“Tourism is one of South Africa’s natural advantages; it’s one of the things we should be excelling at,” Schreiber noted.

This initiative mirrors successful strategies employed by other nations, such as Thailand, which has boosted its influx of Indian tourists by relaxing visa regulations. Saudi Arabia, aiming to ramp up Indian tourist numbers from 1.5 million to 7.5 million annually by 2030, has also introduced new visa offices and a four-day stopover visa for Indian travellers transiting through the Kingdom.

Schreiber emphasised that the Trusted Tour Operators programme is a temporary measure, with the ultimate goal of implementing a fully electronic travel authorisation system. These visa changes are part of a broader overhaul of South Africa’s policies, which also include reforms to work permits to address the country’s skills shortage.

In 2023, approximately 80,000 tourists arrived from India, while just 37,000 visitors came from China, as reported by Statistics South Africa.

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