Tourism in Africa up 44 million

Johannesburg - International arrivals to African totaled 846 million in 2006, representing an additional 44 million arrivals over the preceding year with the same growth imminent for 2007.

"Tourism has become as effective tool to fight poverty while at the same time aiming to improve the capacity of the African destination so that we can respond adequately to the increasing demands of the increasingly competitive international market," said Environmental Affairs Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Delivering his address at the Africa Investor Tourism Awards on Monday evening, he highlighted that Africa has been the leading region in terms of growth in international tourist arrival both in 2005 and 2006, and it is expected that 2007 will be no different. Continue reading