"Australia ranks 6th in terms of South African Tourism's top 20 long haul source markets. Between 2005 and 2010,
South Africa has steadily grown annual tourist arrivals from Australia by 39%, reaching more than 107 000 in 2010. We are aiming to achieve and exceed the target of 120 000 Australian tourist arrivals in the next two years," said tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk as he ended his three-day visit to Australia on 22 February 2012.
Last year, more than 84 000 Australians had visited South Africa and spent an average of R11 800 per trip, while saying for 15 nights.
South African Tourism opened its office in Sydney in 2003. Van Schalkwyk said South Africa needs to promote itself as an "all-year, easy-to-do and value-for-money experience".
While there, the minister attended the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME). AIME is a meetings and incentives event in the Asia-Pacific region.
"AIME was an ideal platform to promote South Africa as a highly accessible and value-for-money destination, and to highlight the recent developments and the accolades received since the hosting of giants like the FIFA World Cup and COP17 in the build-up towards Meetings Africa," said the tourism department. Van Schalkwyk reiterated that the country has proven that it is able to host major international business events.
