New Airlink route launching soon in South Africa

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New Airlink route launching soon in South Africa

Airlink has announced a new route from Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) to Johannesburg, and Mozambique will be launching in July 2024.

Airlink will provide its peak season “bush & beach” service linking Mbombela’s Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport with Vilanculos, Mozambique’s famous coastal resort destination and Johannesburg, the airline said in a media statement.

The direct service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays from 1 July 2024 until 5 January 2025. Flights on the route will be operated by modern and reliable Embraer Regional Jets.

Airlink noted that tickets for flights on the route are already available. The seasonal route will augment Airlink’s year-round daily direct Johannesburg-Vilanculos service.

Airlink new schedule timetable

“In reprising this routing option for the coming season, Airlink is responding to broad popular demand from tourists and calls from the travel industry for a convenient schedule that lets visitors make the most of their vacation time and enjoy both uniquely Southern African experiences,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

Mbombela is the gateway to the world-famous Kruger National Park, neighbouring private game lodges, and spectacular vistas such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck, the Three Rondavels and several waterfalls.

GDS players highlight booking trends

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GDS players highlight booking trends

Global Distribution System (GDS) platforms, Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport, have revealed their latest trends, such as booking lead times, payments methods, consumer travel spending priorities, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Booking lead times

Andy Hedley, GM South Africa, Amadeus, said although the GDS did not routinely publish search or booking lead times, it had noticed a trend for booking lead times for sporting and music events.

“Across international markets, we see evidence that travellers are showing a strong interest in traveling to live events – including sports and music events – with lead times shortening by five days on average.”

Sabre said it had uncovered a booking trend for 2024 based on a comprehensive survey of its global workforce and an analysis of its extensive travel data.

“There’s a growing preference for booking leisure travel three months in advance, a move towards more forward-planning strategies. This trend is likely to be driven by a desire for cost savings and a reduction in concerns related to travel uncertainty that were prevalent during the pandemic.

“Business travel bookings tend to be made with a narrower window of two to four weeks prior to departure, indicating a prioritisation of flexibility and immediate needs rather than long-term planning,” the GDS said.

Payment methods

Regarding payment methods, Sabre highlighted that that one of the leading trends was virtual payments.

“They are key for the present and future for the travel industry, streamlining booking and payment processes, offering greater security, efficiency and enhanced reconciliation capabilities crucial to managing the complexities of travel transactions. Sabre is partnering with multiple issuers to provide a more flexible and secure method of managing payments.”

Sabre added that digital payment trends were growing worldwide.

“For Sabre, virtual cards are at the forefront of the most common payment methods in the B2B travel industry. Sabre’s commitment to virtual cards, particularly through Sabre Virtual Payments, highlights the benefits in terms of security, efficiency, and convenience. They address the complexities of travel transactions by offering a secure, automated, and integrated payment solution that simplifies and adds value to transactions for travel management companies, online travel agencies and travel suppliers.”

Consumer travel spending priorities

The second edition of the ‘Consumer travel spend priorities’ research conducted by Outpayce from Amadeus, revealed that high-earning households were expected to drive continued strong demand for international travel over the coming 12 months.

Despite continuing economic uncertainty, higher earners – categorised as households with more than US$120 000 in pre-tax income per annum — prioritised international travel, citing successful investments, savings made during the pandemic and pay rises as key enablers.

  • International travel was deemed a ‘high priority’ by 68% of higher earners compared with 47% across all salary brackets.
  • 65% of higher earners plan to take more international trips over the coming 12 months than they did in 2019, compared with 38% of respondents across all income brackets.
  • 58% of higher earners plan to spend more on international travel over the coming 12 months than they did in 2019, compared with an average of 36% across all salary brackets.
  • Higher earners expect to spend US$7 413 on international travel over the coming 12 months, compared with an average of US$3 422 across all salary brackets.
  • When higher earners were asked why they could spend more on travel, the top answers were:
    • Made money on recent investments so I can spend on travel (41%)
    • Saved during the pandemic, enabling greater spend on travel (40%)
    • Received a pay rise recently, meaning I have the freedom to spend on travel (40%).

