South Africa eyeing tourists from India

South Africa is eyeing 42.85 per cent growth in number of tourists from India to about 1,00,000 by 2014, especially with growing interest for it as an adventure and holiday destinations.

South Africa is eyeing 42.85 percent growth in number of tourists from India to about 1,00,000by 2014, especially with growing interest for it as anadventure and holiday destinations.

"In 2011, we saw 70,000 tourists from India which isexpected to be much better this year. With this growinginterest in South Africa as an adventure and holidaydestination we expect about 1,00,000 visitors from India by2014," Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told PTI hereyesterday.

The Minister, here for a promotional roadshow, saidIndia provides a huge opportunity for South African Tourismwhich spent USD 2 million in 2011 on promotion and marketing."We are focused on India in a big way and are planningto increase our promotional budget in the country by more than10 per cent year-on-year."

Earlier, South Africa was focusing only on the metrocities. However, since last year it has started penetratinginto the tier II cities, Schalkwyk said.

"We see a huge potential in the tier II and III citieswhere the spending power is increasing and people are lookingout to travel overseas for holidays. We are planning to movedeeper to the tier II and then III cities to tap this hugeopportunity," he added.

Besides adventure and wildlife, South Africa is alsopromoting its cities for their fine restaurants and richculture, the Minister added.

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