The Mpumalanga Premier, Mr Mandla Ndlovu has extended a warm and heartfelt welcome to the delegates that would participate in a weeklong G20 Tourism meetings.
The province will host the G20 Tourism Working Group and Tourism Ministers’ Meetings, which would be led by the Minister of Tourism in South Africa, Ms Patricia de Lille. Premier Ndlovu is among the guests to address the session.
The Tourism Working Group is among the 16 working groups of the G20, focusing on “solidarity, equality and sustainability,” a theme for South Africa’s Presidency that seeks to harness global will and capabilities to confront the enormous challenges the world is facing.
As the first African country to assume the G20 Presidency, South Africa is utilising its term to advance the African developmental agenda. The meetings are also supported by South Africa’s intent to champion the agenda of the global South within the group. Appreciating the composition of the G20 as a block of developing and developed countries, the work of the Tourism Group also endeavours to strengthen North-South Cooperation and commit to multilateralism within the tourism industry and global governance at large.
The G20 economies represent around 85 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP), over 75 percent of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. In 2023, the G20 welcomed 69 percent of all international tourists and accounted for 71 percent of tourism exports worldwide.
In 2023, Tourism direct GDP reached 3.1 percent of the G20 economies. Tourism is recognised for its immense potential and its significant contribution to the economy. It plays a critical role in the global economy. Tourism is one of the vital economic sectors contributing significantly to socio-economic development, but it remains vulnerable to natural and manmade hazards.
For many countries, the tourism economy is growing faster than most other economic sectors. With its extensive value chain and labour absorption capacity, it is acknowledged as a tool for inclusive economic development, playing a significant role in responding to socio-economic challenges.
Mpumalanga will be hosting a number of the G20 Tourism meetings which will culminate in a G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting.
The G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting is scheduled as follows;
Date: Friday, 12 September 2025
Time: 09h00
Venue: Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza Camp, Kruger National Park
Members of the media are invited.
ENDS…
Issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government
Office of the Premier
Enquiries: Mr George Mthethwa (Provincial Government Spokesperson)
(013) 766 2242/ 083 302 2774
Email:GPMthethwa@mpg.gov.za