More tourists finding their way to SA

SOUTH African tourism statistics for 2006 show a 14,5 per cent increase in tourism arrivals compared with 2005 figures, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said yesterday.

“What we have achieved together is reflected in the exponential growth of South Africa’s tourism industry since our transition to democracy in 1994,” Van Schalkwyk told delegates at the African Business Tourism Conference in Sandton. According to the statistics, South Africa had 765 675 more visitors in the first nine months of 2006 than in the first nine months of 2005.”Over six million people visited South Africa between January and September last year, suggesting that we are well on track to surpass the annual record that we set in 2005,” Van Schalkwyk said in a speech prepared for the conference.The largest source of growth was from Africa, with an increase of 18,3 per cent in arrivals from the A said there was also strong growth in arrivals from North America, with an increase of 9,7 per cent.There was also a “massive” 42,4 per cent increase in visitors from the Russian Federation, 24,1 per cent more visitors from Hungary and 17,4 per cent more visitors from Finland, he said.Van Schalkwyk said this showed that South Africa was successful at achieving broader market penetration on the European continent.He said South Africa had also achieved a 4,5 per cent increase in arrivals from Asia, in particular with 17,5 per cent more visitors from India and “excellent growth” in arrivals from Japan, Thailand and Singapore.However, arrivals from China, Malaysia and the Philippines decreased.Van Schalkwyk said growth in South African and sub-Saharan African tourism was driving overwhelmingly positive tourism performance on the continent.”Over the past two years Africa achieved the fastest growth rates of any major region in the world.”However, Van Schalkwyk said South Africa’s business tourism sector still needed attention.”On average, business travellers spend three times more 10 per cent of business travellers return to a destination within five years,” he said.Business tourists currently make up five per cent of South Africa’s total tourism market, he added.Nampa-SapaAccording to the statistics, South Africa had 765 675 more visitors in the first nine months of 2006 than in the first nine months of 2005.”Over six million people visited South Africa between January and September last year, suggesting that we are well on track to surpass the annual record that we set in 2005,” Van Schalkwyk said in a speech prepared for the conference.The largest source of growth was from Africa, with an increase of 18,3 per cent in arrivals from the A said there was also strong growth in arrivals from North America, with an increase of 9,7 per cent.There was also a “massive” 42,4 per cent increase in visitors from the Russian Federation, 24,1 per cent more visitors from Hungary and 17,4 per cent more visitors from Finland, he said.Van Schalkwyk said this showed that South Africa was successful at achieving broader market penetration on the European continent.He said South Africa had also achieved a 4,5 per cent increase in arrivals from Asia, in particular with 17,5 per cent more visitors from India and “excellent growth” in arrivals from Japan, Thailand and Singapore.However, arrivals from China, Malaysia and the Philippines decreased.Van Schalkwyk said growth in South African and sub-Saharan African tourism was driving overwhelmingly positive tourism performance on the continent.”Over the past two years Africa achieved the fastest growth rates of any major region in the world.”However, Van Schalkwyk said South Africa’s business tourism sector still needed attention.”On average, business travellers spend three times more 10 per cent of business travellers return to a destination within five years,” he said.Business tourists currently make up five per cent of South Africa’s total tourism market, he added.Nampa-Sapa