I applaud all parties for reaching consensus on the positioning of the Shangoni Gate in the northern part of the Kruger National Park (KNP) as this is a major victory for tourism development and growth.​

​By promoting cultural tourism and investing in cultural heritage, countries can generate economic growth and create jobs. Furthermore, cultural products such as art and music can be used to attract tourists or investors, helping to boost the economy.​

The Deputy Minister of Tourism Mr. Fish Mahlalela will visit the Limpopo province to assess the progress of the infrastructure projects that are being built to drive tourism to the Kruger National Park’s (KNP) Shangoni Gate and the surrounding communities. ​

​The Department is honoured to have contributed to the infrastructure enhancements at the KoMjekejeke Heritage site. This beautiful site is a cradle for the valuable historical and cultural artefacts of the Ndebele people, and a must-see destination for local and international visitors. ​

Dr Razeena Omar, CEO of CapeNature, welcomed the partnership, saying: “We welcomed the opportunity to manage Wolwekloof as a tourism facility with enthusiasm and pledged our full commitment to restore the site. 

As part of the Tourism Sector Master Plan’s objectives to stimulate demand by investing in tourism infrastructure projects to grow the country’s tourism offering, the Department of Tourism has a number of tourism infrastructure projects underway across the country.​

I visited the project yesterday to inspect progress and engaged the local leaders, local chiefs and the contractor. The project is progressing well and I impressed on all stakeholders the importance of completing this project on time and within budget for the benefit of the community and the tourism sector at large. I also urged all partners to keep working together and maintain good working relations as it is only through partnerships that we will succeed in project implementation. ​

Minister de Lille will be visiting the site to inspect progress and engage local community leaders and the contractor. ​

“The Manyane Lodge is one of the longstanding, delayed and incomplete projects and my visit today was geared towards meeting with stakeholders to inject urgency into this project. The delay on this project has a negative impact on tourism activities, the community and especially the tourism sector in the region and it is imperative that we finally complete this project, “Minister De Lille said.​

As part of oversight duties and to help speed up delivery of critical tourism infrastructure projects, on Monday 27 November 2023, Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille will visit the Manyane Lodge Project in the North West. ​

As Government we working with our key stakeholders to make significant strides in assisting tourism businesses to respond to the needs of the visitors by capitalising the Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF), the Green Tourism Incentive Programme, the Market Access Support Programme, the Tourism Grading Support Programme as well as interventions like the Expanded Public Works Programme. ​

By working together to promote responsible tourism, empower local communities, and enhance the tourism experience, this collaboration has the potential to shape a more sustainable and culturally enriching travel landscape in South Africa. This concept has evolved into a formal Memorandum of Understanding, serving as a testament to the commitment of both parties to a shared vision of responsible and impactful tourism. ​

​With our vast natural beauty and wildlife, the Kruger National Park (KNP) is a must-see attraction on the bucket lists of travellers from all over the world and the country. As with all tourist attractions, it is vital that this attraction is maintained to provide tourists with a world class and authentically South African experience.

As we aim to continue attracting more tourists to South Africa, continued investment and maintenance of tourist attractions is of strategic importance and this can only be achieved by government and the private sector working together. This partnership has been demonstrated in a number of projects within the Kruger National Park.​

We all gathered here as we believe that it is only through linking our collective resources, and maximizing the synergy of our combined actions, that we will be able to discharge the socio-economic changes our society requires.​

Ahead of the Tourism Budget Vote tomorrow, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, visited the Agulhas National Park to assess progress on the Department’s infrastructure development programme at the Lighthouse Precinct in the Park.​

Meetings Africa is the one trade show that not only brings the African continent’s business events products and offerings under a single roof, it further places a specific focus on SMMEs and their value chain to the entire tourism sector.​

​The visit follows a meeting between the Minister, members of the Robben Island Council and Freedom Park Council. This visit is part of the Department’s efforts at reviving the island and bringing more tourists to the iconic site.​

​Meetings Africa, a gathering of Africa’s various stakeholders in the Meeting Incentives Conferences/Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector of the burgeoning tourism industry will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, from 27 February to 01 March 2023. It is set to buzz with conversations while business deals are being clinched. 

