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AWAY TO AFRICA BUSINESS TOURS

What is business tourism.

Business tourism or business travel provides an individual or group of professionals the ability to travel to a rejuvenating setting while concurrently meeting corporate objectives through activities which include attending meetings, conferences and exhibitions. During business tourism, individuals are still working and/or being paid, but they are doing so away from both their workplace and home.

With Away to Africa business tours, our goal is to provide government officials, business owners, investors, and team members the opportunity to expand services and explore innovative solutions through international exposure of modern technology and corporate culture.

So now that you understand what Business Tourism is, you may ask why is there a need to travel?

Benefits to Business Travel

✔ Face to face interaction

✔ Cross-Cultural Relationships

✔ Global Expansion

✔ Transact Business efficiently with available leisure time

Business Tours combines team building and strategic planning needs with adventure travel. Away to Africa designs specialized business tours for organizations and professionals that are designed to boost morale and develop leadership in corporate employees, while providing a “perk” in the way of exploring an African country through exciting recreational activities.

Away To Africa Business Tours

✔Business to Business Pairing

✔Business to Consumer Pairing

✔Introduction to Industry Sector through Meetings, Seminars, Conferences and Exhibitions

✔Site Visits

✔Educational Courses

✔Networking Events

✔Team Building Services

✔Community Outreach Programs

WHY TRAVEL WITH AWAY TO AFRICA FOR YOUR BUSINESS TOUR?

Away to Africa teams with professionals in each African country we service.With a vast network of business relationships in South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mozambique, Away to Africa ensures that each traveling professional meet their business goals aligned with their travels.

Additionally, Away to Africa provides top tier concierge service throughout all business tours. We provide each traveller with a personal driver to drive our guests to all business meetings and a tour guide who is available to accompany our guests on all leisure activities.

AFRICA AWAITS YOU

Experience the best, the hidden gems & everything in between throughout 14 countries in Africa.

Lamu Yoga Festival

March 3 - march 14, 2021, march 25 - april 6, 2021, may 28 - june 08, 2021, july 3-13, 2021, september 3rd - 12th 2021, the cradle of humanity, september 4 - 17, 2021, october 30 - november 9, 2021, november 24 – december 3, 2021, *add on nye in ghana*, life in lagos, december 17 - 24, 2021, *add on nigeria*, december 24, 2021 - january 2, 2022, december 27, 2021 - january 2, 2022, zanzibar & south africa, december 22, 2021 - january 2, 2022, august 2021 tba, benin & togo, zimbabwe zambia& botswana, coming soon, tba for 2021, lamu & zanzibar, 2021 dates tba, swaziland & south africa, zanzibar & tanzania, south africa, jazz festival.

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WELCOME TO ABTA!

If you are involved in booking, buying or supplying corporate travel products or services, then ABTA is the organisation for you.

ABTA is a globally recognised business travel organisation with specific expertise on corporate travel in Africa. ABTA is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a Member base in other key African markets including Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Nigeria.

By participating in ABTA’s various events, initiatives, research projects and networking opportunities, our members are always armed with information about industry best practice, able to tackle trends and challenges, and grow their network of industry peers and contacts.

If you operate as a buyer or supplier of corporate travel into or on the African Continent, ABTA is your primary resource for just about anything you need – contacts, information, training, resources, trends, peer-to-peer learning, networking and more.

Call or email us today to find out about becoming part of ABTA’s Corporate Travel community.

WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

“I chose to be a member because ABTA has established a fruitful collaboration hub for all relevant travel stakeholders to share ideas and learn from each other’s businesses.  I always enjoy the interesting, engaging sessions and relevant discussions that help me gauge my experience and improve my knowledge. I always have something to take back to my team every time I attend.”

“ABTA provides opportunities to connect with different individuals in the travel industry, which includes TMC’s, Airlines, Hotels and Car rental companies. Their events are insightful, well-organised and a pleasure to attend and support.”

“It is such a privilege to be an ABTA member.  Meeting other travel buyers to share ideas and knowledge on what works for our travel programme is an advantage.  With the challenges in the industry, it is definitely useful to  have someone to speak to and the WhatsApp group is such a bonus for instant advice and sharing of  information”

“What I enjoy about being a member of Abta is the networking part of the membership and also that ABTA reaches out when we need assistance, and I really appreciate that.”

“Being an ABTA Member allows me the opportunity to network with like-minded industry professionals and stay up to date with what is happening in the travel environment.”

“ABTA is a well-managed, professional organisation, offering great value to the travel trade and Travel Managers alike – continuously challenging the status quo and offering valuable networking and learning events.”

“I chose to be an ABTA member because it will be very helpful for me in terms of networking and learning about the Travel Industry as I am still new in this position.”

“We have been associated with ABTA for over 5 years and we receive great value from being members, particularly from a travel industry knowledge and networking perspective. I regularly participate at ABTA’s events which are very informative and interactive, promoting professional excellence of the travel industry.”

“Being a member of ABTA not only makes you a better Travel advisor because of the training and personal development opportunities through the various programs and events, but it also raises your credibility with clients.”

“As a journalist and stakeholder within the travel sector, it is a privilege for me to be exposed, via ABTA, to emerging trends and issues affecting the corporate travel sector. We also find content about global trends and how these impact our local markets to be very helpful, especially when delivered by the experts that participate at ABTA events.”

“I have been a member of ABTA for the past 5 years. The value add and extended network connections that ABTA gives me within the Travel Industry has repeatedly proven to be an advantage in my function not only as Executive Assistant to the MD but also as Travel Manager.”

“We have been involved with ABTA in various forms either through membership or sponsorship for a number of years and we have realised great value for our various travel management brands.  We find that the content at ABTA events is very relevant to our specific business travel management industry with ABTA continuously challenging the status quo which is one of the reasons we continue to support them.”

ABTA BUYER MEMBERS INCLUDE

Through Education, Innovation and Collaboration ABTA:

• Assists its Members to add value to their organisations by providing relevant and instantly usable benefits when managing, buying or selling corporate travel
• Provides a platform for region-specific Travel Management education, networking opportunities and continued professional development
• Raises the standard of the Business Travel industry by providing access to local and global industry best practices
• Guides companies when sending travellers into Africa, giving destination and traveller safety information, local contacts and reputable suppliers, and more

ABTA’s Membership base spans the globe, with the majority of members being based on the African Continent.

Members come from all industry sectors including Corporate Travel Co-ordinators and Buyers, TMC’s, Airlines, Hotels, Card companies, GDS and Technology, Ground transportation and more.

Whether booking, buying, managing or supplying business travel products or services, ABTA Membership is a key advantage to assist you in information gathering, educational resources and peer-to-peer networking opportunities.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

Contact Membership Services:  [email protected]

ABTA African Business Travel Association. A member-led Business Travel Association | © 2024 All Rights Reserved | Sitemap | Website

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Business Customs

Business Travel has largely returned to pre-pandemic levels. The business environment has evolved to include both in-person and online meetings as the norm and many firms moved their operations to a hybrid working environment.

