A dedicated tourism ministry is one of six new ministries created under President Jacob Zuma's expanded Cabinet that was announced last week.

The former Environmental Affairs and Tourism department was split to form a Water and Environmental Affairs department and the new Tourism department. Former Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has been appointed Minister of Tourism and Thozile Xasa appointed as his Deputy Minister.

Several industry stakeholders attending last week's Indaba viewed the creation of a dedicated tourism ministry as a good indication of government's intention to place more focus on developing and growing South Africa's tourism industry.

"Tourism is a major GDP earner in South Africa, and it has the potential to keep on creating more and more jobs. It is high time that there is a ministry for tourism only," said Gerhard Patzer, General Manager of the Hilton Durban.

Source: TIR