Public-private partnerships take centre stage

Government representatives at the ministerial level and senior representatives from the private sector, at the CEO level, came together for a panel discussion on public-private partnerships at the inaugural Tourism Investment Summit, a G20 legacy project.

The Investment Summit comes in the lead-up to the G20 Tourism Ministers Meeting, taking place in Mpumalanga on Friday. The purpose of the Tourism Ministers’ Meeting in 2025 is to discuss and agree on key priorities for the G20's action plan on tourism development.

The Tourism Investment Summit sees global leaders, policymakers, investors, and industry stakeholders convene to drive and develop a robust investment pipeline for South Africa's tourism industry.

The panel had public and private sector members make their comments on opportunities for improved support and greater public-private sector partnerships across the African continent.

The panel included G20 and African Tourism Ministers who were joined by World Travel and Tourism Council member delegation: Tourism Minister, Patricia de Lille, United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Economy and Tourism, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Zambia’s Tourism Minister, Rodney Sikumba, Brazil vice-minister of tourism, Ana Carla Lopes, China Tourism Travel Service Corporation Group: Lijuan Zheng, Intrepid: Clinton Els, JLL Africa: Wayne Godwin, JTB Group: Jack Kumada, Mabrian: Carlos Cendra, Marriott: Johan Cronje, and Wilderness: Simon Stobbs.

When asked about their dream projects or visions that they hope to see realised for the continent, De Lille said she would like to see an ease of access, be it by air, rail or bus.

“If we can invest in making the continent, between countries, and within, more accessible, that will go a long way in driving growth.”

Stobbs said he would like to see security of tenure, and Cendra said he would like to see standardised data and communications.

Bin Touq Al Marri said, “There is a huge opportunity for talent, and a huge opportunity to access the youth.” He highlighted how youth and tech can unlock opportunities.

Kumada said that the visibility of African hospitality, especially in Asia, while Cronje touched on transparency. “The ability for investors to look at the markets and make educated decisions about what the opportunities are, but also for tourists to know what their destination holds, and is available.”

When pressed on what that project would look like, Cronje was quick to answer, “a Pan-African destination marketing agency”.

Sikumba said that trust is needed. “You need to trust people.

“We’re talking about human capital. Human capital is very critical in everything that we do… if we don’t have that to serve the tourists coming through, we’ll miss the points,” Sikumba said.

Els said: “Education that challenges the social norms. That individuals would enter the travel industry with the same aspirations of becoming a doctor and a lawyer.”

Zheng added that an improvement and investment in the cultural market would be part of her vision.

When it came to unpacking public-private partnerships (PPP), the panellists were given the challenge of looking through the eyes of their counterparts. De Lille said, “my preference would be that when there is PPP, it must be led by the private sector.

“The government can own the project, but it must be led by the private sector.”

Deputy Minister of Tourism, General Supervisor of the Deputyship of International Affairs of Saudi Arabia, HH Princess Sara Bint Abdulaziz Al Saud, said that she would be willing to take risks.

“I would take the risk and carve the path in tourism, especially in emerging and developing countries, where tourism is a key pillar for economic diversification and growth. We see that the public sector has visions, but the private sector is a little more reluctant. I would have more confidence.”

She added that when there is commitment and vision for the sector as a pillar for economic diversification, it will work. “We want to see our success, mimicked or even surpassed in other countries, and Africa is a huge potential for that.”

Bin Touq Al Marri added that with the world looking East and West, the UAE is looking South-South corridor.

“The Global South is a very important aspect for the UAE, not just Africa, but South America as well… We have seen African countries investing in the UAE, looking at the UAE as a market for expansion.”

As to what the panellists are hoping for at the next summit, De Lille said that she doesn’t want to be a “minister of announcements”.

“I am going to work very hard to see that the projects that we announce today become a reality. I want to be there when we put the first spade in the ground, when we lay the foundation, after we have consulted with the communities on the benefits of the projects.

“One year later, when we come back, I must be able to be held accountable, as government, as an enabler, what have you done? I will be there to assist and get the funding.

“There is a lot of goodwill in the room today, and we would like to continue to see the government create the environment that is conducive for the private sector to create jobs. I have trust and faith in the private sector, that we develop projects on budget, on time, and that is where lots of people speak about procurement and the supply chain.”