Cape Town: The city welcomes visa reforms from Home Affairs Minister, by simplifying the process for group travelers from China & India, aligning with the City’s call for visa reforms to boost the tourism and economic growth.
Considering this, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Economic Growth – Alderman James Vos released an official media statement, in which he welcomed the Home Affairs Minister – Leon Schreiber, referring to his announcement of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) as a vital step towards reforming the visa system and unlocking the South Africa’s tourism potential.
It is an innovative scheme, that simplifies the visa process for group travellers from China and India, that aligns perfectly with the City of Cape Town’s long-standing call for visa reforms that support the economic growth.
Alderman Vos said that for years he have been making submissions on behalf of the City of Cape Town, and advocated for a visa system that removes barriers to tourism and travel, particularly from key markets such as China.
The TTOS enabled the vetted tour operators to expedite visa applications, and made it easier for the visitors to choose South Africa and Cape Town as their destination.
Vos said that it is a major announcement, “We launched the city’s destination campaign, targeting seven Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and the sister cities Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Huangshan.”
Indeed, the goal is to connect with the Chinese tourists through WeChat, which is China’s largest social media platform and showcase Cape Town as the ultimate city to visit, live, work, study play and invest.
Notably, China is a massive market with immense potential for Cape Town. South Africa welcomed 151,000 Chinese tourists, but the number has fluctuated, with just 34,000 visitors between January and November 2023.
Furthermore, with the TTOS and the targeted campaign they are confident in reversing the trend and attracting more Chinese visitors to Cape Town.
James Vos said that their message is clear, as Cape Town offers unparalleled natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and world-class infrastructure. The initiative follows successful campaigns in Brazil, the US and Europe, which significantly boosted the number of visitors and the local economy.
According to him, TTOS and the five-point tourism programme of action directed on expanding the flight routes, boosting cruise tourism, promoting Cape Town as a prime conferencing destination.
They targeted the tourism marketing and enhancing the local products and services. “We are poised to tap into the Chinese and Indian markets, driving the growth and creating more opportunities for Capetonians,” said James Vos.
He also mentioned that they are committed to work with the national government to ensure that Cape Town remains a top destination for international travellers.