S. Africa Launches Digital Travel Authorisation System To Boost Tourism, Investment

South african president cyril ramaphosa officially launched the country's electronic travel authorisation (eta) system on wednesday:outh African President Cyril Ramaphosa officially launched the country's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system on Wednesday, aimed at facilitating travel while strengthening border security and supporting tourism, investment and economic growth, reported Xinhua. Ramaphosa launched the system at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa's busiest international gateway, saying the ETA would make travel to South Africa "easier, faster and more predictable". According to Nam News Network, the initiative would make the country "more open to opportunity, more welcoming to legitimate travellers, more secure for our citizens and more competitive in the global economy," he said. "It will encourage tourism. It will support trade. It will attract investment. It will facilitate skills and knowledge exchange," Ramaphosa said, adding that the system would also streng then border management and migration control. Under the digital system, eligible travellers can apply for an ETA online without visiting a South African embassy or visa processing centre, with applications expected to be processed within 24 hours. South Africa initially piloted the ETA for travellers from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico during its G20 presidency last year, processing more than 200,000 applications. The system was operated free of charge during the pilot phase, while the South African Department of Home Affairs has since introduced a mandatory 500-rand (about US$31) processing fee, which is expected to take effect from Aug 17.