Good response to tourism meet

By K.V.Krishnaswamy

DURBAN, APRIL 22. A three-day tourism jamboree concludes here tomorrow in this most Indian of South African cities washed by the Indian Ocean. The conference has brought here representatives of the tourism business and trade from across the globe. These buyers, as the trade jargon goes, have been interacting with the sellers of South African tourism attractions in an ambience that is a tribute to the organisers.

Nearly a thousand participants from outside South Africa and approximately l,200 from the host country have struck deals that must see hopefully the African giant leapfrog to the big league. Given the rather thin traffic between India and South Africa, there has been a big participation from the Indian trade and tourism business.

There is no reason why the tourist traffic has not picked up, especially since the end of apartheid and the political camaraderie between the two countries. Considering also the Indian diaspora in this country, concentrated in such striking manner in this region of South Africa, the tourist traffic must be rated as poor.

South Africa, led by its flagship South African Airlines, has recently stepped up efforts to boost tourism, confident that with the flow to South East Asia and Europe reaching the saturation point, more and more Indians will turn to South Africa as a tourism destination. The Indian film industry is already said to be flocking to the sights and sounds of South Africa for shooting.

The inhibiting factors

There are at least two major inhibiting factors why tourists are put off from considering South Africa. The first is the crime situation, though admittedly this is not peculiar to this country or continent. But no one seeks to gloss over the fact that for a tourist who comes for a carefree holiday this can be reason enough to keep away. Everywhere you turn, you are warned not to keep your baggage unattended, to mind your pocket and your money. And, never to venture out alone after sundown. This is one advice that a tourist gets at hotels, airports and wherever else large crowds gather.

The other factor that must raise doubts is the AIDS problem. A country that is just now celebrating a major victory over the drugs cartels on this vital front must work hard to get past this hurdle and ensure that the tourist has none to worry about but himself.

This evening is devoted to Asia, and the celebrations are led by Australia, which is fast emerging as another Asian destination for tourists from the U.S. and Europe. It was clear as the sun was setting and the wide open beaches here in Durban began to explode in colour to greet the tourist and his promoter, that INDABA, as the tourism jamboree is known the world over, is proving its worth.

South Africa, the virgin territory, has only partially been explored and the country has such variety to offer as it makes up for the years lost to apartheid.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : LTTE may extend truce