Customs Business customs in South Africa are generally similar to those in the United States and Western Europe. South African businesspeople tend to dress conservatively, particularly in the financial sector. However, “smart-casual” clothing has become commonplace with executives in other sectors. Terminology used in business invitations are:

Black Tie                       (dark suit and tie or tuxedo or formal evening dress)

Business                        (jacket and tie or a business dress)

Smart Casual                  (casual clothing with or without tie, but no jeans and no sneakers)

Casual                           (can include jeans but no sport shorts)

Punctuality South Africans are usually punctual, so it is best to make every effort to be on time for appointments, either physical or virtual.  Appointments are always made in advance of a meeting and where business cards are exchanged.

Travel Advisory

For the latest Consular Information Sheet and travel advisory on South Africa, please see: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html

Warnings Travelers are encouraged to be vigilant and avoid large gatherings, particularly protests and demonstrations. Traditionally, South Africa’s nexus to international terrorism has been through recruiting, funding, and as safe haven for international terrorists. While most visitors complete their travels in South Africa without incident, criminal activity, often violent, does occur, i.e., armed robbery, carjacking, mugging, “smash and grab” attacks on motor vehicles and other incidents.

For general information on international travel, please visit the main website at: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html

VAT The South African government levies a Value-added Tax (VAT) at 15 percent. Travelers may apply for tax refunds on purchases made in South Africa over $17 on departure.

Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens traveling to South Africa require a valid passport. A visa is not required for regular passport holders on bona fide holiday or business visits for periods of up to 90 days or in transit.  However, should a U.S. citizen wish to visit neighboring countries, a visa may be required for that country. For South Africa, visas are also required for extended stays, employment, study, and for diplomatic and official passport holders.

Minors The South African Government revised visa regulations for traveling with minors:  Visit the South African Department of Home Affairs website for requirements for traveling with minors to or from South Africa: 

http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/statements-speeches/621-advisory-new-requirements-for-children-travelling-through-south-african-ports-of-entry .

Permits The criteria for business permits:  it is required that the intended business fit into a specific business category as well as not being deemed an undesirable business.  Quota work permits and exceptional skills permits will no longer be available.  A hybrid of the above permits called a critical skills work visa is now offered.  First time permit applicants will have to submit their applications at an embassy or consulate in their country of origin. Further notes are available here:  http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php/immigration-services/types-of-visas

Covid-19 The South African Government announced on June 22, 2022, that the remaining COVID-19 regulations have been repealed. Travelers entering South Africa are no longer required to produce vaccination certificates or recent negative PCR tests.

Yellow fever vaccination is necessary if arriving from an infected area.

Information on South African visa requirements can be obtained prior to departure from the United States by checking with:

South African Embassy, Washington, D.C.  https://www.saembassy.org/

S.A. Consulate, Los Angeles: https://www.southafrica-usa.net/losangeles

S.A. Consulate, New York: https://www.southafrica-usa.net/consulate

For information on visa requirements for other countries, contact the Embassy of the country you intend to visit, or a travel agent, or a U.S. Consular Officer.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  All travelers to South Africa should make sure that their passports contain at least two completely blank visa pages for stamps; or risk being refused entry by South African immigration officials.  As a general precaution, travelers are advised to carry a photocopy of the photo/bio information page of their passport and keep it in a location separate from the passport.

U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspeople to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process.  Visa applicants should go to the following links:

State Department Visa website:      https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html

United States Visas:  https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-za/niv

US Embassy Pretoria Visa Information: https://za.usembassy.gov/visas/

Currency 

The South African currency is the SA Rand (“ZAR”) which can be volatile at times. It is reportedly the most traded currency of all Emerging markets, and the exchange rate often reflects carry trade that leverages global interest rate differentials, leading importers to hedge against devaluation with forward cover.  The Rand is the currency of the Common Monetary Area (CMA) comprising South Africa, eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and Lesotho.  The ZAR is also a legal tender in Namibia, at a fixed exchange rate to the Namibian Dollar. 

The average rate of exchange in calendar year 2022 for the South African Rand-U.S. dollar was 16.3598. 

Telecommunications

The South African telecommunications sector boasts one of the continent’s most advanced telecommunications markets in terms of technologies deployed and services provided.  The national fixed line operator is Telkom.

Mobile There are six licensed cellular service providers:  Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, Rain, and Liquid Technologies.  Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, and Telkom offer voice and data solutions to subscribers, while Rain focuses its business on data solutions and Liquid Technologies provides specialized mobile applications to enterprise clients.  In up-market hotels and shopping centers, wi-fi is commonplace.

Transportation

South Africa boasts one of the most modern and extensive transport infrastructures on the African continent in terms of road, airports, and seaports. U.S. government personnel are not allowed to use the Metrorail commuter rail service because of safety and crime concerns.

Air There are three major international airports:  OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu Natal, and Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town. Carriers that fly directly from the United States to South Africa are Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. The Gautrain, high-speed train, runs from O.R. Tambo International to multiple destinations in the Gauteng Province including Sandton, Rosebank, and Pretoria. Station opening times and train intervals are detailed at https://www.gautrain.co.za

Taxis Do not hail taxis in South Africa.  While over 70 percent of South African use minibus taxis during their daily commutes, the taxi sector is informal and occasionally prone to violence.  UBER operates widely in South Africa, especially in Gauteng and Western Cape, and is generally safe.   Travelers to South Africa can also rent cars. 

Major car rental groups represented include:

• Hertz                
• Avis                  
• Uber                 

Driving Traffic in South Africa moves on the left, and the steering wheel is on the right-hand side of the car.  Under South African law, all occupants of motor vehicles equipped with seatbelts are required to wear them while the vehicle is in operation.  Texting or talking on a cell phone without a hands-free unit while driving is illegal.

Licenses South African law does not require an international driver’s license.  A valid driver’s license from any U.S. state or territory that has the signature and photo of the driver is valid to drive in South Africa for stays of less than six months.

Dangers Road conditions vary greatly in South Africa, but the road traffic death rate is nearly three times higher in South Africa than in the United States.  The high incidence of road traffic mortality is due to a combination of poor driving, limited enforcement of traffic laws, road rage, aggressive driving, distracted driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Use extreme caution driving at night.  U.S. Mission employees are prohibited from driving after dark outside of major metropolitan areas, except for highway travel between Pretoria and Johannesburg. Traffic lights are frequently out of order.  Treat all intersections with malfunctioning traffic lights as a four-way stop.  

To view U.S. Consulate information sheet on travel to South Africa visit: 

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/south-africa.html

English is one of 11 official languages in South Africa and is the most used language for conducting business. Based on the most recent data available, the respective percentages of the population speaking each of them outside the home are Zulu (25.1 percent), Xhosa (12.8 percent), Afrikaans (9.7 percent), Sepedi (9.7 percent), English (16.6 percent), Setswana (9.4 percent), Sesotho (7.8 percent), Xitsonga (2.4 percent), Swazi (2.6 percent), Venda (2.2 percent), and Ndebele (1.3 percent) and Sign language.  On May 2, 2023 South African Sign Language (SASL) was recognized as an official language to promote the rights of people who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. 

