The 2024 Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Leadership Conference concluded at Sun City, North West Province. In its third year, this conference brought together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, along with dignitaries, guests, and delegates in the tourism industry. Over two days, attendees engaged in meaningful discussions about the urgent challenges facing the South African tourism sector under the theme Tourism Matters.
South Africa is steadily working toward its goal of 15.6 million annual arrivals by 2030. There has been significant progress, particularly in attracting more visitors through public-private partnerships, which have been key to ensuring smoother operations in the industry. “We had fruitful discussions over the last two days. Our goal is to ensure this gathering is more than just talk. We’ll collate the insights shared and create actionable steps,” said TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa.
Since the last Leadership Conference, improvements have been made in visa issuance and related legislative frameworks. In partnership with the Department of Home Affairs, progress has been made toward an automated visa regime. Minister Leon Schreiber and his team are working to streamline visa processes, clearing the backlog of outstanding visa applications, including the introduction of a new remote working visa.
Tourism Master Plan
Another key highlight is the Tourism Sector Master Plan, which has garnered Cabinet support and is crucial for inclusive growth. Led by Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille, the industry eagerly awaits the gazetting of the Tourism White Paper, an important framework to create a supportive regulatory environment.
In transport, there is a growing effort to increase South Africa’s aviation capacity to bring more visitors to the country. Deputy DG of Public Transport, Mathabatha Mokonyama, reaffirmed the Department of Transport’s commitment to improving the process for issuing tourism vehicle operating licences. With the backlog cleared, an online application system will soon be rolled out to ensure faster processing of renewals and new licences.
Additionally, recent amendments to the National Land Transport Regulations provide a 21-day grace period for renewing operating licences and a 30-day extension for submitting documents, easing the burden for operators.
Re-imagining a New Future
As South Africa explores new frontiers for tourism growth, sports and events tourism is emerging as a promising sector. Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, has invited the tourism industry to seize opportunities in this area, highlighting the potential for South Africa to position itself as a major events destination. Talks to bring Formula One (F1) to the country are ongoing, with fruitful engagements in progress.
The TBCSA is committed to strengthening partnerships with government entities to create a conducive environment for the private sector. The council also remains focused on air access initiatives, fostering community collaboration, and investing in tourism infrastructure to ensure tourist safety and empower local communities.
ABOUT TBCSA
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) is the unified voice for business in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector. Established in 1996, the TBCSA is a not-for-profit, member-driven organisation working to drive growth and development in the tourism industry. Its mission is to unite and influence the diverse travel and tourism sector to contribute to a competitive, responsible, and inclusive tourism economy. The TBCSA plays a pivotal role in monitoring and influencing macro-economic developments that impact the sector.
