South Africa foresees a quantum jump in Indian tourists’ arrivals to that country in the coming years with South African Tourism embarking on an aggressive marketing strategy by conducting road shows in various Indian cities to promote the country’s potential tourist hotspots.
Indian tourists’ arrival in South Africa in 2013 was 1.27 lakh of which 5 per cent were from Tamil Nadu, the South African Tourism Country Head Hanneli Slabber said here on Wednesday.
Stating that Indian tourists’ arrival was on the rise to South Africa, Ms. Slabber told presspersons here that Indian travellers looked for more experience-based and memorable holidays than simple itineraries. This was based on a research conducted by the South African Tourism.
Ms. Slabber was in Tiruchi along with a South African Tourism team to conduct a “Learn South Africa” training programme for the travel agents of Tiruchi and other districts.
The South African Tourism had handpicked certain major cities in India, including Chennai, Tiruchi, Bengaluru, Goa, Kolkata, Pune, and Kochi to conduct the “Learn South Africa” programme with the objective of intensifying knowledge about South Africa as a tourist destination among the frontline staff of travel agencies of India, she said.
“We look to tourism seriously as it contributes 10 per cent of our Gross Domestic Product”, Ms. Slabber said.
Tourism sector contributed a major part to the South African economy. It was the biggest job creator in South Africa and the country had been investing a lot in that sector. The investment in the sector had tripled in the last five years, she said to drive home the importance given to it by the South African government. India occupied a special place as there was always a natural connect between Indians and South Africans historically, Ms. Slabber said. The largest overseas tourists’ arrival to South Africa was from the United Kingdom followed by the U.S. and Germany, she said. “India will be our biggest source market in 2020”.
Ms. Slabber said she expected the Indian tourists’ arrival to double in the coming years.
The South African Tourism had been pursuing an aggressive marketing strategy through road shows covering various Indian cities to woo tourists from India.
The Travel Agents Association of India, South Tamil Nadu chapter chairman M.S. Paramasivam, said around 90 travel agents from Tiruchi and other districts had participated in the training programme which enabled them to gain knowledge about South African tourists destinations.
Tamil Nadu accounts for 5 p.c. of Indian tourists visiting South Africa
Tourism contributes 10 p.c. of South Africa’s GDP
