Minister of tourism, Patricia de Lille welcomes Selectour congress to South Africa

TThe Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, has welcomed the prestigious Selectour Congress to Cape Town, following South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 World Leaders Summit last week.

Addressing delegates at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Minister De Lille said South Africa had once again demonstrated its ability to host major global events with excellence, efficiency, and world-class security.

“Just days ago, South Africa stood proudly on the world stage as we hosted 42 countries at the G20 Leaders Summit. The world witnessed what we already know: that South Africa has the capacity, the capability, and the character to successfully host global gatherings,” Minister De Lille said.

The Minister praised Selectour - the largest network of travel agencies in France - for choosing South Africa as the host of its 50th anniversary congress. She noted that South Africa’s National Convention Bureau had secured dozens of international bids this year, contributing significantly to tourism growth.

“South Africa continues to strengthen its position as a competitive, attractive, and premium tourism destination. This year alone, confirmed international business events represent more than 16,000 delegates and €20 million (R415 million) in economic impact,” she added. Additional bids currently in progress could bring a further €55 million (R1.1 billion) in future economic value through to 2031,” the Tourism Minister stated.

Welcomed by the Minister, the latest Statistics South Africa arrival figures show a remarkable rise in visitor numbers.
• October 2025 recorded 927,426 international arrivals, a 32% increase from October 2024.
• Year-to-date arrivals have reached 8.56 million, significantly higher than the 7.23 million recorded over the same period in 2024.
• South Africa welcomed over 110,000 visitors from France this year, maintaining France’s position among the country’s top five source markets.

“These numbers confirm that South Africa’s tourism sector is full of energy, full of confidence and full of growth,” Minister De Lille said.

The Tourism Minister highlighted progress in expanding the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system under the Government of National Unity. “Citizens of India, China, Mexico and Indonesia will be among the first to benefit from fast, digital visa processing from early next year. Delegates from these countries attending the G20 Summit successfully obtained their visas through the ETA, now in its first phase of rollout,” she said.

The Minister announced another milestone for South Africa’s tourism landscape - the opening of the first Club Med resort in Southern Africa in 2026 along the KwaZulu-Natal coast. “This investment signals strong confidence in South Africa as a high-value destination and expands our luxury offering for European and French travellers,” she said.

Highlighting South Africa’s readiness to welcome the world, Minister De Lille called on global buyers, travel experts, and decision-makers to join the country’s two premier tourism trade shows - Meetings Africa in February 2026 and Africa’s Travel Indaba in May 2026. She noted that these events offer unmatched opportunities to connect with Africa’s tourism products, partners, and narratives.

The Minister encouraged visitors to explore beyond Cape Town, highlighting experiences across all nine provinces - from safaris and wine routes to heritage sites, township experiences, eco-tourism projects, coastal adventures, and the newly launched Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre in the Free State. “That’s where the world’s oldest dinosaur embryo was discovered. Don’t tell me about Jurassic Park - we have the real deal,” she remarked.

Underscoring the strong growth of South Africa’s sports tourism landscape, the Minister welcomed the announcement of a LIV Golf sponsorship - the first time the tournament will take place on African soil - to be hosted at Steyn City in Johannesburg. She added that South Africa is gearing up to host another major global event, the Cricket World Cup in 2027.

Thanking Selectour for choosing South Africa as the destination for its landmark anniversary, the Minister concluded: “Your presence is a powerful affirmation of our country’s strength, beauty, and potential. We are honoured to walk this tourism journey with you.”

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Media Queries:
Aldrin Sampear
Spokesperson for the Minister of Tourism
Email: asampear@tourism.gov.za
Mobile: +27 67 138 3487