SA secures 51 global event bids to boost economy by R800 million

Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille said that South Africa had secured 51 bids to host several global events, which were expected to boost the economy by over R800 million.

De Lille said that the country had submitted 95 bids in total, but emphasized that these events would not only be hosted in the country’s major centres.

“We will publish all these successful bids that we have won because then you can see its spread all over the country not just in all of the major centres,” De Lille said.

Among the successful bids is the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) special spring meeting, often referred to as the "Spring Davos", which the country will host in April next year.

This marks the first WEF meeting on Africa in seven years, following the hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minister said being nominated to host the meeting was an endorsement of South Africa’s capabilities and credibility, following the country's hosting of the G20 summit in December.

“This two-day gathering will mirror the World Economic Forum in Davos, and it’s a meeting that will bring together heads of state, policymakers, and captains of industry,” she said.

De Lille added that South Africa held a specific competitive edge when it came to hosting global summits, citing the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting.

“In September of 2025, we held the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting in Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, where delegates woke up with the roaming of wildlife before walking into high-level global discussions, and this is our competitive edge.”