Jean-Christophe Lacour, SVP Global Head of Product Management and Delivery, Outpayce from Amadeus, commented: “We’re seeing continued strong demand for travel across most parts of the world and it’s clear that higher-earning households are major contributors to this trend.”

According to Sabre’s 2024 trends, more than 75% of travellers are mapping out two or more journeys, with nearly 90% planning to maintain or increase their spending compared with 2023. Approximately 40% of these travellers anticipate a budget boost, a trend especially pronounced amongst Gen Z travellers.

Furthermore, a prominent trend is the growing popularity of traveling as a couple and a willingness to pay a premium of up to 5% for more sustainable travel options. Additionally, a substantial portion of travellers is open to paying up to 15% more to offset the carbon emissions generated by their trips.

The use of AI

While AI – the ability to perceive, synthesise and infer information by computers – has been in use across the Amadeus business for some years, it is now starting to see the next generation of development – generative AI.

“Unlike other types of AI, which are focused on classification or prediction, generative AI has uses in optimisation, machine translation (the use of software to translate text or speech from one language to another) and a variety of other tasks,” said Hedley.

He added that Amadeus was excited by the potential of generative AI to make the experience of travel better. “With a proven track record of deploying innovative travel technology, we are well placed to explore the potential of this developing field in our industry.”

In search and shopping for flights, Amadeus is currently working to build a generative AI-powered interactive travel assistant to help users complete a booking using natural language. “A prototype has been built and we are working to integrate the technology with Cytric Easy,” Hedley noted.

Amadeus is also testing the capabilities of assisted programming to generate code and enhance solutions, freeing developers from repetitive tasks and driving efficiency.

Sabre uses AI extensively across various sectors, such as airlines, travel agencies, and hotels.

“We use AI and machine learning to boost revenue, improve passenger experiences, manage premium cabin inventory, and simplify seat upgrade bidding for travellers. Travel agencies efficiently sift through various content sources to recommend the best options to their customers. Hoteliers enhance retail and distribution efficiency to provide personalised experiences and unique services,” the GDS said.

Tom Kershaw, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Travelport, said it was using AI to not only help agents automate routine tasks like refunds and exchanges, but to personalise offers and gain more control with ever-changing pricing and itinerary options for travellers. 

“We’ve used AI to restructure our search and ordering systems to create a fully predictive and intuitive search infrastructure. It is this level of personalisation, elevated by rich, robust data sets and AI-based search that is helping our agency customers better understand what their travellers need, make accurate predictions, and recommend the best trip options.”

Kershaw added that Travelport was using AI for a new Content Curation Layer (CCL) feature that would enhance its shopping and searching capabilities on the Travelport+ platform.

“With the CCL feature, agents will be able to quickly – we’re talking milliseconds – and economically – lower cost per transaction – sort through an increasing volume of supplier options that are extremely similar, decipher these incredibly nuanced options and then curate and elevate the most relevant options for travellers.”

Fastjet Announces Their Amazing Zimbabwe Campaign

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Fastjet Announces Their Amazing Zimbabwe Campaign
Photo of Great Zimbabwe
Photo: Great Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWE, HARARE | Fastjet Zimbabwe, has announced the launch of their Amazing Zimbabwe marketing campaign, which focuses on promoting the hidden gems of Zimbabwe.

“Amazing Zimbabwe” is a celebration and promotion of all things Zimbabwean, encompassing the country’s beauty, vibrant culture and rich heritage. The campaign is centred on four unique pillars synonymous with Zimbabwe’s Rich Traditions, Splendid Heritage, Iconic Sites, and Great People.

“The Amazing Zimbabwe campaign embodies the essence of Zimbabwe and our commitment to the continuous promotion of air connectivity in our beloved country. This campaign is tailored to showcase Zimbabwe’s great assets including some of those that often may not get the attention they deserve. It will be a wide-reaching showcase of many a splendour” said Nunurai Ndawana, the spokesman of Fastjet Zimbabwe.

