As part of Tourvest, Your Africa is unique to Asia, and our clients extend from India to Japan, and beyond. Emerging markets are exciting and challenging and show more sensitivity to the macro environments, which impacts both positively and negatively.  Ebola had a huge impact on travel to Southern Africa in 2014 and 2015. Visa and birth certificate requirements initially slowed down group arrivals, but despite these challenges, travellers from Asia, India and Japan into Southern Africa have increased exponentially in 2016. The increase in passenger numbers has also been due to the acquisition of a number of new key accounts in India and Japan, all of which are exceeding expectations and travelling at full capacity. The improved turnaround times at the consulates has encouraged many trade partners in India to promote sales to Southern Africa this season. Emerging markets have a tendency to also book much shorter lead times, which allows the markets to bounce back more quickly than their European or American counterparts.

What is unique in these markets is that guests travel to Southern Africa in our low season, between May and September, which are traditionally quieter months for other markets. Coupled with good winter special rates offered by hotels and important stakeholders, we continue to make the region attractive as a destination and ensure year round support to the industry. Recovery in the emerging markets is well on track, and Your Africa expects this trend to continue into 2017.