The events held at the Golden Tulip Kumasi City Hotel and Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra were the first in the five-city tour across Ghana and Nigeria. It was held in partnership with Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) and Tour Operators Union of Ghana (TOUGHA), bringing together approximately 200 members of the local travel trade who had come to meet with some of the best South African product owners.
Speaking at both events, Evelyn Mahlaba, Regional Director for Africa at South African Tourism, had nothing but praise for GHATOF and TOUGHA who had worked with South African Tourism to drive interest of trade in Ghana and delivered the exceptional turn out.
She said: “We are completely humbled and, excited by the turn out from the first trade workshop. It was made possible because of relationships forged over the years with the GHATOF and TOUGHA organisations who have been pivotal to driving the success of this tradeshow. We thank them profusely for guiding us and being our eyes, ears and voice in market where we are not physically present.”
The high turnout at the workshops, she continued, is a clear demonstration that despite the continuing economic challenges the tourism industry is experiencing globally, tourists still yearn for a destination that is affordable, offers variety and is easily accessibility. According to her, people want to travel and that South Africa appeals to what the Ghanaian traveller is looking for.
The roadshow brought to Ghana a delegation of South African product owners to meet and do business with the local travel trade. Products including South African Airways, Sun International, Tsogo Sun and Gauteng Tourism Authority, had visited before, whilst others, like the Saxon Hotel, Robben Island and the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, were taking part for the very first time.
According to Mahlaba, the South African product owners are passionate about the West African market not only because they realise the lucrative potential the market offers but also because they understand that the growth of their business, lies in encouraging inter-regional travel and collaboration and participation.
Special guest of honour at the Accra event, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture, Dzifa Gomashie urged Ghanaian practitioners to learn from their South African counterparts to better sell Ghana’s cultural heritage to the world. Ms Lulama Xingwana, South Africa’s High Commissioner to Ghana also urged the South African delegation to find strong destinations in Ghana to sell to South Africans travel destinations and charged the Robben Island team to find a way to connect with the slave castle in Cape Coast as both share similar history.
Didier Bayeye-Mbombo, Market Manager for West Africa and Indian Oceans at Sun International said:“The trade workshops organized by South African Tourism are a valuable business platform and go a long way towards strengthening existing relationships with the trade industry, our partner agents, tour operators and the other corporates here.”
The workshops culminated in the awarding of certificates to the SA Specialists who had successfully completed South African Tourism’s acclaimed online training programme. This is a stringent online training programme that provides the trade with information required to confidently sell the destination better. 8 SA Specialist from Kumasi and Accra, each won an all expense paid trip to South Africa, courtesy of South African Tourism.
“Our SA Specialists really work hard to drive further interest and ultimately sell South Africa to tourists looking for a fulfilling holiday destination. It is a job which requires astute knowledge about the country coupled with unbridled passion for the work. The SA Specialist programme and the annual fam trips the trade go on, is just one of the ways we try to empower our trade members and now, three of them will be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour with a business and leisure holiday to South Africa,” concludes Mahlaba.
To keep abreast of the developments, follow South African Tourism on Instagram @Traveltosa #SATWestAfricaRoadshow #GhanaMeetSouthAfrica #KumasiCity
