SOUTH AFRICA
due South South Africa
Back on the map of UK travellers, South Africa’s overseas image and tourism infrastructure are both much improved after the country’s successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, says Alexander James
and Steve Hartridge I
t was once a country torn by bloody feuds, but South Africa is changing to embrace a new era of
tourism, stepping up its game to take on the world stage. New visitors from far-fl ung emerging nations such as India, Nigeria and China are fl ocking to the country and one part of the the Rainbow Nation’s ‘new direction’ is to play up a diversity that until now has been largely untapped. Safaris are still a big draw, and destinations like Phinda Private Game Reserve, with its impressive 56,800 acres of prime wilderness in KwaZulu- Natal (KZN), are among the jewels in the crown for South Africa. Phinda contains some of the
continent’s fi nest game viewing experiences, including Africa’s ‘big fi ve’, cheetah and endangered black rhino. As part of the push to get visitors seeing wildlife without breaking the bank, the South African National Parks Service now allows self-drives in some of the best game viewing territory in Africa (see:
www.SANparks.org.za). In addition to the typical box-ticking
offerings of wildlife and beaches, the country’s new aim is to win its spurs for culture, sport, history, scientifi c discovery, mountains and even skiing. The current focus is around the up-
and-coming regions of Durban, KZN at large and Johannesburg, not just
24 October 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Cape Town and its surrounding vineyards. The shift in direction
seems to be paying off. Data from South African Tourism shows that UK visitor numbers grew by 8% in January 2012 compared to the same month in 2011, when many other regions of the world have gone through a time of global recession. The country has adopted cricket
legend Dr Ali Bacher as one of its tourism ambassadors. The sports star, who once worked alongside Nelson Mandela, is aiming to bring the country’s sport par e
xellenc c bringing competitive prices e back to
the international scene. Bacher commented: “Now is the best time for sales to South Africa, as the UK winter sets in and the South African climate warms up. Bookings have tended to build from September, peaking for the December period and again from January right through to Easter in early April.” One hotel brand playing its part in
South Africa’s growing reputation for delivering a quality holiday experience is Sun International. Its chic, upmarket properties are attracting major a-listers like Kylie, the Black Eyed Peas and Leonardo DiCaprio. Virgin Airways also has its sights on
extending fl ight paths from the UK into Cape Town and Johannesburg,
into the mix. But South African Airways scrapped its direct London- to-Cape Town fl ight this summer, after claiming sales fall by 25% in three years, laying the path for competitors to take over. Kuoni’s South Africa product manager, Dagmar Marrocco, says airfares and taxes to South Africa are high and the loss of the direct fl ight may have a long-term effect on Cape Town tourism, “but we haven’t experienced any drop in sales so far,” he added.
What’s New South African Tourism will launch an online sales toolkit with Travel Uni by the end of the year and is hosting a series of pre-World Travel Market (WTM) roadshows which will stretch to northern cities Newcastle and Glasgow. At WTM, Chief Executive of South African Tourism, Mr Thulani Nzima, will attend a presentation on ‘new areas’ of South Africa. Marking the 50-year anniversary
of what began Nelson Mandela’s ‘long walk to freedom’ is a quietly powerful new sculpture, located outside the town of Howick, where he was arrested in KwaZulu-Natal.
selling tip
A wealth of options beyond the standard Cape Town + Gar- den Route + Kruger Park itin- erary will benefit agents and clients
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68