South Africa to Send Large Number of Tourism Workers to China for Training

On the 11th, in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, South Africa's Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille announced that South Africa will select and send approximately 250 tourism workers to China next month to learn Mandarin and systematically understand Chinese culture, aiming to better serve the growing number of Chinese tourists.

De Lille made these remarks during an interview with Xinhua News Agency while attending the 26th UN Tourism Organization General Assembly in Riyadh. She stated that China is one of the most important source markets for South Africa. Sending a large group of tourism practitioners to China for training is intended to equip them with Mandarin skills and an understanding of Chinese culture and tourist preferences, "so that they can provide more tailored services for Chinese tourists in South Africa."

De Lille mentioned that South Africa already has relatively established Chinese communities, and the two countries have long-held initiatives encouraging Chinese tourists to celebrate the New Year in South Africa. "South Africa and China share many similarities, which provides a natural foundation for tourism cooperation between the two sides."

According to de Lille, to attract more Chinese tourists, South Africa has launched the "Trusted Tourists Scheme" aimed at simplifying the visa process for Chinese visitors. Chinese citizens can submit their visa applications directly through officially accredited South African travel agencies, without needing to visit a South African embassy or consulate.

De Lille emphasized that the tourism industry holds a significant position in South Africa's overall economy, noting that "South Africa views tourism as a core component of economic growth." South Africa hopes to leverage the convening power of this assembly and its associated events to promote its tourism offerings to more countries, while also learning from the practices and experiences of emerging tourism destinations, including Saudi Arabia, in areas such as investment, market development, and facilitation.