Deputy Minister of Tourism, Ms Makhotso Sotyu, said: “Tourism transformation becomes meaningful when black entrepreneurs are able to own productive assets, improve their businesses and compete in the market. Hotel 247 demonstrates the value of combining financial support with entrepreneurial ambition. We want to see more women participating in tourism not only as employees, but as owners of sustainable enterprises that create employment and contribute to their communities.”

It is a great pleasure to be here in White River during Tourism Month to celebrate the official launch of Hotel 247’s restaurant. Today is about much more than opening the doors of this restaurant. It is about opening doors to ownership, investment, enterprise, and opportunity. Hotel 247 gives us a tangible example of what transformation should look like when it moves beyond policy and becomes visible in the economy.

The launch of the Hotel 247 facility takes place as South Africa celebrates Tourism Month in the month of September, highlighting the significance of the sector as an economic driver that creates entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. The event will celebrate the role of women in building transformative businesses, and it will highlight the importance of domestic travel in ensuring the sustainability of tourism economies.