CAPE TOWN, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille on Wednesday urged investors to support infrastructure in the country, which not only attracts visitors but also uplifts communities and creates jobs.
De Lille made the remarks on Wednesday while delivering the opening address at the G20 Tourism Investment Summit, currently underway in Cape Town.
"The ground is fertile for shovel-ready infrastructure projects," she said. "This is about reshaping South Africa and positioning Africa as a global tourism powerhouse."
The summit, a G20 legacy project, has brought together investors, private sector leaders, and industry stakeholders to drive investment and develop a robust pipeline for the tourism industry.
In her address, De Lille unveiled eight flagship projects worth nearly 1 billion rand (about 57.2 million U.S. dollars), including the God's Window Skywalk in Mpumalanga Province and the Hole in the Wall Resort in Eastern Cape Province.
"These are projects from both the public and private sectors, with strong return on investment and high community impact," the minister said.
De Lille also highlighted that tourism contributes at least 8.5 percent to South Africa's gross domestic product.
"In July alone, South Africa welcomed over 880,000 visitors, which is a 26 percent increase compared to last year. Behind these numbers are livelihoods, families, and communities," she said. "According to UN Tourism (United Nations World Tourism Organization), South African startups attracted over 39 million U.S. dollars in venture capital between 2019 and 2024. This is more than half of the continent's total in tourism solutions."
She added that UN Tourism will announce 100 scholarships aligned with demand-led skills development in the country.
The government is also working to ease access for more travelers to visit South Africa. "Following the launch of the Trusted Tour Operators Scheme in India and China, our Department of Home Affairs will soon, before the end of September, roll out the Electronic Travel Authorization system," De Lille noted.
"This will digitalize and automate all short-stay visas, enabling secure and seamless travel for tourists across the globe. We are also broadening our offerings through sports tourism," she said. ■
