ABSTRACT
The South African government regards tourism as one of its main economic development strategies. In 2002, South Africa was rated the fastest-growing tourism destination worldwide, with a 12 per cent increase in the third quarter of 2002 alone. In 2003 a 4.2 per cent increase in overseas visits was recorded, against a global drop of this figure by 1.2 per cent. From a mere 640 000 arrivals in 1994, this figure had exploded to 6.5 million in 2003 ( Sawubona, 2004a). It has been estimated that by 2010 the South African tourism industry will employ no less than 1.2 million people, either directly or indirectly. Apparently, for each eight new tourists, one permanent job can be created ( Sawubona, 2003a). South Africa's tourism market does not only cater for international tourists; in 2002, 67 per cent of the total South African tourism market comprised domestic tourists. Some 15 million South African tourists undertook 34 million domestic trips and boosted the economy of the country by nearly 10 billion Rand ( Sawubona, 2003b; exchange rate approximately R7/1US$).
