BRICS summit expected to promote S. Africa's tourism sector
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) expects that the upcoming BRICS summit can boost tourism revenue of the country.
TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa told Xinhua in an interview that they are looking to the summit to bring in more tourists.
"It's a major event. We're expecting it to boost our tourism. The booking of conference space, restaurants, and hotels will bring in a lot of revenue," Tshivhengwa said.
"We need to look beyond the traditional areas that bring in tourists; we need to focus on countries like China to bring more tourists to the country," he said, adding that South Africa ought to make it simple for Chinese tourists to travel to the country.
The 15th BRICS Summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from Aug. 22 to 24.
According to Tshivhengwa, around 93,000 Chinese visitors visited South Africa in 2019. The pandemic interrupted tourism, despite South Africa's efforts to draw tourists from China.
In the first quarter of 2023, foreign direct spending skyrocketed to 25.3 billion rand (1.3 billion U.S. dollars), up by 143.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the Tourism Department's report on International Spending and Tourism Impact.
Thandiwe Mathibela, a spokesperson for South Africa tourism, told Xinhua that the country had started to welcome visitors from China in March this year.
"Events are always the biggest drivers of tourists. People may come to an event for the first time, and they will want to come again to experience the country. Some delegates come with their families," she said.
Related articles
The Titans bolster wide receiving group by adding Tyler Boyd, AP source says
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have bolstered their wide receiving group by reuniting2024-05-08Chinese President Xi Declares 31st World University Games Open
Contact Us HomeNewsHighlightACWF NewsSocietyWom2024-05-08UEFA Europa League: GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Wolfsberger AC
Matthaus Taferner (L) of Wolfsberger vies with Kristijan Jakic of Dinamo during the UEFA Europa Leag2024-05-08Chinese gymnastics girls undertake first national team Olympic trial
Liu Tingting competes during the women's uneven bars at the 2021 Chinese National Gymnastic Champion2024-05-08Gynaecologist who sterilised a female patient without her consent while she was undergoing a C
A consultant gynaecologist who sterilised a new mother without her permission while in a middle of a2024-05-08International flight launched between Karachi, Islamabad, Beijing
A passenger plane of SereneAir lands at Beijing Daxing International Airport on Nov. 19, 2023. (Phot2024-05-08
atest comment