Cape Town, South Africa, 10th September 2025
The Africa Tourism Investment Summit, held in Cape Town, brought together global and continental leaders to emphasize the importance of scaling up tourism investment as the fastest route to job creation, sustainable development and inclusive growth in Africa.
The host, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Patricia De Lille, welcomed delegates and underlined South Africa’s commitment to positioning Africa at the center of global tourism investment. She called for greater public-private partnerships, stressing that tourism must go beyond economic numbers to empower local communities, strengthen cultural heritage and showcase Africa’s beauty to the world. Her leadership was acknowledged by fellow ministers and the UNWTO as pivotal in advancing Africa’s tourism agenda.
The Secretary-General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili thanked South Africa for its hospitality and proposed that the Africa Tourism Investment Summit be institutionalized as an annual event. He reiterated that tourism remains the fastest way to create jobs on the continent and praised South Africa’s world-class infrastructure, noting that
“Without infrastructure, there is no tourism.” He also acknowledged Zambia’s leadership in earlier summits and welcomed the participation of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Brazil as a demonstration of the power of global partnerships.
Honourable Rodney Sikumba, Minister of Tourism of Zambia, reaffirmed the importance of African solidarity in tourism development. He emphasized the need for investment that directly benefits local communities through job creation, skills development and infrastructure growth. He encouraged global partners to look to Africa not just as a market but as a collaborative partner for innovation, sustainability and inclusive prosperity.
And The Vice Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Princess Haifa Al Saud, expressed her gratitude to South Africa for hosting the summit, praising the South African Minister’s pioneering leadership and sharing his admiration for South Africa’s natural beauty. She stressed that global tourism, which has grown 1.4 times over the past decade, is projected to double in the next years, making “now the time” for action.
She called for comprehensive investment across the value chain, including visa facilitation, improved air connectivity, product diversification and city-led tourism strategies. She further urged that sustainability must go beyond rhetoric to truly put communities at the center.
She invited delegates to the 26th UNWTO General Assembly in Riyadh in November 2025, which will also feature the first-ever Tourist platform, bringing together public and private sector leaders to shape future-oriented tourism policies.
Education and skills development were highlighted as critical priorities. The Secretary-General announced the continuation of the sustainability course developed with Lucerne University and Madrid and confirmed the launch of 100 scholarships for South African students, supported by Saudi Arabia. He further linked South Africa’s history of successfully hosting major global events to its capacity to lead future tourism initiatives.
In conclusion, the summit reaffirmed a shared vision. Tourism investment is the engine of Africa’s growth. With strong infrastructure, empowered communities, innovative education programs and strengthened global partnerships, Africa stands ready to transform its tourism sector into a powerful driver of sustainable and inclusive prosperity.
Issued by
Nelly Banda
Principal Public Relations Officer
