Johannesburg:Tourism is increasingly recognized as a critical economic sector capable of attracting substantial investment and creating numerous jobs, according to Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille. Speaking at the South African Tourism Investment Summit 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre, she highlighted the sector's growing economic significance both globally and domestically. According to South African Government News Agency, De Lille noted that the World Bank has identified tourism as one of the five sectors with significant potential to generate large-scale employment. Statistics South Africa reported that tourism directly employed 953,981 people in 2024, representing 5.7% of total employment, and contributed 4.9% to the country's GDP. The Minister emphasized South Africa's robust growth in tourism demand. In 2025, domestic overnight trips totaled 44.7 million with expenditure at R111.6 billion, and international arrivals hit a record high of 10.5 million, generating R102.2 billion in expenditure. South Africa ranks among the top 20 countries globally in terms of international arrivals, supported by the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan between the government and the private sector, which focuses on five priorities. De Lille stressed the need for tourism infrastructure investment to meet increasing demand. The Department of Tourism has established a Tourism Infrastructure Facilitation Unit to assist investors and priority projects. A three-year Memorandum of Agreement with Infrastructure South Africa aims to bolster this initiative, alongside enhanced access to finance via the Industrial Development Corporation. Highlighting recent investments, De Lille mentioned the Club Med Beach and Safari Resort in KwaZulu-Natal, a R2 billion investment that increases tourism capacity and reflects confidence in South Africa's tourism potential. The Cabinet-approved Tourism Route Development Marketing Plan aims to improve coordination among national government, provinces, and the private sector. The 2026 summit is a continuation of the inaugural 2025 event, which resulted in nearly R1 billion in potential investments. The summit gathers investors, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to propel investment, enhance the tourism project pipeline, and solidify South Africa's position as a leading destination for tourism infrastructure investment.