September 11, 2025
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Caption: A group photo of G20 delegates ahead of the meeting

 

By Lwazi Raul-Shongwe and Kopano Dibakwane
Delegates of the G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting from various countries were warmly welcomed to the province by senior officials from Mpumalanga DEDT(Department of Tourism and Economic Development) led by MEC Jesta Sidell, on behalf of the provincial government, at the Premier Hotel, Winkler, in the City of Mbombela on Tuesday 9 September 2025.
In her welcoming speech, MEC Sidell said the Working Group will play an important role in deliberating on means to develop a G20 Tourism Action Plan.
Sidell also took the opportunity to encourage the delegates to explore various world class tourist destinations that the province of Mpumalanga has to offer.
“ It is a profound honour to stand before you today as we open the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting. As you engage in your important deliberations, I encourage you to take a moment to experience the warmth of our people and the beauty of our province.
“ I hope you will have the opportunity to explore our natural treasures, from the panoramic views of God’s Window to the majestic Blyde River Canyon,” said MEC Sidell.
The Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, also extended his welcome to the G20 Working Group and Tourism Ministers who will participate in a weeklong set of meetings.
Premier Ndlovu, who will reportedly be amongst the guests to address the session, said the meetings will be led by the South African Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
Caption:(from left) DEDT HOD, Immy Serakalala, MEC Sidell, and the Acting MTPA Board Chairperson, Amos Fish Mahlalela

“ The Tourism Working Group is among the 16 working groups of the G20, focusing on ‘solidarity, equality and sustainability’: a theme for South Africa’s Presidency that seeks to harness global will and capabilities to confront the enormous challenges the world is facing.

“As the first African country to assume the G20 Presidency, South Africa is utilising its term to advance the African developmental agenda. The meetings are also supported by South Africa’s intent to champion the agenda of the global South within the group.

“ Appreciating the composition of the G20 as a bloc of developing and developed countries, the work of the Tourism Group also endeavours to strengthen North-South Cooperation and commit to multilateralism within the tourism industry and global governance at large,” said Premier Ndlovu.

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The Premeir added that the G20 economies represent around 85 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), over 75 percent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.

Mpumalanga will reportedly be hosting a number of the G20 Tourism meetings which will culminate in a G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting to be held on Friday 12 September 2025, at the Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza Camp, in the iconic Kruger National Park.

“ In 2023, the G20 welcomed 69 percent of all international tourists and accounted for 71 percent of tourism exports worldwide. In 2023, Tourism direct GDP reached 3.1 percent of the G20 economies.

“ Tourism is recognised for its immense potential and its significant contribution to the economy. Tourism is one of the vital economic sectors contributing significantly to socio-economic development, but it remains vulnerable to natural and manmade hazards,” said Ndlovu.

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