More tourists coming to SA

2008-09-04 20:13

Cape Town - Almost four million foreigners visited South Africa in the first five months of this year, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Thursday.

Foreign arrival figures showed strong growth, he said in Rustenburg, North West province, at the launch of SA Tourism Month 2008.

"Overall, foreign arrivals grew by 7.6% from January to May 2008, to reach a total of almost four million (3 983 061)."

There was positive growth from Europe and arrivals from the Americas had shown consistent annual growth since 2002.

"From January to May this year there were over 26 000 more visitors arriving from the United States, bringing the total figure to 161 550 for the region, including Canada. This represents an increase of 13.6% over the same period in 2007.

"Arrivals from Brazil, a market on which SA Tourism is increasingly concentrating, rose by 19%, to 14 432 arrivals."

Growth out of Asia was being led by growth in two key markets - China at 17.4%, and India at 16.2%.

"Australia continues to grow steadily, with a 12.4% increase for the period, while Japan increased by 3.6%."

Arrivals via air from Kenya and Nigeria grew by 19.5%.

"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.

A copy of his speech was sent to Sapa.

- SAPA