Fastjet continues to deliver a compelling message of an Amazing Zimbabwe throughout their flight network. The award-winning airline’s commitment to travellers is an assurance of a memorable experience in Zimbabwe, uncovering hidden gems and great discoveries.

Fastjet flights are available for booking via the fastjet website, Mobile App and usual online trade platforms.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
FASTJET GROUP
[email protected]


ABOUT FASTJET

Fastjet is a multi-award-winning African airline that began flight operations in 2012. Today, fastjet connects three major cities in Zimbabwe by flying between Harare & Victoria Falls, as well as between Harare & Bulawayo. In addition, the airline offers international flights from Harare, Bulawayo & Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in South Africa and from Victoria Falls to Mbombela (Kruger) Nelspruit Mpumalanga in South Africa. Its awards include World Travel Awards in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2020, 2021 and 2022, Skytrax World Airline Awards in 2017 and 2019, and in the top ten finalists for 2021, 2022 and 2023. Since commencing operations, fastjet has flown over 4 million passengers and has established itself as a reliable African airline brand, with a range of value-added products and services. As part of the airline’s commitment to offering choice, flexibility and value, customers benefit from generous free baggage allowances, flexible change options, multiple payment channels, airport lounge access on select routes, and ancillary services such as car hire.

Africa Travel Week Unveils 10th Anniversary WTM Africa Show Programme

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Africa Travel Week Unveils 10th Anniversary WTM Africa Show Programme
Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism at RX Africa.
Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism at RX Africa.

To mark a decade of top B2B travel events, Africa Travel Week has revealed a packed schedule for its 2024 milestone tenth anniversary edition of WTM Africa. Running from April 7-12 in Cape Town, the newly announced programme puts the spotlight on real business-building opportunities.

“The tourism landscape in 2024 is characterised by growth and optimism, setting the tone for Africa Travel Week. It’s a big year for our industry, and a significant milestone in our legacy,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director – Travel, Tourism at RX Africa.

Between 2014 and 2023, WTM Africa has experienced 34 731 industry professionals in attendance. In that same time frame, buyer numbers have seen a steady increase year-on-year to match the increase in exhibitors.

In 2023, exhibitor numbers leapt from 384 in 2022 to 577 – a figure De Jager and her team are looking to top this year. 

This year’s line-up features some familiar favourites, including speed networking and the Responsible Tourism Awards, in addition to a range of inaugural events and new opportunities for business expansion.

De Jager highlighted the following ten not-to-be-missed activities:

  1. Festival-style celebrations, with everything from wine tastings, live performances, product launches and immersive experiences.
  2. The introduction of Brain Box, an interactive workshop space for industry players to engage in meaningful discussions with global professionals.
  3. The Sustainability Village – a walk-through hub bringing together artisans, crafters, and thought leaders to highlight responsible tourism in action.
  4. Live performance celebrations honouring Africa Travel Week’s long-standing partnership with the City of Cape Town.
  5. A new partnership with Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA), running alongside WTM Africa from April 10-12. This well-established platform actively positions African destinations as attractive investment locations.
  6. Now an esteemed Global Travel Hall of Fame Academy inductee, Harold Goodwin returns as keynote speaker for the Responsible Tourism Conference and Awards ceremony. Mandisa Magwaxaza is also confirmed as the official MC.
  7. Africa Travel Week’s renewed alliance with International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association Foundation, a key partner for EQUAL Africa, which brings together travel suppliers and buyers targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
  8. The launch of a dedicated Chinese buyer programme and content sessions exploring the full potential of this valuable client segment, which is also the world’s largest tourism source market.
  9. IBTM World presenting its annual report as an added value to IBTM Africa’s content programme and Africa’s business travel sector.
  10. Official winners of the inaugural Africa Travel Week Media Awards to be announced and celebrated at WTM Africa.

“As part of Africa Travel Week, interest and enthusiasm for WTM Africa remains unwavering and we are dedicated to ensuring that it lives up to its prominent reputation. Our mission continues to deliver an exceptional experience and high-value opportunities resulting in a tangible return on investment long after the show has ended,” De Jager concluded.

