The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) expects that the upcoming BRICS summit can boost tourism revenue of the country.
TBCSA CEO Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa told Xinhua in an interview that they are looking to the summit to bring in more tourists.
"It's a major event. We're expecting it to boost our tourism. The booking of conference space, restaurants, and hotels will bring in a lot of revenue," Tshivhengwa said.
"We need to look beyond the traditional areas that bring in tourists; we need to focus on countries like China to bring more tourists to the country," he said, adding that South Africa ought to make it simple for Chinese tourists to travel to the country.
The 15th BRICS Summit will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from Aug. 22 to 24.
According to Tshivhengwa, around 93,000 Chinese visitors visited South Africa in 2019. The pandemic interrupted tourism, despite South Africa's efforts to draw tourists from China.
In the first quarter of 2023, foreign direct spending skyrocketed to 25.3 billion rand (1.3 billion U.S. dollars), up by 143.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the Tourism Department's report on International Spending and Tourism Impact.
Thandiwe Mathibela, a spokesperson for South Africa tourism, told Xinhua that the country had started to welcome visitors from China in March this year.
"Events are always the biggest drivers of tourists. People may come to an event for the first time, and they will want to come again to experience the country. Some delegates come with their families," she said.
Night economy flourished at food street in Shaanxi
Power generation capacity and investment increases in China
China thrives as center of global brand exports
Intangible cultural heritages brings new color to Fujian's night economy
Peng Liyuan Visits National Museum of China with Philippine First Lady
Ox paintings exhibited to mark upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Malaysia
Xi Replies to Letter from Philadelphia Orchestra CEO
Water use remains steady as GDP increases
Xi Focus: A Brief Timeline of Chinese President's COVID
People in traditional costumes celebrate traditional Flower Festival in Fujian
Xi Focus: The Code of Conduct That Brought Transformative Changes
Power generation capacity and investment increases in China