Archived News > SA Tourism hits 9-million mark

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	– SA Tourism hits 9-million mark

South Africa has broken its annual tourist arrivals record for the third year running with a total of 9.07-million foreigners visiting South Africa in 2007. This represents an 8.3% increase over 2006.

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk commented that the overall global growth rate for the year was just over 6%, indicating that South Africa was still outpacing international tourism growth rates.

Van Schalkwyk said, "Destination South Africa is well on its way to reaching 10-million arrivals by 2010".

The Unites States has jumped to South Africa’s second biggest market source, following close behind Africa. In 2007, South Africa attracted over 22 000 more travelers from the US in 2007 - an 8.7% increase over 2006.

Arrivals from Asia and Australasia also grew strongly, with a 16.9% increase from India, 12.9% increase from China, and 6.9% increase in visitors from Australasia. Arrivals from Europe grew by 2.3%.

More direct flights has significantly assisted the growth in tourism.  Delta Airlines now flies direct to Johannesburg from Atlanta, and the airline plans to introduce a flight between New York and Cape Town.

Local airline, SAA, has introduced a service between Munich and Johannesburg, and Emirates Airlines now flies into Johannesburg 18 times a week and will soon be flying direct to Cape Town and then to Durban. China Eastern has opened the route to China, and Thai Air has re-established the route to Bangkok.

South African tourism is extremely upbeat, especially with the world's biggest sporting event, the Fifa World Cup, taking place in South Africa in 2010, which is sure to bring more exposure to this beautiful country.

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