Government has approved the White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa – a crucial policy framework to guide the next phase of the country’s tourism development.
It was officially gazetted on Friday, October 4 after a comprehensive Department of Tourism review of the Tourism White Paper of 1996.
“Finalisation of the white paper is a milestone for the tourism sector as it will provide guidance to the next phase of tourism development and ensure the country, as a tourist destination, moves towards reaching its full potential,” said Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille in a press statement.
The policy envisages a sustainable, competitive and inclusive tourism sector that leverages innovation and digital technology and addresses barriers to tourism growth, builds partnerships and responds to the social imperatives of the country, she added.
De Lille said it would further will enable the tourism sector’s contribution to the broader economy, employment and entrepreneurship while ensuring that the sector becomes resilient,
Key focus areas of the policy include:
- Promoting safety and security
- Facilitating ease of access
- Domestic tourism
- Crisis management
- Promoting transformation
- Enabling technological developments
- Recommitting to the responsible tourism agenda.
The white paper has been reviewed in tourism stakeholder engagements and bilateral government department sessions across the country's nine provinces.
The process was open to public comment for 60 days from September 1, 2023. Approximately 3 500 public comments were considered in developing and strengthening the latest Tourism White Paper.
“We would like to thank all stakeholders and the public who took the time to review and provide input into the policy process. It was clear that stakeholders supported the policy review process, which was identified by many as long overdue. We now need a collective effort to build on the relationships that have been established as we move towards implementing the Tourism White Paper principles so that tourism can reach its full potential in South Africa,” said De Lille.
