As part of our broadcast, we explore the opportunities available to expand astrotourism in South Africa. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, Astrotourism is a global term for witnessing stargazing and celestial events in nature. Often, these destinations are found in smaller communities away from the pollution of the cities. This provides an opportunity for less traditional tourism destinations to take centre stage through unique experiences (think the Northern Lights) and can become a catalyst for job opportunities in provinces like the Northern Cape, Kwa-Zulu Natal,  Mpumalanga & the Western Cape.

Recently, Cabinet approved the White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism. The White Paper is set to help increase the contribution the sector will make in the broader economy by supporting entrepreneurship and create broader resilience in the sector. The sector contributes 8.8% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2024. 

Guest: Patricia de Lille - Minister of Tourism

Guest: Dr. Blade Nzimande - Minister of Science and Innovation