Tourism fast facts

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Created on Sunday, 18 January 2015 15:32

South Africa is ranked among the top 3 countries in the world (countries with more than 9 million tourists) in respect of tourism growth (growing at 3 times the global average) - World Tourism Council.

Tourism numbers increased by 10.4% between January and October 2013. A total of 9,535,498 tourists arrived in the country during the period (13.5 million visitors), compared to 6,823,517 in 2011. SA ranks 24th in terms of visitors at 13.5 million (France 79 million, UK 28 million, Switzerland 8.5 million, India 5.2 million, Australia 6 million). (Economist).

South Africa is ranked 62nd overall in the latest edition of the World Economic Forum's Travel and Competitiveness Report 2013, which surveys 140 countries on their policies to develop the travel and tourism sector. (66th in 2011).

The Intercontinental Hotel at O.R. Tambo International Airport was named as the winner of the prestigious 2012 World Luxury Airport Hotel award at the global tourism industry awards.

Cape Town was named the top tourist destination in the world in the 2013 Traveler’s Choice Destinations awards.

Cape Town has been voted the Favourite City Worldwide for 2013 by 17,000 Telegraph readers in the UK.

The Cape Grace in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town has been named 2nd Best Hotel in the World in the 2013 Tripadvisor Traveler’s Choice Awards.

Table Mountain was inaugurated as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012.

Cape Town International is the best airport in Africa, according to the World Airport Awards 2012. O R Tambo International was 2nd and King Shaka International came 3rd. They were ranked 27th, 31st and 35th respectively in the world.

41 South African beaches were awarded Blue Flags, an international indicator of high environmental standards for recreational beaches in 2013 (up from 27 in 2010).

South Africa’s wine tourism has been rated the best-developed in the world by International Wine Review in 2012, one of the world’s most influential opinion formers on wine.

According to CNNGo (CNN's Travel Website), Cape Town is the 9th most loved city in the world in 2012.

TripAdvisor has named Boulders Beach as one of its top 10 truly unique beaches in the world 2012.

National carrier South African Airways (SAA) has won the Global Traveler's magazine "Airline of the year" award for 2012 - the highest honour awarded by the publication for global business travelers.