"The first-quarter performance bodes well for another good year for SA in terms of international arrivals‚" the minister told a summit on tourism organised by the portfolio committee on tourism.
In 2012‚ SA recorded 13m international arrivals‚ of which 9.2m were tourists.
Particularly encouraging‚ the minister said‚ was the strong growth in tourists from Europe during the first quarter after a long period of stagnation. The number of German tourists grew 17%‚ French tourists by 14% and Italian visitors by 17%‚ while the UK grew 3% off a high base.
The growth in tourists from emerging markets in the first quarter of the year‚ according to figures provided by Statistics SA‚ was equally strong with Chinese tourism registering a 37.4% increase‚ India 22%‚ Nigeria 22% and Ghana 46%.
Van Schalkwyk stressed that the stiff competition in the international tourism market and the need for SA to innovate and diversify its product offering if it was to stay ahead.
While wildlife tourism would remain the backbone of the industry‚ SA needed to diversify its offering to include its cultural heritage‚ lifestyle products and conventions.
He also emphasised the need to build a strong domestic tourism sector‚ which currently contributes R10bn to the economy annually.
To extend the infrastructure for domestic tourism‚ the Industrial Development Corporation was conducting an audit of state assets to determine which could be converted into tourist facilities‚ particularly for the low-income market.
Africa was vital to SA's future tourism strategy and Van Schalkwyk welcomed SAA's plans to expand its services on the continent.
"Africa is key to what we want to achieve‚" the minister said. He acknowledged that the relationship between the Department of Tourism and SAA in the past had not been very constructive as their strategies were not aligned‚ but said this was now going much better.
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