South Africa’s tourism-marketing efforts are paying off in ”very concrete terms”, with statistics showing there had been a nearly 16% tourism spike in the period January to July 2006, compared with the corresponding period in 2005, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in Utrecht, The Netherlands, on Tuesday.
He was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Vakantie Beurs, which according to Van Schalkwyk’s spokesperson Riaan Aucamp, is Europe’s largest exhibition dedicated to tourism and leisure.
In prepared comments released to the media, Van Schalkwyk said: ”More than 4,6-million people visited South Africa during the period under review, outstripping the 2005 half-yearly figure by 636 610. The period also witnessed a 3,3% increase in arrivals from Europe, with The Netherlands showing a reasonable growth of 5,8%.”
”The highest number of arrivals — from the international portfolio — came from the United Kingdom, a consistent trend [that] has prevailed for several years. A massive 34,7% more visitors from the Russian Federation landed in South Africa over the first seven months of 2006, while the Scandinavian countries, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, all posted arrivals that exceeded 10%.”
Referring to the global competitiveness of South African tourism, he said: ”Our arrivals growth rates far outstrip the rest of the world, which averaged about 4,5% over a similar period.
”Growth in South African, and indeed sub-Saharan African, tourism is driving positive tourism performance on the continent. Over the past two years Africa has achieved the fastest growth rates of any major region in the world — averaging in the region of 10%.”
Referring to South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, he said the country would deliver on its promise to ensure that visitors would be treated to a uniquely African experience.
”For the first time in World Cup history, non-hotel accommodation such as national park accommodation, lodges, guesthouses and bed and breakfasts will have to obtain a grading rating from the Tourism Grading Council.”
Small- and medium-sized enterprises would be able to apply to the Tourism Enterprise Programme for assistance to partially cover the grading costs.
”This will help us achieve the dual objectives of spreading tourism benefits beyond cities where matches are taking place, and of providing spectators with an even wider range of accommodation options,” he said. — I-Net Bridge