With 990 confirmed exhibitors from 26 African countries, including newcomers Burkina Faso, Eritrea, and Guinea, and over 1,000 buyers representing 36 countries, Africa’s Travel Indaba is a truly global trade show that is not to be missed​

​When South Africa started engaging other countries on the topics that were of interest at the time, we all did not realise that at this stage we would be addressing bigger common problems that we all could not avoid as it called for joint efforts among the member states, the recovery of the tourism sector globally which is positively improving.

​The Department of Tourism will host policy influencers and implementers from various African countries at a workshop to share best practice on the advancement of regional tourism growth through the empowerment of the youth.​

I am delighted to participate in this Morning Memo event where we gather to interact, network, and share ideas. This event takes place during Meetings Africa, which has evolved over the years to become one of the continent leading business events trade shows.

​I am excited about the collaborative experiences that await us over the next two days so that we together, can bring more business events to be hosted on the African continent. ​

Meetings Africa generates critical linkages between buyers and exhibitors, leading to solid leads and millions of rand are injected into the economy through various touchpoints in the tourism value chain.​

Meetings Africa Meetings Africa 2024 will see the 18th edition of this Business Events Trade Show, owned by South African Tourism, with the specific objective of creating a market access platform, for African Business Events Products. It serves as the primary platform to enable the growth of the business events industry on the continent and ultimately contributes towards its economic growth.

The main aim of the strategy is to foster a public-private sector partnership in addressing issues of tourism safety in a more coordinated manner.  The measures aim to provide an enhanced visitor experience and in the long-term, change perceptions of South Africa as an unsafe destination. The National Tourism Safety Strategy is centered upon three (3) key themes which include: (i) Proactive measures, (ii) Responsive measures, and (iii) Aftercare Programmes.  ​​

​Team South Africa is attending WTM buoyed by the remarkable tourism arrivals statistics of recent months. Between January and September this year, South Africa saw a significant influx of tourists, with over 6,1 million visitors arriving in the country, more than 58.4% when compared to the 3.8million arrivals to South Africa the same period in 2022​

​​Following the successful hosting of the BRICS Summit in South Africa earlier this year, today, I was delighted to host Tourism Ministers and a high level delegation from the BRICS nations for the BRICS Tourism Ministers meeting in Cape Town, today, 24 October 2023.

​It is an honour to officially welcome you to the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The theme for today's Meeting is "Sustainable and inclusive tourism recovery".

​Following the successful hosting of the BRICS Summit in South Africa earlier this year, Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille will host the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting in Cape Town tomorrow, 24 October 2023.

​Following the successful hosting of the BRICS Summit in South Africa earlier this year, next week, between 24 and 26 October 2023, Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille will host the BRICS Tourism Ministers Meeting in Cape Town. ​

Through various tourism marketing strategies, South Africa continues to invite travellers worldwide to explore our diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and unique wildlife and wide open spaces. These exceptional numbers illustrate South Africa's undeniable allure and the enduring impact it has on travellers.

Durban, South Africa:  Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 was a phenomenal success. According to initial indications, this year’s Indaba surpassed projections with a remarkable 8,629 delegates, hosting 21,000 meetings between exhibitors and international buyers. Additionally, the event featured no less than a 1,000 international buyers and 1,023 exhibitors who showcased an impressive array of products.​

Tour operators are the golden thread that weaves an unforgettable experience for the tourist. They provide a seamless experience from booking to arrival and the subsequent tour package. With tailor-made packages, tour operators synergise and align the various booking platforms.​

As the world reawakens, tourists are flocking back to South Africa, enticed by our unparalleled natural beauty and the warmth of our people. We are broadcasting a clear message: South Africa is open for tourism, welcoming business, and eagerly awaiting travellers from across Africa and the globe.​​

Ladies and gentlemen, a lot has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we felt it necessary and critical to reposition Africa’s Travel Indaba to ensure it remains relevant in the current environment. This year, we are hosting Indaba under the mantra “Shaping Africa’s Tomorrow, Through Connection Today.” ​

Africa's Travel Indaba and this tourism Dialogue is where we deliberate ‘how’, rethink our policies, recognise emerging trends, mitigate threats and identify opportunities. I am a very practical person. We must identify a simple action plan and decide on a few priority tasks we can achieve.​

The Research Seminar takes place on an annual basis to disseminate research findings and recommendations to stakeholders in order to enhance strategies, planning, programmes, policy and decision-making within the tourism sector. 

​We come to ITB 2023 as a powerful team armed with a wide variety of products and experiences and these will certainly go a long way in improving our Brand Appeal and of course contribute to getting more travellers to book to come visit South Africa

The Best Practices Workshops is a mechanism for the Department of Tourism to implement existing agreements between the Department and its African counterparts through information sharing on matters related to sustainable tourism growth and development. 

​Their main focus will be what solutions can African Tourism Ministers and Executives provide to Ministers of Transport, Finance and Aviation to improve intra-Africa connectivity and also how should these Ministries work together with national Tourism Organisations to facilitate affordable intra-Africa and domestic air travel by reducing airport taxes, landing fees and government charges to help reduce cost of travel in Africa.

​Themed 'Rethinking Tourism: Opportunities Await in Rural and Community-Centric Tourism,' the public lecture will bring together academia and sector stakeholders to engage and exchange ideas on how to enhance policy and strategies to promote the development of rural economies to enable sustainable and inclusive tourism.​

“It is critical for us to use such opportunities to ensure that we position South Africa as both a business events and leisure destination, as well as to engage key decision makers in our sources markets such as the UK,” says Minister Sisulu.​

​We are here at IMEX Frankfurt 2022 to remind you that South Africa is indeed an ideal business events destination with solid infrastructure capability. As the South African government, we continue our commitment to growing the business events industry to South Africa and we know that in order to do so we need to address some of the barriers that remain a challenge.​

I am delighted that we are finally here and that we have been able to meet again after a two-year hiatus. The recent months of devastation in the Province have presented us with an additional set of challenges, on top of those presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. I know I have said numerous times before, but I will say it again, the tourism sector is incredibly resilient. And us being here today is testament to that. 

​Themed ‘Africa’s Stories, Your Success’ the 2022 Indaba will showcase a wide variety of Southern Africa's top tourism products and services, and afford delegates an opportunity to acquaint themselves with the exciting travel experiences on offer. 

​The objective of the workshop amongst others includes: sharing information and best practices, identifying strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism sector and the strengthening of regional integration and cooperation. This initiative is in line with the provisions of South Africa`s foreign policy which supports the development of the region and the continent. ​

Events help accelerate progress because events promote information sharing and collective engagement. This in turn results in innovation and re-invention which are key for economic and professional development and advancement.  This is why I am so pleased that this year we continue with our strategic positioning of Advancing Africa Together. At Meetings Africa, we are enhaancing and forming new partnerships grounded on what we have learnt in the past two years and in so doing we stay true to our theme of Shared Minds, Shared economies. 

Our country is ready to receive all travelers. All Covid-19 compliance measures have been strengthened with scientific evidence to protect all our citizens and all our visitors alike. The norms and standards for the safer operations of the tourism sector in the context of Covid-19 and beyond, were recently gazetted by ourselves on behalf of the South African government. These measures give assurance to all tourists and business events delegates about the safety of destination South Africa. We are safe and open for business.  ​​​

Meetings Africa, one of the African continent’s premier business events trade show, will once again welcome almost 1,000 exhibitors, buyers and delegates from around the world. The theme “Shared Minds, Shared Economies” aptly captures the intention of Meetings Africa 2022 as it calls for a cross-pollination of people and ideas.​

“This is the culmination of the hard work and dedication of all tourism stakeholders. The war room we established is yielding results and today we see the UAE re-opening their doors to our travelers. Let us continue to work hand in hand to revive our industry,” Minister Sisulu said.​

​​The Department of Tourism has welcomed the tourism private sector’s positive attributes and appreciation of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu dynamic role in the recovery of the sector and her visit to Dubai which was aimed at strengthening tourism relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) into a more comprehensive and strategic partnership.​

​​With tourists increasingly looking for experiences in the wilderness, South Africa is an ideal destination. But zero in on the Eastern Cape, and tourists will find the rugged, untouched natural wide open spaces that are unmatched anywhere in the country.​

​The Gauteng province showed its mettle at the South African Pavilion’s Provincial Showcase on Tuesday, 21 December, held at the Expo 2020 Dubai. The showcase promotes the business and leisure tourism opportunities that exist in each of the nine provinces. The pavilion’s theme “Think South Africa, Think Opportunity,” calls on investors from around the world to consider South Africa a lucrative business destination.​

​For Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s (TKZN) CEO, Phindile Makwakwa, the sector’s story does not end with the pandemic. Instead it begins right now, with the rebuilding of tourism.

