- Business Tourism’s growing importance to South Africa’s tourism industry will be in the spotlight when the annual Meetings Africa is held at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre from 21-23 February 2011. Business tourism brought 500 000 visitors to South Africa in 2009, representing 4.7% of total arrivals to the country and contributing more than R2,4 billion to tourism’s foreign direct spend. South African Tourism (SAT) is looking to grow this market even more and establish South Africa as an attractive, viable and world-class business tourism destination. And for SAT Meetings Africa 2011, Southern Africa’s flagship business tourism marketing platform f…

South African High Commission in Nigeria has formally announced agreement with a Lagos based firm, the VFS Global Services for outsourcing of visa application processes. - South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kingsley J.N Mamabolo who made the disclosure during an official media briefing in Lagos also said that with effect from Friday, December 3, the consular office in Lagos will cease to attend to further visa applications. “The South African High Commission has viewed the concerns of the Nigerian public (prospective travellers to the Republic of South Africa) in a serious light; particularly the matters relating to access to the Missions, (Abuja and Lagos) to lodge applica…

- South African High Commission in Nigeria has formally announced agreement with a Lagos based firm, the VFS Global Services for outsourcing of visa application processes. South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley J.N Mamabolo who made the disclosure during an official media briefing held at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, Thursday, also said that with effect from Friday, December 3, the consular office in Lagos will cease to attend to further visa applications. “The South African High Commission has viewed the concerns of the Nigerian public (prospective travelers to the Republic of South Africa) in a serious light; particularly the matters relating to acce…

- Plans to grow market share using business and leisure as draw cards South African Tourism has reinstated its commitment to the Nigerian market as a result of the constant increase in the tourists’ arrivals statistics in South Africa from Nigeria since 2004. This was stated by SA Tourism Regional Director for Africa and Domestic, Phumi Dhlomo, at a press conference in Lagos as part of the agency’s media road show in Nigeria. According to Dhlomo, an impressive number of 45, 527 Nigerians visited South Africa for both leisure and business purposes in 2009 surpassing that of the previous year with an appreciable 4.7%. The SAT Regional chief said, “This laudable developm…

- South African tourism is changing the face of global destination marketing forever with an exciting new campaign being launched this month. A Nigerian couple, Seun and Abimbola (Bimbo) Somolu, featured in the campaign. Others are; Andrew Smith and Hannah St Paul, UK; Artie and Carol Rosenblatt, US and Gurjap Singh and Radha Brahmbhatt, from India. The campaign was devised to succeed the global prominence South Africa won as host nation of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Chief marketing officer at South African Tourism, Roshene Singh, said, “It is nothing like any destination, anywhere, has ever done before. South Africa’s newest destination marketing does not use models or actors.…

- South Africa, Ready, Steady Go for 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is now ready to host the greatest football show on the planet, the FIFA 2010 World Cup. The country’s preparation was given a clean bill of health by a joint 50-man inspection team comprising members of both the 2010 Organising Committee South Africa (OC) and FIFA which recently concluded successful inspection tour of the five newly-built stadiums, including the newly upgraded Soccer City Stadium (FNB Stadium) in Johannesburg, the main arena for the global event. The tour team comprised operational experts in the following areas: competitions, broadcasting, media operations, medical, volunteers, transport, logis…

South African Tourism has initiated a "win and watch" football campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament to create excitement among football loving Nigerians, using the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification tie between Nigeria and Tunisia, on September 6, in Abuja - The South African tourism marketing agency want to use the campaign to create opportunities for Nigerian broadcast audience and print media readers to enter a football quiz competition around 2010 FIFA World Cup to win prizes and watch the crucial World Cup encounter. Also, a solidarity and goodwill messages will be sent to the two teams and their teeming supporters wishing them luck in the epic World Cup deci…

