OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 4.30pm.
THE SOUTH African tourist industry could create up to 600000 new jobs by 2010 if it can successfully tap its travel and tourism potential, the South African Chamber of Commerce director-general Raymond Parsons said.
Addressing the chamber’s Northern Province congress in Tzaneen, Parsons said that tourism and travel are emerging as leading global economic drivers in the 21st century. Parsons stressed, however, that improved safety and security will have to receive a high priority and be integrated into national, provincial and local tourism strategies.
Cape Town has already launched a quick public relations offensive in order to repair the popular tourist city’s image in the wake of a bomb blast in tourist restaurant Planet Hollywood.
Cape Metropolitan Tourism recently released a quick survey showing Cape Town to be the cheapest tourist destination when compared to other popular cities such as San Francisco and Paris. Although industry commentators say the blast may have a long term effect of dampening tourist flows to Cape Town, few tourists have reportedly cancelled their holidays.