Ten million tourist target 'within reach'
Michael Appel
5 September 2008
South Africa's goal of having 10-million international tourists visiting the country by 2010 is well within reach, says Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Speaking at the launch of Tourism Month in Rustenburg in the North West province this week, Van Schalkwyk reiterated his confidence in achieving the target, adding that it could even possibly be achieved in 2009.
"There is no doubt that South Africa is one of the most sought after destinations in the world, and the figures continue to prove this again and again," he said, adding: "In 2007 we really boomed growing faster than the international average, and tourism arrival figures for the first five months of 2008 grew by 7.6%."
The 7.6% growth between January and May 2008 translated into almost 4-million more tourists.
European, American growth
He also highlighted that the French market had experienced the highest growth with 20.5%, despite South African Airways not having any direct flight routes to Paris.
"Europe is experiencing positive growth of 7.4%. Italy and the Netherlands grew by 9.1% and 9.5% respectively while Germany saw good recovery with 5.1% growth."
"Arrivals from the Americas have shown consistent annual growth since 2002 and this year there were over 26 000 more visitors arriving from the United States," said Van Schalkwyk, adding that this represented as increase of 13.6% over the same period in 2007.
New target markets
An important market to crack was the Chinese and Indian tourist market, Van Schalkwyk said, highlighting that tourist numbers from China grew at 17.4% and those from India at 16.2%.
He said there had also been a shift in the focus of target markets with the growth of the African travel base. Air arrivals from Kenya and Nigeria grew by 19.%, while land markets experienced 6.4% growth.
"Compared to the figure of less than 600 000 foreign visitors in 1994, the long term growth we have seen is truly something to celebrate," Van Schalkwyk said.
Environmental responsibility
South African Tourism chief executive Moeketsi Mosola told reporters that the industry needed to pay more attention to reducing carbon emissions, and had to be more environmentally conscious in its business practices, as international visitors were increasingly aware of environmental issues.
"There is a growing global trend to support businesses and services that demonstrate environmental responsibility," he said. "It makes good business sense, and it is a sound ethical and moral choice, to operate in an environmentally responsible way in this, and in any, industry."
Mosola said South Africa was a long-haul destination for many of its estimated 9-million visitors each year and travel was a "carbon-expensive" activity.
"A round trip for one person from the United Kingdom to Johannesburg, for example, created about 1 500 kilograms of carbon dioxide," he said.
Source: BuaNews