​ “We welcome the return of Africa’s largest travel show to Durban. Africa’s Travel Indaba is the perfect platform to promote South African products. As registration is now officially open, we invite businesses in the tourism sector not to miss this opportunity and register early in order to fully explore opportunities to meet new clients next year and expose their work.” adds EThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.​

​It has been a great pleasure for me to be part of this watershed moment in our quest to make tourism an enterprise for everyone in our country especially in this Local Municipality as it houses one of the underdeveloped gates of the Kruger National Park.

​Programme Director, it is a privilege and honor indeed to be part of this inaugural Public Lecture to share and exchange ideas with key sector stakeholders, policy makers, practitioners and academics on emerging issues in the recovery of the sector with a view to enhance strategies, planning, programmes and policy decision-making within the sector. ​

​Okhahlamba District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal is a popular gateway to the Northern Drakensberg tourism attractions and holiday resorts. The Department identified the town of Bergville to launch its Service excellence awareness and capacity building programmes to enhance the areas service levels. ​

​I’m excited because we are not only here to celebrate the launch of the African Royals Edition of the Luc Mo Legacy Range, but even more because the brand is female and black owned. This is inspired by our government’s transformation  agenda of the economy and the means of production.​

​The Department of Tourism today hosted its 10th Tourism Research Seminar with the theme: "Advancing Tourism Growth and Development through Research: Towards a Road to Tourism Recovery”

​Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. I am delighted to join you this afternoon at this very special site. The Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve, as you all know, is part of the Cape Floral Kingdom. This UNESCO listed World Heritage Site stretches from Table Mountain in the Cape Town, all the way to the Baviaanskloof here in the Eastern Cape. The fynbos biome is one of only six floral kingdoms in the world, with an estimated economic value of R77 million per year based on harvests of fynbos products and tourism.​

​South African boasts a rich biodiversity and is world renowned for its ecotourism offerings. Today Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, presided over the handover ceremony of the Baviaanskloof Interpretation Centre and Leopard Trail Hikers Huts in the Eastern Cape. These are the Department of Tourism’s most recent destination enhancements projects which aim to further boost the supply of tourism attractions.​

​​​​The adage: “Necessity is the mother of invention” has never been more true than for the recovery of the tourism sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to innovation, lateral thinking and agile learning with collaboration and partnerships being intrinsic requirements to navigating the pandemic. ​

​​​​The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, conducted a site visit yesterday and today to assess progress on the infrastructure upgrade programme to tourism attractions in parks in the Western Cape Province. The Department of Tourism seeks to implement destination enhancement and route development projects to diversify tourism offerings and enhance visitor experience in identified priority areas.​

​With South Africa currently in Adjusted Alert Level One for Covid Response and the recent announcement that the country has been taken off the UK’s red list, the tourism sector has kicked into gear its Global Advocacy Programme to ramp up advocacy efforts in key source markets around the world. 

​Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela visited the Golden Gate Highlands National Park on Sunday, 26 September 2021 as part of the Department of Tourism’s activitie​s to commemorate Tourism Month across the country.​

​Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela will visit the Mpumalanga Province to engage with sector stakeholders and the community to rally behind the implementation of the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan that was recently approved by Cabinet.

​This infrastructure investment is an important contribution to the strengthening of the supply side of the tourism market. More broadly, the country’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan is anchored on infrastructure investment and development.

​Infrastructure projects capitalised and commissioned by Government and the Private Sector are central to the Economic Recovery Plan as they provide the much-needed job opportunities, upskilling of workers as well as general economic activity with potential to increasing GDP growth.

​The Deputy Minister will visit various tourism establishments, and engage with product owners with the view of assessing how all the spheres of government can intervene to revive tourism in the province.

​The Department of Tourism, in collaboration with Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA), will host a virtual dialogue on Service Excellence that will bring together sector partners and stakeholders to share information and expertise on the approaches and models utilised to improve service levels in the tourism sector.