12th September 2025
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke, today (Friday 12 September) attended the G20 Tourism Ministers’ meeting in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Ireland was invited to participate in the G20 process by the South African Presidency.
The G20 ministerial declaration released at the conclusion of the meeting underscored the importance of upholding multilateralism, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the centre. The declaration underlined and reinforced the key role of the G20 in developing tourism globally as a powerful driver for delivering sustainable development, enhancing economic resilience, expanding employment and reducing poverty and inequalities.
The declaration also committed to the development of tourism development financing mechanisms and resources, as a means to ensure countries can support their own development, and that resources are used transparently in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Minister Burke travelled to Mpumalanga to represent Ireland at the meeting that drew tourism ministers from G20 members, guest countries and international organisations to engage in high-level discussions on global tourism issues. Major international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also participated in the meeting with expert insights and findings informing the Ministers exchanges.
Speaking about Ireland’s participation at the G20 meeting, Minister Burke said:
“I am grateful to the South African G20 Presidency for the kind invitation to Ireland to join today’s discussion, and for the warm hospitality extended to my delegation & I at Kruger National Park. Through its leadership, South Africa has used this global platform to elevate the development priorities of the Global South and to promote a more inclusive and equitable path forward, guided by the compelling theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability’— a vision that resonates deeply with Ireland. By placing a strong focus on Driving Tourism for Inclusive Growth, this Presidency has rightly acknowledged the vital socio-economic role of tourism, especially in building resilient communities and sustainable economies.”
"I also welcome the opportunity to meet with my counterparts focussed on tourism development and strengthening resilience, to discuss global challenges and Ireland’s position on a range of issues. In addition to meeting with my European Union colleagues, I met with representatives from the OECD and the South African G20 Presidency. This was an important opportunity to share Ireland’s policies, values and interests in terms of tourism development to advance investment and job creation at a local level in lesser known and underserved communities.”
“As a guest country at the G20, Ireland offered a particular and distinctive perspective on the issues arising, drawn from our unique tourism offering, hard-earned acumen and our on-going commitment to equality, diversity, bilateralism and inclusive economic growth. Ireland also looks forward to the possibility of participating in the G20 process again in the years ahead.”
Notes for editors
The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising the world’s leading economies to discuss international economic and financial stability. It was founded in 1999 after the Asian financial crisis of 1997/98.
The G20 comprises of 19 sovereign countries, the African Union and the European Union. G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
South Africa holds the G20 Presidency from 1 December 2024 through to November 2025 under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’.
Ireland became an invited member of the G20 in December 2024 for the term of the South African Presidency.
The G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting took place on 12 September in Kruger National Park, Skukuza and followed on from the G20 Tourism Working Group held 9-10 September in White River.
Both G20 venues are located in Mpumalanga ‘the place of the rising sun’, a province in north-eastern South Africa noted for its landscapes and cultural heritage.
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