President Ramaphosa Highlights Tourism's Potential For Inclusive Growth In South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa's tourism sector, supported by the country's natural beauty, has great potential to contribute to inclusive growth.

The president noted that this is a time to reflect on why South Africa is such an appealing destination for visitors. He highlighted that the country's natural wonders are an important part of its heritage and a valuable asset to the economy, attracting millions of tourists every year, SA News reported.

Aside from its natural resources, like beaches, national parks, and wildlife conservation areas, South Africa's cultural and heritage tourism is also growing. The country is home to 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Robben Island and the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng, which has some of the world's largest collections of Hominid fossils.

Ramaphosa last week visited Robben Island in the Western Cape, one of South Africa's key tourist destinations. A major industry publication recently ranked Robben Island alongside Table Mountain and the Kruger National Park as top tourist attractions in Africa.

Last year, the World Economic Forum named South Africa Africa's top tourism destination, citing factors such as the country's business environment, technology, and tourism infrastructure.

The president mentioned that the tourism sector has the potential to grow even more. The government is implementing several strategies to bring tourism numbers back to pre-pandemic levels.

These plans include making tourism visas easier to obtain, simplifying the process for tour operator licenses, investing more in tourism infrastructure, and enhancing safety at tourist sites. This year, South Africa will host the first-ever G20 summit on African soil.

Ramaphosa said this is a great opportunity to showcase and promote South Africa as a top tourism destination. According to UN Tourism, the G20 countries account for over 70% of global tourist arrivals and 82% of tourism's worldwide economic impact.

Like Brazil did last year, South Africa plans to highlight the importance of tourism in creating jobs and supporting sustainable development in the Global South.

After a decline in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, international tourism in South Africa is growing again. In 2023, the country saw around 8.5 million international visitors who spent more than R95 billion.

Domestic tourism remains the backbone of the tourism economy. From January to July last year, South Africans took more than 21 million trips to explore their own country.