Click here to register to attend WTM Africa 2024

CemAir: Another new cross-border route for SA airline

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CemAir: Another new cross-border route for SA airline

Independently owned and operated airline CemAir will introduce flights between Johannesburg and Harare later this year.

Cemair joins the next of many other airlines operating direct flights between Johannesburg and Harare. From 21 March, the airline will offer scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Harare. The airline will offer 4 flights a week on this route.

Passengers will enjoy in-flight catering, 21kg checked baggage and 7kg cabin baggage as part of the standard fares for these flights.

Aside from its vast route network of domestic flights, the airline already flies to Maun and Kasane (Botswana), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Maputo (Mozambique).

According to its website, Cemair says that it plans to put on flights to several other destinations in the future.  Flights to Luanda (Angola), Livingstone (Zambia), Gaborone (Botswana) are in the pipelines for the airline.

Like South Africa, Zimbabwe is also seeing positive growth in tourist numbers and air traffic volumes. A number of airlines have introduced or reintroduced scheduled flights into Zimbabwe in the period post the Covid-19 pandemic.

Victoria Falls and Harare have welcomed several airlines in recent times.

From Johannesburg, several airlines offer direct scheduled services into Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare.  Airlink, FlySafair, South African Airways, Fastjet and Air Zimbabwe offer flights on this route.

Explore Kruger National Park Faster: Nonstop Flights Launch from Cape Town

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Explore Kruger National Park Faster: Nonstop Flights Launch from Cape Town

FlySafair has announced a new route direct route between Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), starting April 2.

It’s an exciting piece of news for the travel industry, and will make travel between the Mother City and the Kruger National Park much easier – KMIA lies just outside the park.

Two flights a week are planned, leaving Cape Town at 09h00 on Tuesdays and Saturdays and arriving in KMIA at 11h30. The aircraft will then depart KMIA at 12h05 and arrive in Cape Town at 14h50.

“We are very pleased to be able to start the year off with such an exciting new route. Although flights to areas surrounding the Kruger National Park are readily available from Johannesburg, there are limited commercial flight options from Cape Town,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer of FlySafair.

The airline says thanks to the concerted efforts of Cape Town Tourism, the city has experienced a boom in popularity, particularly with international visitors. International tourism in the city has boomed, increasing by 76% between January and July last year. During December 2023, the number of visitors to the city exceeded pre-COVID levels – officials recorded 317 000 international two-way ticketholders passing through the city’s main airport.

But local travel to the Mother City has also grown, and in the first six months of 2023 alone, Cape Town saw 3.2 million domestic two-way passengers pass through Cape Town International Airport, representing a 9% year-on-year growth. As a result, many of the local tourist attractions have seen drastic increases in the number of visitors.

FlySafair’s addition of the route between CTIA and KMIA now offers an exciting opportunity to spread the tourism success currently being experienced in Cape Town to other attractions across the country, while also making travel to the Kruger much easier for residents of the Western Cape. The Kruger National Park is one of the most spectacular and unique tourist attractions South Africa has to offer, and the carrier says these flights are likely to have a markedly positive effect on overall tourism in South Africa.

“Cape Town and the Kruger National Park are two of our country’s most popular tourist destinations. Unfortunately, though, they sit in opposite corners of our country, making travel between them both inconvenient and costly,” said Gordon. “We hope that by introducing our low-cost option to the market, we can encourage more tourists to build a visit to Kruger into their trip itineraries while also opening this gem to the people of the Western Cape.”

The flight will be operated by FlySafair’s Boeing 737-800.

New Roar in South Africa: Radisson Unveils First Safari Hotel

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New Roar in South Africa: Radisson Unveils First Safari Hotel

Radisson Hotel Group has announced the much-anticipated official opening of Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit, its first safari hotel in Africa and 11th hotel in South Africa.

Tucked between two renowned nature reserves, Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon, the hotel is 2km outside Hoedspruit in the heart of the grasslands in the Limpopo province and just 20 minutes from Eastgate Airport.

“The opening of Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit completes our own Golden Triangle safari offering with exquisite properties in Cape Town and the recently opened Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya in Livingstone,” said Tim Cordon, Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia Pacific at Radisson Hotel Group.

