South Africa has officially welcomed the Selectour Congress, the well-known network of independent French travel agencies, to the city of Cape Town—marking yet another milestone in the country’s growing reputation as a world-class host for major international gatherings. Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille noted that this year’s congress arrives at a significant moment, following South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit just a week earlier. She emphasised that the back-to-back events demonstrate the nation’s proven capability to manage high-profile global conferences with efficiency, security, and strong infrastructure.
De Lille confirmed that the international business events secured for 2025 already represent more than 16,000 delegates, translating into an immediate economic boost of approximately €20 million (R415 million). She added that several additional bids are currently underway, and if approved, these could generate €55 million (R1.1 billion) in economic value between now and 2031. This growing pipeline signals broad global confidence in South Africa’s facilities, hospitality sector, and event management expertise.
According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, the nation recorded 927,426 international arrivals in October 2025, reflecting a remarkable 32% increase compared to October 2024. Year-to-date arrivals have risen to 8.56 million, up from 7.23 million during the same period last year. France remains one of South Africa’s strongest source markets, contributing more than 110,000 visitors so far this year.
The minister also highlighted improvements aimed at making travel even more seamless. The Government of National Unity’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) system—which currently facilitates easier entry for several markets—will expand early next year to include travellers from India, China, Mexico, and Indonesia. This expansion is expected to further stimulate growth in leisure tourism, business travel, and event-related mobility.
De Lille also placed a spotlight on several major tourism products and platforms that will enhance South Africa’s visitor experience in the coming years. Notably, Club Med will open its first-ever Southern Africa resort in KwaZulu-Natal in 2026, adding a premium international attraction to the region’s coastal offerings. Additionally, South Africa will host key trade and business events such as Meetings Africa in Johannesburg in February 2026 and Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban in May 2026, both of which are crucial showcases for the continent’s tourism value chain.
Sports tourism—a rapidly expanding sector—is also set to receive a boost with events like a LIV Golf tournament at Steyn City and the build-up to the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will bring thousands of international supporters and teams to the country. These developments further signal South Africa’s commitment to broadening its tourism profile and attracting visitors across multiple interest categories.
Overall, the opening of the Selectour Congress in Cape Town reinforces South Africa’s strong position in the global tourism and events landscape. With rising arrival numbers, expanding travel facilitation measures, major new tourism investments, and a growing portfolio of world-class events, the country continues to build momentum as one of the leading destinations for leisure, business, and sports tourism.
