South Africa and Angola have moved to deepen tourism and trade ties, with a new action plan and expanded air access aimed at boosting travel, investment and regional growth.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has concluded a recent working visit to Luanda, focused on strengthening bilateral relations and unlocking growth in the Angolan market.
Central to the visit was an agreement to remove capacity and frequency restrictions on passenger and cargo flights between South Africa and Angola, effective 24 March 2026.
The move is expected to improve connectivity, support tourism flows and facilitate trade and investment between the two countries.
“Every additional flight between our countries is an opportunity for business, for tourism, and for deeper people-to-people connections,” said de Lille.
Three-year tourism action plan signed
During the visit, de Lille met with Angola’s tourism minister, Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel, where the two countries signed a three-year Action Plan on Tourism Cooperation.
The plan focuses on three key areas:
• Tourism investment: Promoting investment opportunities and supporting infrastructure development
• Joint destination marketing: Coordinated campaigns to boost regional visibility and travel demand
• Skills development: Collaboration on training, enterprise development and support for small tourism businesses
“Tourism is not only about travel, but also about investment, jobs, and opportunity. Through this partnership, we are unlocking new pathways for shared prosperity between South Africa and Angola,” de Lille said.
Angola remains key growth market
The visit also aimed to position South Africa more strongly within the Angolan market, which remains one of the region’s most important sources of inbound travel.
Angola, the second-largest economy in the SADC region, recorded 41,718 visitors to South Africa in 2025 — a 10% increase year on year.
Improved air access and targeted marketing are expected to support further growth, while South Africa has also committed to promoting Angolan tourism to its own travellers.
Events tourism in focus
De Lille’s programme included attendance at the launch of the Luanda E1 Grand Prix, highlighting the role of major events in driving tourism growth.
She said international events can boost destination visibility, attract investment and stimulate local economies across the continent.
“Major events such as the E1 Grand Prix demonstrate the immense potential of Africa’s tourism sector. They bring global attention to our destinations, unlock investment opportunities, and create shared economic value across borders,” she said.