​The Northern Cape might not have the highest density of tourists compared to other provinces, but it calls for travellers to participate in it. From the desert landscapes of the Karoo and Kgalagadi to the rugged 320 kilometre Atlantic coastline, the Northern Cape promises an authentic experience of the sublime.

​Table Mountain, the Cape Winelands, the Karoo and the Overberg are just some of the Western Cape’s most sought-after tourist destinations. But more than a just visual feast, Wesgro – the province’s tourism, trade and investment promotion agency – says these sites, and others, are now Covid-safe and accessible to travellers. This is due to Wesgro’s tireless collaborative efforts with partners to ensure traveller safety.

​SOUTH AFRICA, Johannesburg – Tuesday, 21 December 2021: In a bid to attract a good mix of leisure and business travellers, Limpopo Tourism positioned itself as a sports, wildlife and industry mecca at the Expo 2020 in Dubai last night.

​Mpumalanga has announced that it is truly ready to welcome both local and international tourists once again following the announcement that the UK has taken South Africa off its red list.

​The showcase provides each of South Africa’s nine provinces a stage to promote its tourism hotspots to a global audience and potential investors. The pavilion’s theme “Think South Africa, Think Opportunity,” calls on investors from around the world to consider South Africa a business destination.​

​The latest decision of the UK Government to remove all 11 African countries from the red list means that hotel quarantine is no longer required for those returning to the UK from South Africa as of 4 am on 15th December. ​

​​​​South Africa welcomes the gradual return of flights from important source markets. This in the aftermath of yet another travel ban imposed on South Africa and other African countries by some countries following the diligent identification and genomic sequencing of the Omicron variant by South African scientists.​

​The Dubai Expo will provide South Africa with an opportunity to rejuvenate its ailing economy with the tourism sector hardest hit during and beyond COVID -19.  The Expo will also help promote destination South Africa and inspire the world to visit our shores, secure investment opportunities as well as to highlight the work of the industry, which is built on the concept of inclusivity and sustainability. 

​​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has successfully lobbied the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to back South Africa and other African states and called on the world to reopen their borders. This follows the recent announcement that the country is back on the UK’s red list, which triggered travel restrictions being imposed by several other countries on Southern African countries, as a result of the identification of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant by South African scientists,​

​I am glad that WHO has taken a different approach and this is what they have said and I quote “the speed and transparency of the South African and Botswana Governments in informing the world about the new variant is to be commended”. The Who stands with African countries which had the courage to share life-saving public health information.​

“Due to the latest red listing, travel bans and travel advisories, we’ve had to be innovative in our approach to showing the world that South Africa is still a must visit destination,” commented Minister of Tourism, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu. ​​The Tourism Month at Expo on the South African pavilion culminates in 18 months of strategizing and planning to deliver an excellent showcase of the best of South Africa.

​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu convened an urgent meeting with tourism private- sector stakeholders recently to address proactively how private and public sector could collaborate to mitigate the effects on the tourism sector of the travel bans instituted this week against South Africa due to the discovery of the new Covid-19 variant.

​“While this is most disappointing South Africa will continue working with policy makers in the UK, Japan, Israel and European Union to ensure that the best possible interventions are put in place. I would like to commend the South African scientists on their diligence and all the work they have done and remain confident that all measures will be put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus,” Minister Sisulu said.​

​Delegates are expected to deliberate on the importance of innovation, education and rural development in rebuilding the tourism sector, while highlighting the urgency of transforming the sector. Annual growth in the tourism sector regularly exceeds that of the world economy and international trade.​

​The MoU will enable both countries to organise training programmes in the field of tourism, including marketing, sustainable development of tourism and related subjects for officials of both countries and develop close cooperation between institutions of both countries.

​Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to remove South Africa from a list of countries in their red list, thus opening British travellers to visit South Africa without requiring hotel quarantine upon return.

​In her keynote speech at Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit this afternoon, Sisulu mentioned that she addressed the red list matter with the British Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa this morning. After some discussion, they had agreed to bring together scientists and advisors from both countries to conduct further research into the Coronavirus Beta variant that has so far created the perception that South Africa is a COVID hotspot.

​It is befitting that we are launching Africa Travel and Tourism Summit during the Tourism Month when South Africa celebrates tourism and heritage.

