TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
South African Tourism board conducted several workshops with travel trade in the UAE and a special press conference for media at the Arabian Travel Market in order to showcase their diverse offerings most suitable for the region’s travellers. Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – MEISEA, South African Tourism, presented a 360-degree view of the destination to impress upon the Middle East travellers.
Dr Shehara Rizly
Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – MEISEA, South African Tourism, presented the allure of South Africa as a travel destination with a passionate heart at various workshops and at the press conference organised at the Arabian Travel Market. She reiterated that Middle East is an important market for South African Tourism, as it has many offerings that can be enjoyed by the clientele in the Middle East.
Explaining the reason for lack of awareness among travellers about the destination, Nkani said that Africa continent has 54 countries and that there are so many hidden gems in her part of the continent, which is South Africa. Travel agents and media were interested in discovering more about the destination, as it has not just the big 5 on offer to travellers, but has hidden factors to engage adventure travellers, families, M!CE and even business travellers. Her comprehensive presentations at the events answered all the questions the media and travel trade in the region had, as it was the first time that South African Tourism board spent so much of time to share their story with the Middle East region.
Her special workshop for 50 top agents in the UAE shed light on air connectivity, which plays a pivotal role with all the major Middle East carriers, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, bringing in travellers from the region. She reiterated that there are many DMCs in South Africa that cater to this market, offering unique experiences. She requested the agents to connect with the flight operators in order to further grow the numbers from the region. There is also M!CE and incentive travel, a new trend coming up in the nation, she added.
Agents asked her about various challengers that can be addressed by the tourism board, to which Nkani said that as the tourism board they will readily help to ease out all concerns.
It was the first time that awareness was created by South African Tourism board. Nkani said that the Arabian Travel Market is the stepping stone for them to reach out to the GCC and Middle East, as currently they do receive enough numbers from the United Arab Emirates. She conducted a comprehensive virtual tour of the destination within 30 minutes, which made the media and the travel trade stay back and request for information on the beautiful nation in South Africa.
