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South African Tourism Minister Announces Simplification of Visa Procedures
Dec 02, 2024
New Digital Entry Travel Agreement (ETA) System to Replace E-Visas for Indian Market
NEW DELHI. 02 December 2024: South Africa announced sweeping reforms to its travel infrastructure today, introducing a new digital Entry Travel Agreement (ETA) system and simplified visa procedures as the nation seeks to revitalise tourism links with India.
South African Minister of Tourism, Hon Patricia de Lille (MP), speaking at FICCI’s India-South Africa Business Conclave, revealed that the new ETA system will replace the existing e-visa programme, leveraging technology to create a more efficient entry process. The announcement comes alongside a recently gazetted Trusted Tourist Tour Operator System Scheme, specifically targeting Indian and Chinese markets.
The conclave was organised in association with the South African High Commission and the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce.
The ministry has also streamlined visa requirements, reducing criteria to three essential documents across all South African missions abroad, eliminating excessive documentation that had previously hindered applications. The new tour operator scheme, which received 23 applications from Indian operators in its first phase, will enable bulk visa processing for group travellers.
Addressing air connectivity challenges, Minister de Lille announced meetings with Air India, Indigo Air, and Spice to explore direct flight routes between the countries. The initiative aims to restore direct connections between Mumbai and Johannesburg, which were discontinued in 2015, currently forcing travellers to route through Middle Eastern or African hubs.
Mr Yunus Hoosen, Head of Invest South Africa, presented ambitious targets for expanding bilateral economic relations, outlining key investment opportunities in South Africa's industrialisation drive, particularly in critical minerals and green energy transitions. Mr Hoosen detailed opportunities in electric vehicle manufacturing, green hydrogen commercialisation, and pharmaceutical development, noting that Africa lacks any API (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient) facility despite serving a population of 1.3 billion.
Mr Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Chairman of Sun Foundation and Member of Parliament highlighted untapped opportunities for bilateral cooperation, particularly advocating for increased collaboration in defence offset arrangements, mining technology transfer, agri-food processing and skills & education. He called for expedited action on long-standing initiatives, including preferential trade agreements and the revival of direct flights through code-sharing between SAA and Air India.
Professor Anil Sooklal, South African High Commissioner to India, described the initiatives as part of a broader "reset" in bilateral relations. "This relationship needed resetting, and this is the beginning of that reset to bring it back to the level we had under the glorious days of President Mandela," he said.
Ms Jyoti Vij, Director General of FICCI, highlighted emerging areas for bilateral cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, critical minerals, startups, and public digital infrastructure. Ongoing discussions for a preferential trade agreement between India and the South African Customs Union hold the promise of reduced trade barriers and enhanced market access," Vij said, emphasising the importance of including women, youth, and small businesses in these initiatives.
The launch of the India-South Africa Chamber of Commerce (ISACC) marks another milestone in strengthening bilateral ties. Mr Rahul Kaushik, representing ISACC, outlined the chamber's focus on critical sectors, including mining, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and tourism. Our chamber is deeply engaged in advocacy to address regulatory challenges and provide market intelligence, empowering businesses to make informed decisions and capitalise on emerging trends," Kaushik explained, highlighting the chamber's role in facilitating business matchmaking and strategic partnerships.
Mr Ramesh Kumar Mutha, Co-Chair, FICCI Africa Council & Managing Director, Mohan Mutha Exports, also spoke.
On occasion, FICCI signed an MoU with ISACC to jointly work towards the promotion of trade and business