In line with U.S. laws, South Africa’s health policy stipulates that smoking is prohibited in public places unless otherwise designated as smoking areas.  South African tap water is mostly safe to drink, generally adhering to the highest standards, but if a traveler is not acclimatized to it, or has a sensitive digestive system, bottled water is widely available.  South Africa has world-class (private care) medical services, and all major cities have modern well-equipped hospitals and ambulance services to assist travelers in emergency situations.  Private medical facilities are good in urban areas and near game parks but limited elsewhere. Private medical facilities may require a deposit before admitting patients.  Travelers should familiarize themselves with emergency telephone numbers and the locations of nearest hospitals on arrival in the country.  The national emergency telephone number is 10111.

Malaria South Africa has a few provinces where there is a threat of contracting malaria.  Appropriate prophylactics taken well in advance of visiting these areas should limit the risk of falling ill. Self-protection actions should include use of mosquito repellant (all day), wearing of light long sleeved shirts and pants as well as socks and shoes from dawn and at night.  Visitors should also consider sleeping under a mosquito net or in a mosquito-proof room.  High-risk malaria areas include the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and the Limpopo (the region where the Kruger Park is located) as well as in Kwazulu Natal (on the Maputaland coast). Intermediate-risk malaria areas are Kosi Bay, Sodwana Bay, Mkuze Game Reserve, and St Lucia (but not the town of St Lucia and the river mouth).

Low-risk malaria areas are North West Province and the Northern Cape along the Molopo and Orange Rivers, including the Augrabies Falls and the Kgalagdi Transfrontier Park (malaria is rarely transmitted here, so anti-malaria drugs may not be necessary). Travelers may still contract malaria despite all precautionary measures, and if any flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fever, muscular and joint pains, sweating, shivering and attacks of nausea or diarrhea occur at any time within six months after a visit to one of these high-risk areas, visitors should consult a physician immediately.

South Africa has an epidemic of HIV/AIDS and travelers should ensure that they are aware of the associated risks.

Local Time, Business Hours & Holidays

Throughout the year, Standard Time in South Africa is two hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and six hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Savings Time. Clocks are not advanced in the summer.  Generally, business hours are weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Most offices observe a five-day week, but many stores are open on Saturdays, and from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Sundays.  All banks are open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In certain large shopping centers, some bank branches are open on Sunday mornings.

Local Holidays 2023

#:         denotes the holiday is observed the next Monday.    

U.S. Government offices in South Africa are closed on U.S. federal and local holidays.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Declarations Travelers must declare all goods in their possession except for personal clothing, essential toiletries and used sporting equipment (such as golf clubs).  To be free from declaration, these goods must be for the passenger’s personal use and not intended as gifts or to be sold, exchanged, or traded.  All articles, used or unused, carried by the visitor as presents or parcels for other people, must be declared.  There are no restrictions on the amount of U.S. dollars a traveler can bring into South Africa.

U.S. dollars U.S. dollars cannot be used in South Africa and must be converted into the local currency, the South African Rand, by authorized foreign exchange dealers, hotels, commercial banks, and certain travel agencies. It is illegal to convey foreign currency to anyone else and U.S. Dollars may not be used in commercial or other private transactions.

Vehicles With a valid driver’s license, a visitor may enter South Africa with his/her automobile for a period not exceeding 12 months. An import duty will be charged on entry and rebated on departure. If a visitor wishes to sell his/her vehicle during his/her stay or upon departure, he/she must first obtain an import permit and pay the relevant duty.

Hotels in larger cities:           

https://sandton.hotelguide.co.za/

https://capetown.hotelguide.co.za/

https://kwazulu.hotelguide.co.za/

https://gauteng.hotelguide.co.za/

• Delta Air Lines  
• United Air Lines

Private Healthcare (Hospitals)

Netcare: https://www.netcare.co.za

MediClinics: https://www.mediclinic.co.za

Life: https://www.mediclinic.co.za

U.S. Government:

Consular Services for American Citizens:  https://za.usembassy.gov/

U.S. Consulate General Johannesburg

1 Sandton Drive (opposite Sandton City Mall)

Sandton, Johannesburg

South Africa

• Telephone +(27) (11) 290 3000 (from South Africa 011 290 3000)
• Emergency After-Hours Telephone (011) 290 3000 or 079 111 1684 (outside South Africa: +(27) 79 111 1684)
• Fax+(27) (11) 884 0396 (from South Africa (011 884 0396)
• E-mail:  [email protected]

Consular Information Sheet on South Africa

U.S. Commercial Service – South Africa

https://trade.gov/south-africa/

Welcome to business travel that’s all heart, no hassle.

Time for a travel partner that actually makes an impact? Ready for real support, not hold music? Or tech that doesn't stress; it just simplifies your workload? And corporate travel value so good it speaks for itself?

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Our commitment as a Level 1 BBBEEE contributor goes beyond recognition. We invest in supplier development and employee ownership, giving our team a stake in your success. This translates to travel managers genuinely passionate about making your travel programme work.

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Discover how Corporate Traveller can help you maximise your business travel budget. As your TMC, we offer the following savings and value:

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What makes Johannesburg a great place for business trips?

August 21, 2024

Johannesburg, fondly known as the “City of Gold,” is a dynamic metropolis that perfectly blends business opportunities with rich cultural experiences. Regarded as South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Johannesburg is a top destination for business travelers from around the globe. Kagiso Dumasi, Director, Strategic Business Development, Global Network at BCD Travel South Africa, guides business travelers through the city.

A hub for business activity in South Africa

With its world-class infrastructure, vibrant atmosphere, and a strategic location, Johannesburg is tailored to support business travelers. Johannesburg’s appeal lies in its well-established business districts like Sandton , Rosebank , and the downtown area, each offering a unique slice of the city’s vibrant business scene. Sandton, often referred to as the “richest square mile in Africa,” is the city’s financial center and hosts many multinational corporations. Rosebank is another thriving district, known for its trendy atmosphere and upscale shopping and dining options. These nodes provide a safe and secure environment for business activities, with modern security measures and regular patrols ensuring peace of mind.

Easy accessibility and efficient transport

Johannesburg is incredibly well-connected, thanks to O.R. Tambo International Airport , a major gateway to the rest of Africa and the world. Business travelers can take advantage of the airport’s premium services, such as the Premium Domestic Security Checkpoint, which often has shorter queues. For those looking for a quick coffee or bite, the Mugg & Bean in the domestic terminal is a popular spot known for its strong brews and quick service.

Once in the city, the Gautrain offers a fast and safe transit option between the airport, Sandton, Rosebank, and Johannesburg’s city center, making it easy to navigate between meetings or enjoy some downtime.

For business travelers needing work space outside of appointments, state-of-the-art co-working offices are located throughout the city. Workshop17 in Sandton and Rosebank offers quiet work areas, high-speed internet, and a professional environment that’s perfect for productivity. Similarly, The Mesh Club in Rosebank provides a luxurious setting for remote work, blending style with functionality.

BCD offices in South Africa

BCD is well-represented in South Africa , with a head office strategically located in Parktown, Johannesburg . We provide comprehensive travel management services across the country, catering to the diverse needs of businesses and travelers. Whether you need assistance in the bustling city of Johannesburg, the scenic Cape Town area, or the vibrant coastal city of Durban, BCD Travel is ready to support your business travel needs.

