South Africa keen on post-pandemic tourism revival

South Africa's tourism sector has made substantive recovery and the number of international tourist arrivals is now 19 percent less than 2019 figures, said a South African government official.

Fish Mahlalela, deputy minister of South Africa's Department of Tourism, said the country received 4.8 million international tourists in the first seven months this year, a 70.6 percent increase when compared to the same period last year.

"These significant numbers paint a vibrant picture of South Africa's continued allure, an epitome of the global trend steering toward a post-pandemic recovery in travel," he said. "It is clear that our nation remains a destination of choice, captivating the hearts of many with its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and remarkable wildlife. We are encouraged by these figures, they have surpassed our expectations."

Figures released by Statistics South Africa last week showed that income from tourist accommodation recorded a 29.1 percent year-on-year increase in July. Mahlalela said South Africa is still pursuing its target of having 21 million visitors by 2030.

"We must flip the script and drive a clear, well-illuminated united path to our destination marketing," he said.

South Africa is in the process of removing some barriers that may hinder travel, including visa processing and the beefing up of security to ensure tourists are safe when they visit. Mahlalela said South Africa expects more tourists during the festive season.

Glenton de Kock, CEO of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry, said South Africa has made recovery, which the association welcomes. He said China is a "great tourism source market" for South Africa that has potential to grow in the coming months, contributing to economic recovery, job creation and poverty alleviation.

"We expect more Chinese visitors after travel restrictions have been relaxed. Chinese tourists travel in big numbers and that is our huge source market," he said.

Zimbabwe, South Africa's neighbor, has also recorded some growth in tourist arrivals, income and investments. Between January and June, the country saw a 62 percent increase in international tourist arrivals, from 366,062 last year to 591,524 this year.

Keitumetse Setlang, executive manager of marketing at Botswana Tourism Organization, told China Daily that Botswana's tourism has recovered to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels. She said the organization is working with the Chinese embassy in Gaborone and some tour agencies in China to bring more tourists to Botswana.

The writer is a freelance journalist for China Daily.