Travel Trade News

South African Tourism, a marketing agency of the Department of Tourism is mandated to effectively market South Africa as a foremost tourism destination both domestically and internationally for leisure and business travel. The government-mandated goal set for South African Tourism is to achieve 21 million international tourist arrivals by 2030. The organisation must, therefore, apply relevant marketing strategies, to ensure it delivers on this mandate.

The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) is calling on organisations, corporates and associations to submit applications for the Bid Support Programme. The Bid Support Programme provides financial or non-financial support, with the aim to attract international business events (meetings, incentives, conventions and trade exhibitions) to the destination that meets the programme’s minimum criteria. In addition, this programme includes the provision of support to organisations, corporates and associations for the execution of projects aligned with government policies and priorities.

South Africa’s appearance at the Fitur Madrid (International Tourism Trade Fair) 2023 held at the Ifema trade fair centre of Madrid (Spain), which ended this week, was a triumph for Team South Africa.

There has been a high demand for South Africa at Vakantiebeurs 2023 following the incredible success of the 360° localised LIVE AGAIN rolled out for North Europe in 2022. The residual awareness of this campaign allowed South Africa to be top of mind for Dutch consumers and trade, a message continuously reiterated over the five days at the show.

Excitement is building up as the global business events industry is counting down to the 2023 edition of Meetings Africa. This year, more excitement surrounds the show, as it comes with double benefits… the conference and meetings industry will reap rewards not only from Meetings Africa, but also from the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) Summit, which will precede the Meetings Africa.

South Africa Q3 infographic, domestic travel and international arrivals

South African chefs and restaurateurs have been cooking up a storm and now the country has been crowned Africa’s Best Culinary Destination for 2022. News broke from ONZE at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club in the United Arab Emirates yesterday that South Africa has won in the 3rd Annual World Culinary Awards Ceremony.

Contemporary artist Mbongeni Buthelezi flew the South African flag high at the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP27, held in Sherm El-Shaeik, in Egypt last month. The talented artist and climate activist is known for using plastic waste to create highly textured portraits. Buthelezi’s visually arresting artworks are created through a unique technique that sees him working with a paint made from melted plastic waste. Plastic waste pollution is increasing around the globe and threatening marine life. Buthelezi uses his work to both highlight and combat the issue.

South Africa’s alluring appeal has seen the country being ranked number #16 globally in terms of tourism sentiment. This is according to the recently released Tourism Sentiment Index®, for the third quarter of 2022. The Tourism Sentiment Index is an independent global initiative offering destination marketers unique real-time insight into their customers and the conversations they are having online about tourism destinations.

In its continued efforts to advance the quality of business events in South Africa and on the continent, the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) has announced its partnership with the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC) to host the continent’s first AIPC Summit.

Partnerships and collaborations are key to propelling the global business events sector. This is the sentiment as the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) heads to showcase South Africa’s business events capabilities at IBTM World in Barcelona, Spain.

United is the only airline providing nonstop service between Washington D.C. and South Africa United offers more nonstop flights from South Africa than any other U.S. airline