JOHANNESBURG, Tuesday, 03 September 2019 – South African Tourism’s Middle East, India and South-East Asia (MEISEA) Hub, recently concluded a successful visit to the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh, meeting key travel partners.
The engagements come in the wake of the recent visa waiver announcement by the Department of Home Affairs which included Saudi Arabia as one of three Middle East countries to have visas to travel to South Africa waived.
Leading the engagements was MEISEA Hub Head, Neliswa Nkani who expressed her delight and satisfaction at the outcomes of the engagements. “There is a need to increase the product offering for Saudi Arabia, one that will reflect the value for money proposition, where there is diversification of product that will enhance the true image of South Africa as a destination that has over 3000 adventure activities,” said Nkani. “It is critical that the travel trade in Saudi Arabia be afforded the opportunity to engage with the varied trade partners that can service their needs.”
Travellers from Saudi Arabia are amongst the highest spenders when it comes to outbound travel. With a keen interest in safari, culture and scenic beauty coupled with the facilities offered to Muslim travellers, South Africa features very high on their aspiration list.
In a recent development, Saudi Arabia has also announced that women over the age of 21 are allowed to travel on their own. The demand for beach holidays is also growing in the Saudi market which makes South Africa an ideal destination for honeymooners and family holidays.
Having prioritized Saudi Arabia as a key growth market, South African tourism and its partners are also making efforts to promote Halal Tourism in the region.
As a follow up to this visit South African Tourism will embark on a roadshow in March 2020 to connect, engage and showcase South Africa’s diverse tourist offerings with an aim to facilitate a more collaborative and mutually beneficial learning environment.
