China's tourism contribution to SA hindered by visa challenges

Lester Kiewit interviews Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

Listen below.

Tourism is a critical component of our economy, with significant contributions historically stemming from China.

However, the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has hampered the recovery of tourist numbers.

In 2013, South Africa welcomed 151 000 Chinese tourists, but this figure plummeted to 83 000 the subsequent year. 

By 2019, there was a slight increase to 93 000.

Despite the country's efforts to reopen borders after the pandemic, only around 34 000 Chinese visitors arrived in South Africa between January and November 2023.

Tshivhengwa attributes this decline primarily to the challenge Chinese travellers face in securing visas for entry into the country.

Consequently, he notes that South Africa is losing out as these tourists opt for destinations with smoother visa processes.

He mentions discussions with Chinese tour operators, who have indicated that a streamlined visa system would lead to increased Chinese tourism in South Africa.

Currently, our e-visa system remains pending physical adjudication, resulting in significant delays, Tshivhengwa adds.

"China is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, outbound travel market and we are just not playing in that market."

- Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, CEO – Tourism Business Council of South Africa

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.