“Our extensive offering will ensure guests have an unforgettable experience whether they are enjoying a family holiday, a serene couples escape, or a meeting and event in a unique backdrop,” said Charles McCarthy, GM of Radisson Hotel Safari Hoedspruit.

The hotel offers views of the Drakensberg mountains, the highest mountain range in southern Africa. Guests can take part in safari adventures to spot local wildlife such as lions, rhinoceros, and elephants, go trekking on horseback, or take in the landscape from a hot air balloon.

The hotel’s 138 rooms range from standard rooms with garden and mountain views to Premium Suites featuring their own private pools and outdoor seating areas.

At the thatched roof restaurant, Mirage, guests can enjoy South African and Lebanese-inspired cuisine on the restaurant’s wrap-around deck, with access to a sunbathing area and pool in the summer, as well as an outdoor fireplace on cooler evenings.

Pegasus restaurant offers Mediterranean, Italian, Mexican, and American-inspired dishes as well as gourmet ice cream and frozen cocktails, served alongside the adults-only swimming pool.

At the Boma, guests can indulge in traditional African cuisine such as boerewors, bobotie, and selection of game meat.

The meetings and events spaces consist of five different meeting venues, including boardrooms, meeting rooms, and a main banquet hall that can accommodate up to 200 guests.

The on-site Amani Spa offers a variety of treatments at its five treatment rooms, including a private couples’ suite. The spa also features a health bar, hair and nail salon and a steam room. A 24-hour fitness centre is also available.

Bolt launches in Zimbabwe and waives driver commission for six months

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Bolt launches in Zimbabwe and waives driver commission for six months

Bolt, an Estonian e-taxi company with operations across Europe and Africa, has launched its services in Harare, Zimbabwe. Bolt will not receive any commission from drivers for a minimum of six months. 

The same no-commission incentive was used during the platform’s launch of operations in Zambia. In countries like Kenya, Bolt applies a standard 18% commission, and no longer requires a booking fee.

The Zimbabwe entry marks Bolt’s presence in its twelfth country, with its first launch in South Africa in 2016. Before this expansion, Bolt had conducted pilot operations in Zambia in October 2023. According to a statement seen by TechCabal, the platform will initially undergo a pilot test, which has onboarded 300 driver partners. Zimbabwe is now Bolt’s third station in the southern Africa region and will offer ride-hailing services to both corporates and individuals.

Laurent Koerge, Head of Expansion at Bolt, said, “We are excited to be piloting our services in Zimbabwe. Our goal is not only to offer our drivers higher revenues per hire but also to ensure a high demand due to competitive prices. Accordingly, our commission is significantly lower than that of our competitors.”

In early 2023, Bolt announced its plan to invest over €500 million in the African market. One of its initiatives was to job offer opportunities for over 300,000 driver partners. Currently, the company operates in 45 countries globally, serving more than 150 million customers and working with over 3 million drivers.

The platform has worked towards enhancing the safety of its services for both riders and drivers. Addressing various safety concerns, it took the step of suspending over 10,000 drivers in Nigeria and Kenya during the last six months of 2023. Bolt has also implemented safety features, including an SOS button, rider and driver verification, and the ability for users to notify Bolt if a driver opts to go offline during a trip.

Intra-Africa air connectivity up but headwinds remain

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Intra-Africa air connectivity up but headwinds remain

Intra-Africa air connectivity is making headway, with local aviation experts expressing cautious optimism about the growth prospects for the southern African region, noting that several barriers to improved air access still need to be addressed.

This comes after the Centre for Aviation (CAPA) highlighted in its ‘Charting Trends’ report earlier this month that intra-Africa air connectivity had exceeded the two million weekly internal seats figure for the week commencing December 18.

This is the sixth time that this landmark figure has been achieved. Previously, there was a consecutive five-week period between the weeks of December 9 and January 6, when a record of 2.04 million was achieved in the week commencing December 16, 2019 (pre-COVID).