​This Summit comes at a turning point in our industry, when every decision we make will determine the future of tourism in Africa. It is, therefore, crucial that we work together and devise solutions for the betterment of tourism and the economy as a whole.  An anonymous Swahili proverb states: “Where there is many, nothing goes wrong.”

​“Our membership of the executive council, will assist to reposition Africa, establish our continent as a destination of choice and highlight our tourism offerings for travellers. It will be a great honour for us to serve Africa in this way, advancing Brand Africa and unlocking growth for the continent.,” says the Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Mr Victor Tharage.

​The tourism industry is of great significance and potential to South Africa and is one of the six key sectors of economic growth. China has always been an important global source market for the tourism of South Africa and is a strategic trade partner to South Africa.  This symbiotic relationship will definitively drive recovery in the sector.

​Addressing the high-Level Ministerial Panel under the theme “Strengthening Brand Africa for the swift recovery of the tourism sector” the Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of rebuilding the continental brand through actions that dispel negative perceptions about the business environment on the continent.

​This event is held annually to ensure that the research findings speak to the needs of stakeholders in the sector and to obtain constructive feedback from key stakeholders and researchers in the sector. It also aims to disseminate findings to key stakeholders in tourism, thereby ensuring that research recommendations are implemented, and translated into policy and practice. This year’s webinar was topical as it looked at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector and the potential opportunities going forward.

​During the 2019 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), the President of the Republic Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of expanding the tourism sector to be able to reach 21 million tourist arrivals by 2030 whilst also highlighting the need to focus on lucrative markets such as China and India.

This seminar is held annually to ensure that the research findings address the needs of stakeholders in the sector and to disseminate and discuss the findings of the research studies and to obtain constructive feedback from key stakeholders and researchers in the sector. It also aims to disseminate research findings to key stakeholders in the sector, thereby ensuring that research recommendations are implemented, and translated into policy and practice.

​“Never before has tourism offered us such possibilities. We believe that, with international support, tourism can become one of the corner-stones in the generation of sustained economic growth so critical to the building of our nation."

​Tourism is a crucial sector, and high on the list of our government's priorities. As a country, we already have a vibrant tourism industry and both leisure tourism and business events industry hold massive potential to play an even more meaningful role in the economic transformation of our country and the upliftment of our people and the rest of the continent.

​South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane witnessed the signing of a strategic co-operation agreement between South African Tourism and Tencent, which is a company that owns amongst other things a popular platform in China called WeChat. This cooperation is expected to assist South Africa to have direct access to millions of potential Chinese travelers to market the country as a destination of choice.

​DURBAN (KZN) - Tourism practitioners from across globe met for a two-day workshop to share best practice models, and engage on the methodologies that have the potential to shape the future of sustainable tourism economies in developing countries. 

The Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality will host tourism information sharing sessions in Witsieshoek for Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s)

The Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Department of Economic and Tourism, Ehlanzeni district municipality will host information sharing session in Nelspruit for Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME’s)

Members of the public, industry stakeholders and media are invited to participate in the Tourism Public Lecture that will be streamed live on the Tourism Update Platform on 18 September 2018. Minister Derek Hanekom will host the annual Tourism Public Lecture at the Walter Sisulu University (Mthatha campus) under the theme: “Tourism and the Digital Transformation.” 

​Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom and several emerging South African tourism enterprises are attending the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom will hold a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the State of Palestine, HE Rula Ma’Ayah to discuss strengthening of cooperation in the field of tourism between the two nationals / partners at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg on 13 September 2018.

​We must continuously enhance and expand our attractions; we need constant training to professionalise our services; and we need to market our attractions in the most effective way. We need to work together to ensure ease of travel.  All this in turn creates the right climate and opportunities for investment which will lead to greater growth

​The first group of frontline tourism staff to be trained in Mandarin have completed the initial phase of their training and are heading to China for cultural learning experiences. 

China and Russia are among the top tourist markets for South Africa. The Foreign Language Training Programme will ensure that tourism practitioners are adequately capacitated with a proficiency in Mandarin and Russian.

​The Meetings Africa team aims to showcase Africa as a premier business events destination that cares about its people and the natural environment. Through hosting the event in a responsible manner, it reflects the importance of local economic development, and keeps abreast of international trends.

​The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) at a prestigious event that was witnessed by representatives from the Department of Tourism at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s hotel school.