Chinese payment and Internet giant Tencent and South African Tourism have signed an agreement that will assist direct access to promote South Africa as a destination of choice to Chinese travellers.

The partnership, which will span two years, aims to position South Africa as a preferred tourism destination in China, through digital marketing campaigns on Tencent’s popular platform, WeChat, as well as other platforms within the Tencent ecosystem.

Tencent will assist SA Tourism with a knowledge transfer programme on best practices for destination development, advise on how South Africa can accelerate the implementation of WeChat Pay for Chinese travellers visiting South Africa, as well as advise on best practice Chinese visitor experiences making use of QR codes.

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, who witnessed the signing of the agreement, said: “South Africa is open for business and offers diverse and world-class attractions, excellent transport services, and communications infrastructure that competes with the best in the world.

“China is South Africa’s largest trading partner and we are leveraging on this trade relation to strengthen the people-to-people exchange between the two countries. I am pleased that, together with Tencent, South African Tourism in China is laying a solid foundation for growth in visitor arrivals from China to South Africa.

“This strategic co-operation agreement is one of many initiatives developed to increase arrivals from China to South Africa.” said Kubayi-Ngubane.