With the growing  numbers of Nigerians visiting  South Africa, the country’s tourism agency has opened an office in Lagos being the first South African Tourism marketing office on the African continent.

The opening was done during the week in highbrow Victoria Island of Lagos by the South African Tourism Minister Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, accompanied by Nigeria’s Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke.

Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk said that South African Tourism’s new home in Lagos serves to confirm South Africa’s support for increased economic cooperation between the southern African and western African regions.

“As a nation, we see the special and longstanding relationship between Nigeria and South Africa as pivotal towards maintaining an Africa that is economically vibrant and resilient and an Africa that grows through partnerships between nations,” said Minister van Schalkwyk.

He added “Key to creating economic vibrancy and resilience is working together to develop industries that have the potential to contribute meaningfully to our GDPs and to job creation on the continent.

Tourism is certainly one such industry. Investing in our tourism network on the continent is not only indicative of our commitment to African co-operation, but it also makes good business sense.

The South African Tourism Minister disclosed that his country has experienced positive growth figures out of West Africa with a total of 73,282 Nigerian tourists visiting South Africa last year marking a 13.8% increase from 2011.

“At the end of June 2013, Nigerian tourist arrivals had continued to grow on a strong trajectory with 15.9% during the first six months of this year.
“Likewise, tourist arrivals from Ghana to South Africa grew by 23.8% in 2012, when South Africa welcomed 22,953 Ghanaian tourists. Up to end June 2013, arrivals from Ghana were growing at 27.3%, to 13, 663 tourist arrivals for the six-month period.

The steady growth in both markets makes this region very valuable to us,” Minister van Schalkwyk said