Minister Patricia de Lille Opens G20 Tourism Investment Summit with R1 Billion in Projects

Johannesburg, South Africa – September 2025
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille officially opened the G20 Tourism Investment Summit, positioning South Africa as a gateway for global tourism investment and growth.

In her keynote address, De Lille highlighted South Africa’s diverse natural beauty, its strong tourism pipeline, and new opportunities for investors. The Summit, described as a G20 legacy project, attracted wide interest from both local and international stakeholders.
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Flagship Projects Worth R1 Billion

De Lille unveiled eight flagship, bankable projects seeking nearly R1 billion in investment. These range from the God’s Window Skywalk in Mpumalanga (R200 million / $10.4 million) to the Hole in the Wall Resort in the Eastern Cape (R141 million / $7.9 million).

“These projects not only promise strong returns, but also uplift communities and create jobs,” De Lille said. “Tourism investment is about livelihoods as much as business.”

Policy Reforms Unlocking Growth

The Minister emphasized the role of the Government of National Unity in driving reforms. Since June 2025, Amended National Treasury Regulation 16 has enabled innovative public-private partnership models, including design-build-operate schemes, blended finance, and even crowdfunding.

“This creates the right environment for investors to bring forward new models and innovations,” she added.

Tourism’s Economic Impact

Tourism currently contributes 8.5% to South Africa’s GDP. In July alone, the country welcomed more than 880,000 visitors, a 26% increase compared to last year.

South Africa also leads Africa in tourism innovation. Between 2019 and 2024, local startups attracted over $39 million in venture capital, accounting for more than half of the continent’s total in tourism-related solutions.

Global Partnerships and Skills Development

The Summit also saw the launch of the “Tourism Doing Business: Investing in South Africa Guidelines”, developed in partnership with UN Tourism, to give investors clarity and confidence.

UN Tourism further announced 100 scholarships to support demand-led skills development in South Africa’s tourism sector. With 56% of the population under 30 and a 95% adult literacy rate, De Lille stressed that South Africa’s workforce is ready for inclusive growth.

Private Sector Confidence

Private sector commitments include the V&A Waterfront’s R20 billion Granger Bay precinct in Cape Town and Club Med’s multi-billion-rand resort in KwaZulu-Natal. Both projects are expected to create thousands of jobs and expand the country’s global appeal.

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Improving Access and Broadening Tourism

South Africa is also improving accessibility with a new Electronic Travel Authorization system, set to launch before the end of September, to digitize and automate short-stay visas.

Beyond traditional attractions, South Africa is pushing into sports tourism. The country is bidding to host Formula 1 at Kyalami, will stage the LIV Golf tournament at Steyn City in 2026, and will welcome the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2027.

South Africa’s G20 Tourism Deliverables

De Lille confirmed South Africa’s commitment to four key G20 deliverables:

1. People-Centred AI & Innovation (tourism hackathon challenge).
2. Tourism Financing & Investment action plan.
3. Enhanced Resilience for sustainable tourism.
4. Air Connectivity improvements for seamless travel.

A Call to Action

“Tourism is labour-intensive. Every investment means jobs for young South Africans. Every rand or dollar invested is an opportunity created,” De Lille concluded.

Delegates were also invited to take advantage of South Africa’s Sho’t Left campaign, with more than 650 discounted tourism deals uploaded for Tourism Month.