The tourism sector could see a major boost in jobs, with a new government
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media
The tourism sector could see a major boost in jobs, with a new government plan aiming to raise employment from 1.8 million to 2.5 million by 2029, according to Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille.
Speaking at the official opening of the Africa Tourism Indaba 2025 at the Durban ICC on Tuesday, de Lille said there was a need for a breakthrough in achieving much higher growth in the tourism sector.
According to Statistics South Africa, the tourism industry remains a key contributor to the economy, accounting for 3.3% of the country’s GDP. In 2024, arrivals reached 8.92 million, showing growth.
However, despite these improvements, the sector has not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, despite of the introduction of an e-visa system.
The e-visa system was launched several years ago to make it easier for tourists to visit South Africa.
"The tourism economy of tomorrow is African, it is diverse, it is youthful, it is green, and it is digital, but we know that we can not rest. We need to break through to a much higher growth in the tourism sector," de Lille said.
"We need a plan that we can implement immediately, which is why the Department of Tourism is finalising our five-year tourism growth partnership plan for the next five years. We aim to grow employment from 1.8 million in 2024 through to at least 2.5 million," she said.