On 30 August 2023, the Ministry of Tourism published its Green Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa for public comments. The tourism sector continues to play a significant role in the South African economy in terms of employment creation and its substantial contribution to GDP. The vision of the green paper is to develop a sustainable and competitive South African economy through an inclusive, inspiring, and visitor-oriented tourism sector.
The policy objectives
- Create an enabling regulatory environment for the present and future that considers technological developments.
- Increase tourism’s contribution to the broader economy through geographic, year-round spread of visitor volumes and revenue.
- Drive increased employment and entrepreneurship as an integral part of growth efforts, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
- Promote a more inclusive sector through increased skills development and financial support.
- Provide for the sector’s enhanced resilience and ability to respond to crises.
- Improve the capacity for research and knowledge management to inform decision-making.
- Attract tourism investment and develop supportive tourism infrastructure.
- Ensure sustainable tourism development: economic, social, cultural, and environmental.