South African Airways enabler for tourism, driver of economic growth — Bezuidenhout

The Acting Chief Executive of South African Airways (SAA), Nico Bezuidenhout, said the airline has specific and important role to play as an enabler for tourism and a driver of economic growth through trade. While speaking on the SAA’s continued support of the economy and tourism, he said “Tourism has always been and remains an important catalyst for growth in South Africa. It supports one in every 12 jobs in South Africa (SA) either directly or indirectly.”

Speaking at the just concluded Indaba travel show, Bezuidenhout said through the airline’s implementation of its 90-Day Action Plan that it has been able to bring stability to the industry. The SAA Group supports tourism through an integrated offering. SAA, is a Skytrax four-star rated domestic, continental and inter-continental airline; Mango, the Group’s Low Cost Carrier (LCC), one of the most successful LCCs on the continent, profitably serving primarily domestic routes and Zanzibar.

Voyager, Africa’s leading airline loyalty programme; SAA Cargo; Air Chefs, its catering arm; and South African Airways Technical, the leading FAA-accredited maintenance facility in Africa. “Tourism numbers are staggering. The Oxford Economics study estimates that approximately 615 000 people are directly employed by the tourism industry while a further 451 000 jobs are indirectly linked to the sector and 312 000 people are directly supported through the household spend of tourism workers.

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