Tourism At An All Time High

South Africa recorded a 15.1% increase in tourist arrivals to the country last year, the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced yesterday at a media briefing at Parliament.

"In 2010 we saw more than eight million tourist arrivals (8 073 552) to the country compared to just over seven million (7 011 865) in 2009. This compares very well in international terms. Figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) show that global tourism arrivals are estimated to have grown by 6.7% in 2010, which means that South Africa outperformed the global market by more than 8%.

"The 15.1% growth in tourist arrivals to South Africa outperformed that of every other region in the world, including arrivals growth of 13.9% for the Middle East, 12.6% for Asia and the Pacific, 7.7% for the Americas, 6.4% for Africa and 3.2% for Europe. We are delighted with these strong growth figures, particularly as it comes so soon after a global economic recession," Minister van Schalkwyk said.

The top ten overseas markets for 2010 were as follows:

- UK, up 1,5% from 446 369 to 453 030

- USA, up 22,6% from 230 324 to 282 377

- Germany, up 24,7% from 194 034 to 242 028

- The Netherlands, up 8,4% from 114 431 to 124 088

- France, up 14,4% from 100 890 to 115 401

- Australia, up 30,4% from 82 753 to 107 905

- India, up 29,7% from 55 203 to 71 587

- China, up 90,7% from 34 561 to 65 920

- Canada, up 21,9% from 45 330 to 55 263

- Italy, up 8,6% from 50 303 to 54 641

"It is important to acknowledge that the particularly good growth in South Africa's arrivals figures was undoubtedly given a significant boost by the World Cup. South Africa in fact recorded a peak in tourist arrivals in June and July 2010, which is traditionally our low season. From the results of our survey on arrivals during the World Cup, we know that more than 309 000 tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of the World Cup. The World Cup arrivals therefore represent about 4% of the total arrivals for 2010.

"In terms of growth from the respective regions, tourist arrivals from the Americas grew the fastest at 37.4% compared to 2009, followed by Asia and Australasia with 34.6%. Long-haul markets grew the fastest in 2010, showing an increase of 21%, and the strong growth of 14% from air markets within our continent is also particularly encouraging," Minister van Schalkwyk said.