South Africa is ramping up security, cutting out red tape for people arriving in the country and boosting emerging entrepreneurs to increase domestic and international tourists.
That's the message tourism minister Patrica de Lille delivered to stakeholders at the opening of the three-day Africa's Travel Indaba in Durban on Tuesday.
Over 26 countries from the continent are exhibiting at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex in Durban with a view to increasing tourism arrivals under the theme Unlimited Africa.
"The latest official release of international arrival figures by Statistics South Africa for January to March 2024 points to a robust and growing South African tourism sector," De Lille said.
International tourist arrivals for the period totalled 2.4-million, representing a 15.4% increase compared with the same period in 2023.
"For 2023, we welcomed more than 8.5-million tourists from across the world, with 6.4-million of those arrivals from the rest of the African continent."
“We have seen an increase of over 75% from our African brothers. We will make sure that we encourage South Africans to also visit your country,” said De Lille.
She hailed Zimbabwe and Ghana, which have seen remarkable growth in the first quarter.
Direct flights between South Africa and Nairobi have enhanced convenience and stimulated tourism.
“We also congratulate SAA. Several routes have been launched since last year's indaba. Most notably, the route between Brazil and OR Tambo Airport and Cape Town, and last September a route to Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire was launched,” said De Lille.
Despite the strides the country was making, there were still connectivity barriers which plague the continent, which are a cause for concern for Africa's tourism ministers.
“South Africa has a visa waiver for 132 countries around the world and is currently negotiating with another 10. We always try for a seamless visa system which is something that is vital for growth," said De Lille.
The tourism department is working closely with the departments of home affairs and the minister in the presidency to address some of the visa issues.
She said the department had also worked with the private sector to improve safety and security for travellers.
The department invested R174.5m to deploy more than 2,300 tourism monitors at key attractions across the country to enhance safety and the private sector reintroduced its Tourism Angels programme and rolled out the Secura Traveller app and operations centre which links tourists to more than 200 medical, security and other service providers.
After last year's controversy surrounding a proposed R1bn deal with English Premier League football team Tottenham Hotspur, De Lille said they had "recruited special actors" to market the country by "building awareness and interest for tourists to visit the country".
"Our new global campaign will show South Africa to the world through the eye of little ones, and it will showcase the true magic and wonder of our unique and diverse destination."
Tourism stakeholders told TimesLIVE Premium they were optimistic about the indaba.
Wahida Parker, MD of Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, said the event offered an opportunity to showcase their capabilities.
“Africa has so much to offer. The experience so far shows that Africa has come to maturity,” said Parker.
“We are here to tell the public that the Mother City is more than about wine tasting. We are being assisted by the cruise liners that dock on our shores bringing in a new stream of visitors,” said Parker.
The tourism industry was an important tool to dent the country’s unemployment statistics, said ANEW hotels and resorts sales and marketing director Alan Campbell, who was speaking on the side-lines of the indaba.
“We want to reconnect with new partners and hopefully we want to meet some students and scholars — people who need to get into the industry,” said Campbell.
He cited the World Travel & Tourism Council economic impact report that noted the country's travel and tourism sector contributes 6.4% to GDP and was expected to grow to 7.6% over the next decade.
“The industry presents a wealth of experience. Historically it was perceived among the older generation to be unstable and less viable as a career choice. However, the industry is very healthy — international arrivals have grown," said Campbell.
He said they had noted a shift from an era where qualifications reigned supreme to more practical skills, and on-the-job learning has taken precedence.
“The industry welcomes arrivals and offers newcomers with open arms. The appeal of the industry is not confined to those venturing on their careers straight from matric, but it also offers possibilities to those seeking to broaden their horizons."
He was among the scores of traders exhibiting at the indaba.
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