South African tour operators are selling five-star hotels to Japanese tourists but are booking them into four- or three-star hotels, while guides and operators are forcing Chinese tourists to buy diamonds and curios from certain dealers where they get kickbacks.
 
This is according to a well-placed source that warns these malpractices, if allowed to continue, will discourage tourism from these potentially lucrative markets.
 
Another concern is that luggage of Japanese tourists is often targeted by pilferers at South African airports. While new baggage sorting equipment at Ortia appears to have improved security there, the route between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls appears to be particularly problematic in this regard.
 
However, despite these difficulties, tourist numbers from China grew by almost 30% in September compared with the same period in 2008, according to South African Tourism (SAT).
 
Arrivals from Japan also showed positive growth during August and September after having declined because of the global recession. The slowdown saw Japanese visitor numbers fall from 32 000 annually to 18 000 a year, but the FIFA World Cup 2010 is expected to boost numbers by another
10  000 Japanese visitors.
 
Chinese tourists to South Africa are still required to pay a US$10 000 deposit for a visa (a measure aimed at ensuring they return to China) and South African travel agents/operators still have to deal with an accredited operator in China. However, SAT regional manager Asia Pacific, Bradley Brouwer, says things are changing fast. To improve ease of access for the FIFA World Cup, South Africa concluded an agreement with FIFA partner, Visa, which allows the Chinese to pay for their visa by credit card.  For the first time, FITs are also allowed to get visas.

Market characteristics and travel patterns: Japan: * 5-star hotels
* Big spenders and brand conscious
* Focus on nature and scenic beauty, flowers and animals
* Short leave resulting in packed week-long itineraries
* Main attractions:  Cape Town, including Boulders beach (penguins), Table Mountain, wine farms and V&A Waterfront (shopping); Sun City; Mpumalanga; Victoria Falls.
* Mainly groups but FITs are growing China:

* Price conscious: 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels
* 7 to 14 days’ leave leads to crammed programmes, but must have enough time for taking photographs
* Main attractions: Cape Town; Durban; Johannesburg; Kruger National Park; Sun City; and Victoria Falls.