Where business meets leisure

Johannesburg isn’t all work and no play. The city is brimming with opportunities for bleisure (business + leisure) activities, allowing business travelers to unwind and soak in the local culture. The Maboneng Precinct is a prime example, offering a mix of art, culture, and culinary delights. Here, you can explore street art, pop-up shops, and artisanal markets. One must-visit spot is The Living Room , an eco-rooftop café and bar that offers stunning views of the city skyline – an ideal place to relax after a busy day.

For those with a bit more time, the Cradle of Humankind and Magaliesberg provide fascinating insights into our ancestors, while a quick two-hour trip can lead you to a game lodge experience in the mosquito-free Pilanesberg National Park and Game Reserve   – a perfect way to unwind in nature.

Dining and socializing

Johannesburg’s dining scene is a highlight for any business traveler. For lunch, The Gri l lhouse in Rosebank or Melrose Arch is a classic choice for a steak lunch, especially between 12:00 and 14:00 when the business crowd is out. In Sandton’s Nelson Mandela Square, you’ll find a variety of restaurants frequented by professionals, including Pappas on the Square , and the famous Butcher Shop & Grill .

For coffee, Tasha’s Cafe – with branches in Rosebank, Melrose, and Nelson Mandela Square – is a favorite among business travelers. Its high-quality coffee, light meals, and vibrant atmosphere make it perfect for both business meetings and casual catch-ups. Motherland Coffee in Rosebank and Father Coffee in Kramerville and Rosebank are also popular spots for their ethically sourced beans and trendy environments.

When it comes to dinner, Marble Restaurant in Rosebank offers a fantastic dining experience with a focus on live-fire cooking. It’s a go-to spot for business travelers looking to unwind with a great meal and a lively atmosphere.

Kagiso’s insider tips

To make the most of your time in Johannesburg, here are a few additional tips:

• Laundry: If you need laundry done quickly, hotel services are reliable, but if you have time, consider Levinger’s Dry Cleaners or Pressed in Time in Benmore, Sandton.
• Relaxation: For a rejuvenating experience, visit a Life Day Spa location in Rosebank, Sandton, Fourways, or Waterfall. For yoga enthusiasts, Yoga Warrior and Yoga Lounge in Sandton offer drop-in classes.
• Budget Lunch: For a budget-friendly yet delicious lunch, try The Whippet in Linden—a hidden gem known for its cozy atmosphere and fresh menu.

South Africa’s potential as a business travel market

Southern Africa’s travel industry is poised for growth. The rebound in and expansion of international travel to South Africa will help unlock the country’s potential, according to analysis from BCD’s Research & Intelligence team.

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Snapshot: South Africa’s potential as a business travel market

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Top 10 Destinations for Business Trips in Africa

The 2020 pandemic resulted in a dramatic reduction in the amount of business trips taken globally. However, business travel across the world is rebounding more rapidly than expected, and Africa is no exception. Africa has always been a region of interest for expatriates given its status as the fastest-developing continent on the planet and its abundance of business opportunities and resources.

African cities such as Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Accra have emerged as major business hubs, attracting multinational corporations, startups, and entrepreneurs from around the globe.

These cities boast modern infrastructure, state-of-the-art conference facilities, and a thriving business ecosystem conducive to networking and collaboration.

While Africa boasts dozens of destinations rife for doing business, based on historical precedence, innovation, development, and hospitality amongst other factors, there are cities on the continent that stand out more than others.

According to Givestastic, an online platform for collecting money for group gifts, which also tracks the world’s most popular business trip destinations, Marrakech is the most alluring business destination in Africa, based on its 1,221 geotagged posts.

Other premier African cities such as Lagos, Cape Town, and Nairobi follow suit.

With that said, below are the top 10 destinations for business trips in Africa.

Methodology

Givetastic scraped the latest 1,000,000 Instagram posts with the hashtag #businesstrip and checked their geotag information to see where they were taken. The firm investigated the top 10 destinations globally, for each continent, and in the UK, by also studying exclusively post-pandemic data, spanning from October 2022 to February 2024.

Top 10 destinations for business trips in Africa

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Western tourists have returned to Africa. Will business travellers follow?

Africa's leisure tourism market is making a strong rebound, but it is likely to take many years for the region's international business travel market to recover.

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Africa’s beaches and safari parks are again bustling with Western tourists, much to the relief of many countries. However, there is widespread concern that business travellers from Europe and North America are lost for good.

During the past two decades, the hospitality industry has become vital to many African economies. In 2019 it accounted for approximately 7% of Africa’s overall GDP and contributed $169bn to its economy – about the size of Ethiopia’s and Ghana’s GDP combined – according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reports a smaller figure: in 2018 the travel and tourism sector contributed roughly $42.1bn to sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP, with 37.4 million tourist arrivals in the previous year. This constituted about 1.6% and 3% of global totals, respectively. Africa’s safari industry is estimated to have $12.4bn in annual revenues. 

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The region’s travel and tourism sector employed more than 24 million people in 2019, according to the WTTC. In that year, domestic tourism accounted for 55% of the region’s tourism and travel spending, compared with 74% in the Asia-Pacific region and 83% in North America. International tourism inbound receipts in Africa amounted to a total of $24.7bn in 2019 and the average visitor spent $660.70. Western and southern Africa accounted for 35% each of the sub-Saharan region’s total travel and tourism GDP while eastern Africa made up the remaining 30%. Southern Africa accounted for 49% of international travel arrivals while eastern Africa made up 28% and western Africa 23%. 

Ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic, Africa’s tourism sector was making slow but steady gains despite lagging other regions in terms of its tourism potential and economic contribution, according to banking group Absa . The region was realising substantial growth from a relatively low base and was on track to have the second-highest growth rate globally for travel and tourism GDP in the decade from 2019 to 2029. International tourist arrival statistics showed the region growing at approximately 6% a year, compared with the global average of 4%. Mauritius, South Africa and Seychelles all shone on global tourism indices. 

However, the Covid-19 pandemic unleashed an unprecedented crisis for Africa’s hospitality industry, in particular pummelling the supporting food, service and manufacturing sectors that depend on tourism for employment and income. In July 2020, the African Union estimated that the region lost almost $55bn in travel and tourism revenues and about two million jobs in the first three months of the pandemic. The International Monetary Fund estimated that the real GDP among African countries dependent on tourism shrank by 12% in 2020. African airlines lost an estimated $10.21bn in passenger revenue last year and are expected to lose $8.35bn this year, according to the African Airlines Association.  

Africa’s tourism sector weathered the storm largely without the financial relief provided by governments in wealthier, more developed regions, and the industry’s smaller businesses – many in the informal economy – were impacted the most. In December 2020, a survey by the IFC and consulting company Dalberg Advisors of selected tourism companies in Tanzania , Uganda and Zambia showed that the companies expected to lose two-thirds of their revenue from international tourism receipts in the 2020–21 holiday season. 

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In July 2021, Safaribookings.com , an African safari tour company, surveyed 306 safari operators and found that more than 90% had seen a 75% or more nosedive in both booking requests and actual bookings owing to the Covid-19 situation. 

