South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs is set to introduce a "Trusted Tour Operators" system in January to streamline visa processing for tour groups from India and China, aiming to boost tourism from these major BRICS nations. This program will allow vetted operators to handle travel arrangements, reducing bureaucratic barriers that have deterred visitors from these countries.

While tourists from many Western countries can visit South Africa visa-free, travelers from India and China must obtain prior authorization, which has limited the number of tourists. In contrast, countries like Saudi Arabia and Thailand have already implemented successful visa reforms targeting Indian tourists, driving growth in tourism from India. South Africa hopes to attract a larger share of tourists from these emerging markets.

Home Minister Leon Schreiber noted that, although South Africa has a natural advantage in tourism, it lags behind in attracting visitors from India and China. The government envisions eventually moving to an electronic travel authorization system, with the Trusted Tour Operators program serving as a temporary measure.

This move is part of broader immigration reforms, including recent changes to work permit laws aimed at addressing South Africa’s skills shortage. Last year, South Africa saw about 80,000 visitors from India and 37,000 from China, a fraction of arrivals from Western nations. Schreiber emphasized the potential economic boost these adjustments could bring to South Africa.