- SA Tourism generates 2010 World Cup excitement in Nigeria Stimulates football fans’ frenzy with ‘Win and Watch’ campaign South African Tourism has initiated a “win and watch” football campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World CupTM to create excitement among football loving Nigerians, using the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification tie between Nigeria and Tunisia, on September 6, in Abuja, as the peg. The South African tourism marketing agency want to use the campaign to create opportunities for Nigerian broadcast audience and print media readers to enter a football quiz competition around 2010 FIFA World Cup to win prizes and watch the crucial World Cup encoun…

- South African Airways to inaugurate premium class lounge at Lagos Airport Begins promo to make business class customer enjoy first class services The awarding winning member of the Star Alliance, South Africa Airways (SAA) has fixed September 2009 for the launch of its new dedicated Premium Passengers’ Lounge at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. SAA’s Head: North, Central and West Africa, Mr. Aaron Munetsi disclosed to participants at SA Tourism Africa Trade Road Show in Lagos that the establishment of the lounge is part of the airline’s efforts to offer its premium passengers a comfortable environment to relax, away from the din of airport departure ha…

The current marketing campaign of South African Tourism in Nigeria is not centered primarily on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, but is aimed at using it as a tool to further drive tourists' arrivals after, Phumi Dhlomo, SA Tourism Regional Director for Africa and Domestic Markets stated. - “Speaking about the forthcoming FIFA World Cup, people tend to believe that our global advocacy is about the World Cup, no! To us, the competition is only just a tool to serve as the hook for drawing tourists into South Africa,” Dhlomo explained to Nigerian trade and media partners at SA Tourism’s annual Africa Trade workshop in Lagos. According to him, “We are using the com…

- South Africa is set to ignite the world with 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Moyle: “South African Tourism welcomes the champions. Let the games begin”! Not even the dreary weather can put a damper on the celebratory mood currently gripping the country. For the next two weeks the eyes of the world will be on South Africa as it plays host to the ‘litmus test’ of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. “South African Tourism welcomes players and fans to South Africa. We’re excited about the tournament, not only because it offers our industry a truly incredible opportunity to showcase our destination, but also, because it giv…

- South Africa is set to ignite the world with 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Moyle: “South African Tourism welcomes the champions. Let the games begin”! Not even the dreary weather can put a damper on the celebratory mood currently gripping the country. For the next two weeks the eyes of the world will be on South Africa as it plays host to the ‘litmus test’ of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. “South African Tourism welcomes players and fans to South Africa. We’re excited about the tournament, not only because it offers our industry a truly incredible opportunity to showcase our destination, but also, because it giv…

Delta Air Lines has launched the first direct service between Abuja International Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. The service, which starts twice weekly and moves to three times weekly effective July 1, is the only direct service from the capital city to the US. - “Delta is delighted to expand our presence in the Nigerian market to serve two cities and further strengthen the business and tourism links between Nigeria and the United States”, said Bobby Bryan, Delta’s commercial manager for West and East Africa. “Our new service will offer our passengers with more than 45 convenient connections to popular destinations such as Washingto…

Nigeria has emerged the biggest market for South Africa Tourism in Africa, contributing over 43,000 arrivals to the touristic growth rate recorded last year, South Africa Tourism's Regional Director for Africa and Domestic, Phumelela Dhlomo disclosed. - Dhlomo said the arrival figures from Nigeria which peaked to an-all-time high of 11.3 per cent has further encouraged SA Tourism to make the country, a key market in its relentless drive to position South Africa as the preferred destination for global tourists. Speaking at the monthly breakfast business meeting of the Nigerian-South African Chambers of Commerce, sponsored by South African Tourism, held in Lagos, Dhlomo disclosed that …

South African Tourism has launched a dedicated website for Nigerians to upload pictures, videos and write on their South African travel experiences after visiting the country. - SA Tourism is calling on Nigerians to utilize the multi-media, interactive platform to share their experience while in South Africa and stand a chance to win a trip to South Africa. The website - www.southafrica.net/nigeria - offers opportunity for visitors to create their travel itinerary, make online bookings from selected tour packages offered by Nigerian tour operators and also to register online to enter for the competition to win a trip to South Africa. “We believe that it is better for Nigerians …