Yeah‼️SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻🎒🛫🌎🗺️ as a travel cum tourism enthusiast has personally met The Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Ms Patricia de Lille 👩🏻💼🇿🇦 during a Tourism Dialogue & Destination Workshop recently to learn more about what South Africa 🇿🇦 can offer to the Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👫👭🏻👬, receive updates on South Africa’s tourism promotion, offerings & priorities for the Asian market, market access & flight ✈️ connectivity. A special thank you 🙏🏻💖 to Mr Uzaidi Udanis 👨🏽💼from Your Inbound Matters who shared this opportunity with her 👩🏻✅
This minister visit is part of a Southeast Asian outreach program that also includes Singapore 🇸🇬 & Indonesia 🇮🇩 with aims to boost tourism cooperation ahead of Malaysia’s 🇲🇾 Visit Malaysia Year 2026 & a 2025 commitment to strengthen the tourism ties 🪢In fact, this engagement builds on the Oct 2025 visit by South African President, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa 👨🏿💼to Malaysia, where both countries agreed to enhance cooperation 🇿🇦🤝🇲🇾 in tourism, culture & connectivity. Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼told during the tourism dialogue session that she was in Singapore 🇸🇬 on 3 Feb, in Malaysia 🇲🇾 on 4 Feb & then next in Indonesia 🇮🇩 on 5 Feb 2026 as part of a broader Southeast Asia 🌏 tour this time
Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼has shared insights that Malaysia 🇲🇾 continues to strengthen its position as a leading source market for South Africa 🇿🇦in Southeast Asia 🌏, driven by resilient travel demand, rising arrivals & a return to record visitor spend. Forward projections highlight Malaysia’s 🇲🇾📈 growing contribution to South Africa’s 🇿🇦 tourism economy & its importance as a long-haul source market within the region
Yes ✅, Malaysia 🇲🇾 Drives Southeast Asia Tourism Growth 🌎📈 for South Africa 🇿🇦 with Rising Arrivals & Spend 👏🏻🙌🏻💯👍🏻
Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼 also has highlighted the significance of Malaysia 🇲🇾 as a source market & the value of these interactions
“Southeast Asia 🌏 is an important source market for South Africa 🇿🇦, with Malaysia being a key contributor. Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👫👭🏻👬 are showing an encouraging appetite for leisure, wildlife, cultural & business experiences, returning to pre-pandemic levels & reflecting a strong recovery. This demand provides opportunities to diversify our tourism offerings while strengthening cooperation through joint tourism promotion, knowledge-sharing & strategic initiatives.”
Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼 added, “This visit provides a key platform for bilateral engagement, allowing us to gain insights into traveller preferences & market trends that guide our tourism strategy. By showcasing offerings that resonate with Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👫🏻👬🏻👭🏻🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻, whether MICE for corporates, Halal offerings, wildlife or cultural tourism for leisure travel & working closely with tour operators & airlines, we are well positioned to serve this market while building partnerships 🤝🏻 that support sustainable growth 📈 for both countries.”
SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻 has learnt that to travel to South Africa 🇿🇦 is now easier for Malaysians 🇲🇾👫🏻👬🏻👭🏻🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻 because of its 🆕electronic visa system 🛂(The Home Affairs department officer has explained about this system with visa issuance turnaround time within 24 hrs), more flight ✈️options & a wide range of tourism experiences 😃😁
Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👫👭🏻👬visit South Africa 🇿🇦 primarily for leisure & social purposes, with holidays & visiting friends & family as the main drivers. While the interest for Business & MICE (ie. Meetings, incentives, conferences & exhibitions) travel have also supported the market’s recovery, demonstrating South Africa’s 🇿🇦 position as a destination for professional engagements. This growth 📈 is further supported by rising numbers of 1️⃣st-time visitors, while returning repeat travellers, now back to pre-pandemic levels, highlight growing confidence & loyalty in South Africa as a long-haul destination
This year, South Africa 🇿🇦 further bolsters its Sport Tourism through the very 1️⃣st LIV Golf 🏌🏻♀️⛳ in Africa in March 2026 & the 2027 Cricket 🏏 World Cup. In addition, the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2027 has announced its Special Meeting which mirrors the WEF Davos, will also take place in South Africa 💯👍🏻 Various of travel packages are available ✅ to cater before/ after these events 😃😁
Actually since the establishment of diplomatic relations on 8 Nov 1993, Malaysia 🇲🇾 & the Republic of South Africa 🇿🇦 have enjoyed a strong & enduring partnership 🤝, underpinned by mutual respect, shared values & common aspirations 🤗
This recent tourism initiative aims to convert connectivity 🔄 & interest into longer stays, broader itineraries & meaningful travel experiences across South Africa 🇿🇦 There are investment opportunities especially with South African National Parks (SAN Parks) ~ Total 22 national parks
South African Tourism is the tourism marketing arm of the South African government to promote its country’s tourism destinations domestically & internationally, whether for leisure, business or events tourism. As a government body, it’s committed to meaningfully contributing to the South African government’s objectives of inclusive economic growth 📈, sustainable job creation (SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻 was told during the destination workshop that South Africa 🇿🇦 is with 39% of unemployment rate currently), redistribution & transformation of tourism industry
SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻 got to know from this tourism dialogue that the overall outbound travel from Malaysia 🇲🇾 is projected to grow ⬆️ at a compound annual growth 📈 rate of 8.1% between 2024 & 2030, supported 💯🙌🏻 by sustained demand across both business & leisure segments. Arrivals from Malaysia 🇲🇾 in 2025 is 7,773 visitors which is a 17.3% increase ⬆️ since 2024
Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼 is optimistic 👩🏻💼😁 that these Malaysian 🇲🇾👭🏻👬👫 arrivals will continue to increase ⬆️ double into 2026 since Malaysia 🇲🇾 & South Africa 🇿🇦 shared the century’s history together. South Africa 🇿🇦 with a Muslims community of 150 years old, availability of halal tourism, prayer facilities & halal food including restaurants, bakery, fine dine etc. as elaborated during the dialogue session. There are 150 mosques 🕌 in Cape Town, particularly Auwal Mosque 🕌 which located in the Bo-Kaap neighborhood of Cape Town. It’s recognized as the 1️⃣st mosque in South Africa with its construction completed in 1794, wow 😲
In 2024, Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻👭🏻👬🏻👫🏻 spend recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching 🇿🇦💰 ZAR125.9 million (MYR30.7 million), slightly higher than ZAR125.6 million (MYR30.6 million) in 2019 & is projected to grow further ⬆️ in 2026
Though currently Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👫🏻👬🏻👭🏻🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻 take long haul flight ✈️ to South Africa 🇿🇦 from Singapore 🇸🇬, the main hub in Asia 🌏 At least 13 hours direct flight from Singapore to Cape town ~ 12 flights daily, always fully booked & high price. Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼 shared that there are efforts trying to accommodate more affordable & frequency flights 🛬🛫🇲🇾🇿🇦 in the near future. Also to explore on charter flights ✈️ opportunities with B2B events
Ms Patricia 👩🏻💼 also elaborated about the safety & security efforts of now having a secure digital app 📲🤳🏻✅ to mitigate the risks concerns of all South Africa 🇿🇦 visitors. Just need to inform no. of days in South Africa 🇿🇦, got access to immediate police 👮🏻♀️🚨🚓 contact, operational staff assigned in 365 days 24/7 hours to respond any emergency calls & locate you immediately
