South Africa's stellar reputation as a tourism destination continues to grow. In 2012 South Africa's tourist growth rate was more than double the global average (about 4%, as estimated by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation). Visits by tourists from outside the African continent grew significantly at 15.1% – one of the highest rates in the world last year.
Europe remained the highest source market – more than half the total number of overseas tourists. The United States and Germany followed, with China becoming South Africa's fourth-biggest overseas tourism market, 55.9% on 2011 figures. China's growth is significant, showing that we, the Brics countries (Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa), are in the process of remapping the contours of tourism globally.
It is expected that over the next 20 years international tourist arrivals in emerging economy destinations will grow at double the pace (4%) of those in advanced economy destinations (projected at 2%). The former will surpass the latter very soon: the projected crossing point at which tourism to emerging market destinations exceeds tourism to the advanced economies is 2015 – a mere two years from now.
Emerging market destinations boast offerings unparalleled in the world (and are great value for money). There are natural treasures such as the Amazon Rainforest and the Kruger National Park; there are world heritage sites such as the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal in India, Sugarloaf Mountain in Brazil, Table Mountain in Cape Town, and the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park in KwaZulu-Natal. The emerging markets are becoming more vital source markets even as emerging destinations change travel patterns around the world. Much of the new outbound tourism growth will be from Asia, Latin America and Africa.
The Brics summit in Durban recently highlighted the economic potential of our affiliation with this bloc, especially the tourism industry. We are currently in the process of negotiating a joint memorandum of understanding among Brics tourism ministers to take forward our co-operation in tourism. Greater collaboration at this level can only help South Africa be even more accessible to visitors from these markets.
Marthinus van Schalkwyk is the minister of tourism
