Destination South Africa hosted the first meeting of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, on African soil in the tranquil setting of the Western Cape Winelands.

"We are extremely pleased that the JATA Board has chosen Cape Town and the Western Cape as the venue for their board meeting, as it is important for us to create and grow influential international ambassadors for our city and province," commented Western Cape Minister of Finance and Tourism, Lynne Brown, at a dinner hosted by the destination's official tourism marketing organisation, Cape Town Routes Unlimited, at the award winning Twelve Apostles Hotel in Camps Bay.

Japan is a significant and highly lucrative tourism market for South Africa. Last year, South Africa welcomed an 18.2% year on year increase in arrivals from Japan, making it the fastest growing source market in the Asia and Australasia region.

This trend continued into 2006 with South Africa posting a 10.7% increase in arrivals from Japan during the first six months. In 2005, Cape Town and the Western Cape experienced a growth of 31% in Japanese visitors to its shores – the highest percentage in visitor growth from any international country measured outside Africa and the Middle East by Cape Town Routes Unlimited," said Brown.

Commenting on these positive results Moeketsi Mosola, South African Tourism CEO, said: "While these figures are encouraging, our aim, in line with our Tourism Growth Strategy is to actively and aggressively invest in growing markets, in order to attract even more arrivals from Japan and the rest of the rapidly growing Asia and Australia region."

Hosting the 2006 JATA board meeting provides South African Tourism and the destination with an excellent opportunity to share the best of the best of South Africa's tourism products and experiences with decision makers and influencers from Japan's tourism industry.

A comprehensive itinerary that includes a number of new tourism products and experiences as well as a few world-renowned and well-established favourites was presented to the delegation.

In the Western Cape, the board was treated to luxury spa experiences at the Santé Wellness Centre and enjoyed the old-fashioned charm of the gourmet capital of the Western Cape, Franschhoek, where they were hosted by Franschhoek Tourism and Toyota South Africa to a sumptuous meal at the Haute Cabriere wine estate.

The delegation also had the opportunity to visit the iconic Table Mountain, the ever-popular Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, and the visually dramatic landmarks of Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Rounding off the visit to the Western Cape was be dinner hosted by South African Airways and the Arabella Sheraton Starwood hotel. "South African Tourism is delighted with the support that we have received from the Western Cape for the duration of the JATA board's stay in the province.

We strongly believe that partnerships are key to growing tourism in this country and we are encouraged by the commitment displayed by tourism sector in this province," said Mosola.