Top 🔝 activities & destinations for Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾👭🏻👬👫 in South Africa 🇿🇦
During this recent tourism destination workshop well explained by Ms Neliswa Nkani 👩🏽💼, SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻 has learnt the various of exciting attractions & experiences at South Africa 🇿🇦
Dining 🍽️, shopping 🛒🛍️& socialising are the top activities for Malaysian travellers, followed by visits to natural attractions, wildlife encounters & beach 🏖️🏝️destinations. These trends point to a return to immersive, experience-based travel, particularly among younger & mid-age travellers seeking authentic experiences
✨ Half marathon 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♂️ in national parks, hiking 🥾 trails with qualified nature guide , paragliding 🪂 , fishing 🎣
✨ Garden Root well known as family friendly destination 💯👍🏻
✨ Clifton beach ⛱️ 🏖️ with a set of 4️⃣ beaches & rated as 1️⃣ of the Top 🔟 beaches by Discovery Trace Channel . Known for its watersports & sunbathing. Guess what ❓⁉️ It’s the most expensive real estate in South Africa 🇿🇦
✨ Oribi to enjoy the adventurous bugee jumping off cliffs at amazing high waterfalls 🏞️
✨ Eastern Cape to explore for rural tourism
The most visited provinces among Malaysian travellers 🇲🇾🧑🏻🤝🧑🏻👭🏻👬🏻👫🏻 are Gauteng, the Western Cape & Limpopo. Gauteng attracts travellers with its urban experiences, shopping 🛒🛍️& business hubs, the Western Cape for its landscapes & culinary offerings, while Limpopo is known for its cultural heritage & wildlife experiences
✨ To spot the Big 5️⃣ ~ lion 🦁, leopard 🐆, rhinoceros 🦏, elephant 🐘 & Cape buffalo 🐃 ie. The most iconic, dangerous & sought-after animals to view on safari, yes ✅, to target 🎯 💯🤩 at Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga & Gauteng 🤩😍
✨ Cape Town with the largest Malay community, also other communities including Chinese shared similar history ~ Cape Malay Quarters in Western Cape ~ To experience home cooking with local Cape’s Malay cuisines, “berbuka” heritage etc.
✨ Table Mountain National Park with 1085m above sea level ~ Ghost frog 🐸, a rare species only found here. With 3K secies of flora & fauna. A hiking 🥾 point
SiennyLovesDrawing 👩🏻 also told that special tourism efforts towards the musical festivals, cultural events with local community, adventure tourism (3K++ activities available) , medical tourism etc. Not forgetting to expand South Africa tourism’s 🇿🇦 social media penetration through TikTok & XHS red book
Looking ahead, many opportunities exist to expand independent travellers marketing, build on current available packaged tour momentum through curated hybrid leisure-business offerings & diversify provincial destinations. Also the continued focus on MICE positioning, digital engagement & strengthened OTA partnerships 🤝🏻 will be key to capturing both short-lead & forward bookings
Hmm…After her media attendance, SiennyLovesDrawing just can’t wait & truly looking forward to her trip to explore South Africa 👩🏻✅🇿🇦 especially spot the Big 5️⃣ Safari experience 🤩🦁🐆🦏🐘🐃, visit to Mapungubwe National Park 🌳🌳 & World Heritage Site, learning local culture, tasting local cuisine etc. Hopefully soon she will arrive, explore & share her travel experiences & tips with all of you ya🤞🏻🍀😁
Especially she 👩🏻 would like to visit The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur 🦖 🦕 Interpretation Centre ~ A world-class, R120-million facility opened in June 2025 within South Africa’s 🇿🇦 Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State. It showcases paleontological, archaeological & geological history, special features fossils of the 14m long Ledumahadi mafube & ancient dinosaur embryos 🥚🤩
Do check out SiennyLovesDrawing’s IG photos album captured from her media attendance via 📸🤳🏻🌐 https://www.instagram.com/p/DUXF45eErXo/ , X post via 📌🌐 https://x.com/SiennyLovesDraw/status/2019244652935987691 &, 📌🌐 https://x.com/SiennyLovesDraw/status/2019244817017155671 & 📌🌐 https://x.com/SiennyLovesDraw/status/2019244878845341954, LinkedIn post via 📸🤳🏻🌐. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/siennylovesdrawing_south-african-tourism-dialogue-with-tourism-activity-7425017586972782592-AeZJ & LinkedIn photos album 📸🤳🏻🌐 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/siennylovesdrawing_blog-blogpost-update-activity-7425024247300964352-gels , Lemon8 photos album via 📸🤳🏻🌐 https://s.lemon8-app.com/al/GgjkSeRSsU , XHS photos album via 📸🤳🏻🌐 http://xhslink.com/o/9ov1Ua9lIUt & TikTok photos album cia 📸🤳🏻🌐 https://www.tiktok.com/@siennylovesdraw/photo/7603227001381604628
Website 🌐: http://www.southafrica.net
#SouthAfricanTourism #SouthAfricaAwaits #ComeFindYourJoy #WeDoTourism #SouthAfrica
