De Lille calls for more affordable domestic travel to boost tourism

Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has called for more affordable domestic travel in South Africa to stimulate the tourism industry. Speaking at the launch of Tourism Month in Durban, de Lille emphasized that domestic tourism is the backbone of the sector. According to her, South Africans embarked on over 21 million overnight trips in the first half of this year.

She acknowledged that government has plans to further boost tourism, but their implementation and willingness to act are lacking, which is hindering progress. De Lille believes that if these plans are executed effectively, South Africa will be better equipped to compete for a larger share of the global tourism market. "Before we discuss millions of international arrivals, we must first talk to our own people about taking a weekend getaway in our own country.

Your country, come and enjoy it. Because when every South African travels within our country, it contributes to our economy," stated de Lille. De Lille is currently in Durban for the launch of South Africa's 2026 Tourism Month campaign, which focuses on the "Sho’t Left" concept. This campaign aims to encourage South Africans to travel locally, while also highlighting the importance of digital innovation.