First group tourists arrive in Cape Town after South Africa simplifies visa process

(ECNS) -- The first group of Chinese tourists arrived in Cape Town on Saturday evening and were warmly greeted at the airport by some local senior officials after South Africa’s "Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) took effect in January.

The first Chinese tourist group consisted of 15 tourists and one tour guide.

Ye Junwei, head of a South African inbound travel company responsible for the group, said that previously, processing a group visa for South Africa could take up to two weeks. However, under the TTOS, it has been streamlined to less than three business days, or just one business day.Tourists no longer need to submit their original passports — scanned copies work.

Tourist Liu Yifan, visiting South Africa for the first time, expressed that the country felt mysterious and distant.

Due to safety concerns, Liu chose to join a group tour. Another tourist, Ni Shuyun, noted that the simplified group visa process is a result of the friendly diplomatic ties between China and South Africa.

In recent years, South Africa has focused on revitalizing its tourism industry to create jobs and boost economic growth.

According to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Chinese tourists currently make up only 1.8% of all international visitors to South Africa. In 2023, nearly 100 million Chinese citizens traveled abroad, but only 93,000 visited South Africa.

Ye observed that Chinese tourists still represent a small share of the South African tourism market, primarily due to complex visa procedures, reduced flight availability post-pandemic, and high travel costs.

Although he does not expect significant changes in the short term, he believes that the improved visa process will positively impact the flow of Chinese tourists into the country.