South Africa launched Phase Three of its Government-Business Partnership on 21 August 2026, formally including tourism as a key sector to drive inclusive economic growth, job creation, and lift economic growth above 3%. The launch was led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and welcomed by Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille.
Government Priorities for Tourism Growth
Tourism, agriculture and agro-processing, and mining are prioritized for their potential to attract investment, generate foreign revenue, and create large-scale jobs. Key government priorities for tourism include improved air access, faster and modern visa processing, stronger destination marketing, enhanced tourist safety, and increased investment in tourism infrastructure.
Tourism Growth Partnership Plan Alignment
The Tourism Growth
Partnership Plan (TGPP), endorsed by Cabinet, aligns government and private sector efforts around five priorities: ease of access, coordinated destination marketing, safety and security, tourism product development, and job creation. Minister Patricia de Lille said the partnership has identified barriers limiting tourism growth and planned necessary interventions.
Monitoring and Implementation Measures
As part of the TGPP, a Project Management Office and a dashboard have been established to measure progress against macroeconomic targets and track implementation. The Department of Tourism will collaborate with the Presidency, other government departments, and the private sector to make Phase Three priorities measurable.
Minister de Lille stated, “Operation Vulindlela now
gives us an opportunity to bring greater momentum, coordination and accountability to this work as we continue to demonstrate that tourism policy is economic policy.”
According to Statistics South Africa, in 2024 tourism supported 954,000 direct jobs and contributed 4.9% to South Africa’s gross domestic product. The sector’s contribution to the economy exceeds that of agriculture, utilities, and construction. Tourism is now formally included in the next phase of the government-business economic partnership to boost investment, employment, and economic growth.
