What A Manner To Celebrate
Siamese to conventional thinking, there is ample evidence to attest to the fact that tourism to our shores is astronomically alive and well! The real anticipation would be the barometer to size and quantify the fact that travel to South Africa ranks amongst the world’s best phenomenon! Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s eye the launch of Tourism Month, which was in August 2007 with bated breath!
Writes: Edwin Sipho Rihlamvu
Zebras at a Waterhole |
Prevailing upon a somber South African mood as the country ushers in another and yet welcome milestone which is guaranteed to rattle furthers with envy competitors internationally, Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk declared on Tuesday, 21 August 2007 at the launch of Tourism Month that, “South Africa is following the global trend with a rise in travel and tourism to our country. Overall foreign arrivals grew by 10 percent from January to May 2007. Domestic travel increased by 2, 7 percent in 2006 as 37 million domestic trips were undertaken”.
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town |
It is indeed not surprising that as we celebrate the dawn of the much awaited spring and grapple with headaches such as seasonality and accompanied economic anxiety, there is cause for jubilation for we bask in the know that there is a documented 10 percent growth amongst others due to air travel of tourists from the United States of America, Canada, Brazil and France. Needless to mention that this increase in growth, has surprisingly permeated most international barriers.
Perhaps what sets apart this an historic national salutation of our pride and dignity is to be found in the fact this year’s launch was formidably carpeted at the Nelson Mandela Museum at Qunu in the Eastern Cape where one of our most distinguished leader, councilor, guide, parent and icon hails from, notwithstanding the palatable reality that the people of the world are celebrating his birthday yearlong.
“This gigantic icon is arguably attributable to the fact that the increase to our country comes from arrivals from all the regions of the world in particular air markets, which in fact aptly confirms that there is a growing awareness of South Africa as a tourist destination”, said Dimakatso Tsutsubi of Tourism Branch, who was at hand to indelibly witness this an historic occasion.
Between Kommetjie and Scarborough
Western Cape |
As always, Minister Van Schalkwyk did not mince his words when he pronounced that “although foreign tourists were important, local tourists were just as important. One of the challenges in growing the domestic market is making it a lifestyle choice so that it is not just driven by the purpose of visiting friends or family".
“As we look towards an economically enriching World Tourism Day on 27 September 2007, perhaps we should apportion time to reflect on the fact that tourism's contribution to job creation in 2006 amounted to 947,530 jobs, which was an increase of 9.6 percent over 2005.Our challenge would therefore be to appropriate the percentage of women that benefit from these receipts", said Loraine Ncube, an accomplished Deater woman’s rights activist.
“In not taking advantage of the fact that travel in South Africa is ranked among the world’s best", the worried Minister said, "The limited availability of qualified and experienced black management and to a lesser extent, the ability of South Africans to deal with non-African language speaking tourists, are viewed as important scarcities”.
Mava Scott of Chief Directorate, Communications, proclaimed, “Diverse tourism experiences offered by the country's nine provinces would be showcased in September”.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s jubilate Tourism Month in the know that Travel In South Africa Is Ranked Among The World’s Best!
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erihlamvu@deat.gov.za