eTurboNews With highly-developed tourist services and travel infrastructure, South Africa saw an increased number of overseas arrivals in 2004 against the previous year making this African state remain the leading tourist destination in southern African region last year.
The monthly Southern African Tourism Update magazine reported in its May issue that South Africa had received 1,951,508 overseas visitors in 2004 and recorded good increases of tourists from other parts of the world except Europe where arrivals declined by 2.3 percent.
Tourists from the United States to South Africa last year were 213,322 against 192,563 in 2003 and out-passed other overseas holidaymakers who called in the country’s diversified attractions, the report revealed.
Central and South America had their holiday makers to South Africa last year increased to 46,625 from 41,778 last year, an increase of 10.4 percent.
Tourists from Australasia jumped from 90,307 in 2003 to 94,304 bringing an increase figure of 4.2 percent.
European tourists to South Africa had their numbers declined sharply. In Germany, this is because of the recession, which continues to bite and have a negative impact on long haul destinations. Germans dropped from 261,194 in 2003 to 249,564 last year.
The most significant percentage decline in tourist numbers, however, was observed in France with a drop of 14 percent from 130,365 in 2003 to 111,636 tourists last year.
Southern African Tourism Update magazine said the “price sensitive French tourist market” has attributed to the decline of French holidaymakers to South Africa taking into consideration that the French market comprises mostly of large groups of middle-class travelers who are extremely price sensitive when it comes to long haul travel.
With the rand being so strong and the US dollar so weak, the French market is now looking at cheaper destinations such as the US and Asia which provide good value for money, the Akilanga DMC’s official, Andre Laget, told the monthly magazine.
Declines were also reported from the Netherlands (0.24 percent) and Germany
(4.4 percent), but the United Kingdom which has for years stood as a good tourist source for South Africa’s inbound market reported a marginal growth of 0.03 percent.
South African tourism officials said the German recession continues to have a negative impact on South Africa and other long haul destinations, while on the other hand, the strong impact of the rand may have had an impact on European tourist numbers.
Tanzania is South Africa’s destination attracting over 25,840 South African inbound tourists per year while South Africa remains the regional tourist market for neighboring states. | 