The crisis has also exposed Africa’s dependence on foreign travellers. This is particularly true for countries in eastern and southern Africa – including Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa – that have developed important leisure and safari-oriented facilities that attract European, American and Asian visitors.

Nonetheless, tourism and hotel operators are reporting that hotel vacancy rates have started to pick up and they expect the 2021–22 holiday season to be a lot better than the previous year’s. Revenue per available room – a measurement calculated by multiplying a hotel’s average daily room rate by its occupancy rate – was only 4% down in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, for the year to September compared with the same period in 2019, according to W Hospitality Group , a tourism and hotel consultancy based in Lagos. Meanwhile, the equivalent figure in Lagos was down only 10%. 

Egypt has Africa’s biggest tourism market

Egypt – with a population of about 102 million people – is Africa’s biggest tourism market. Approximately two million people work in its travel and tourism industry, which accounted for about 12% of the country’s GDP pre-Covid. The sector’s contribution to the economy fell to $14.4bn in 2020 from $32bn in 2019, according to the WTCC. In 2019 the country had about 13 million tourist arrivals, up from 11.3 million in 2018 and 5.4 million in 2016. In 2020, however, it received only 3.6 million visitors. 

Covid-19-related travel restrictions and lockdowns wiped out $17.6bn from Egypt’s economy in 2020, including 844,000 travel and tourism jobs, according to the WTTC. Yet occupancy rates have started to climb steadily since May 2020 – when hotels opened at 25% capacity – up to October 2021, when they could return to full capacity. The recovery was helped by the resumption in August of Russian flights to Red Sea resort cities after a six-year hiatus, Egypt’s removal from the UK’s red travel list in September and the increased vaccination of tourism workers and tourists.

South Africa – which has the region’s second-largest tourism industry – relies on the tourism industry to indirectly contribute up to 9.1% of the country’s total employment – 1.5 million people – and 7% of its GDP. In October its government eased domestic lockdown restrictions and international air travel started to normalise. British Airways , Virgin Atlantic , Lufthansa, Air France and Switzerland-based Edelweiss Air have all resumed flights to Cape Town, the country’s leading tourist destination. 

During September, more than 93,000 international visitors arrived at Johannesburg’s international airport, representing a jump of almost 50% over the number recorded in July. Although the September figure is still a far cry from the 400,000 international visitors arriving monthly in 2019, it represents a recovery rate of close to 25%. Furthermore, many hotels in Cape Town that had been mothballed since April 2020 have started to reopen.

"Africa has so much potential, it can just be difficult to fulfil it," says Trevor Ward, owner of Lagos-based W Hospitality Group. "In terms of international visitor numbers, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Nigeria are the most significant markets in the region. Most visitors to East Africa are coming for leisure purposes. In West Africa – including Nigeria – it is mainly for business. However, Gambia is an important seasonal market for leisure tourists from Europe, and Cabo Verde is an emerging seasonal market as well. South Africa is a mix – it is important for leisure tourism, but its conference centres also attract business travellers. Kenya and Tanzania are mostly 'beach and beast' attractions. Visitors often combine a beach holiday with going on a safari. 

"I think leisure tourism to Africa will rebound more quickly in the wake of the pandemic. Long-haul business travel to Africa is way down and could be lost for good. I am not sure if we will see many business travellers from Europe or the US coming to Africa soon. Low vaccination rates in Africa are having an impact on the decision-making of corporations in Europe and North America. They do not want to take responsibility for sending their staff to Africa at this time."

Ward believes Africa will see a lot more intra-regional business travel in the future. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) started trading on 1 January 2021. It is the world's biggest free-trade area measured by the number of countries participating (54 countries have signed the agreement out of 55 on the continent, the exception being Eritrea). Only 18% of all Africa’s commerce in late 2021 was intra-African trade, while the equivalent figure in East Asia was between 35% and 40%. Africans trade a great deal more with people from outside the region than they do among themselves. The AfCFTA has the potential to double intra-African trade by 2035 and could generate a lot more business travel within the region. 

Ward also expects Africa to witness a great deal more domestic tourism in the future, as the region's middle class expands. The continent's middle class is expected to grow from 355 million people in 2011 to 1.1 billion in 2050, according to the African Development Bank .

David Frost, the chief executive officer of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association , says: "Our members are reporting that they are seeing a massive uptick in enquiries for travel to South Africa with a very short lead time, some even just a few weeks. We are seeing increased interest from our existing long-haul inbound source markets such as the US, UK, Germany and France.

"South Africa’s major competitors will be those regions that have a similar value proposition; in other words nature-based destinations – for example, East Africa and Australia . Our cultural and conservation value proposition is what most attracts travellers to the region. The affordability of the destination and the diversity of experience in South Africa is also compelling for travellers. You can see the 'big five' animals in the morning in Kruger one day and enjoy a fine red in the Cape winelands the next. Our climate is also very mild."

Westerners are put off by Africa's low vaccination rate

Africa has tremendous tourism potential, but two factors are weighing on the market at the moment: low Covid vaccination rates and the international perception of Africa as a violent place. About 50 countries worldwide are not on track to meet a UN global target of vaccinating 40% of their populations with at least one dose by the end of 2021 – and most are located in Africa. Fewer than 6% of people in Africa overall are vaccinated, rising to 23% in South Africa. By 22 November 2021, there had been at least 8.66 million reported infections and 222,000 reported deaths from Covid-19 in Africa. It is estimated to have killed more than 89,500 people in South Africa alone, by far the most deaths by any single country on the continent.

However, African authorities – while acknowledging that there could be gaps – are not reporting huge numbers of unexpected fatalities that could be Covid-related. World Health Organisation data shows that deaths in Africa make up just 3% of the global total. In comparison, deaths in the Americas and Europe account for 46% and 29%, respectively. By the end of November 2021, Nigeria – Africa's most populous country with 206 million inhabitants – had recorded almost 3,000 deaths in total. 

Nonetheless, the low vaccination rate is putting visitors off coming to the region, in particular for business. For example, at the end of November 2021, Egypt had fully vaccinated only about 8% of its population while a further 8% had been partially vaccinated.

South Africa's tourism promise is also being damaged by the high level of violence there. Between July and September, it recorded 5,876 murders, prompting the country's police minister to declare: “The stats show once again that South Africa is a very violent country.” South Africa's murder rate is about 35 people per 100,000 population, higher than Mexico's at 29 per 100,000 or Brazil 's at 21 people per 100,000.

Throughout 2021 Africa has been receiving negative headlines in newspapers around the world, which can only discourage foreign visitors from coming.

In October, there was a military coup in Sudan before Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok was reinstated at the end of November. Niger declared two days of mourning in November after 69 people, including a mayor, were killed in an attack by gunmen. It was the latest assault in Niger’s 'tri-border' zone with Burkina Faso and Mali, a volatile area that has been the epicentre of a long conflict between state forces in the western portion of Africa’s Sahel region and armed groups linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda.

Over the past year, coup d'états have occurred in Mali, Guinea and Sudan and a military takeover has happened in Chad. However, the crisis receiving the most damaging newspaper headlines is the conflict in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country with 110 million people. It has now been going on for more than a year. Major fighting has been occurring between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian government forces, and armed groups from neighbouring Eritrea have now become involved. Concern has recently turned to the risk of starvation for hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray cut off from supplies.

