Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille says South Africa’s tourism sector is not a “side story” but central to the country’s economic policy, driving jobs, transformation and sustainable growth.
Speaking at the World Tourism Day 2025 celebrations held at Constitution Hill’s People’s Park in Braamfontein on Saturday, De Lille highlighted the sector’s contribution to the economy and new initiatives to boost arrivals and domestic travel.
“It is a profound honour to celebrate World Tourism Day 2025 here at Constitution Hill People’s Park. This is not just a venue, but a place of memory and freedom. A reminder that democracy is not only about the rights we enjoy, but about the opportunities we create,” she said.
The Minister announced that the Department of Tourism has invested in the site’s development. The Department has allocated R12 million to the development of the park.
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She said the Constitution Hill Precinct Development Plan designates the park as homage to the Constitutional Court in much the same way as the gardens in front of the Union Buildings.
De Lille stressed the year’s global theme: “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation”, as a call for inclusive growth.
“Today, we gather to affirm a truth that grows clearer each day: tourism is not a side story, tourism is economic policy. It is a driver of jobs, of pride, and of transformation that is sustainable, inclusive, and unstoppable,” she said.
She said sustainability must translate into real benefits.
“Sustainable transformation means that tourism’s benefits must be shared widely. From our villages and townships to our metros and coastal hubs. It means that as we grow, we safeguard the treasures that define us: our land, our heritage, and our culture. This transformation is not abstract.
“It is visible when a family-owned guesthouse in Bizana is fully booked, when walking tours by a young entrepreneur in Mamelodi tell our stories with pride and when a small café in Mpumalanga becomes a must-visit stop.
“This is how tourism builds not only an economy, but a nation. South Africans are rediscovering the joy of being tourists in their own land,” the Minister said.
Tourism’s economic footprint
According to De Lille, domestic and international tourism continued to grow strongly in 2025.
“This year during our Sho’t Left Travel Week we had 650 deals. Between January and June 2025, domestic trips increased by 14,8%, with 3.8 million holiday trips recorded contributing R15,4 billion to the GDP. During that same period, we welcomed 5 million international visitors, who spent R48,7billion. These arrivals through our port of entries mark a 12% increase.
“In July 2025, we welcomed over 880 000 international visitors, a 26% increase compared to the same month last year. These figures are set to increase with the roll out of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA),” she said.
The ETA system, which will go live in October, is expected to significantly boost arrivals.
“The ETA which goes live next month in a phased approach, is set to increase international arrivals by 1 million creating between 80 000 to 100 000 jobs. This will add on to the 1,8 million jobs the sector is already sustaining while contributing 8.8% to South Africa’s GDP,” De Lille said.
Investments and innovation
De Lille also confirmed that major international events would continue to showcase South Africa.
“Next year, South Africa will host the LIV Golf right here in Gauteng’s Steyn City and in 2027 we host the ICC Cricket World Cup. These are sporting events that translate into jobs and livelihoods,” she said.
She highlighted the Tourism Investment Summit as another milestone, where eight infrastructure projects worth nearly R1 billion were unveiled.
“The summit has been impactful with growing interest being expressed. We continue to grow the pipeline of bankable projects, which will be presented at the next year’s investment summit,” the Minister said.
De Lille also noted that young people are designing the future of tourism. This month the winners of the inaugural Tourism Hackathon were crowned. Students from 21 Higher education institutions competed to make travel experience more memorable through AI solutions.
The Minister added that projects such as the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre at SanPark’s Golden Gate had already attracted 50,000 visitors since its launch in June.
Call to action
De Lille called on South Africans to embrace tourism as a driver of national pride and transformation.
“Friends, on this World Tourism Day, let us raise our voices with pride: We are building a tourism sector that is not just bigger, but better. Not just profitable, but inclusive. Not just competitive, but sustainable.
“Here at Constitution Hill, the home of freedom and resilience, we declare that tourism is economic policy, tourism is transformation, tourism is our future,” the Minister said.
De Lille’s World Tourism Day programme concluded with a walking tour of Johannesburg’s inner city and a visit to the Soweto Expo, which she described as “live entertainment, unique hand-crafted products and an opportunity to mingle with the entrepreneurs who make tourism tick.”
“Remember, every photo shared, every review posted, every memory made here tells the world: this is a country where transformation is real, and joy is everywhere,” she said.
