Edward West

KwaZulu-Natal Correspondent

DURBAN — Tourism outperformed all other sectors of SA’s economy last year and the market was by no means saturated, Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said at the weekend.

The industry had already created one job for every 12 tourists arriving in SA and had the potential to create millions more, the deputy president said.

Tourism was a key contributor to the Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for SA, which aims to bring the country’s gross domestic product growth rate to 6% by 2010, Mlambo-Ngcuka said at the opening of the four-day Indaba 2006 travel and tourism exhibition on Saturday.

The number of tourists coming to SA grew to more than 7-million last year from 1-million in 1990. In addition to permanent jobs created, tourism has also sustained a multitude of spin-off industries.

Mlambo-Ngcuka expressed disappointment at some operators who were “out to make a quick buck by inflating prices”.

“Our growth plans are aimed at building a market among young travellers needing affordable packages, young adults and families, business travellers and the upmarket clientele who need to be spoilt with unforgettable exclusive packages,” she said.

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk announced that Durban would host the indaba for the next three years, pipping Cape Town and Johannesburg to host the annual event, which has now become a fixture on the Durban expo calendar.

The tourism indaba is the biggest travel and tourist trade fair in Africa and is the third-largest of its kind in the world after the International Tourism Conference in Berlin and the World Travel Market in London, said Jorrit Plambeck, International Tourism Conference representative for southern Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal premier Sibusiso Ndebele said the province was gearing up to host the 2010 World Cup. A 70000-seat stadium was being designed, a sporting precinct would be developed, arts, culture and heritage products were being improved, while the province would ensure high standards and realistic pricing, the premier said.

“In ecotourism, we are adding to our world heritage sites, we are building a world-class waterfront in Durban and the international convention centre is being expanded.”

The King Shaka airport would be capable of handling modern airliners, making direct long-haul flights possible, said Ndebele.

Mlambo-Ngcuka said government was working on a strategy to increase air slots in line with demand. A “univisa” to grant easier travel access to people from Southern African Development Community countries was also in the pipeline.

She said more than 60% of all arrivals in SA were from Africa.

Increasing the number of jobs in the country meant more and better products, travel and logistics, Mlambo-Ngcuka said.

“While most of our tourists are only exposed to three provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Western Cape, there is room for more variety,” she said.

Ndebele said: “Much of what we are doing is driven by our aim to use tourism as a means to achieve economic upliftment.”