At the end of November, the TPLF continued to press towards Addis Ababa – the Ethiopian capital with 4.5 million inhabitants –­ claiming control of the town of Shewa Robit, just 220km north-east of the city by road. There is a risk of a full-blown civil war in the country, which is now under a state of emergency. 

The US has warned pilots that aircraft operating at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport – one of Africa’s busiest airports – could be directly or indirectly exposed to ground weapons fire and surface-to-air fire. At the end of November, the US urged its citizens in Ethiopia to "leave now", saying there should be no expectation of an Afghanistan -style evacuation.

The British government is also now advising against all travel to Ethiopia, apart from the airport for departures and transfers, acknowledging Bole airport’s importance for onward travel for the African continent and beyond.

The airport is the hub for the state-owned Ethiopian Airlines , a symbol of Ethiopia’s former status as one of the world’s most rapidly growing economies before the war. In recent years, the airline has become Africa’s largest and best-managed carrier, turning Addis Ababa into the gateway to the continent. According to the African Airlines Association , the airline carried 500,000 tonnes of freight and 5.5 million passengers through Bole International Airport in 2020. Addis Ababa is also the continent’s diplomatic capital as home of the African Union. 

Africa's image problem

"Africa has had an image problem since the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s, but people must be careful not to generalise," says Ward. "The continent is made up of 55 countries and geographically is huge. Many parts of the region are safe.

"Bole is a very important hub airport. Its traffic is hugely transient. It has more international connections than any other hub airport in Africa; for example, it connects with four cities in Nigeria. The Ethiopian leisure industry was just beginning to flourish – the country has a wonderful history and is full of churches, for example. It is a real shame what is happening there."

In January 2020, Ethiopian Airlines announced plans to build a new $5bn mega-airport in Addis Ababa, located 39km south-east of the city. With four runways, it would be bigger than London Heathrow and serve as many as 120 million passengers a year.

Other countries are also planning major new airports. According to the CAPA Airport Construction Database , in November there were 37 new airport projects under construction or planned in Africa, with an estimated value of $16.6bn.

About 40% of the first phase of the Kigali Bugesera International Airport in Rwanda had been completed by May 2021. Expected to be finished by the end of 2022, the $400m airport will feature a 30,000m2 passenger terminal with capacity for 1.7 million passengers a year (the plan is to raise that throughput successively to ten million passengers a year, with investment rising to $1.3bn). Qatar Airways has a 60% stake in the project.

There are also plans for a new airport at Ouagadougou – the capital of Burkina Faso, one of Africa's poorest countries – partially financed and managed by two French organisations, the Meridiam fund and Marseille Provence Airport . Up to $250m will be invested in the project. 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) says the region’s air transport infrastructure – defined by a weak domestic airline industry and a lack of airport density – greatly undermines the ability of local economies to facilitate tourist and business travel, which are already hampered by the vast size and geographical barriers of Africa. 

Furthermore, the WEF says the region is characterised by a pronounced lack of information and communications technology (ICT) adoption – a key requirement to attract visitors, as travellers and industry players increasingly rely on technology. Visitors could also be put off by health and hygiene concerns ­– sub-Saharan Africa’s most substantial gap with global averages – it adds. 

"The resuscitation of the travel and tourism sector will reignite growth and sub-Saharan Africa's economic prospects," says Liza Eustace, sector head of healthcare, construction and hospitality at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking. "As Africa's overall development continues, the long-term hope is that infrastructure spend and construction related to transport, airports, ICT infrastructure and health facilities will be key spurs for economic growth. Combining competitive pricing with unique historical, cultural and natural experiences will serve as catalysts for Africa's tourism potential to be fully realised.

"Ultimately, though, the tourism industry in Africa will have to undergo a re-make and a re-imaging to adapt to ever-changing global circumstances and cannot ultimately rely on cash-strapped African governments to provide the support that is required to sustain itself. Operational costs will have to be measured carefully to ensure greater resilience in an environment marked by tremendous instability and fluidity. The industry has – and will need to continue – to cater to a greater degree to domestic tourists who can help make up the international void."

She adds that there are other factors which mean that – from a structural perspective – the tourism sector in Africa is unlikely to be the same as before. African governments were significant contributors to hotel and conference bookings before the lockdowns. Remote working and video conferencing – combined with government coffers emptying owing to declining revenue and Covid-19 support spending – mean that this vital source of business-driven income will likely be considerably less in future. The same can be said about corporate travel and the realisation that much of this travel can now be replaced by a lower-cost online alternative. 

Africa requires 1,030 more planes

More positive news comes from the fact that aircraft manufacturers are gambling on a brighter future for the continent. In its 2021 commercial market outlook, Boeing forecasts that African airlines will require 1,030 new aircraft by 2040 valued at $160bn, with aftermarket services such as manufacturing and repair valued at $235bn. The region's airlines will expand their fleets by 3.6% per year to accommodate passenger traffic growth of 5.4% annually, the third-highest growth rate in the world, according to Boeing. 

Single-aisle jets are expected to account for more than 70% of commercial deliveries, with 740 new planes mainly supporting domestic and inter-regional demand. In addition, African carriers are estimated to need 250 new widebodies, including passenger and cargo models, to support long-haul routes and air freight growth. About 80% of African jet deliveries are expected to serve fleet growth with more sustainable, fuel-efficient models – such as the 737, 777X and 787 Dreamliner – with 20% of deliveries replacing older aircraft.

Estimated demand for aviation personnel will jump to 63,000 new professionals by the year 2040, including 19,000 pilots, 20,000 technicians and 24,000 cabin crew members.

Experts believe that the region must also get better at promoting itself internationally. The African Tourism Board is pushing for regional tourism blocs and is working with the International Tourism Investment Conference (ITIC) for a continental investment drive to mobilise the region's tourism development. The East African Community held its first Regional Tourism Expo in Arusha in Tanzania between 9 and 16 October this year. The regional tourism exhibitions will place greater emphasis on domestic and regional tourism to reduce the dependence on US and European tourists. 

"The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had taught a lesson that Africa should be self-dependent in tourism," Cuthbert Neube, chairperson of the African Tourism Board, said in a recent interview with the East African newspaper. 

"Lockdowns and travel restrictions imposed in Europe, the US, Asia and other potential tourist markets had greatly affected African tourism. Africa receives about 62 million tourists out of more than one billion global tourists recorded each year."

Africa's plans for new hotels

New hotels are being planned throughout Africa despite the impact of Covid-19. For example, through the ITIC, investors from Bulgaria – in partnership with other investors – plan to invest $72m in four hotel projects in northern Tanzania , within the Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro wildlife parks.

Some 441 hotels belonging to hotel chains – with a total of 81,999 rooms – are being developed in Africa in 2021, according to W Hospitality Group. The hotel chain development pipeline included 135 hotels with 31,747 rooms in North Africa and 312 hotels with 50,252 rooms in sub-Saharan Africa. Growth of almost one-quarter (22%) in the total pipeline rooms has taken place since 2017, with growth in North Africa – in particular in Egypt – especially strong at 34% compared with 17% in sub-Saharan Africa.

