Why Nigerians should travel to South Africa —Pitso

Why Nigerians should travel to South Africa —Pitso

South African Tourism team was at the recently concluded Akwaaba Africa Travel Market held in Lagos The team led by Hloni Pitso, SAT Regional Manager, West Africa truly showcased the rainbow country as a must visit destination for Nigeria and West Africa travellers.

In this chat Hloni Pitso talked about why is South African Tourism exhibited at the Akwaaba Travel Market where SAT has continued to win awards. Excerpt

On the role of the SA Tourism West Africa office in Lagos.

Nigeria is an attractive location for marketing efforts due to increased air traffic from international destinations with a steady flow of passengers from Ghana and the ECOWAS regions.

Our office in Lagos is to firstly help us with our work of growing arrivals from this market. Secondly, it is to use as springboard into the West Africa region as a whole, which we have communicated is pivotal to our strategy. Our presence, via the SA Tourism office, will further strengthen our trade relations with key the stakeholders who are integral to helping us achieve these objective of growing arrivals from these markets to South Africa.

On SA Tourism strategies in Nigeria

Our strategies are targeted at the consumer and trade driven. We want to equip the trade to be able to package quality and value for money leisure experiences that can be proudly shared with peers.

And we want to show consumers the extensive range of unique and premium tourism offerings and experiences to be found in South Africa

Key to showcasing this is hosting media for FAM trips (often) ties in with key music and trade events (Indaba) and at the end, giving a leisure experience we know our market would be keen in.

On what South Africa got to offer the young, savvy generations of Nigerians who are very adventurous

South Africa offers a range of bespoke, premier tourism offerings.  These include shopping centres with high end boutique stores, a bustling night life to be found in Johannesburg and Cape Town….in fact if you’re lucky you may bump into a Hollywood star or one of our own renowned celebrities.

For the adventure seeking tourist, if bungee jumping is your idea of fun, try the Orlando Towers or Bloukrans Bridge in PE, Eastern Cape which happens to be the world’s highest commercial bridge.  We are a destination that is able to package and package well a holiday experience to suit your needs and your   interests, ensuring you have a memorable and fulfilling stay.

On why then should Nigerians travel to South Africa

South Africa is really incredibly accessible for Nigerian travellers.  It’s a six-hour direct flight with no jet lag involved.  More than this, South Africa’s city and urban infrastructure rivals that of the other destinations you speak of. South Africa – and especially the big cities – offer fantastic shopping, nightlife, entertainment.

There’s excellent value for money to be had in South Africa, meaning your Naira will buy you more in South Africa than it will in the other destinations. For example, a three course dinner for two (with wine) in a fantastic restaurant in Cape Town will cost you about 8 750 Naira. The same meal, in London for example, could will set you back at least twice that… if not more

The same principle applies to accommodation, a night on the town and general shopping.  But perhaps the biggest reason to choose South Africa over the other destinations is the South African people: warm, friendly and welcoming with a truly deep and authentic culture of service excellence… it’s the people who make this destination special. And it’s for the warm welcome you receive in South Africa that you should choose South Africa first.

On how SA Tourism is promoting entertainment tourism

Yes. You are absolutely right. South Africa is a fantastic entertainment, music and big concert destination. And certainly, collaboration between our two countries has done much to grow South Africa’s status as a music and other event destination

We market these music events in many ways. There is much marketing work around the South African jazz festivals.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/nigerians-travel-south-africa-pitso/#sthash.5oIH5yj6.dpuf