OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Monday 2.15pm.
THE tourism industry could create five million jobs in South Africa in the next 12 years, but only if the country can provide good service and ensure the health and safety of tourists, Environment Affairs and Tourism Minister Dr Pallo Jordan said on Monday.
Speaking at the Food & Hotel Africa 98 Exhibition at Gallagher Estates in Midrand, Jordan said tourism offers enormous potential for the economy and the people of South Africa, and the hotel trade and food production industry are indispensable for tourism.
“In South Africa, tourism could be the number one job creator. We are confident that by the year 2000 it will provide foreign exchange earnings in the region of R23-billion,” Jordan said. “Judging by our continuing fine performance in our overseas tourism market, where we over-achieved our target for 1997 and registered a 17,7% growth, I am certain we can attain that target and even better it.”
Jordan noted that foreign exchange earnings from international tourism have for the first time exceeded R20-billion, making a substantial contribution to the balance of payments and to overall economic growth. Arrivals in South Africa from European markets grew by 19,3% between January and December last year, compared to the same period in 1996. The North American market grew by 23%, the Central and South American market by 38,1%, the Australasian market by 10,8%, the Asian by 3,2%, the Middle Eastern by 9,1%, the Indian Ocean islands by 9,7% and the African market by 7,3%.
Jordan added that South Africa welcomed 1,4-million visitors from overseas last year, while the total number of international visitors, including arrivals from other African countries, exceeded 5,4-million.