North Africa accounted for 47% of the African pipeline total, while West Africa made up 30%, East Africa 18%, Southern Africa 11% and Central Africa 2%. West Africa is the largest sub-region in sub-Saharan Africa with 49% of the sub-Saharan African pipeline, up from 47% in 2020. 

The pipeline total shows a jump in rooms on 2020 (77,896 rooms) and is more than 9% ahead of 2019. Some 71 deals with 10,011 rooms were signed in 2020 and early 2021, according to W Hospitality Group.

Egypt has the most chain hotels being developed in Africa (67 hotels with 19,272 rooms), followed by Nigeria (62 hotels with 9,032 rooms), Morocco (38 hotels with 6,084 rooms) and Ethiopia (33 hotels with 5,886 rooms). 

Africa's travel and tourism industry has been battered since the pandemic struck at the start of 2020. However, leisure operators are looking forward to robust holiday seasons in 2021 and 2022, and are continuing to open new hotels and resorts. Unfortunately, it will take a lot longer for business travel from Europe and the US to return. Africa's hospitality industry must learn to be less dependent on international travellers and develop its domestic and intra-regional markets. 

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Business travel: A look at South Africa and its MICE industry

South Africa’s natural beauty and cultural fascination is well-documented, and rightly so.

The tumultuous apartheid period came to an end in the 1990s, and since then the country has opened itself to the world both in terms of leisure and business tourism.

Major cities and MICE hubs are spread far and wide, some being thousands of miles from key settlements in other African countries. Another nuance of South Africa’s formation is the fact it has not one, but three recognised capitals – Pretoria is home to the country’s executive, Cape Town its legislature and Bloemfontein the judiciary.

Such is the nation’s growing standing on the global stage, it is one of few countries to host multiple sporting world cups. In 2010 it became the first African host of the FIFA World Cup, while it has also hosted the Rugby Union World Cup (1995) and in 2003 staged the vast majority of matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

South Africa also comes into its own in terms of its hugely varied and extraordinary terrain. From the enormous Blyde River Canyon to Table Mountain and dramatic coastal roads to the Karoo and Kalahari deserts, this is an outdoor lover’s paradise, the perfect backdrop for businesses to host meetings, events and conferences.

Throw in a largely comfortable temperate climate that sees plenty of sunshine, and you will find the complete tourist package. 

The Business End

The tourist trade is gathering increasing momentum as South Africa seeks to make the most out of its formidable attractions.

In 2017, one in every 22 employed people in South Africa were working in the tourism sector, totalling 722,013 individuals, around 4.5 percent of the 16.2 million people making up the national workforce.

The tourism sector contributed 2.8 percent (or R130 billion) to South Africa’s GDP in 2017, making it larger than the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry.

According to Statistics South Africa, in 2017 visitors sent over half a million rand every minute, amounting to R277 billion for the entire year, the split being 56 percent domestic spend and 44 percent international.

In terms of numbers arriving, 2018 saw 16.44 million visitors arrive in the country – this represents a steady rise over the past six years, the figure for 2012 being 14.16 million. The upward trajectory is set continue for the next few years according to the latest predictions from research organisation Statista, which forecasts some 19.6 million tourists to visit South Africa in 2023.

Away from tourism, foreign trade is another key contributor to the nation’s income, with China, the USA, Germany and Namibia alone accounting for more than a quarter of exports. Key export products include precious metals, agricultural goods and military equipment, while South Africa’s major imports include chemicals and motor vehicles.

Southern African Association for the Conference Industry

Founded in 1987 by Nick Stathakis and Keith McCusker, the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry, better known as SAACI, is a governing body mandated to improve the standards in conference facilities, meeting venues and allied services within South Africa and the wider region.

It is a thought leadership pioneer in the MICE tourism space, hosting numerous events and conducting several projects (such as Project RISE) to raise the profile of the Southern Africa as a destination for business travel.

Having spoken with the organisation in 2018, here we catch up with Kim Roberts, Vice-Chairperson of SAACI, to get the latest insight on South African tourism, as well as some detail on what SAACI has planned for the year ahead.

Africa Outlook (AfO): How would you say South Africa has developed recently as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?

Kim Roberts (KR): South Africa has worked really hard on its exposure to the international marketplace. The increase of international conventions coming into South Africa as a result of stronger market positioning, has allowed for more feet on our shores. The unique experiences on offer in South Africa, as well as the way we as a nation ‘touch the hearts of those that visit these shores, almost always result in return business for both the business events and leisure sectors.

Increased accessibility into South Africa has improved with new airline routes being added. There is so much opportunity within Africa and we look forward to seeing those routes becoming less complicated. Many African countries require a link in the Middle East or Europe in order to then get to South Africa – this change will certainly aid in economic growth.

AfO: Why, in your opinion, should someone visit South Africa?

KR: It is the home mankind, the real roots of the human race. One comes to South Africa and there is a spiritual connection with the land, along with its natural beauty, friendly people and sophisticated infrastructure.

AfO: Are there any specific attractions, landmarks or places to eat and drink that you would recommend?

KR: I would have to say a visit to Maropeng. If I was a tour guide and could share my favourite places, the itinerary would cover a self-drive to Mpumalanga and include the Kruger National Park, the Eastern Cape wild shoreline, our winelands and the city of Cape Town. Not to forget that sunrise walk to the top of Lions Head.

With regards to eating and drinking, we have numerous fabulous restaurants and local beverages to enjoy, I would just say try someone completely local or authentic, anywhere in South Africa.

AfO: What are the best ways of getting around the country?

KR: As a first-time visitor we would encourage a registered guide to assist with your planning and even travel if possible. The local airlines are well established and can easily meet your destination needs. Gauteng has a world class rail infrastructure in the Gautrain, to get you into the City of Gold. There are options for taxis and buses, and we would just advise that they belong to recognised bodies. For experienced visitors to South Africa, a self-drive option could make for the trip of a lifetime.

AfO: What trends are transforming the tourism industry in South Africa at present? How are you responding to these trends?

KR: Three I would identify are technology, sustainability and a focus on service excellence.

Our association stays abreast of what is happening internationally – and what works in South Africa – and shares this with members on a number of platforms. They apply this in their businesses, helping the tourism industry to grow.

AfO: How do you see the country developing as a business travel hub over the next year to two years?

KR: With our convention bureaus in place we continue to see growth in this space. These entities are highly focused on the Tourism Ministry’s mandate to drive economic growth and with that we are fortunate to see the growing numbers in events and expos. 

There are always new facilities joining the South African meetings landscape. These properties will bring new and exciting spaces for delegates to enjoy.

AfO: Are there any plans or projects in the pipeline that you wish to highlight?

KR: We are busy with the roll out of the RISE project, a skills development programme to facilitate entry for new suppliers into the business events industry.

Having just had our 2019 congress, that had a very strong learning programme, we are already starting to work on 2020’s content and the framework of this event, to ensure we deliver as the lead in the conference industry

Also, in the next three months, we will be holding a strategic meeting to focus on where and what our next priorities will be.

