South Africa wants to attract 1 lakh Indian tourists in 2024

Tourism South Africa is looking to attract 1 lakh Indian tourists in 2024 while focusing on tier II cities, Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head of Middle East, India and Southeast Asia was quoted as saying by PTI.

In 2023, Tourism Minister of South Africa Patricia de Lille had sought for visa waiver for tourists from India and China. 

South Africa's tourism minister is pushing for visa requirements to be eased or waived for Chinese and Indian nationals to boost visitor numbers from the world's most populous countries.

In 2023, the African nation witnessed 79,000 footfalls from India, which was almost 82% of pre-COVID numbers of 95,000 Indian arrivals.

To attract more visitors from India and China, South Africa's tourism minister pushed for visa requirements to be eased or waived for Chinese and Indian nationals to boost visitor numbers from the world’s most populous nations.

She highlighted the importance of attracting travelers from tier II cities in India, citing it as critical for growth. 

While not disclosing the budget, Nkani mentioned substantial investments in showcasing South Africa through various channels like outdoor advertising, digital media, trade engagements, roadshows, and corporate collaborations.

Regarding target segments, Nkani mentioned a focus on attracting corporate travelers for meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE), High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) from tier II cities, millennials, women travelers, and sports enthusiasts.