The South African Department of Tourism has set up a Beijing Office , marking a new stage for South Africa in expanding the Chinese market.

According to the South African tourism minister, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, China is one of the important tourist markets for South Africa in Asia. In 2009, Chinese tourists made a total of 45,326 visits to South Africa, an increase of 12.4% compared with that of 2008. He believes the Beijing Office will help South African Department of Tourism expand the Chinese market, improve its awareness in China and attract more tourists to know about, and to go to, South Africa.

Bradley Brouwer, the regional manager for Asia Pacific, of the South African Department of Tourism said that the department is quite confident about the Chinese market. The new Beijing Office will enhance cooperation and communication with Chinese travel professionals and media that are seeking for more diversified forms of cooperation to show Chinese tourists a real and beautiful South Africa.

Brouwer said the department will hold annual tourism promotion activities in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong in July 2010, providing a communication platform for tourism operators of South Africa and China to exchanges information and resources.