South Africa launches 10-year tourism plan
South Africa has launched a new cohesive strategy for tourism growth in the next 10 years.
In a speech to the South African parliament, Tourism Minister Martinus van Schalkwyk announced South Africa Tourism’s plan for growth, the utilisation of tourism to stimulate economic development, and tough standards for green tourism to enhance the reliability of brand South Africa.
He said, “We aim to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa from seven million in 2009 to 15 million by 2020, the number of domestic tourists from 14.6 million in 2009 to 18 million by 2020 and to create 225,000 new jobs by 2020.â€
South Africa’s strategy includes:
– Focus on the BRIC markets without forgetting about North America and Europe
– Using regional and domestic markets and tourism product mixes as hedges against high fuel prices affecting long haul markets
– Focus on MICE: a National Convention Bureau to be established
– New growth by accessing markets unlocked by the World Cup
– Focus on air access and liberalisation of air space to generate business
– Use of tourism for social inclusion with a fund for tourism projects.
-Transfer of wealth to poor and rural communities by ensuring ownership of assets and the facilitation of skills development.
By Valere Tjolle
Ian Jarrett
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