De Lille: Gauteng pulls estimated R1bn in revenue from visitors attending G20 events

Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille said Gauteng has pulled in an estimated R1 billion in revenue from visitors attending the G20 events in the province over the weekend.

This is an early estimation of tourism revenue made by Gauteng during South Africa’s G20 presidency.

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More than 130 meetings were hosted across the country, with the majority of talks on the bloc’s policy priorities held in Gauteng.

The G20 adopted a declaration, agreeing to address climate-related issues, strengthening disaster resilience and responses, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries.

De Lille spoke to EWN on the sidelines of the final day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in the south of Johannesburg, on Sunday.

“We are busy with the audits because you want to get an accurate reflection. Now from January, we have shown the visitors and the delegates what else they can do while they are in our country. We have sold packages, so some people are staying now after the G20. Some of them have come earlier but in the next week or so we'll be able to crunch the numbers.”

De Lille said arrivals from the United States (US) have now surpassed inbound tourists from the United Kingdom (UK).

“I suppose people want to come and see for themselves, is it true? But also, tourism is not affected by the tariff debate and the geopolitics tension, and the American visitors are getting value for money when they come here.”