Home Affairs says TTOS is on track for January launch
The Department of Home Affairs is confident that their new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) will be ready to launch in January next year.
Home Affairs to roll our Trusted Tour Operator Scheme
The Department of Home Affairs recently revealed during a tourism webinar that they are busy with a final few details of the new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) and it will be on track for launch by January 2025.
According to Tourism Update, the project lead for Home Affairs, Yusuf Simons said the TTOS will be based on the same principles of the Trusted Employer Scheme, and will allow tour operators to qualify for priority processing of their visa applications due to fewer requirements and supporting documents.
Simons also added that the new visa program would reduce red tape for tour operators.
There will also be an upgraded e-visa system that “will be a vehicle for tour operators to submit group applications for tourists online without the need to approach a South African embassy in China or India”.
The TTOS will initially run as a pilot project for 100 days with 100 tour operators accepted into the first group. And while India and China are the initial focus countries, Home Affairs has said that the programme could grow to include additional countries later on.
A boost for the economy
Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber the TTOS was only the start of Home Affairs’ embrace of their role as an economic enabler.
“Research indicates that boosting tourism by only 10% per year can boost annual economic growth by 0.6% and create tens of thousands of new jobs for South Africans. Travelling in large groups is the preferred option for many tourists from some countries and it is time for our visa system to adapt in order to reflect and capitalise on this reality.” he said when the visa scheme was announced.
“Exciting as it is, TTOS is itself but an interim measure to boost tourism while we move with speed to digitally transform Home Affairs. Ultimately, our vision is for a fully automated process that delivers secure tourist visa outcomes digitally and within seconds to tourists from around the world.” he said.