The Hindu Business Line : S. Africa eyeing India with travel deals

SOUTH Africa, which received about 41,000 tourists from India in 2003, up from 34,000 in the previous year, is looking to further exploit the awareness and interest generated by the cricket World Cup that it hosted in 2003.

The South African Tourism has teamed up with 11 Indian trade partners to offer travel deals specially designed for the Indian traveller.

The deals, which will be on offer from August 30 to October, are available at a starting price of Rs 75,000 for a six-night seven-day package, which includes domestic airfares between cities, all airport/hotel transfers, at least one safari, and two tours of historic and cultural sites, among others.

"The cricket World Cup helped us turn the corner, especially where awareness about the country is concerned," said Ms Cheryl Carolus, Chief Executive Officer, South African Tourism.

At the same time, she said, the long-haul travel market in India was expanding and more people were open to travelling further out.

"We are saying that South Africa is a unique African destination that combines natural beauty with the most modern infrastructure. Critically, the people of South Africa are our biggest asset," Ms Carolus said.

South African Tourism is also undertaking a rebranding exercise "that embodies the essence and values of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination''.

Travel, which is one of the top five revenue earners in the country, contributed a little more than 100 billion rand (6.7 rand=$1) to the South African economy last year, with about 53 per cent contributed by the overseas travel market and 41 per cent by the domestic market.

Queried about the impression that South Africa was not a safe destination, she said this was incorrect, and travel in South Africa was no more risky than it was at any other big city destination.