SOUTH Africa is looking forward to even better tourist numbers this year after topping the 9m mark in foreign arrivals in 2007, says Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Martinus van Schalkwyk.

“And with the exciting global projects being rolled out by SA Tourism in the new fiscal year, I am more confident than ever that South Africa will exceed the target of 10m foreign visitors by 2010,” he told parliament’s National Assembly during his budget vote speech today (May 20). “To help us spread the benefits of tourism more widely, the reinvigorated Tourism Enterprise Partnership will further boost the development of sustainable enterprises, job creation and transformation. By the end of 2007, 4 166 SMMEs were empowered through the establishment of business linkages and received training in the development of business and marketing plans. The value of linkages created for SMMEs amounted to R3,4bn by the end of last year.” He said Deat was working with MATCH, the official accommodation partner for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, and the Tourism Grading Council of SA to assist SMME accommodation establishments and particularly those from previously disadvantaged communities, to be graded and registered as official accommodation suppliers for the World Cup. Environmental Affairs and Tourism Deputy Minister, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, told parliament the Boundless South Africa initiative, launched with SADC partners at Indaba recently, would result in a univisa for the region and socio-economic upliftment through the development of tourism routes in transfrontier conservation areas.