SA tourism climbing the ranks

Speaking in an exclusive interview with BuaNews during the launch of the tourism month Mabudafhasi said the country's tourism was successfully making great strides to attract the international tourists.

But she's quick to add that charity needs to begin at home.

Mabudafhasi said: "This year we are focusing on the Free State province because it is the least visited.

"We are encouraging South Africans to visit such provinces so that they will realise how much they are missing out."

Dressed in a Venda outfit, in celebration of her culture, Mabudafhasi said domestic tourism had attracted an enormous R4.7bn between the years 2003 and 2004.

In addition, half a million permanent jobs were created through domestic tourism during the first five months of 2005.

Asked about her department's preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, she said tourism would play a pivotal role during the staging of the greatest soccer world showpiece.

"Every province will be embarking on their own tourism celebration events in pursuit to market the beauty and treasures of their respective tour destinations.

"We should enable guests in 2010 to choose any province for a stay without being confined to particular places which are currently popular."

The deputy minister said these "unnoticed" provinces needed to benefit from the provincial tourism through their contribution to the provincial economy and job creation.

September has been declared Tourism Month in South Africa and was officially launched on Friday.