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Cape Town - In 1950 there were only 25 million international tourist arrivals worldwide, in 2012 there were one billion and by 2030 this is expected to reach 1.8 billion, according to Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
He opened the 6th annual e-tourism Africa Summit at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Monday.
"Most of the new growth will be from and to the emerging markets," he said.
"When I reflect on our own track record in South Africa, I do so knowing very well that we always need to be innovative to stay ahead of the game at all times."
The rate of transformation and change in the tourism sector is unprecedented and shows no signs of abating, he said.
In Africa, half a billion people are potentially connected to travel arrangements through mobile phones.
"It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, it took television 12 years to reach 50 million users and it took Facebook 3.5 years to reach 50 million users," he said.
"It took Twitter 3 years to reach 50 million users, it took YouTube one year to reach 50 million users and it took Google 0.5 years to reach 50 million users."
"Travelport, a travel-content aggregator and search and booking service, processes more than a billion transactions per day, 24/7 and across 170 countries," said Van Schalkwyk.
"Travel and tourism is a human experience and therefore, personal links that people choose to make, which is enabled by technology, fuels the growing activity on digital and social media platforms."
More than 14 000 trade organisations participated in SA Tourism's modular online programme called SA Specialist between April to July 2013.
"Tourism has become an important sector in the global economy and our common commitment to expand and further refine our ongoing digital activities is one of the keys to escalating the growth that will see South Africa among the Top 20 destinations in the world by 2020," said Van Schalkwyk.
"There is no question that technology is changing the landscape forever and create opportunities."
He said hyper-connectivity will disrupt many current business models and only those in the industry who move fast to innovate will remain competitive in the era of digital natives.
"In this hyper-connected world, we have to work harder than ever to control content," he said.
"Real time reputational risks associated with the social media and internet’s amplification of our every move are greater than ever before."
- Fin24
He opened the 6th annual e-tourism Africa Summit at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Monday.
"Most of the new growth will be from and to the emerging markets," he said.
"When I reflect on our own track record in South Africa, I do so knowing very well that we always need to be innovative to stay ahead of the game at all times."
The rate of transformation and change in the tourism sector is unprecedented and shows no signs of abating, he said.
In Africa, half a billion people are potentially connected to travel arrangements through mobile phones.
"It took radio 38 years to reach 50 million users, it took television 12 years to reach 50 million users and it took Facebook 3.5 years to reach 50 million users," he said.
"It took Twitter 3 years to reach 50 million users, it took YouTube one year to reach 50 million users and it took Google 0.5 years to reach 50 million users."
"Travelport, a travel-content aggregator and search and booking service, processes more than a billion transactions per day, 24/7 and across 170 countries," said Van Schalkwyk.
"Travel and tourism is a human experience and therefore, personal links that people choose to make, which is enabled by technology, fuels the growing activity on digital and social media platforms."
More than 14 000 trade organisations participated in SA Tourism's modular online programme called SA Specialist between April to July 2013.
"Tourism has become an important sector in the global economy and our common commitment to expand and further refine our ongoing digital activities is one of the keys to escalating the growth that will see South Africa among the Top 20 destinations in the world by 2020," said Van Schalkwyk.
"There is no question that technology is changing the landscape forever and create opportunities."
He said hyper-connectivity will disrupt many current business models and only those in the industry who move fast to innovate will remain competitive in the era of digital natives.
"In this hyper-connected world, we have to work harder than ever to control content," he said.
"Real time reputational risks associated with the social media and internet’s amplification of our every move are greater than ever before."
- Fin24
