By David Masango

THE recent decline in global travel figures has not had a significant effect on tourist arrivals to South Africa. Tourism statistics for last year show a 4.2 percent increase in overseas arrivals, not including Africa, and a 1.2 percent increase in total foreign arrivals, including Africa, compared to 2002, according to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and SA Tourism.

The two said the World Tourism Organisation had confirmed that 2003 was "yet another considerably difficult year" for the tourism industry worldwide, citing "three negative factors: the Iraq conflict, SARS and a persistently weak economy", which affected mainly the USA, Germany and Japan.

However, tourist arrivals to South Africa remained positively resilient, despite this gloomy backdrop. "The increase was most significantly impacted by a 5.3 percent growth experienced out of Europe, flying in the face of negative global growth from a region in which South African Tourism has invested a large proportion of its marketing budget."

This was good news and reinforced the success of its activities as informed by its Tourism Growth Strategy launched in 2001. The year-end statistics were announced by environmental affairs and tourism Minister Valli Moosa at a media briefing in Johannesburg today.

Moosa stated that it was imperative that the results be viewed in a global context and against the phenomenal growth achieved in 2002 impacted by the country's successful hosting of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The department said the WTO statistics showed that international tourist arrivals - from a global perspective - fell into negative territory during 2003, declining by 1.3 percent to 694 million.

The regions hardest hit were Asia and the Pacific with a -9 percent decrease and -2 percent in The Americas. "South Africa's overall 5.3 percent growth out of Europe (1.3-million arrivals) was compounded by a significant 14 percent growth out of France (127 760), and just over 3 percent increases out of both Germany and the UK, the country's top three overseas' markets." Arrivals out of the United States of America increased 2.7 percent (222 139 arrivals) over 2002.

This confirmed that South Africa continued to maintain its profile as a preferred tourist destination out of a market that had proved particularly tough. Arrivals from India increased by over 20 percent. "The market sustained the phenomenal interest shown in South Africa as a preferred tourist destination following the high profile given the country during the 8th ICC Cricket World Cup and the International Indian Film Awards, both hosted in 2003," the department said.

It added that such success had prompted a decision by South African Tourism to open a new country office in Mumbai from April 1, this year.

Moosa said the country could be satisfied that it was doing well in world terms and still growing despite the tough global environment. "As a destination, we must continually strive to maintain our competitive advantage as a value for money destination and continue to build on our diversity as a unique selling proposition," added the Minister.

SOURCE: - BuaNews