South Africa’s Department of Tourism is planning to secure 1 million direct jobs in the tourism sector by 2030. This target is part of the broader National National Development Plan 2030, which seeks to boosts annual international arrivals to 15 millions and generate up 1.5 million indirect and induced jobs, as well as the growth of domestic travel to 45.1million annually by 2030 as reported by IOL quoting the country’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
As the Minister of Tourism pointed out, the tourism sector already supports 954.000 direct jobs and is becoming one of the key drivers of economic growth and employment in the country.
The official added that tourism contributes to the development of small business and the improvement of the population’s standard of living.
According to data from South Africa’s state statistics office, in 2024 tourism provided one in 18 jobs in the country. On average, every 13 foreign tourists who come to South Africa help to maintain or create a job. In that year, tourism contributed 4.9% to the country GDP, surpassing several traditional sectors, including agriculture, construction, and utilities.
The Minister of Tourism reported that South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is now operational for tourists from China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. Travellers can now submit documents online and get a visa decision within 24 hours without having to go to the embassy or consulates.
According to estimates by the authorities, the implementation of the system in its entirely will help to create between 80.000 and 100.000 additional jobs.
The country is actively working to launch new flight routes to increase passenger capacity and international connectivity and the Tourism Infrastructure Facilitation Unit was established to attract private investments and fund major developments across South Africa.
Major privately funded projects include the development of the airport in the municipality of Cape Town and the construction of a new resort in the province of KwaZulu - Natal. that will create further new jobs.
Another key factor is the active promotion of the country as a tourist destination on social networks, and South Africa is securing dozens of major international conferences to spread visitor economic benefits across cities and regions creating new direct and indirect jobs in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector.
In 2025,
South Africa welcomed 10.5 million international tourists, and in the first
quarter of 2026 their number exceeded 2.9 million, representing an increase of
12.6% compared to the same period last year.
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