AfO: Are you optimistic about the future of the tourism industry in South Africa?

KR: Yes, you have to be. As someone recently shared with me, what you visualise you actualise.

In Focus: Convention centres in South Africa

South Africa is home to some of the region’s most impressive conferencing and event hosting facilities.

In the past the country has hosted global landmark events such as the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) in Durban. In 2016, the same city hosted the 21st AIDS Conference at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, a venue which housed 18,000 delegates from 183 countries.

Durban is not the only major city home to world-class exhibition facilities, however. Among the other highly rated venues are Sandton Convention Centre (Johannesburg), Tshwane Events Centre, East London International Convention Centre, Cape Town International Convention Centre and CSIR International Convention Centre (Pretoria), to name but a few.

As well as SAACI, an important organisation helping to promote and assist convention centres and event organisers is the South Africa National Convention Centre (SANCB).

A one-stop solution for independent information and assistance, giving neutral advice on all aspects of hosting and organising any business event in South Africa, one of SANCB’s major roles is to help venues bid and prepare for hosting conventions.

In 2015, for example, South Africa hosted 140 international meetings and conferences at its various convention centres and event venues, attracting around 80,000 delegates and generating more than R1 billion in economic impact. 

Transport Links

South Africa is home to a number of budget airlines such as CemAir, Kulula, Mango and FlySafair that serve most domestic routes at competitive prices. It is an easy way of getting from one major destination to another, especially given the long distances between some of the major cities.

Shosholoza Meyl offers regular train services, including a popular overnight journey between Cape Town and Johannesburg that allows passengers to take in the vastness of the country’s landscapes.

Travel by boat between the coastal settlements of Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Durban and onto the likes of Mozambique present an alternative way of getting around, with car hire perhaps the obvious and most flexible option.

Regionally, South Africa offers some tremendous cycling opportunities. Hills, views and campsites are in abundance, while bikes can be taken onto most trains. Local bus networks are extensive and usually cheap to use.

In terms of international air travel, OR Tambo near Johannesburg is the major hub, with other significant airports to be found in Cape Town and Durban. National carrier South African Airways operates an extensive network of long-haul flights to destinations all over the world. 

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Thailand Says Mpox Case Recorded in Traveller From Africa

FILE PHOTO: A test tube labelled "Mpox virus positive" is held in this illustration taken August 20, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand has detected an mpox case in a European man who arrived from Africa last week and is awaiting test results to determine the strain, a disease control official said on Wednesday.

Thai authorities were treating the case as if it were the Clade 1 form of mpox, as the person, a 66-year-old European man with residency in Thailand had arrived on Aug. 14 from an African country where it was spreading, Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, told Reuters.

"After he arrives from the flight there is very little time frame where he come into contact with others," Thongchai said. "He arrives around 6 pm and on the next day, Aug 15, he went to see the doctor at the hospital."

Thongchai said the man has undergone a test to determine whether the case was a Clade 1 variant, with the result expected by Friday. Authorities are also monitoring 43 people in the country who may come into contact with the patient, he said.

The director-general did not name the African country the man had been in. He said the man had transited in a Middle Eastern country, which he also did not name, before flying on to Thailand.

Thailand has detected 800 case of mpox Clade 2 since 2022, but so far not detected a case of the Clade 1 or Clade 1b variants.

(Reporting by Pararat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Martin Petty, Tom Hogue and John Mair)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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I moved from Washington, DC to Dubai with 2 young kids. I'm a better version of myself here.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kiran Ali , an American who relocated to Dubai with her family. She works as a director of partnerships in a Fintech company. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

• Kiran Ali and her family were forced to relocate after a tree fell on their home in Washington, DC.
• They decided to move to Dubai, as Ali had enjoyed working there previously.
• Ali said Dubai offers a better quality of life, where she has more time to spend with her husband and kids.

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When a 150-year-old pine tree toppled and fell through my roof last April, my family of four had to relocate temporarily while it got fixed.

My husband and I had to find a place where we could both work and have childcare for our two kids, who were 6 months old and 4 at the time. We also saw it as an opportunity to explore somewhere new. We considered New York and San Francisco, but then thought this could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pick up and go somewhere farther, and decided on Dubai.

I had worked in Dubai in 2013 and enjoyed my time there. My husband is an entrepreneur and had opportunities to work there. So, we thought: " Why don't we just go to Dubai ?"

Our trip was supposed to be three weeks — but that turned into eight, and then 10. My husband started work in his startup in Dubai while I shuttled between the US and Dubai, applied for jobs, and prepared our house in Washington, DC, to be rented.

In March this year, I found a job in  Dubai,  and we were able to relocate there permanently.

I like who I am as a mother in Dubai

As a mother in the US, I didn't have much support. I worked, did the laundry, and ran around for my children's activities. I didn't have that much quality time left over for my kids because I ran the household and worked full-time.

In Dubai , however, the culture is built around quality time with your family. When I come home from work, our part-time nanny, who we pay 4,000 AED, or $1,089 a month, has already done the laundry, cooked the food, and bathed the children.

At 6 p.m. I'm done with work. There's no expectation that I'll be checking my emails. So when I come to my children, they're not getting yelled at because they are not getting a distracted parent. They're getting the best version of me.

I am more relaxed here

In the US, we were often overscheduled. I knew three or four weeks in advance what we would be doing every single weekend — spontaneity died at the door.

But in Dubai, we don't stress over booking restaurant reservations or worry about a place being too crowded. We figure it out as we go.

Because of this, I spend more quality time with my spouse, new friends, and children. My weekends are truly relaxing. When I return to work on Mondays, I am the best version of myself in the corporate setting.

At work, face-to-face relationships are valued. As a result, the lines between professional and personal can be slightly blurred. A lot of networking is done via WhatsApp. And so, you can set up a meeting, and at the same time, send memes or talk about traveling. There's no facade that everyone has to be very serious all the time.

It's also easier to make friends

Making friends was much harder back in the US, as people mostly had their groups of friends from school and were not inclined to include new friends. Because everything was so scheduled in the US, finding someone to watch our kids and take time for ourselves was also more difficult.

But making friends has never been a concern in Dubai. Living in an expat city, where 92% of its 3,655,000-person population is non-Emirati , everyone's very open to meeting. Once you're plugged into one network, you'll also meet all the other people there. And there are so many interesting and new people to meet here with different perspectives than we're used to.

We travel more as a family

Before we moved to Dubai, we were already avid travelers. But with Dubai being a global hub , we travel more now. Many affordable destinations, such as Kazakistan or Beirut, are within a five-hour flight. These vacation destinations were just out of reach when we lived in the US because of the cost and length of flights.

A decade since I last lived here, Dubai has expanded its footprint . Now, you can find people from all over the world and eat all different cuisines — it truly is a cosmopolitan city.

Everything here is also designed to make life easier. Anything from anywhere can be sent to your home in 15 minutes if you need something delivered.

For now, we plan to go back to the US to visit every summer, but we'll continue living here as long as Dubai will have us.

It's just weird to think about how one freak accident changed the rest of our lives.

Do you have a story about moving abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the reporter, Erin: [email protected] .

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