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Cabinet officials

South Africa Unveils Green Paper to Boost Inclusive Tourism Growth

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the country prepares for Tourism Month and the upcoming Summer Campaign, the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has welcomed the Cabinet's concurrence of The Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa for public comment. This development comes at a critical time for the global and South African tourism industries, which have seen significant growth in the past decade. The tourism sector has created 780,096 direct South African jobs and contributed 3.7% to the local GDP in 2019, but lags behind its potential due to various challenges. The Green Paper aims to address these issues and accelerate inclusive tourism growth by creating a more sustainable and competitive sector that drives employment and entrepreneurship.

Key Takeaways:

  • The tourism sector has grown for the past decade, earning a reputation as one of the most significant and fastest-growing sectors before COVID-19.
  • In 2019, the tourism sector contributed 3.7% to the local GDP and created 780,096 direct South African jobs.
  • The Green Paper seeks to sustainably grow a more inclusive tourism sector that creates mass employment, reacts to innovations, and adapts to future crises.
  • The policy review process has yielded an enabling regulatory environment for the present and future, especially with regards to technological developments.
  • The vision of the Green Paper is to sustainably and competitively grow the South African economy through an inclusive, inspiring, visitor-oriented tourism sector.
  • The Green Paper aims to address barriers to tourism growth and respond to social cohesion imperatives of the country.

Statistics:

  • 3.7%: Contribution of the tourism sector to the local GDP in 2019.
  • 780,096: Number of direct South African jobs created by the tourism sector in 2019.
  • 1996: Year the Tourism White Paper was introduced.
  • 2023: The year the Green Paper is being published for public comment.

Sources:

  • "To usher in Tourism Month and the upcoming Summer Campaign, the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, welcomes Cabinets concurrence of The Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa to be published for public comment." - Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)
  • "The tourism sector has continued to grow for the past decade, earning the reputation of being one of the most significant and fastest-growing sectors before COVID-19." -
  • "In 2019, it contributed 3.7% to the local GDP and created 780,096 direct South African jobs." -
  • "Despite numerous advances, the tourism sector lags relative to its potential." -
  • "To respond to this challenge and to accelerate inclusive tourism growth, the Department of Tourism embarked on a process of reviewing the 1996 Tourism White Paper." -
  • "The Green Paper seeks to sustainably grow a more inclusive tourism sector that creates mass employment, reacts to innovations and adapts to future crises." -
  • "The Green Paper seeks to facilitate growth and transformation of the tourism sector by creating an enabling regulatory environment for the present and future, especially with regards to technological developments." -
  • "I, therefore, invite the public to study The Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa and provide us with substantive comments, stated Minister De Lille." - 2022 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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