Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille showcases South Africa's growth at Selectour Congress

The decision to host the Selectour Congress in South Africa serves as a major endorsement, highlighting the country's status as a leading destination for both tourism and meetings.

South Africa’s Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, expressed this sentiment at the opening of the congress held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Addressing delegates from the largest network of travel agencies in France, De Lille stated that South Africa consistently demonstrates its capability and capacity to host major global events with excellence.

“Your presence here is not only a vote of confidence in our country; it is a powerful affirmation that South Africa is a premium tourism destination - competitive, attractive, and full of possibilities,” she said.

De Lille highlighted that South Africa is building on the momentum from successfully hosting the G20 Summit in Johannesburg.

This year, the country secured numerous international bids for future business events, representing over 16,000 delegates and generating more than €20 million (R415 million) in immediate economic impact.

“There are additional bids in progress that could deliver over €55 million (R1.1 billion) in future economic value and attract more than 40 000 delegates through 2031. These figures illustrate the importance of business events to South Africa’s prosperity and underline why gatherings like this one matter so deeply,” she added.

Statistics South Africa recently released the latest tourism arrival figures, revealing that October 2025 recorded 927,426 international arrivals - a remarkable 32% increase compared to October 2024.

De Lille noted that this surge has pushed South Africa’s year-to-date arrivals to 8.56 million, far exceeding the 7.23 million recorded during the same period last year.

The country also welcomed over 110 000 visitors from France, which remains one of our top five overseas source markets.

The minister also took the opportunity to highlight advancements in tourism made by the Government of Unity through the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.

“Citizens from India, China, Mexico and Indonesia will be among the first, early next year, to experience the ability to apply for a visa from the comfort of their homes and receive confirmation within 72 hours.

"The G20 Leaders’ Summit delegates from these four countries secured their visas through the ETA, which is currently in its first phase of rollout.”

De Lille also informed delegates from France about the upcoming opening of the first Club Med in Southern Africa, located in KwaZulu-Natal along the Indian Ocean shoreline.

“This premium, all-inclusive resort will elevate our luxury offering and expand the choices available to European and French travellers. We are proud of this investment as it signals confidence, partnership, and belief in South Africa’s future as a high-value destination.

"South Africa is a premium destination not because of any single attraction, but due to the sheer diversity of experiences across our nine beautiful provinces.”

Looking ahead, South African Tourism will host Meetings Africa from February 24 to 26, 2026, in Johannesburg, its flagship business events trade show where African destinations meet global buyers and decision-makers.

It will also host Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban in May 2026, one of the largest tourism marketing platforms on the African continent.

“Colleagues, you have come to South Africa at a time when our tourism sector is full of energy, confidence, and growth," said the minister.