“On behalf of my fellow South Africans here with me, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude for the very warm reception afforded to us since our arrival in this beautiful and vibrant city of Lagos.
We are here to officially open the first South African Tourism regional marketing office on the continent. It’s a momentous occasion for us.
South African Tourism’s new home in Lagos demonstrates and confirms the resolve between our two countries to strengthen our relations for the mutual benefit of our peoples and, indeed, the long-term gain of the African continent,” says South African Tourism Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk.
Nigeria plays a pivotal role in the African market and is considered one of ‘Gateway’ to Africa, alongside SA.
SA Tourism Minister was a guest of honour for the Nigerian Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister Chief Edem Duke.
The talks to open Nigerian tourism office were taken last year when Edem Duke came to SA.
“We have extended an invitation to the West African traveler through some of the marketing campaigns that we have done in the various markets. The arrival statistics from these markets already bear testimony to the fact that this invitation was well-received,” says Van Schalkwyk.
A total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists visited South Africa in 2012. This is a 13.8% increase to the 64 402 Nigerian tourists who visited South Africa in 2011, an upward trend.
At the end of June 2013, Nigerian arrivals had continued to grow on a strong trajectory: 15.9% growth on the same period in 2012 to 40,097 tourist arrivals.
Ghana, followed with a phenomenal 23.8% in 2012, when South Africa welcomed 22, 953 Ghanaian tourists. Up to end June 2013, arrivals from Ghana were growing at 27.3%, to 13, 663 tourist arrivals for the six-month period.
South African Tourism, according to Van Schalkwyk, has officially extended an invitation to the rest of Africa to showcase the continent by exhibiting together at the annual Tourism Indaba taking place from the 10th to the 12th May in Durban this year.
