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During 2016, Indian visitor numbers to South Africa witnessed a growth of 21.7% to close at an arrivals figure of 95,377, making it the 8th position among SA’s international source markets. In 2015, the number of tourist arrivals from India was 78,385 and 2017 is set to be busy and action-packed as the NTO has a target of 104,000 to achieve.

Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager for South Africa Tourism in India, says, “Next year’s figure implies a tremendous growth. It will mean intense and aggressive promotions coupled with a focus on new markets across geography and demographics.”

For the current year, the promotional plans include sustained efforts in areas that South Africa has been focusing on in the past such as joint promotions with travel agents and customer outreach through outdoor media, television, digital, print and of late, social.

South African tourism, in terms of geographic markets, plans to engage potential travellers in Tier II markets through the agent-specific ‘Learn South Africa’ programme which will train travel agents in 17 Indian cities during July 2017. Furthermore, the tourism board plans to train focus and customise for travellers in these cities with city-specific joint promotions with travel agents in all 17 chosen cities.

Demographically too, South African Tourism is also keen on targeting younger globe-trotters given that India has a sizeable proportion of the young population.

“Additionally besides the staples like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore all of which make a strong contribution to arrivals, our B2B roadshow will travel to Kolkata and Ahmedabad in January 2018,” Slabber says.

“We look forward to an exciting year! January’s arrival figures are out and we welcomed about 6,300 Indian travellers – we look forward to very high numbers during the summer holiday season running from now until Mid-June,” she added.

Sоurсе: travelnewsdigest.in