Following that period, intra-Africa air connectivity dropped 0.6% compared with pre-pandemic levels for the week commencing January 15, according to data from CAPA and OAG, an air travel intelligence company specialising in the delivery of digital information and travel planning solutions to clients such as airlines, airports, government agencies and travel-related service companies.

“December is a peak travel month in the intra-Africa calendar, and capacity levels will decline over the remainder of Q1 2024, following historical trends. It may be premature to start looking ahead to the end of 2024, but there is potential for 2024 to break the record for intra-Africa connectivity,” the report stated.

Top intra-Africa airlines

Ethiopian Airlines is the dominant airline in the intra-Africa market, with a 14.4% share of capacity in the week commencing January 15 – up 11.0% on the comparable week in 2023.

Ethiopian is in a commanding position, as no other airline has a double-digit share of capacity, with its closest rival being South Africa’s FlySafair (9.0%).

This is ahead of Nigeria’s Air Peace (5.4%), the fast-expanding regional airline Airlink (South Africa) (4.9%), and the other leading international airlines in the continent: EgyptAir (4.4%), Kenya Airways (4.2%) and Royal Air Maroc (3.7%).

“We’re thrilled to be involved in infra-Africa travel to the extent that our aircraft and operating model can accommodate. We launched our regional strategy post COVID, first tentatively with connections to Mauritius, and now more fervently with our connections into Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It’s great to be in these markets and bringing a low cost option to travellers there,” said Chief Marketing Officer of FlySafair, Kirby Gordon.

“Our vast constellation of southern African destinations, in conjunction with our high frequency of services using the right size of aircraft to fit the market size, is alluring to our customers from source markets worldwide.  We have intra-line – within our own network – and interline (in conjunction with our 35 partner airlines’ networks) connectivity. These partnerships are key to establishing seamless single ticket, multi-carrier and multi-sector connectivity,” said CEO & MD of Airlink, Rodger Foster.

SAATM gains momentum

Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) CEO, Aaron Munetsi, told Tourism Update that the association was encouraged by the two million weekly seats milestone, and that it would continue to advocate for increases in the intra-Africa market, which will result in the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by all African countries.

“The SAATM has gained momentum and made impressive progress with 38 countries signed up, representing more than 80% of the African population and the airlines accounting for more than 75% of intra-Africa connectivity,” he said.

He added that AASA’s responsibility to increase intra-Africa travel included but was not limited to the opening up of borders through the Free Movement Protocol which encourages removal of visa requirements for Africans, implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and the SAATM – all three of which are African Union flagship projects for the Agenda 2063.

“Intra-Africa connectivity will be enhanced by the granting of traffic rights to African airlines, especially Fifth Freedom traffic rights. Cost containment for airlines will result in affordable airfares that stimulate travel, thereby increasing the load factors and making the operations sustainable and profitable.

“Increasing intra-Africa travel will also enhance the economic development of the African economy through the catalytic effect of aviation. Aviation contributes to the GDPs of economies by creating jobs and increasing economic activity through tourism development,” Munetsi said.

He did, however, concede that there were still major challenges to increasing intra-Africa travel.

“Protectionism by some countries is one of the major challenges. Some countries deny or delay granting traffic rights to foreign African airlines to protect their national carriers. The issuance of Foreign Operator Permits (FOPs) is also constantly used as a barrier to entry by some countries who seek to protect their own carriers by charging exorbitant fees for FOPs.”

Munetsi concluded that the future was very positive based on the initiatives being implemented by various entities such as the African Civil Aviation Commission’s SAATM Pilot Implementation Project.

“The next five years are critical for the continued growth of African aviation. Our focus at AASA is to ensure that our member airlines’ interests are kept at the forefront and are prioritised in order for all the parties to benefit from the development of aviation on the continent.”

Meetings Africa 2024 key to biz travel recovery

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Meetings Africa 2024 key to biz travel recovery

Meetings Africa 2024 – held for the 18th time at the Sandton International Convention Centre from February 26-28 – serves as the African continent’s primary platform to enable the growth of the business events industry and ultimately contribute to its success.

So said Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, at the official launch and press briefing of the event in Johannesburg yesterday.

