In a bid to simply visa procedures for Indians, South Africa announced a a new digital Entry Travel Agreement (ETA) system as the nation seeks to revitalise tourism links with India.

South African Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille (MP) revealed that the new ETA system will replace the existing e-visa programme, leveraging technology to create a more efficient entry process.

For streamlining visa requirements, the ministry has decided to reduce 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.

Speaking on trade agreements, Jyoti Vij, Director General of FICCI, said discussions happening to reduce trade barriers and enhanced market access, emphasising the importance of including women, youth, and small businesses in these initiatives.

Originally Published at ECONOMICTIMES