The main objectives of the MoU are:

a) to expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector;

b) to exchange information and data related to tourism ;

c) to encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders, including hotels and tour operators.

d) to establish exchange programmes for cooperation in Human Resource Development;

e) Investing in the tourism and hospitality sector;

f) to encourage visits of Tour Operators/Media/ Opinion Makers and tourists from both countries for promotion of two way tourism;

g) to exchange experiences in the areas of promotion, education, marketing, destination development and management;

h) to participate in travel fairs/exhibitions in each other’s country; and

i) to promote safe, honourable and sustainable tourism.

Background:

India and South Africa share and enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations. South Africa is an emerging tourism source markets for India (India received approximately 51922 tourists from South Africa in 2015). India has extended the Electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) facility for the South African Nationals which elicited good response from travel trade of both. The MoU will be instrumental in increasing arrival from this emerging source market.