Pretoria — Cabinet has welcomed the 10.5% increase of tourist arrivals in South Africa, says Collins Chabane, Minister in The Presidency for Performance Monitoring, Evaluation and Administration.

Briefing reporters in Pretoria on Friday, following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Chabane said: "Cabinet welcomed the report on tourism performance for the period January to June 2012. South Africa recorded a 10, 5% increase of tourist arrivals when compared with the same period last year. Tourist arrivals were in the main from the key emerging markets such as China, Brazil and India."

A total of 4 416 373 visitors arrived in South Africa between January and June this year. This figure represents an increase of 419 613 more visitors than the 3 996 760 tourists who stepped onto South Africa's shores in the same period last year. This local growth figure is double the global growth figure recorded for the same period.

Chabane said Cabinet commended the work done by the Department of Tourism with its relevant partners in achieving these results.