Cape Town Welcomes Visa Reforms to Boost Tourism from China and India  

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE MAYORAL COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ALDERMAN JAMES VOS

I welcome Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber’s announcement of the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) as a vital step toward reforming our visa system and unlocking South Africa’s tourism potential. This innovative scheme, which simplifies the visa process for group travellers from China and India, aligns perfectly with the City of Cape Town’s long-standing call for visa reforms that support economic growth.

For years I have been making submissions on behalf of the City advocating for a visa system that removes barriers to tourism and travel, particularly from key markets like China. The TTOS does just that by enabling vetted tour operators to expedite visa applications, making it easier for visitors to choose South Africa and Cape Town as their destination.

This announcement comes as we launched our City’s destination campaign, targeting seven Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and our sister cities Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Huangshan. Our goal is to connect with Chinese tourists through WeChat, China’s largest social media platform, and showcase Cape Town as the ultimate city to visit, live, work, study, play, and invest.

China is a massive market with immense potential for Cape Town. In 2013 South Africa welcomed 151 000 Chinese tourists, but this number has fluctuated, with just 34 000 visitors between January and November 2023. With the TTOS and our targeted campaign we are confident in reversing this trend and attracting more Chinese visitors to Cape Town.

Our message is clear: Cape Town offers unparalleled natural beauty, rich cultural heritage and world-class infrastructure. This initiative follows successful campaigns in Brazil, the US and Europe, which significantly boosted visitor numbers and the local economy. Now, with the TTOS and our five-point tourism programme of action directed on expanding flight routes, boosting cruise tourism, promoting Cape Town as a prime conferencing destination, targeted tourism marketing and enhancing local products and services, we are poised to tap into the Chinese and Indian markets, driving economic growth and creating more opportunities for Capetonians.

We are committed to working with the national government to ensure Cape Town remains a top destination for international travellers.