A very positive story on the website of the SABC caught my eye. The good news is that although global tourism may have been hit hard following the financial meltdown, tourism in South Africa is still growing at a 6% rate. With a looming global recession, there is no doubt that times ahead will be even harder and its time to think of other ways to keep it afloat.
Global tourism has taken a serious knock in the last few months because of the financial crisis. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation says the industry grew less than 2% between June and August, down from the average of 5.7% recorded at the beginning of the year
South Africa Tourism Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk said that there is a drive to get tourist to provinces other than the Western Cape and Gauteng. “All provinces are here – we have many cities and towns, not only Cape Town and Johannesburg, because we want to give people the experience of South Africa as a whole,” said van Schalkwyk.
With so much on offer there’s no reason why tourism SA should not do well. Despite the global economic downturn and worries that the situation could get even worse, South Africa has the benefit of a focus on 2010 when Africa hosts the World Cup Final for the first time ever.
Consultants recently concluded that the biggest concerns for foreign travelers are crime and transport. If South Africa can address these 2 aspects we are in fine shape for good growth in tourism beyond 2010.
We would like to invite our foreign visitors to find out more about safety suggestions when traveling through South Africa. Information has been made available on the Arrive Alive road safety website as well as on the mobile website at arrivealive.mobi
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