THE government is to set up tourism offices in east and west Africa in an effort to increase South Africa's market share in the African tourism sector.

Tabling his departmental spending plans for the next financial year in Parliament, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk yesterday said he would spend R218-million to help the government's tourism agency, South African Tourism (SAT), to open offices in countries such as Nigeria andTanzania.

Van Schalkwyk said that in 2011 alone tourist arrivals from countries such as Nigeria and Tanzania increased by almost 38% and 46% respectively.

"We will be investing R218-million over the next three financial years to support SAT's efforts to grow our share of the African market.

"We have opened a country office in Angola, and plan to have five SAT offices open on the continent in the next five years, the second of which is set to open in Nigeria in the coming financial year." A similar office would also be opened in Brazil.

Van Schalkwyk said business tourism was also growing rapidly following the establishment of the first National Conventions Bureau as a business unit of SAT, which has led to South Africa securing the hosting of more than 200 international conferences in the next five years.

"For the next five years, South Africa has already secured over 200 international conferences, which it is estimated will attract 300000 delegates and provide an economic boost of more than R1.6-billion," he said.

Turning to the domestic front, a total of 1165 new properties have entered the local tourism sector as lodges, guest houses and hotels after they met compliance standards of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

Van Schalkwyk would also appoint the Tourism Empowerment Council of South Africa or the Tourism BEE Charter Council to monitor the implementation of the sector transformation agenda.