Tourism in South Africa

  • UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

    AFGHANISTAN, 2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.
  • International Arrivals To Africa Reach More Than 18 Million In 2017

    BOTSWANA, 2017/09/09 Market Research Company Euromonitor International revealed before this week the key trends shaping travel and tourism in Africa at the 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. According to Euromonitor International’s new data, international arrivals to Africa grew by 6.5 % in 2017, to reach 18,550 million, up from 16,351 million in 2012. Key markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius and Tanzania accounted for 70 % of international trips to the Sub-Saharan African region.
  • South Africa Tourism issues statement on amended immigration regulations

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2016/11/11 Since 2014, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has been working to help its members and those of the tourism to understand two regulations that are included in the Amended Immigration Regulations as it pertains to travel. The TBCSA issued a statement to address the persisting challenges that the travel and tourism industry faces with the implementation of the Amended Immigration Regulations. The specific challenges faced by the industry are with the unintended consequences of biometric data capturing for international visitors into the country and the continued requirement of unabridged birth certificates for minors under the age of 18 traveling into the country.
  • South African tourism sector pulling through challenges

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/05/21 Improved competitiveness and significant government support have strengthened South Africa’s claim to be the leading sub-Saharan tourism destination, though new visa regulations and fallout from anti-immigrant protests could affect its appeal in the short term. In its new world Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) statement, the World Economic Forum (WEF) found that South Africa’s performance in the tourism sector has improved significantly since 2013, at the same time as the previous study was conducted. The statement, released on May 6, ranked South Africa as the leading country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of competitiveness and increase drivers, and 48th out of the 141 markets assessed in general.
  • Can Tourism Unite Africa?

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/05/10 While tourism increase of 2% for 2014 shows an increased interest in Africa - infrastructure development, visa facilitation, air connectivity and lack of financing all pose a risk to rapid increase. These key issues formed the crux of a round-table ministerial discussion and debate on the current national of tourism in Africa, with a view of collectively formulating solutions to grow and develop tourism on the continent. Hosted by SA Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, and extended to thirteen African Ministers and key tourism industry players ahead of the Pan-African Tourism Indaba 2015 in Durban, Hanekom said the African market is undergoing unprecedented increase in tourist arrivals.
  • SASCOC confirms support for 4th Annual Sports and Events Tourism Exchange

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/10/06 South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), has again thrown its weight behind the 2014 Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE) for the fourth year running. The SETE conference and exhibition will be taking place at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) from 28 – 30 October 2014. SETE 2014 will once again aim to showcase South Africa, and its neighbours on the continent, as an attractive destination in which to host international sporting events however large or small. A number of significant exhibitors such as South African Airways, South African Gymnastics Federation, Prince's Grant, and Pestana Hotels have confirmed their participation in the event recognising the benefits for their organisations of growing the country’s sports tourism industry.
  • Travel is number two on Facebook’s most shared posts inventory globally

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/03/18 Travel is number two on Facebook’s most shared posts inventory globally just next “adding a relationship, getting married or engaged” and it would seem that youth are driving a worldwide travel boom that continues to shape accommodation and booking trends. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Statement 2013/2014, youth travel is said to be expanding at 9% per annum globally compared with just 2% for the general people. YOUTH TRAVEL GROWTH IN CAPE TOWN
  • South Africa and Seychelles Tourism cooperation

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2014/03/09 Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Tourism of South Africa and a delegation of South African Tourism met with Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture and his delegation during ITB 2014 to discuss continued cooperation between South Africa and the Seychelles. The conference that took place on the Seychelles Stand at the ITB Tourism Trade equitable was an opportunity for Minister Van Schalkwyk and Minister St.Ange to reiterate areas of cooperation in the presence of the own delegations. The coming AU (African Union) Tourism Ministers conference in Seychelles mid-March was discussed inclunding the historic ICAO - UNWTO Conference for Tourism and Transport Ministers which is scheduled to take place in Seychelles in October.
  • SA Tourism and Emirates airline team up to boost tourism to the country

    QATAR, 2013/10/23  Emirates airline and SA Tourism have signed a marketing pact to boost visitor numbers to the country, the two parties said on Tuesday. "South Africa is a very significant market for Emirates, and this agreement reinforces our commitment to promote inbound tourism to the country," Emirates divisional senior vice president Hubert Frach said in a statement. Currently, Emirates flies to Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg.
  • Business and events tourism takes the South African tourism industry to new heights

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2013/08/12 "I am delighted that the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality presently has a convention center of its own. Congratulations to everyone who formed part of making this Boardwalk Convention Centre a success. This outstanding facility will not only benefit from our thriving business-events industry, but will assist in growing and sustaining it. " This statement was released by the office of the Minister of Tourism for South Africa, Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, on the occasion of the annual South African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) event hosted at the Boardwalk Convention Centre, Port Elizabeth on 29 July 2013