South Africa is ramping up efforts to capture a greater share of the booming Chinese outbound travel market with a faster and more seamless visa application process for travelers from India and China, attracting over 25, 000 tourists since its launch last February.
The country's legislative capital of Cape Town, boasting stunning natural landscape, diverse culture, and a wealth of festivals, is a popular tourist destination for global visitors. From Table Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to the Chapman Highway, Cape of Good Hope, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, and abundant wildlife, the local tourism industry continues to demonstrate its appeal.
Official data showed that in the first half of 2025, South Africa posted a double-digit rise in tourist arrivals from China compared to the same period in 2024. In the Western Cape province, Chinese tourists have a higher length of stay and per capita spending than the average level, giving a boost to the local travel sector and related industries.
"We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of doubling tourism by that year (2035), which will require an additional one million international arrivals. And This is why China is in fact so important strategically for the Western Cape, because if we are going to achieve that goal of doubling tourism and increasing the number of international arrivals, we will need to leverage the tourism growth that we know can come from this important market," said Russel Bruton, chief marketing and innovation officer at the Official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape or WESGRO.
South Africa launched the first phase of the digital Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) in late February 2025 to streamline visa applications and boost arrivals from India and China, allowing 65 selected tour operators to fast-track visa applications for group travelers via a secure digital platform.
In August, Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber announced the launch of the scheme's second phase, which adds another 45 vetted tour operators to the list.
Previously, tourists from markets such as India and China had to submit paper-based visa applications in person and wait up to two weeks for a decision. Under the TTOS, applications are filed online and processed within 24 hours.
In November 2025, South Africa launched a personal e-visa system, allowing Chinese tourists to apply for tourist and business e-visas online. This further shortens the visa processing time and solves the problem of cumbersome paper visa procedures in the past.
"Currently, this ETA (electronic travel authorization) is very suitable for those planning to visit South Africa for tourism or business purposes. Moreover, it's becoming increasingly convenient as individuals can apply online," said Dong Gang, a lawyer.
South African tourism authorities have strengthened cooperation with airlines to launch more direct flights between China and South Africa, further shortening travel time.
South Africa's Cape Town eyes Chinese travelers with digital visa scheme
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi should apologize for and retreat her errouneous aggressive remarks on China's Taiwan region, as the rhetoric in her words could destabilize domestic society and harm Japan's relations with neighbors, Japanese scholars said recently.
Shinako Oyakawa, a lecturer at the Okinawa University who has long focused on security and peace issues, said that Takaichi' remarks are inflammatory, have seriously violated the spirit of Japan's pacifist constitution and caused harmful consequences for the public.
She said that Takaichi needs to issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks.
Takaichi on November 7, 2025, made blatant and provocative remarks on Taiwan at the Diet, claiming that a Taiwan contingency could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, and implying that Japan might invoke the so-called "right to collective self-defense" for armed intervention across the Taiwan Strait.
"She made such remarks in parliament, the kind of rhetoric commonly used by the 'internet right wing,' sounding exactly like what people in that circle would say. Such remarks give the impression that they are ready to go to the battlefield, even willing to start a war. This kind of rhetoric is extremely dangerous," said Oyakawa.
Oyakawa said that the remarks have caused significant losses and both ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue.
"The remarks have already caused significant damage in various aspects. The relevant figures are still being tallied, and the extent of the damage is truly unimaginable. Both the ruling and opposition parties have oversimplified the issue; or, their attitudes have been ambiguous, out of fear of facing it. However, this is not an issue that can be easily glossed over. She must issue a clear apology and formally retract her remarks," Oyakawa said.
Japan's history education has long avoided or distorted accounts of its wars of aggression launched by Japan against Asian neighbors, leaving few with a true understanding of historical facts. This, Oyakawa said, has further accelerated the overall rightward shift in Japanese society.
"As the number of war survivors dwindles, the practice of distorting history in Japan is becoming increasingly rampant. Almost no one knows about the suffering endured by our Asian neighbors. What the Japanese exactly did abroad and what war responsibility Japan bears are completely absent from textbooks," said Oyakawa.
As an Okinawan, Oyakawa said she strongly feels the government's military buildup has brought fear and anxiety to residents.
"Fighter jets and helicopters fly overhead everyday, and the roar of military aircraft becomes routine. On average, Okinawa experiences several plane crashes or incidents of falling parts each year. The militarization of Okinawa is escalating, bringing fear and unease to residents. I think that this situation must be stopped from further worsening," said Oyakawa.
Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University, also criticized Takaichi's leadership, saying her team showed little consideration for relations with China and her remarks damage Japan-China relations and undermine Japan's own economic and social stability.
Nakano also said that Japanese society faces a serious problem, as awareness about and reflection on Japan's wartime aggression continue to fade. He stressed that only by facing up to history and engaging with neighboring countries on equal terms can Japan lay the groundwork for rebuilding ties with China.
"Japan's biggest problem is that the recognition of history with China is gradually fading. The sentiment of reflecting on the aggression history and apologizing for it has not been fully passed down between generations. More and more people are unaware of the historical facts, believing that 'that's all in the past' and that no further apology or remorse is necessary. This is an extremely serious issue. (The Japanese government should) build friendly relations on an equal footing, conduct objective and accurate mutual evaluations of the past and present, and rebuild bilateral relations," said Nakano.
Japanese prime minister should apologize, retract erroneous remarks on Taiwan: Japanese scholars
