DURBAN: South African Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille reaffirmed her country’s commitment to facilitating visas for several countries, revealing that a new list of countries eligible for e-visas will soon be released. She spoke to Kuwait Times and international media on the sidelines of the recently concluded travel trade show Africa Indaba. The event promoted Africa as an attractive destination, fostering business partnerships and driving sustainable tourism development.
The event follows a remarkable 15.4 percent increase in international tourist arrivals, reaching 2.4 million from January to March 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.
De Lille emphasized the importance of networking, collaboration and building bridges across borders, noting that the event featured over 1,200 exhibitors from 26 African countries and more than 1,100 buyers representing 55 countries. “We relaunched the R1.2 billion Tourism Equity Fund to support the growth of emerging tourism enterprises,” De Lille said, adding that the global brand campaign for South African Tourism is crucial in enhancing their global reputation and building positive relationships with visitors worldwide.
To promote Durban, she said: “As we celebrate 30 years of our democracy, it is important to reflect on the many people and places which played an integral role in our history and attaining our freedom. In Durban, we have the Mandela Capture Site and the PheZulu Cultural Village Day Tour. This site marked a .
