Media statement by South African Tourism

SSouth Africa’s tourism sector recorded a landmark performance in 2025, with total international tourist arrivals reaching 10.5 million, surpassing both pre-pandemic 2019 levels and 2024 figures. This growth reflects a strong and sustained recovery, underpinned by renewed global demand and sector-wide collaboration.

Every visitor to South Africa contributes to foreign revenue earnings, supports local businesses, bolsters local economies and helps to create and sustain jobs. Tourism is estimated to sustain 1.8 million direct and indirect jobs, with approximately one job created for every 13 international arrivals. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, tourism contributes nearly 9% of South Africa’s GDP, underscoring its strategic importance to the national economy.

Building on this positive momentum, South African Tourism has taken deliberate steps to strengthen its executive leadership capacity and institutional stability.

The organisation has formally appointed Dr Shamilla Chettiar as Acting Chief Executive Officer, providing clear executive leadership and strategic oversight during the transition period, while the Chief Executive Officer remains on suspension. Dr Chettiar currently serves as ​Deputy Director-General: Destination Development at the Department of Tourism.

In addition, South African Tourism has successfully concluded permanent appointments to the roles of Chief Financial Officer, Chief Audit Executive and Chief Convention Bureau Officer, reinforcing financial governance, risk management and the growth of the business events sector. These appointments significantly enhance institutional capability, strengthen governance stability and support delivery across South African Tourism’s core mandate areas.

Following the recent resignations of the Chief Operations Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, South African Tourism has advertised the positions and due process will be followed to fill these vacancies.

Importantly, South African Tourism is working closely with its industry partners, including the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) to continue on this positive growth, strengthen private-public collaboration and advance the implementation of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan which has been endorsed by cabinet.

South African Tourism board remains committed to transparent governance and accountability.

ENDS

Media Enquiries:

Thandiwe Mathibela: GM: Global PR, Communications & Stakeholder Relations

Email: thandiwe@southafrica.net OR mediaq@southafrica.net