By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
The Director-General of South African Department of Tourism, Nkhumeleni Victor Vele, chaired the first G20 Tourism Working Group meeting which was attended by senior officials and experts in the tourism sector of the G20 countries, invited guest countries and international organisations.
South Africa successfully hosted the meeting virtually from the Head Office of the Department of International Relations and Co-operation(DIRCO) on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
The meeting marked the beginning of a series of engagements throughout the year, leading up to the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in September 2025, in Mpumalanga Province.
The delegates were welcomed by South African Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, through a video-recorded message, in which she expressed South Africa’s excitement to preside on the meeting.
“ We are proud to host the G20 for the first time on African soil. As you convene, I implore on all delegates to focus on how we can use tourism to change people’s lives, communities and the world,” said De Lille.
During the meeting, delegates deliberated extensively and agreed on 4 priorities for 2025, which include; People-Centered AI(Artificial Intelligence) and Innovation, Tourism Financing and Investment, Air Connectivity for Seamless Travel, as well as Enhanced Resilience for Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism Development.
Tasneem Carrim, spokesperson for the Department of Tourism, said the Tourism Working Group will exchange knowledge and best practices among the member countries with a view of crafting actionable deliverables.
Carrim also said that the Tourism Working Group is among 16 working groups of the G20 during South Africa’s Presidency focusing on key factors such as solidarity, equality and sustainability.
“As the first African country to preside on the G20 presidency, South Africa is utilising its term to drive a development agenda to benefit the African continent. The G20 economies represent around 85% of the global gross domestic product(GDP), over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
“ In 2023, the G20 welcomed 69% of all international tourists and accounted for 71% of tourism exports worldwide. In 2023 Tourism Direct GDP reached 3.1% of the G20 economies,” said Carrim.
According to Carrim, tourism is one of the important economic sectors and it contributes significantly to social-economic development globally, yet it’s in a vulnerable state due to natural and man-made hazards. Carrim added that tourism is growing faster than most other sectors, and the same applies to Africa.
“ In 2023 the (African) continent’s Tourism direct GDP reached 85 US billion, representing 3.5% of the region’s GDP. This value is still below the pre-pandemic US billion 94 reached in 2019(4.3% share),” said Carrim.
Air connectivity, limited investments, financing for tourism development, positioning and marketing, social and environmental sustainability, as well as safety and security, are said to be amongst the challenges facing the African travel and tourism sector.
Carrim stated that the Tourism Working Group meeting also appreciated the intention by South Africa to build on the efforts and successes of the last three G20 Presidencies of the Global South and to champion Africa’s development agenda.
“ South Africa’s tourism priorities for the 2025 G20 Presidency are aligned with the continental priorities as expressed in Agenda 2063 as well as with the core objectives contained in the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa-Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the strategic roadmap guiding the promotion of sustainable tourism development across the African continent,” said Carrim.
Upcoming G20 Tourism meeting in South Africa include:
• 2nd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting: 11-13 May 2025(KwaZulu-Natal Province)
• 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting: 10-11 September 2025( Mpumalanga Province)
• G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting: 12 September 2025(Mpumalanga Province)
