Minister of Tourism to Bring F1 in South Africa: A Boost for Tourism
TOURISM MINISTER SUPPORTS F1 INITIATIVE, HIGHLIGHTING TOURISM BOOST AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH IN SOUTH AFRICA.
The Minister of Tourism, Patricia De Lille, supports the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture’s initiative to bring Formula One (F1) to South Africa. Speaking at the Tourism Economic Impact briefing, De Lille highlighted the positive impact F1 will have on the tourism sector.
Plans for F1 in South Africa
De Lille discussed a Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) with McKenzie. Their meeting focused on reviving heritage sites and bringing F1 to the country. De Lille emphasized that efforts to bring F1 to South Africa have been ongoing for the past 15 years. She believes the event will attract F1 fans from around the world.
McKenzie announced on social media that he is scheduling meetings with stakeholders to make F1 in South Africa a reality. The first meeting will happen at the end of August in Monaco.
Reviving Heritage Sites
De Lille and McKenzie also discussed restoring South Africa’s heritage sites. There are over 200 heritage sites managed by the Department of Arts and Culture. In 2023, the Department of Tourism expressed interest in showcasing these sites to tourists. De Lille mentioned that the Department of Tourism will allocate budget for maintaining and restoring these sites.
Robben Island, one of the most visited heritage sites, is a priority. De Lille said the private sector will help increase tourist numbers and identify necessary upgrades.
Implementation and Growth
De Lille stressed the importance of moving from planning to implementation. She highlighted that the National Development Plan (NDP) targets increasing tourist arrivals to 15 million by 2030. The NDP recognizes tourism as a fast-growing economic sector with significant employment potential.
The Department of Tourism continues to invest in infrastructure development other than this F1 initiative in South Africa. Last year, it spent R95 million on 25 maintenance projects across various provinces. For the current financial year, R81 million will be spent on projects in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape, and the North West.
De Lille acknowledged the sector’s role in job creation. In 2024, the sector employed 1.46 million people, and it is aiming to employ 1.7 million by year-end. The World Travel & Tourism Council projects 2.23 million jobs by 2030.