“Building from the successes recorded in previous years, Meetings Africa 2024 will no doubt enhance the already upward trajectory of our business events and tourism sector’s performance. At this year’s event, we anticipate the attendance and participation of more than 350 exhibitors, 350 local and international buyers, over 20 international media and more than 3 000 delegates,” said De Lille.

According to her, last year’s Meetings Africa contributed R388.5 million (€18.9m) to the South African economy, creating and sustaining 753 jobs while also generating significant business deals worth millions of rands for exhibitors.

Emphasising Meetings Africa as a Pan-African trade show, De Lille reiterated the event’s critical role in telling the African story and promoting the continent as a premier destination for business events and tourism.

“No fewer than 19 African countries are expected to participate in this year’s show as exhibitors will look to showcase their various destinations and products to the strong contingent of international buyers drawn from 52 countries,” she said.

“Building from the successes recorded in previous years, Meetings Africa 2024 will no doubt enhance the already upward trajectory of our business events and tourism sector’s performance. At this year’s event, we anticipate the attendance and participation of more than 350 exhibitors, 350 local and international buyers, over 20 international media and more than 3 000 delegates.”

‘Africa’s success built on quality connections’

One of four panellists who spoke during the media briefing, Frank Murangwa, Director of Destination Marketing at the Rwanda Convention Bureau, agreed that many bids for events held in the East African country had been cemented through participation at Meetings Africa.

He echoed other sentiments expressed by panellists that collaboration between governments and the private sector, as well as countries, was an essential driver of growth for the sector on the continent.

“Rwanda successfully hosted a number regional and global events last year. And with the organisers looking for another venue in Africa, they have asked us to recommend a destination. In the end, if Africa wins, we all win,” he said.

The Meetings Africa theme this year is ‘Africa’s success built on quality connections’ with De Lille emphasising: “The event serves as a rallying call for us to champion the African continent as a coveted destination for business events. We must leverage this platform to narrate our compelling story as Africans.”

The Minister emphasised that the economic advantages stemming from hosting the event would extend beyond the host province, Gauteng, and would be felt even in some of the small towns and villages outside the host province.

She noted that, to achieve this, pre- and post-tours had been meticulously organised for media and buyers attending Meetings Africa this year.

Fostering inclusivity

“Fostering inclusivity within the sector remains a paramount objective for Meetings Africa. Consequently, a robust emphasis will be placed on enhancing market access for SMMEs, coupled with dedicated efforts in skills development and capacity-building initiatives,” highlighted De Lille.

She pointed out that activities had been planned to benefit emerging entrepreneurs and SMMEs.

On BONDay (Business Opportunity Networking Day), scheduled for February 26, participants can engage in educational sessions to foster thought leadership and knowledge sharing and provide insights into global trends and local perspectives.

A speed marketing session will also be featured on the same day, highlighting a diverse range of products for global buyers and media.

Another initiative to enhance market access is the Sustainability Village – a vibrant mini marketplace showcasing products by local craftspeople and entrepreneurs.

Optimistic about recovery

De Lille said the launch of Meetings Africa 2024 coincided with an air of optimism sweeping the tourism sector following the sector’s robust recovery and stellar performance last year. 

“This year represents a defining moment, and I am hopeful that it is the year in which we will be able to proudly declare our full recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stride confidently towards a more sustainable tourism sector,” she said.

Information released by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation this week – showing that Africa had recovered 96% of pre-pandemic visitors in 2023 – gives all the indication that pre-pandemic arrivals will be reached this year.

De Lille pointed out: “The unleashing of remaining pent-up demand, increased air connectivity, and a stronger recovery of Asian markets and destinations, are expected to underpin a full recovery by the end of 2024.”

She said these latest figures were extremely encouraging and were supported by  South Africa’s statistics recording 7.6 million international arrivals between January and November 2023, a remarkable 51.8% increase when compared with same period in 2022.

The Minister acknowledged the need for a more streamlined visa process and the need for increased air capacity to remove barriers to travel and promote further growth, saying she was working with the private sector and various government entities to address this.

“Working with the private sector, through the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, we expect to launch a national air access strategy by March,” De Lille said.

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