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The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa today welcomed the R100 million increase in the Budget allocation for international tourism marketing for the 2000/2001 financial year.

The R150 million allocation in the 2000/2001 Budget is a 200 percent increase on the R50 million allocated in 1999/2000 and underscores Government's commitment to tourism as a national priority.

The R50 allocated in 1999/2000 was the first allocation to international tourism marketing and was used to lever a public-private partnership for the biggest international marketing campaign in this country's history this year. The first phase of the campaign is currently running in our traditional 'Big Six' markets to ensure that we retain market share in the United States, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. The second phase was the launch of a travel site (www.southafrica.net) earlier this month. The next phase will be the start of segmentation research to open up new and emerging markets for South African tourism.

The increased allocation will secure the next phase of the long-term strategic plan to grow South African tourism, which has the great potential for creating jobs and increasing foreign exchange earnings.

For More Information Contact Onkgopotse JJ Tabane, Media Liaison Director , 082 465 6166

Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 23 February 2000