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| Indian tourists to South Africa expected to double by 2012 |
| BS Reporter / Chennai Mar 03, 2010, 00:55 IST |
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The South African Tourism Department is bullish that by 2012, the number of tourists from India will double to 100,000. According to representatives from the tourism department, the small cities and event-based tourism will be the focus areas to increase tourist arrivals. They also added that on an average, a tourist from India spends around Rs 80,000 for spending 7-10 days in South Africa.
Medha Sampat, country manager, South Africa Tourism, said unlike other countries, South Africa is new to the tourism market. The country had entered five years earlier and the tourist arrivals of 52,637 till October 2009 compared to 44,578 in October 2008, an increase of 18.1 per cent. By 2012 the number of tourist from India will cross 100,000.
As part of its promotional activities, the department is planning to intensify its marketing spend in India. While Sampat refused to comment on the investment on market, she said we will focus on bill board, cinema and television promotions and through B2B.
She added that on an average a tourist from India spends around Rs 80,000, excluding air tickets, to spend 7-10 days in South Africa.
“Our target will be small cities and tier II towns and event-based tourism.” Presently, the country is promoting FIFA 2010, the 19th Soccer World Cup.
According to Sampat, India which was the 12th or 13th three years back on foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa, moved to seventh presently by overtaking countries including China and Italy. “While tourists from China to South Africa dropped, India reported a 18 per cent growth.
She added that the number of companies taking up incentive tourism also grew. “This segment rose 50 per cent year-on-year and more corporates are now looking at South Africa as an incentive package for their performers including employees and dealers.” Apart from this, South Africa is also attracting corporates for business conclaves along with adventure tourism.
Commenting on the connectivity, she said, presently South African Airways operates four flights from Mumbai while Jet Airways operates two flights and other airlines connecting South Africa are Emirates and Qatar Airways.
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