South African Tourism is combating the recent decline of Indian arrivals into South Africa and recently held a bidding process for local operators to host 32 regional media representatives from India.
The media invited represent print publications from tier-three and -four cities (these include minor cities and emerging cities), and were invited by SAT India with the goal of reaching new clients and growing arrivals into SA.
Southern Africa 360 Luxury Holidays won the bid, and saw the first groups land in SA on November 20.
India, a key source market for SA, has shown a recent decline, with 7 676 arrivals for September 2017, compared with 7 727 for the same time last year. Overall, when comparing the second and third quarter of this year, a decline of 30,7% in arrivals from India was recorded by Stats SA.
Collin Thaver, Managing Director of Southern Africa 360, believes there are three contributing factors that have affected Indian arrivals to SA: “The delays in issuing visas, the declining of visas, as well as India’s demonetisation and introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the beginning of 2017.”
The regional media attendees were divided into four groups according to language and customs. They were taken around the popular sights and attractions that Indian travellers would usually opt for when visiting SA.
Thaver said regional media in India had given SAT India substantial return on investment but the Indian market were quite set in their ways, hence Southern Africa 360 had to pay careful attention to the Indian media representatives’ personal preferences, customs and specific dietary requirements.
“It was a privilege for me to have had insightful group sit-down sessions with each media group and learn more from them regarding specific requirements people from their regions would have when it comes to travel to South Africa. I could also share with them more about SA as a tourist destination, all we are able to offer and what makes the country unique in Africa,” he said.
During the bidding process, the itinerary was selected based on functionality and price. The requirements set by SAT included: experiences (quality and suitability of experiences for the Indian market); itinerary (offering of experiences and the maximisation of time spent in SA); value-adds; iconic South African experiences for first timers; and attention given to meals (dietary requirements).
The four teams had to travel independently from one another, but the schedules and routing were worked out in such a way that there was an overlap to attend a function held at Emperors Palace Barnyard Theatre.
The groups visited Cape Town, staying at the new Radisson Red hotel. They experienced Table Mountain, the Cape Winelands, a helicopter ride along the Atlantic Seaboard and a side-car adventure around the Peninsula. They went on to visit Hermanus, the Garden Route, the Pilanesberg, Sun City and the Magaliesberg.
