Skift Take

Google is flipping the script on its anti-competitive behavior in South Africa, with a partnership to bolster digital transformation in the country's tourism sector.

Selene Brophy

Google teamed up with South Africa's tourism department Monday to boost travel marketing efforts after a government inquiry concluded in July that Google's practices impede competition.

The inquiry was done by South Africa's competition commission. It found that for 90% of general searches, Google tended to favor its services and larger platforms that can afford to boost their search results.

Smaller South African travel businesses and tour operators were at a disadvantage, the inquiry found.

South Africa's Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, said the priority now was to set up a tourism sector database with all active tourism-related businesses. The department would also iden