Nigeria has emerged the biggest market for South Africa Tourism in Africa, contributing over 43,000 arrivals to the touristic growth rate recorded last year, South Africa Tourism's Regional Director for Africa and Domestic, Phumelela Dhlomo disclosed.

Dhlomo said the arrival figures from Nigeria which peaked to an-all-time high of 11.3 per cent has further encouraged SA Tourism to make the country, a key market in its relentless drive to position South Africa as the preferred destination for global tourists.

Speaking at the monthly breakfast business meeting of the Nigerian-South African Chambers of Commerce, sponsored by South African Tourism, held in Lagos, Dhlomo disclosed that tourists from Nigeria form a significant portion of the 11 per cent global and 7 per cent inbound tourists from Africa; thus making it the biggest tourism market outside Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

While presenting the global and continental scorecard of South Africa Tourism’s drive for increased flow of arrivals into the country, Dhlomo stated that arrivals indicator from Nigeria between 2003 and 2007, confirmed that there has been significant improvements of about 74 per cent of arrivals from Nigeria most of whom were either general holiday tourists or business travelers.

Encouraged by the development, Dhlomo said South African Tourism has put in place a number of incentives to further attract Nigerian visitors to South Africa, listing initiatives such as ‘the story teller’ campaign which was aimed at encouraging business tourists to extend their stay to savour the rich leisure attractions in the country.

Source :africanews.com