Data shows reasons for optimism for South Africa tourism

A released  data  by Visa  has shown that  South Africa saw a 34 percent increase in inbound tourism spending during the first quarter of 2010, and anticipates additional growth opportunities at the on going  2010 FIFA World Cup.

The report contained in  Tourism Outlook: South Africa, during the week by Visa Inc. that analyzes Visa cardholder spending for the past two years showed that South Africa weathered the economic headwinds which impacted international tourism during 2009 better than most countries around the world.

While many countries saw double_digit drops in inbound tourism spending, Visa cardholder spending by international visitors to South Africa decreased only 2.7 percent from $1.84 billion in 2008 to $1.79 billion in 2009. Despite a challenging climate in 2009, 2010 has already shown reasons for the country’s continued optimism. During the first quarter of 2010, Visa cardholder spending increased to nearly $566 million, up from $423 million during the first quarter of 2009.

The top contributors to South Africa’s inbound tourism spending in 2009 include: The United Kingdom , which contributed 26 percent;  United States ,15 percent;  Mozambique, 5percent;  Germany ,4 percent  and France , 4 percent.

While travelers from Western Europe and the U.S. continue to be the strongest contributors to South African tourism, significant increases in spending by cardholders from emerging markets is indicative of South Africa’s growing stature as a tourism destination.

Visa data revealed double_ and triple_digit growth in spending by cardholders originating from: Malawi 168 percent;  Mozambique , 118 percent;  Angola ,115 percent;  China,28 percent and Botswana 18 percent.

This significant growth can also be attributed to developments in payments infrastructure and increased adoption and use of digital currency by consumers in developing markets. 2010 FIFA World Cup As host of the on going 2010 FIFA World Cup,South Africa is uniquely positioned to further enhance its visibility globally.

The tournament is already  providing  South Africa with a significant opportunity to showcase its unique assets and culture to the world and attract visitors and tourism revenues for months and years to come. With the World Cup, South Africa expects has already welcomed more than 370,000 international visitors for this global competition.

The month_long 2010 FIFA World Cup is expected to add 93 billion rand to the South Africa economy, translating to a 0.54 percent boost to gross domestic product, a significant contribution given that the total South Africa GDP growth in 2010 is estimated at 2.0 to 2.5 percent.

“The influx of international tourism surrounding the 2010 FIFA World Cup has helped to support continued infrastructure developments and economic growth within South Africa,” says Charles Niehaus, General Manager, Visa Sub-Saharan Africa