South Africa's Government Launches Phase Three of Government-Business Partnership with Tourism as Growth Driver
President Cyril Ramaphosa launched Phase Three of South Africa's Government-Business Partnership in Johannesburg on 20 August, shifting the programme's focus from stabilisation and structural reform towards investment, growth and job creation. The new phase is organised around three pillars - economic growth enablers, growth drivers and confidence multipliers - with an immediate objective of lifting GDP growth above 3% and contributing to the creation of one million additional jobs by 2030. Tourism has been identified as one of four new growth driver sectors alongside mining, agriculture and agro-processing, and infrastructure, selected for their potential to attract investment, earn foreign revenue and create employment at scale.
On tourism specifically, Ramaphosa called on government and business to address barriers including air access, visa processing, destination marketing, tourist safety and infrastructure investment, while also extending the sector's economic benefits beyond established destinations to villages, townships, small towns, heritage sites and national parks. Energy and freight logistics remain key growth enablers, with rail access agreements concluded with 11 private train-operating companies as part of broader freight reform. Business Leadership South Africa chairperson Adrian Gore described Phase Three as a shift from removing economic constraints towards actively driving growth in sectors where South Africa can compete globally. Ramaphosa underscored that improved economic indicators would only be meaningful if they translated into investment, production and employment.
Source: Bizcommunity