In an assertive and strategic effort to further boost the tourism sector, South Africa sent a formidable delegation to the just concluded World Travel Market (WTM) which took place from 6th to 8th November 2023 in London.
Led by the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Patricia De Lille, the South African contingent to the global trade show comprises of 27 South African exhibitors, showcasing a mix of the country’s diverse tourism products and experiences. The delegation, including provincial tourism authorities, destination management companies, tour operators, airlines and accommodation groups and establishments aims to leverage the event to further bolster the country’s tourism recovery.
South Africa is also promoted its hidden gems and little towns and dorpies and the work that the South African Township and Village Tourism Association (SATIVITO) is doing in South Africa.
Representatives from the Mier and Khomani San villages in the Northern Cape are also took part in a panel discussion at WTM London.
“WTM is pivotal for re-establishing connections, gleaning valuable market insights, and promoting our remarkable destination. As a highly competitive destination, we as South Africa, must show our partners that we know that travellers’ needs have evolved and that in fact we do have what they are looking for.
“Together as a greater tourism industry, we approach WTM with a singular goal: to connect with our various partners who are key in helping us achieve our goal of growing arrivals to our country. Our trade partners are key in putting together packages that attract visitors to our country while policy makers also play an important role in how South Africa is perceived by travellers.
“We are serious about growing arrivals to our country for our sector to have a positive impact on the South African economy and we are unambiguous in the stance that achieving this will take partnerships between the public and private sector,” said Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
Minister de Lille participated at the annual WTM Ministerial Summit where she joined 40 tourism ministers from around the world at this event hosted in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). This year the ministers placed the spotlight on the importance of education in the tourism sector.
Minister de Lille’s remarks at the summit were lauded as the Minister shared the need for the private sector to project the future needs of tourism, the skills and training that will be needed to support the growth and changes in the tourism sector so that young people are directed into the requisite fields of study in tourism.
At the Minister’s Summit at WTM, minister de Lille said: “There is a misalignment between the skills currently being taught and what is needed in the sector. The skills gap for the future of tourism can only be filled with a partnership between the public and private sector”.
Minister de Lille also shared information on the Department of Tourism’s skills and training opportunities provided to young people from across South Africa. These programmes targeting unemployed youth represents a multi-million investments into empowering young people to enter the tourism sector.
Following the hosting of the BRICS Tourism Ministers meeting in Cape Town in October, minister de Lille will also be signing an Action Plan with Brazil’s Minister of Tourism, Celso Sabino on joint marketing and collaborative efforts geared towards growing tourism between South Africa and Brazil, especially in light of the relaunch of SAA’s direct flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg which took off in the past few days.
