BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bongani Mlangeni
16 November 2006
South Africa is to host the annual international board meeting of the Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA) that will see top Japanese bigwigs in the travel business coming to the country.
The delegation, consisting of 15 directors and owners of top outbound travel agencies and their spouses, is expected to arrive this Saturday, with the board meeting taking place at the SanteWellness Centre in the Western Cape on Tuesday.
According to South African Tourism, Japan is a significant and highly lucrative tourism market for South Africa.
Last year, South Africa welcomed an 18 percent year-on-year increase in arrivals from Japan, making it the fastest growing source market in the Australasia region.
In 2005, over 27 000 Japanese visited South Africa, representing an over 18 percent increase over 2004.
Figures released by Statistics South Africa for April 2006 show that arrivals from Japan grew by 24 percent year-on-year and in the first quarter of 2006, 14 percent over the first quarter of 2005.
"While these figures are encouraging, our aim, in line with our Tourism Growth Strategy is to actively and aggressively invest in growing markets, in order to attract even more arrivals from Japan and the rest of the rapidly growing Australasia region," said SA Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola.
The meeting will also provide the SA Tourism with an opportunity to share the best of South Africa's tourism products and experiences with decision-makers and influencers from Japan's tourism industry.
It will also allow representatives of the local tourism industry to network, nurture relationships and forge mutually profitable business ties with that country.
Mr Mosola said as an outbound tourism organisation, JATA was working towards discovering new destinations to market to its trade.
"We strongly believe that South Africa is well placed to be an extremely attractive option, and we hope that the JATA trip will cement our position in this regard," said Mr Mosola.
A comprehensive programme has been compiled for the delegation, which will include visits to a number of new tourism products and experiences as well as a few world-renowned and well-established favourites.
New experiences will include a trip to Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West that is run as a joint venture between the state, the private sector and local communities.
In the "old favourites" category, the delegation will visit the iconic Table Mountain, the ever-popular V&A Waterfront and the visually dramatic landmarks of Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope in the Western Cape.
The delegation will also spend a day at the majestic Sun City Hotel Resort and Casino in the North West - a popular resort with visitors from the Asian continent.
They will later be addressed by Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad during a gala dinner there on Monday.
Mr Mosola added that SA Tourism was committed to dedicating its time and resources towards assisting the Japanese trade in marketing and selling South Africa more effectively.
In June this year, South Africa hosted a group of 50 agents, media and stakeholders from the Japan travel trade, who experienced the destination first hand.
"We sincerely hope that the 2006 JATA board meeting will be a fruitful one and that the delegation will enjoy an enriching and insightful visit to South Africa.
"Our aim is to ensure that they return to Japan with fond memories of South Africa - memories that they will share with their trade partners, with their families and with their friends for many years to come," said Mr Mosola.
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