Hosted at the Durban International Convention Centre under the theme “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy,” the event placed strong emphasis on tourism’s growing role in economic development, infrastructure investment, regional integration, job creation and intra-African travel.
The opening ceremony drew high-profile leaders including Cyril Ramaphosa, Patricia de Lille, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Rev Musa Zondi, and eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba.
Throughout the event, speakers presented tourism as more than just a leisure sector, describing it as a strategic economic pillar capable of driving continental growth, boosting investment and strengthening Africa’s global competitiveness.
President Ramaphosa told delegates that South Africa recorded 10.5 million international visitor arrivals in 2025, a figure he said reflects increasing global confidence in the country as a travel destination.
“Tourism is more than a sector of the economy. It is a living expression of who we are as a people,” Ramaphosa said during his keynote address.
The President stressed that African travellers themselves are playing a major role in the continent’s tourism growth. He noted that nearly three-quarters of South Africa’s international arrivals originate from countries within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
“It is significant that three-quarters of international arrivals come from the SADC region. This tells us something important: Africans are choosing Africa,” he said.
Ramaphosa said South Africa is intensifying efforts to improve regional tourism integration through initiatives such as the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA, which aims to simplify travel between participating African countries through a single visa system.
He added that government is also working with regional partners to expand one-stop border posts and improve cross-border tourism routes to make travel easier, faster and more efficient for visitors moving across Southern Africa.
The President further highlighted recent visa reforms introduced by South Africa, including the Electronic Travel Authorisation system and the Digital Nomad Visa programme, both aimed at improving accessibility and attracting more international travellers, entrepreneurs and remote workers.
Ramaphosa linked tourism growth directly to broader continental development, saying stronger regional cooperation remains essential if Africa wants to unlock its full tourism potential.
“Pan-Africanism is not only a political philosophy,” he said.
“It is a driver of economic progress. It is the foundation of our shared prosperity.”
He also pointed to increasing airline seat capacity across the continent and growing travel demand from both African and Asian markets as evidence that Africa’s tourism industry is entering a new growth phase.
Durban’s role as a major tourism and events destination also featured prominently during the ceremony.
Mayor Cyril Xaba said the city continues investing heavily in tourism infrastructure, improved air connectivity, sports tourism and cruise tourism as part of efforts to strengthen Durban’s global profile.
“We are proud that Durban is one of the host cities for the upcoming Cricket World Cup in 2027,” Xaba said.
“This is a major milestone that further confirms our city’s reputation as a globally competitive sporting destination.”
Xaba revealed that Durban has welcomed 27 cruise vessels through the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal since December 2025, bringing more than 4,000 international tourists into the city and contributing to local economic activity.
He added that Durban is also preparing to host the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government in August, an event expected to further showcase the city on the continental stage.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille used her address to outline the economic impact of South Africa’s tourism sector, saying the industry currently contributes 4.9% to the country’s GDP while supporting approximately 954,000 direct jobs, according to Statistics South Africa’s latest Tourism Satellite Account.
“And with a record-breaking 10.5 million international arrivals in 2025, we are no longer speaking recovery — we are speaking growth,” De Lille said.
The minister detailed several major tourism-related investment projects currently underway across South Africa.
Among the flagship developments announced were:
- The R24 billion expansion of the V&A Waterfront
- A R10.5 billion investment linked to Winelands Airport
- The R2.1 billion Club Med Beach & Safari resort development in KwaZulu-Natal
De Lille also referenced infrastructure upgrades aimed at strengthening heritage, cultural and educational tourism offerings across the country. These include the upgraded Cape Agulhas Lighthouse precinct and the Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre in the Free State.
Another key focus of her speech was the growth of South Africa’s MICE sector — meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions — which government views as a critical contributor to tourism revenue and international business travel.
According to De Lille, the South African National Convention Bureau submitted 100 international MICE bids during the 2025/26 financial year and successfully secured 52 international events.
“We are looking for sponsors and partners to journey with us in 2027,” she said, while also revealing that Africa’s Travel Indaba will undergo a revamp next year as organisers seek to modernise and expand the event.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC Rev Musa Zondi described Africa’s Travel Indaba as one of the province’s most important economic and tourism platforms, saying the exhibition creates direct opportunities for businesses operating within the tourism value chain.
“It brings buyers, exhibitors, investors, airlines, tour operators, and media from across the world into our province, creating opportunities for growth, partnerships, and market access for our tourism businesses,” Zondi said.
The event’s broader message centred on the belief that Africa’s tourism sector has entered a period of renewed momentum, supported by rising investment, improving connectivity and growing interest in African destinations from both regional and international travellers.
Leaders at the conference repeatedly argued that deeper regional integration, easier movement across borders and stronger collaboration between African states will be essential if the continent hopes to fully unlock tourism’s economic potential in the years ahead.