Standard Bank, ICBC launch I Go South Africa to spur inclusive growth through tourism

TTo cement trade ties, boost investment flows and encourage tourism between South Africa and China, Standard Bank and the Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have launched the I Go South Africa loyalty programme in partnership with South African Tourism.

This initiative, part of ICBC’s I Go Global rewards scheme for its card holders in China, was unveiled in Johannesburg on 15 November 2017. It will capitalise on the growing appetite among Chinese travellers to visit South Africa by offering a range of discounts and special offers from South African merchants across the travel, hospitality and lifestyle sectors, says Standard Bank’s group head of card and emerging payments across Africa in personal and business banking, Lincoln Mali.

“ICBC is the biggest bank in the world, with approximately 139 million credit cards and as many debit card customers,” says Mali, explaining the rationale behind the new loyalty programme, which was designed by Standard Bank in partnership with the Chinese financial institution.

“Similarly, Standard Bank is the biggest bank in Africa, making this a perfect partnership. Tourism from China has increased drastically over the last few years, and we expect more than 100 000 Chinese tourists in South Africa next year, with an average transaction value of R18 500 each. This spells good news for the South African economy and for Standard Bank’s thousands of merchants.”

The General Manager of the ICBC bank card department, Wang Dufu, said that to further ICBC's internationalisation strategy, they are constantly increasing and extending their primary product line abroad.

"The I Go South Africa campaign has advantages for both China and South Africa, as ICBC credit card holders can enjoy convenient, comfortable and cost-effective shopping, travel and leisure experiences. At the same time, the I Go China campaign will entice Standard Bank card holders to enjoy the wonderful tourism and shopping experiences China has to offer."

Mr Wang said that both campaigns will increase the partnerships and economic co-operation that exist between China and South Africa, improving country, people and cultural relations, "first connecting as friends and then becoming family". 

Welcoming the I Go South Africa initiative, South Africa’s Tourism Minister, Ms Tokozile Xasa, said: “This partnership represents a dynamic meeting of our two countries’ banking and business sectors, with the close involvement of the public sector too. In so doing, it perfectly illustrates how, in the spirit of our #WeDoTourism movement, tourism truly cuts across different industries and sectors, and affects each and every one of us.”

Saying that tourism holds immense potential for growing the country’s economy inclusively, Minister Xasa noted that the benefits and new avenues opened up by tourism are far-reaching and vast. She hailed the I Go South Africa private-public partnership and said that “tourism growth from China will help us in our ongoing drive to create new, sustainable jobs in the tourism value chain”.

I Go South Africa offers a number of benefits specifically for ICBC cardholders travelling to South Africa for leisure. These include up to 21% “cash back” on certain transactions; free Wi-Fi; Card protection insurance; accommodation deals with a premium hotel and restaurant group; and discounted return flights from Hong Kong to South Africa, among many other incentives.

“In many cases, Chinese investment and trade has played an integral part in encouraging economic and infrastructure development in Africa, and in growing trade and investment flows between China and the continent,” says Lincoln Mali. “The partnership between Standard Bank and the Industrial Commercial Bank of China has contributed to moving various African countries forward for many years.”

For more media information:

Magna Carta Reputation Management

Standard Bank Team

011 784 2598

za_mc_sbpbb@magna-carta.co.za

For South African Tourism

Thandiwe Mathibela 

South African Tourism Communications 

Tel: +27118953177

thandiwe@southafrica.net