Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille says South Africa’s (SA) tourism industry is aiming to attract 50 million international visitors by 2030, as part of a broader strategy to grow the economy and create jobs.
Speaking at the opening of the Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Durban International Convention Centre, De Lille highlighted tourism as a key driver for economic growth across Africa.
The event features more than 1 000 exhibitors from over 20 African countries and includes discussions focused on expanding the continent’s tourism economy.
De Lille added that the sector’s long-term objective is to help create more than one-million jobs before the end of 2029.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa gave me a target that by 2030, we must welcome 50 million visitors to our country. He said Minister, you must also create more than one-million jobs by 2029. So, we have a target that we are working towards and the President is monitoring us very closely.”
Speaking at the same event, l Ramaphosa described tourism as the major economic contributor in the continent.
“For many African countries, tourism is not merely a leisure industry. It is a developmental instrument. It becomes an instrument through which we can grow our economies. Tourism must be seen for what it is, a major economic driver as it contributes billions of Dollars annually to many African economies. “
–SABC–
