MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE OFFICE OF MR MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK,
MINISTER OF TOURISM
First quarter of 2012 shows exceptional growth in tourist arrivals
10,5% growth in all tourist arrivals and 17,8% growth in overseas tourist arrivals bode well for
destination, country, industry and economy
Overall tourist arrivals to South Africa grew by an impressive 10,5% in the first quarter
of 2012, with strong growth recorded across all regions.
The months of January, February and March 2012 saw a total of 2 267 807 tourist
arrivals to South Africa – 216 031 (10.5%) more than in the corresponding period in
2011. In a very strong start to the year, overseas tourist arrivals were up by a combined
17,8%.
According to South Africa’s Tourism Minister, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, these are
“wonderful results for the destination, the country, the tourism industry and the
economy”. At the launch of the latest available tourist arrivals data earlier today, the
Minister said it was a most encouraging sign that tourist arrivals growth had come from
all regions. Emerging markets continued their robust, positive growth of 2011, while
traditional markets recovered the lost ground of the period 2008–2011 and bounced
back to reach positive growth in the early part of the year.
Tourist arrivals from Europe grew by 11,9% (394 716 tourists) in the first three months
of the year. South Africa’s biggest overseas source market, the United Kingdom,
recovered from an overall decline in 2011 to post positive returns of 9,5% (delivering
133 729 tourists in the first three months of 2012). Tourist arrivals from Germany
maintained a strong positive growth trend, and with a 15,2% growth rate (77 768
tourists), the country was among the best-performing markets on the European
continent.
Robust sales and marketing partnerships across the region, South Africa’s accessibility,
and the exceptional value for money that the destination offers to European travellers
were significant contributing factors to tourist arrivals growth from Europe, Minister Van
Schalkwyk said.
Meanwhile, the United States also returned excellent growth of 16,1% (70 095 tourists)
as South Africa maintained its status as a desirable and coveted leisure holiday
experience for American travellers.Strong emerging-market growth continues
South Africa continued to enjoy fantastic growth from the emerging markets during the
first quarter of this year. Brazil posted 71,7% growth (19 133 tourists), India grew by
23,1% (21 138 tourists), while tourist arrivals from China increased by 67,7% (30 883
tourists). In total, the regional Asian market returned tourist arrivals growth of more than
43%, delivering 85 189 tourists (against 59 549 tourists for the same three months last
year).
Tourist arrivals from regional African tourist markets achieved positive growth rates of
7,9%, with Angola (up 48,5%, or 14 394 tourists), Nigeria (26,7% growth, or 17 066
tourists) and Tanzania (31,4% growth, or 8 247 tourists) standing out as exceptional
continental-market achievers in the first three months of the year.
Minister Van Schalkwyk said this overall growth in tourism can be ascribed to significant
investments in the South African tourism industry in time, energy and resources. These
included a series of trade workshops across key markets, numerous travel, trade and media familiarisation trips hosted by South Africa, as well as ongoing in-depth research
into consumer needs that had provided insight into which global and regional marketing
campaigns would deliver the best results and maximum efficiency.
According to the Minister, South Africa’s valuable partnerships and determination to
defend and grow its traditional tourist markets were now yielding handsome dividends,
as the industry had worked extremely hard during difficult times.
“We are extremely lucky to live in South Africa and to enjoy in our own backyard a
destination that has grown tremendously in popularity and desirability all over the world.
Let’s work together and encourage each other to continue to make tourists feel at home,
to travel South Africa ourselves – like tourists in our own country – and to continue
offering the excellent service, value for money and accessibility that have delivered
these exceptional results, which we are optimistic will continue well into the future,” said
Minister Van Schalkwyk.
Regional and continental growth remains strong
“I would again like to stress the importance of the African market. Regional African
visitors are major leisure tourists, attracted by our country’s beauty, nightlife and lifestyle
and shopping attractions. The 2013 African Cup of Nations early next year offers South
Africa a valuable opportunity to drive tourist arrivals growth from Africa even further and
to give regional African tourists an exceptional experience while they are here ... the
kind of experience that makes them want to return to South Africa as well as
recommend our destination, our warm hospitality and our capability to friends, family
and colleagues back home,” said Minister Van Schalkwyk
Ends.
Issued by the Ministry of Tourism
Melene Rossouw
Tel: 021 465 7240/082 753 7107
E-mail: mrossouw@tourism.gov.za
Natasha Rockman
Tel: 021 465 7240
E-mail: nrockman@tourism.gov.za
