Despite South Africa's latest tourism statistics showing a significant increase in the number of tourist arrivals from Australia, the majority of respondents to our latest poll say that they have not experienced increased demand from the continent.
After the reintroduction of SAA's flights to Perth in April, tourist numbers from Australia shot up by 42% in the subsequent month and reached 93% of pre-Covid arrival figures. However, 64% of our poll respondents said that the enhanced connectivity had not translated into an increase in tourism demand for their businesses, with the remaining 36% saying that they were enjoying increased demand.
SATSA CEO, David Frost, previously told Tourism Update that South Africa needed to create a compelling and holistic strategy to maximise the potential of new air routes.
“This means not only attracting visitors but also creating compelling reasons for them to stay longer and explore more of what South Africa has to offer. By doing so, we can transform these air links into lasting economic benefits for our country. We cannot afford to be satisfied with incremental gains when our competitors are making bold strides. Our focus must be on accelerating this growth trajectory through strategic interventions, innovative approaches and ease of access for key source markets.”
Are you making use of VR tours?
Virtual reality (VR) tours are increasingly gaining a foothold in destination marketing initiatives, with cities such as Cape Town leading the way. Hotel groups are also leveraging this technology to better promote their offerings and drive more direct bookings to their properties.
We want to know your thoughts on the true value of VR tours, and whether the value they provide justifies the initial investment.
Our poll question this week is:
