Tourism shows its economic mettle
The tourism sector contributed 2,9% towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2016, surpassing the agricultural sector.
The tourism satellite report was released by statistician-general Rasinge Maluleke in Pretoria on Monday.
Agriculture contributed 2% towards the GDP in the same year.
Maluleke says this is a marked increase from 2015.
''The total contribution towards the country's GDP, stands at a total of R125 billion", says Maluleke.
The sector also employed close to 700 000 in the same year.
"The tourism sector directly employed 686 596 people in 2016, which is an increase of 2.7% compared with 2015", says Maluleke.
The report by Statistics South Africa has also revealed that the sector, directly employs 4.4% of the country's total workforce.
#Tourism International visitors spent R46 of every R100 of tourism spend in 2016. pic.twitter.com/Gi8EouksbK
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 26, 2018
#Tourism contributes close to 3% towards the GDP. pic.twitter.com/ZJLevCbXUL
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 26, 2018