14 Jul 2012
Wine Tourism can contribute significantly to positioning South Africa as one of the world’s top 20 travel destinations according to the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Described as one of the fastest-growing and most lucrative sectors of the global tourism market, Mr Van Schalkwyk believes wine tourism can contribute significantly to the South African economy. Key stakeholders in the wine and tourism industry are uniting with an exhibition called Vindaba, which will take place in September in South Africa’s Cape Town. Vindaba project manager Susannah Holz states wine and gourmet tourism is a trending travel category world-wide. However per capita spend is unevenly distributed amongst wine growing regions. For example Napa Valley in California by example earns $188 a head whereas the Western Cape is currently earning $41 per head, Ms Holz pointed out. “This huge potential for growth must be unlocked for the greater benefit of our wine and tourism industries as well as the communities they support," she said. Collaboration between tourism bodies and Wines of South Africa (WOSA), SA Tourism, Cape Town Tourism and the SA Wine Routes Forum together with a long-term strategy will aim at boosting wine tourism. |
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