2018年CRI South Africa plans to attract one million Chinese tourists in five years

 

South African Tourism held a trade show this week in Beijing, Chongqing, and Shenzhen, in a bid to promote the latest travel destinations and exotic travel experiences that are on offer to Chinese tourists.

South Africa should be an increasingly attractive and afffordable destination for Chinese tourists curious to explore its rich cultural heritage and go on one of the country's exciting wildlife safaris¹.

But the number of Chinese tourist visiting South Africa fell by 17 percent last year, mostly due to visa restrictions² and concerns about safety.

But as South Africa's Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom explained at an industry workshop this week in Beijing, the country has plans to bring in one million Chinese tourists over the next five years.

"We really value the Chinese tourists come to out country. We really value it. It's around about one hundred thousand Chinese came to visit South Africa in 2017. We believe that it could be many more. From the one hundred thousand visitors that we get from China to South Africa, that in the next five years, we want to make that one hundred thousand to a million," Hanekom said.

South Africa has taken several steps towards its goal of one million Chinese tourists.

These include opening visa service centers in 11 Chinese cities, establishing more non-stop flights between the two countries, and creating journeys that are targeted at Chinese tourists travelling independently.

For example, July 18 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela. To celebrate his legacy³, South African Tourism and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have worked together to create a free app called "Madiba's Journey", that pinpoints⁴ sites of historic significance across the country where tourists can go to learn about his life story.

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Hanekom said that tourism can be a great catalyst⁵ for deepening the ties between the two countries.

"You can never underestimate the value of real person to person contact. Because you can have all the agreement politically, but there is nothing more powerful than real friendships between people. And that's what tourism does. People come to South Africa. They experience it, they feel it, they connect with other people. We understand each other's cultures better. And so we get to love each other's country a lot better," Hanekom noted⁶.

The tourism minister said that one out of every 10 people in South Africa was employed in a tourism-related job. He says the industry contributes about 9 percent to the country's Gross Domestic Product.

1 safaris   

n.游猎，陆路旅行（尤指在东非或中非）( safari的名词复数 )；类似游猎的假日旅行

参考例句：

• I've had too many safaris with rich dentists to listen to any more suicidal ideas. 我已经带过太多有钱牙科医生的狩猎队，我不能再听取任何自杀性建议了。 来自电影对白
• Camel diving safaris are a popular attraction in South Sinai. 骆驼的潜水之旅是南西奈一个受欢迎的景观。 来自互联网

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

4 pinpoints   

准确地找出或描述( pinpoint的第三人称单数 )； 为…准确定位

参考例句：

• The bombs hit the pinpoints at which they were aimed. 炸弹精确地击中了目标。
• There's really no point in arguing about pinpoints. 为芝麻绿豆般的小事争论实在毫无意义。

5 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。