South Africa is trying to attract more Chinese tourists to visit and enhance business, cultural and political exchanges between the two countries.
South Africa is expecting more tourists from China, thanks to the close bilateral ties between the two nations and China's fast developing economy, a South African government organ has said.
"The close bilateral relations between China and South Africa and the increasing business, cultural and political exchanges between the two countries assist it in attracting visitors," Thulani Nzima, chief executive officer of South African Tourism said.
"We expect an increase from China because of the non-stop flight between Johannesburg and Beijing launched by South African Airways in January, 2012, which has made travel to South Africa more convenient and appealing," Thulani Nzima said.
"The fast-developing Chinese economy enables more Chinese tourists to choose outbound travel," he said.
Data showed that Chinese tourists traveling to South Africa have been increasing over the years. In 2009 there were over 45, 000 Chinese tourists; in 2010 the number rose to more than 68,000; 2011 saw an increase to near 85,000. Last year witnessed a 55.9 percent increase to more than 132,000 of arrivals from China.
South Africa's Minister of Tourism Marthinus Van Schalkwyk said that emerging markets have a potential to provide volumes of visitors to South Africa because of their fast developing economy.
In April South Africa's President Jacob Zuma said that over 9 million international tourists visited South Africa in 2012.
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