The tourism minister was honoured for strengthening collaboration between government and the private sector. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) presented Patricia de Lille with its Global Champion Award during the WTTC Global Summit in the Maltese capital of Valletta on Friday (9/10).

The summit brought together more than a thousand delegates, including over 200 leading global travel and tourism chief executives and government leaders. South Africa welcomed a record 10.5-million international arrivals in 2025, with the growth reflecting efforts to strengthen partnerships between government and private businesses.

De Lille was recognising for her leadership in advancing travel and tourism, said her spokesperson, Aldrin Sampear. She dedicated the award to the entire South African tourism sector, particularly workers who keep the industry operating around the clock.

“I am deeply honoured by this recognition, but this award belongs to the entire South African tourism sector, especially the workers who keep our industry running day and night. I have consistently said that our record-breaking 10.5-million international arrivals in 2025 were not a coincidence.

“They are the result of deliberate collaboration between government and the private sector through our Tourism Growth Partnership Plan. This recognition once again affirms what we have always said: Tourism policy is economic policy,” said De Lille.

According to Statistics South Africa, tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product increased from 4.4% in 2023 to 4.9% in 2024. The sector supported 953,981 direct jobs in 2024, accounting for 5.7% of the country’s labour force.

The WTTC forecast that South Africa’s travel and tourism sector would support 1.9-million direct and indirect jobs in 2025, representing 11.3% of national employment, while contributing an estimated R659.8bn to the economy.

By 2035, the sector could support more than 620,000 additional jobs and contribute R911.7bn to the economy.

The international recognition also affirmed Cabinet’s endorsement of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to include tourism as a strategic economic growth sector under phase three of the Government-Business Partnership, said Sampear.

The award follows the successful conclusion of the second Tourism Infrastructure Investment Summit, where the pipeline of bankable tourism projects from the public and private sectors increased from eight in 2025 to 15 projects, representing R3.5bn in investment opportunities.

WTTC president and CEO Gloria Guevara credited De Lille with helping strengthen cooperation between government and industry.

“Minister De Lille has been a strong champion of engagement with the private sector, recognising that sustainable tourism growth is only possible when governments and businesses work together towards common goals.

“Her leadership and commitment to collaboration have helped strengthen South Africa’s travel and tourism sector and unlock opportunities for investment, job creation and long-term growth,” said Guevara.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cvdw

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