Pretoria-France remains a key market for tourism, says Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkyk.
Speaking at the annual Top Resa French travel show and exhibition in Paris van Schalwyk said 115 401 French nationals visited South Africa last year. This is an 11% increase from 2009 figures. This was due to South Africa's hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
"More than 100 international associations have their headquarters in France. We want to win more of the business of these associations for their meetings, conferences, events and exhibitions for our destination," said the minister.
Over the next five years South Africa will host over 200 international events which is expected to bring in over 300 000 delegates from across the globe to the country.
Van Schalkwyk said Air France will open a new Paris-Cape Town route in November with three flights a week.
"This was evidence of the confidence the aviation sector had in both the South African destination, and in the French market's imminent full recovery," he said. -BuaNews
