Arrivals from the US into SA have performed consistently well throughout the year so far, with an increase of 8% year-to-date recorded by Stats SA.
Tourism Update investigated why US arrivals are on the up in both Southern and East Africa, with May 2017 showing an increase of 11% month-on-month, with arrivals jumping from 31 367 in May 2016, to 34 965 in May 2017.
Bert Duplessis from Houston-based Fish Eagle Safaris, said that new business confirmed in July 2017 was more than double what it was in July 2016. In response, Fish Eagle Safaris is now expanding its offering by combining East and Southern Africa in one itinerary, which in the past had been a logistical nightmare, but is no longer the case due to the regular non-stop services between Nairobi and the Vic Falls area.
He said some of the partners of Fish Eagles Safaris had already launched products such as the Iconic Africa Safari, which integrated the Maasai Mara, Nairobi, Vic Falls (Zimbabwe) and Hwange, in a cost-effective, diverse package.
Duplessis suspects that the favourable dollar-rand exchange rate has something to do with the popularity of SA and Namibia; however he has also seen increased demand for US dollar-priced destinations, such as Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania.
Regarding the perception of safety, Duplessis says most savvy world travellers realise that there are no perfectly safe destinations, as any country or areas within it present certain risks. At the moment Africa seems relatively safe compared with other destinations that are suffering increased threats of terrorism and unrest.
On the topic of safety at OR Tambo International Airport, Duplessis says incidents have been occurring for years. To combat the possibility of clients falling victim to crime, they use airport hotels, like InterContinental and City Lodge, to avoid having to use road transfers or shuttle buses.
If clients opt to spend a few nights in the northern suburbs or elsewhere, they use a reputable transfer company, such as Wilro Tours, who are very aware of the situation on the ground.
Ken Hermer, a USA based Southern And East African travel expert believes there are a number of factors that are the driving force in keeping the US arrivals so buoyant into SA, mainly the favourable exchange rate, the relatively safe perception of the region, as well as the allure and romance of the variety of wildlife and safari destination options. Adding to this is the combination of Cape Town and the wine region, which is a package that is easily sold.
There are many price differentials available to suit all budgets, says Hermer, generally without having to compromise the safari experience.
According to Hermer, US travellers are not just using Johannesburg as a stopover. The city’s location is good for reaching much of what the region has to offer. Regional air services into and out of Ortia are broad, making Johannesburg the perfect lifeline in this region, he says, adding that he personally has not had any negative feedback regarding the sporadic incidents in and around Ortia.
Fort the most part, SA is being used as a launch pad into the surrounding countries. “I believe, though, that many current itineraries feature a heavier accent on the surrounding countries, excluding the South African safari areas but still embracing the Cape,” says Hermer.
This article has been updated since first published.
