Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille Outlines R2.43 Billion Budget Plan to Boost South Africa’s Travel

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has tabled a bold R2.434 billion budget for the Department of Tourism for the 2025/26 financial year, aiming to boost economic growth, support community development, and position South Africa as a globally competitive destination.

Delivered on 8 July 2025, the budget speech highlighted key investments, oversight reforms, and strategic partnerships aligned with the Government of National Unity’s five-year Programme of Action, which seeks to drive job creation, reduce poverty, and lower the cost of living.

Where the Money Goes: Budget Breakdown

Minister de Lille provided a clear breakdown of the R2.434 billion allocation:

• R1.3 billion to South African Tourism (SAT) for domestic and international destination marketing.
• R331 million to Destination Development, largely funding the Working for Tourism Programme.
• R331 million to Tourism Sector Support Services, including:
  • Green Tourism Incentive Programme (GTIP)
  • Tourism Grading Programme
  • Tourism Transformation Fund (TTF)
  • Market Access Support Programme

The funding also covers support for small businesses, community lodges, and tourism infrastructure in underserved regions.

Accountability and Oversight Reforms

In response to concerns from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Tourism, de Lille announced:

• Finalisation of the Tourism Amendment Bill, focusing on governance, short-term rentals, and grading enforcement.
• New contractual deliverables for all major funding programmes, including 60-day approval timelines and consequence management.
• Implementation of the Community Tourism Aftercare Programme, which provides mentorship, marketing support, and governance training to local lodges.

Real-time public dashboards, internal control enhancements, and a digital transformation roadmap are also in the pipeline.

Tourism By the Numbers: 2024/25 Successes

De Lille celebrated strong tourism recovery results:

• 9.1 million international visitors in 2024/25
• R92.8 billion in foreign direct spend
• 40 million domestic overnight trips, contributing R133.1 billion
• 266 SMMEs supported at global trade shows
• 103 tourism properties retrofitted under the GTIP
• 2,305 Tourism Monitors trained and deployed with a spend of R144 million
• 40% of procurement awarded to women-owned businesses
• 100% of compliant invoices paid within 30 days

Tourism Growth Partnership Plan: Five Pillars for Transformation

De Lille introduced the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, setting targets for 2030 and built around five core pillars:

1. Ease of Access – visa reform, road and air connectivity
2. Coordinated Destination Marketing – domestic, regional, and international
3. Tourist Safety and Security – support services and crisis response
4. Tourism Product Development – immersive, high-quality experiences
5. Job Creation – youth employment and skills training

An Execution Lab will be hosted later this month to develop actionable implementation timelines across government and private sectors.

Domestic Campaigns and Global Positioning

The “South Africa Awaits – Come Find Your Joy!” campaign boosted international visibility, generating a 35% increase in website traffic and over 1.2 million digital engagements. Domestically, campaigns like Sho’t Left Travel Week led to a 9% rise in interprovincial travel, 914 new jobs, and 920 travel deals.

The Department will invest R20 million in additional domestic tourism marketing and support 105 MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) bid submissions, with the aim of securing R120 million in new economic activity and hosting 10 inclusive regional events.

Tourism Infrastructure and Investment Conference

Infrastructure investment is a major theme:

• R95 million allocated to maintain and enhance state-owned tourism sites
• 25 new community lodges and tourism routes to be completed
• Finalisation of short-term rental regulation through a new industry framework
• Hosting the first Tourism Investment Conference in September 2025 in Cape Town, with a goal to secure five anchor investors and unveil 30 high-priority projects

Conclusion: “Tourism as a Turbo-Charger”

De Lille closed her speech with a vision of tourism as a “turbo-charger” for growth and social upliftment. By leveraging public-private partnerships, embedding accountability, and investing in infrastructure and people, the Department of Tourism hopes to power a resilient, inclusive, and future-facing sector.

“Together, we will create a tourism sector that powers South Africa’s future,” she said.