SA Tourism CEO Cheryl Carolus will not renew her three-year contract when it expires at the end of October 2004, the tourism marketing body said on Tuesday.
Carolus was previously the African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general and the South African High Commissioner to the Court of St James, a post she assumed in March 1998.
Carolus said that she has never made any secret of the fact that she is a ‘frontiers’ person’.
“South African Tourism is now in a very good space and I feel I have achieved what I set out to do, so it is time to move on. I have no current plans except to take some time out — and then see what 2005 brings,” Carolus said.
Rick Menell, chairperson of the board of South African Tourism, confirmed that between now and Carolus’ departure on November 1, the board will pursue a systematic process in appointing Carolus’ successor that will include advertising the position, the subsequent interviewing of shortlisted candidates and the timeous appointment of the new incumbent to ensure a seamless leadership handover.
During June 2004, 106 364 overseas travellers visited South Africa. This compared with May’s 3,2% year on year (y/y) rise to 118 471 overseas visitors after April’s 1,4% y/y drop to 151 607 visitors, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Monday.
This brought the first half total to 909 692, a 1% y/y increase, which was far higher than expected, given that last year South Africa hosted the Cricket World Cup in the first quarter of 2003.
In 2002, foreign visitor numbers rose by 10,9% y/y largely due to a 19,5% y/y surge in overseas visitors.
In 2003 the growth in overseas visitors slowed to 4,3%, while the increase from mainland Africa and unspecified countries eased to 0,2% from a 7,8% increase in 2002. In 2003 in total there were 6 640 095 foreign visitors to South Africa, a 1,4% rise on 2002, and ten times more than in 1994, when South Africa transited to a democratically elected government. – I-Net Bridge