Tourism industry welcomes expansion of e-visa application system as ‘meaningful step forward’

The tourism industry has welcomed government’s commitment to expand the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, describing it as a practical reform that directly addresses one of the industry’s long-standing priorities: easier access for international travellers.

This comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during his State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Thursday night that the ETA system will be extended in the coming year to all countries that require a visa. This will allow tourist visa applications to be processed digitally within 24 hours.

The ETA system was officially launched in September 2025 by the Department of Home Affairs as part of efforts to modernise and secure South Africa’s entry processes.

The fully digital, AI-powered platform replaces traditional paper-based visa procedures for short-term stays, streamlining applications through an online system designed to improve speed, transparency and efficiency.

Testing of the system began at the end of September ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, with a pilot going live in October for delegates from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico, the four G20 members that require visas.

From November, it extended to tourists from those countries, before expanding to all visa-required markets. Over time, the system will also apply to other visa categories and ports of entry.

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) on Friday said that for the tourism industry, the reform represents a significant breakthrough.

The council has for years argued that complex, slow and unpredictable visa processes have undermined South Africa’s ability to compete with other global destinations, particularly in attracting travellers from key long-haul markets such as Europe, North America and parts of Asia.

“TBCSA has consistently emphasised that ease of access is central to improving South Africa’s competitiveness as a destination. For long-haul markets in particular, certainty and speed in the visa process directly influence travel decisions,” said Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of TBCSA.

“We’ve been advocating for more efficient, predictable visa systems for some time. Faster, digital processing is a meaningful step forward. When access improves, arrivals grow. And when arrivals grow, tourism supports more jobs and delivers greater economic impact.”

Tourism contributes significantly to South Africa’s economy, generating R618.7 billion in 2024 and supporting 1.8 million jobs. That figure is expected to reach 1.9 million in 2025, with long-term potential of R900bn GDP contribution and 2.6 million jobs by 2035 if reforms are sustained.

Ramaphosa underscored tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth, noting that every 13 international tourist arrivals support one job. He revealed that the sector recorded 10.5 million international visitors last year, a milestone achievement as the country continues to rebuild its tourism economy.

Industry leaders stress that the real test will lie in implementation. This system is securely linked to a traveller’s facial biometrics and uses machine learning to instantly adjudicate tourist visa applications.

TBCSA said it looks forward to continued collaboration with government to ensure the ETA system is rolled out effectively and delivers measurable impact for the sector.

If successfully implemented, the expanded ETA system could mark a turning point for South Africa’s tourism competitiveness, removing a long-standing barrier to growth and unlocking greater job creation across the value chain.

"Measures intended to support tourism through rolling out the electronic travel authorisation initiative covering all countries that require visas to enter South Africa, are key to boosting tourism’s role in job creation," said Business Unity South Africa. 

Last month, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber said the Border Management Authority and partners were currently rolling out upgrades to the Electronic Movement Control System (EMCS) to ensure that facial recognition is activated at all international airports and busy land borders.

Schreiber also said that after these uogrades, the deparment will make an announcement on the scale-up of the ETA.

"But let there be no doubt about it: the ETA is going to supercharge tourism job creation from major but largely untapped markets like India, China and Indonesia at a scale we have never seen before," he said.

BUSINESS REPORT