Tourism’s role as a driver of jobs, economic growth and inclusion dominated debate during the Department of Tourism’s Budget Vote on May 26 with government defending the sector’s recovery and opposition parties raising concerns about governance, safety, accountability and whether growth is translating into meaningful employment and transformation outcomes.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille used her Budget Vote speech to highlight international arrivals, job creation and visa reforms, saying the Department of Tourism has been allocated R2.54 billion (US$155 million) for the 2026/27 financial year with R1.278 billion (US$78.2 million) for SA Tourism.
According to De Lille, tourism contributed 4.9% to GDP and sustained 954 000 direct jobs in 2024 with “one in every 18 jobs in South Africa” now linked to the sector.
She said government and industry jointly adopted the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan with 2030 targets including increasing international arrivals to 15 million, increasing direct tourism employment to one million and growing domestic tourism spend to R139.4 billion (US$8.5 billion).
New air routes have been launched between Johannesburg and Perth and Cape Town and Mauritius and a Madrid-Johannesburg route through Air Europa will launch in June, she added.
Safety
Tourism safety also featured prominently following the recent murder of two South African tourists in the Kruger National Park.
De Lille said the department continues to work with law enforcement agencies through the National Tourism Safety Forum.
Deputy Tourism Minister Maggie Sotyu said tourism safety remains one of the department’s highest priorities and highlighted the Tourism Monitors Programme as an intervention supporting visitor safety and youth employment.
Sotyu also stressed the importance of inclusion and geographic spread in tourism development, saying tourism growth “must not be concentrated only in established tourism hubs”.
Criticism
Opposition parties, however, challenged government’s claims about transformation, governance and employment outcomes.
DA MP Haseenabanu Ismail argued that tourism safety remains a key barrier to growth.
“Tourism monitors are placed at key sites but rural areas remain exposed. We need trained, accredited monitors in rural nodes,” she said.
Ismail questioned the department’s accountability mechanisms, arguing that there is no proof of outcomes or return on investment.
“We spend on marketing but have no data on bookings generated. There is no measurement of return on investment and key performance indicators. Every campaign must report on cost, reach, conversions and jobs created,” she said.
Ismail also criticised governance issues at SA Tourism, referring to investigations involving the entity’s suspended CEO and ongoing Board instability.
“The sector supports nearly a million jobs but too many are short-term, low-wage and unevenly spread. The recovery is happening but most South Africans are being left behind,” she said.
MK Party MP Noma Buthelezi criticised the tourism budget, arguing that tourism growth is not translating into permanent employment or broad-based ownership.
“The department says tourism supports 1.8 million jobs. However, their own report admits that there is no process to turn temporary jobs into permanent jobs.”
Buthelezi also criticised lack of tourism safety interventions in townships and villages and said organisations such as the South African Township and Village Tourism Organisation are operating without government support.
Responding to criticism during her closing remarks, De Lille defended the sector’s performance and rejected claims that tourism is in crisis.
“Tourism is not even recovering anymore. Tourism is growing,” she said.
De Lille also defended SA Tourism’s leadership, saying the entity successfully delivered Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba despite ongoing governance scrutiny.
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