Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba has declared the province’s recent Dizemba Summer Campaign a success, citing high hotel occupancy and a packed events calendar as early indicators. The campaign, launched a month ago, aimed to position Limpopo as a premier domestic tourism destination to boost the provincial economy, create jobs, and support small businesses.
The Premier’s assessment comes after the province recorded over eight million tourist arrivals in the second quarter of 2025. Authorities are now anticipating even stronger results following the dedicated festive season campaign.
“Our Limpopo Dizemba campaign was indeed, I want to believe, a success while waiting for the official statistics,” said Premier Ramathuba during a televised interview. She highlighted that provincial hotels were fully booked during key December events, including a Premier Soccer League final, the Mapungubwe Festival, the Ledo Music Festival, and the 17th celebration of the VhaVenda kingdom.
Beyond hotel usage, the Premier stated the government is measuring the campaign’s impact through tourist spending patterns. She expressed confidence that the province is on track to meet its target of ten million tourist arrivals for the financial year.
Balancing Affordability and Luxury in Tourism
During the interview, the Premier acknowledged concerns about affordability, particularly in the scenic Waterberg region, known for its high-end game lodges. She argued that the campaign helped expose more affordable options within the hospitality sector, including emerging small businesses.
“We have seen many people visiting… we do have the ones that can be affordable,” Ramathuba stated, using the Euphoria golf and lifestyle estate as an example of a fully-booked venue. She emphasised ongoing work with the Limpopo Tourism Agency to market a wider range of accommodations to ensure the province is accessible to both international and domestic visitors.
Focus on Broader Economic Revitalisation
The discussion expanded to the broader Limpopo economy, which the Premier noted grew by 7.8% in 2025—a 0.9% increase and the highest increment in the country. She credited strategic focuses on mining, agriculture, and renewable energy.
Addressing a key hurdle, the Premier provided an update on the long-delayed Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ). She confirmed that land transfer issues have been resolved, a new board is in place, and a CEO is set to be appointed. She also pointed to progress on a second SEZ in Tubatse and the recent launch of a “smart village” by the Minister of Electricity as signs of economic diversification.
Improving transport infrastructure remains critical, Ramathuba said, citing the province’s airport as a persistent challenge. She indicated a move toward a public-private partnership model and highlighted a new direct flight route launched in October from the province’s Wonderboom Airport to Cape Town as a successful step in improving accessibility for tourists.
Premier Dismisses National Ambition Rumours
Asked about speculation regarding her potential candidacy for national leadership within the African National Congress (ANC), Premier Ramathuba firmly dismissed the rumours.
“I’m not sure where that comes from. No single journalist had ever even given me a courtesy call,” she said. She characterised the talk as a distraction from her provincial duties.
“They are wrong. I’m not going anywhere,” Ramathuba asserted. “I’m currently busy being given a responsibility by the African National Congress to deliver water, to deliver electricity to our people… to make sure that our economy grows.”
She stressed that in the ANC, leadership is not self-determined but relies on the call of party structures. “You wait for your time for your province, for your branches,” she concluded, affirming her focus is squarely on governing Limpopo.