Township Tourism
By Karabo Marifi
Following the swearing-in of Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, and Deputy Minister, Maggie Sotyu, the duo has reaffirmed their commitment to leading the Department of Tourism in collaboration with all stakeholders. Their primary focus will be on Township and Village Tourism Development to bring new opportunities and promote sustainable growth in South Africa’s tourism sector.
As the 7th administration begins its journey, Minister de Lille promises to sustain the robust partnership between the government and the private sector. This collaboration aims at fostering significant growth and transformation within the tourism sector. South Africa’s tourism industry has been on a solid rebound, with a notable increase in tourist arrivals over the past year.
Surge in Tourism Arrivals
Between January and December 2023, South Africa saw a remarkable influx of 8.4 million international tourists, with a substantial 6.5 million hailing from the African continent. The positive momentum continued into 2024, recording nearly 3.8 million arrivals between January and May — a 9.7% rise compared to the same period in 2023. Notably, African continent arrivals alone accounted for over 2.8 million within this duration.
Tourism from other global markets, including Europe, Central and South America, China, and India, has also been on an upward trend, as reported by the latest arrival statistics from StatsSA.
Acknowledging Excellence in Tourism
South Africa’s status as a premier tourist destination was further cemented with several accolades and awards in 2023. Minister de Lille expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm: “I am deeply honoured to continue serving the people of our beautiful South Africa. The work continues in earnest, and the Deputy Minister and I are ready and charged to work with the entire tourism sector to elevate tourism’s performance. Government cannot do it alone, so we will continue collaborating and working in partnership with the private sector to grow tourism arrival numbers and the sector’s contribution to economic growth and job creation.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Minister Sotyu added: “I am thrilled to continue serving my country and the people of South Africa in the exciting and growing tourism sector. I look forward to working with Minister de Lille and all tourism partners to grow tourism to its full potential.”
Key Priorities for Tourism Growth
The ministers outlined the following key priorities:
- Marketing and Diversification: Growing tourism arrival numbers by effectively marketing South Africa as a prime travel destination and diversifying the tourism offerings.
- Support to Tourism Businesses: Empowering tourism businesses through the R1.2 billion Tourism Equity Fund and the Tourism Transformation Fund.
- Climate Resilience: Enhancing the efficiency and climate resilience of tourism enterprises via the Green Tourism Incentive Programme.
- Tourism Safety: Collaborating with the National Tourism Safety Forum to bolster tourism safety measures.
- Visa Facilitation: Partnering with the Department of Home Affairs and key source markets to streamline the visa regime.
- Operational Efficiency: Working with the Department of Transport and the tourism sector to improve the efficiency of Tour Operator Licences.
- Focus on Township and Village Tourism: Increasing development and emphasis on township and village tourism to drive local economic growth.
- International Partnerships: Engaging with the international community to uplift South Africa’s status as a leading tourist destination and embracing best practices.
Minister de Lille concluded by expressing gratitude: “I want to thank the entire tourism sector for all their hard work and achievements in growing our tourism performance, and I ask for their continued dedication as we move forward. Our focus must be on delivery and taking our work to the next level. Thank you for all the well wishes, and I look forward to continuing working with you all in the 7th administration.”
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