Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa has been elected as one of two deputy chairpersons of the Regional Commission for Africa (CAF).
Traveller24 reported that the announcement was made during the 22nd General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) that took place in China last week.
The regional tourism commissions enable member states to meet once a year to discuss concerns and formulate proposals to submit to the UNWTO for consideration.
Xasa, who is also the convenor of tourism ministers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was appointed deputy chair of the CAF for a two-year term.
She told Traveller24 in a previous interview in 2017 that she aimed to increase the representation of women in tourism in a five-year period, as well as look at ways to develop the skills and products of women in tourism.
"With a workforce comprised largely by women operating at the lower levels of the value chain, it is incumbent on our sector to lead the process of gender diversity and transformation that will result in more women occupying executive positions," Xasa told Traveller24.