South African Tourism invites travel trade to join inaugural Nordics roadshow

As part of South African Tourism’s ‘5-in-5’ strategic goal to attract four million more international tourist arrivals and one million more domestic holiday trips in the next five years, the organisation has placed heightened international marketing focus on the Nordic countries and will be embarking on its first roadshow through the region in October 2017.

South Africa attracted more than 100 000 travellers from the Nordic countries in 2016, which is an impressive 11% increase over the previous year. The growth trajectory continues to reflect positively, as January to June 2017 arrival statistics report 55 513 arrivals, a 9% increase by comparison to the same period last year. As a result of the growing potential of this market, South African Tourism has decided to allocate additional marketing resources to the Nordic region and bolster its presence there with a goal to attract more people from this region to come visit South Africa. 

To this end, South African Tourism’s inaugural Nordics roadshow will take place from 23 to 27 October 2017. It aims to facilitate valuable access and introductions between 20 South African tourism products and tourism market players in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. We have also focused on bringing new and interesting small businesses that resonate with the Nordics consumer, in order to influence the variety of product that is packaged. Members of the travel trade and media based in the Nordics region are invited to attend. “Collaboration and partnerships with members of the trade is one of the most effective ways we can attract travelers from this region. This is why these roadshows are so important. 

Over and above this, giving South African Product Owners access to members of the trade from the Nordics region is one of the ways that we as South African Tourism, are also living up to our mandate of creating an enabling environment for their business and ultimately contribute to inclusive economic growth,” says Sthembiso Dlamini, Chief Operations Officer at South African Tourism. This roadshow will capitalise on the growing appetite among progressive and adventurous Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Danes for African travel by showcasing a range of exciting products to the in-country travel trade that are selling South Africa as a destination. 

South African Tourism hopes the roadshow will impart valuable information to the trade in the Nordics region about South Africa and its diversity of products and tourist offerings. These include urban and historical cultural encounters, experiences that allow for immersive interaction with locals, as well as wildlife and adventure activities that incorporate South Africa’s scenic and coastal beauty. Apart from experience considerations, accommodation establishments and both established and new destination management companies will form part of the South African trade partners selected to participate in the roadshow.

The workshops will take place at 5pm on each of the days, and venues as follows: 

23 October 2017 – Copenhagen: Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel 

24 October 2017 – Oslo: Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel 

25 October 2017 – Stockholm: First Hotel Norrtull 

26 October 2017 – Helsinki: Glo Art Hotel 

Should you be interested in attending, please email Anne Klintfält (anne@unitedspiritnordic.com)

United Spirit Nordic is a GSA agency based in Copenhagen representing destinations, DMC's, hotels and cruiselines in the Nordic region.