“We know that newspapers and magazines are in the top three information sources for travellers seeking information about SA and therefore getting SA covered by respected publications is of major importance,'' says Bradley Brouwer, South African Tourism country manager in Japan.

Brouwer adds that, “Apart from all the fun we have had, what has been particularly gratifying is the flurry of stories hitting the front pages of key Japanese travel publications each day.”

The Japanese travel media delegation has had a “panoramic tour of Mpumalanga, a thrill-filled tour of Durban and felt the urban pulse of Gauteng – which has blown them away.”

Japan is a significant and highly lucrative tourism market for SA, according to South African Tourism. Last year, the country welcomed 17.2% more Japanese travellers, making it the second fastest growing source market in the Australasia region, after India.

Commenting on these positive results, Brouwer says, “While these figures are encouraging, our aim, in line with our Tourism Growth Strategy, is to actively and aggressively invest in growing markets, in order to attract even more arrivals from Japan and the rest of the rapidly growing Australasia region.”

“It is therefore hugely important that the entire country, and not just the tourism industry, is represented in a positive light. To this end, we were able to arrange meetings with well-respected and influential South Africans including Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Craig Padayachee, Mpumalanga MEC Economic Development and Planning, in addition to one of SA's leading travel trade media houses.”

Brouwer concludes that, “It doesn't stop with this trip. [On Tuesday, 22 May 2007], the entire sales team of Thai Airways in Japan arrive[d] in South Africa. This is also a major coup for the country. This group is accompanied by key consumer media from Japan and we are hoping for similar coverage”.

[23 May 2007 09:31]

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