“Our arrivals are looking exceptionally good,” says Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of SAT. “There was a nine percent increase in arrivals between September 2006 and September 2007 with particularly strong growth from North America and Asia.”SAT reports that this is above the current global average of 5.6 percent.According to data from South Africa Tourism released on Wednesday at a press conference in Cape Town, since 2003 foreign arrivals have contributed more than R200 billion to South Africa’s economy.Mosola says this success can be attributed to numerous factors “including South African Tourism’s joint marketing agreements with the global travel trade and a growing number of Fundi (destination South Africa specialists) graduates.”The 2010 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw held in November has also been highlighted as one of the country’s greatest tourism successes. “It sent strong messages about our capability and readiness for the Championship to the rest of the world,” Mosola says.SAT’s multi-million rand campaign will continue to emphasise South Africa as a unique leisure destination to international and local travelers. The campaign will also reinforce a global message of South Africa’s readiness for 2010. A focus on business tourism is expected to bring forth great returns as this sector already contributes more foreign spend, per tourist, than leisure tourism.The campaign will also see SAT and its partners in government and the private sector continue to tackle challenges specific to the tourism industry such as skills and training, improving statistical collection, and tourist safety.