Positions last held in government

Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk was the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of South Africa from May 2009 until May 2014. He was a member of Parliament from 1990 until 2014; during this period he was a member of Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) since October 2009; a board member of International Marketing Council and a Director of the Business Trust, an initiative that combines the resources of the government and business to create jobs, build capacity and combat poverty.

Academic Qualifications

Mr Van Schalkwyk holds a Masters of Arts degree in Political Science from (RAU); a B Proc degree from Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) and Bachelor of Arts honours degree in Political Science from (RAU). He Matriculated at Pietersburg High School in 1977.

Career/Positions/Memberships/Other Activities

Mr Van Schalkwyk has lecturered in Political Science at Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) and University of Stellenbosch. He has served as Premier of Western Cape Province from 21 June 2002 to 28 April 2004 and has also served as a Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism of the Republic of South Africa from April 2004 to April 2009.

He was a Chairperson of the Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industry Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum (WEF) for the 2010/2011 period and also Chaired the inaugural meeting of the T-20 Tourism Ministers, and hosted the UNWTO summit on sport, tourism and mega-events in Johannesburg in February 2010. He was a member of the Legacy and Legal Committee of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Research/Presentations/Awards/Decorations/Bursaries and Publications

Mr Van Schalkwyk receive Award for Academic Achievement of the Transvaal Lawyers' Association in 1980; awarded the Abe Bailey Bursary to Great Britain and Europe in 1983 and recognised as Africa's Tourism Minister of the year at the Africa Investor Awards in February 2008.

Source: Ministry of Tourism