Latest news with #SATSA
Time Out
4 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
South Africa remains a safe and welcoming destination for travellers
In response to renewed international scrutiny following recent political commentary, South Africa's hospitality leaders have stepped forward to reaffirm the country's unwavering commitment to visitor safety and world-class service. The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (FEDHASA) and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) are united in their message: South Africa remains a safe, vibrant, and welcoming destination for international and domestic travellers. 'Our hospitality industry upholds some of the highest service and safety standards globally,' says Rosemary Anderson, National Chairperson of FEDHASA. From luxury hotels to intimate guesthouses, South African establishments follow stringent health, safety, and security protocols, ensuring peace of mind for millions of guests each year. Despite ongoing national challenges, not uncommon in many parts of the world, the hospitality sector has implemented robust systems to safeguard travellers. These include integrated security technology, highly visible policing in tourism hotspots, real-time support platforms like the Tourism Safety Support Unit, and extensive staff training in emergency response. SATSA CEO David Frost echoes these sentiments, cautioning against sensationalised narratives that don't reflect the real experiences of travellers. 'Millions of tourists arrive safely every year and leave with memories filled with awe, not fear,' he says. Visitor satisfaction remains high, and travel demand from key markets like the U.S. has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with 372,362 American tourists arriving in 2024. Safety-focused initiatives — including a national helpline, the Secura Traveller App, and public-private collaboration — contribute to the continued smooth operation of tourism hubs across the country. 'This industry supports livelihoods across the nation,' adds Frost. 'A single visitor's journey can ripple out to benefit entire communities.' For those planning a trip, the message is clear: South Africa is open, ready, and eager to share its legendary hospitality, diverse landscapes, and resilient spirit with the world.
Travel Daily News
16-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
SATSA 's '101 Adventures' for Southern African adventure tourism
SATSA launched new adventure tourism toolkits and Codes of Practice, enhancing safety standards and supporting industry growth across Southern Africa. DURBAN – SATSA has launched a new toolkit and five category-specific Codes of Good Practice, marking another milestone in the industry's journey towards global best practices and enhanced safety standards. 'SATSA's first set of guidelines was released in 2023,' says Hannelie du Toit, SATSA COO. 'It introduced a new level of compliance in a sector that was, at that point, largely unregulated. Today's launch gives more adventure operators the tools they need to meet international safety standards – and visitors peace of mind when they're booking adventures and activities.' The new resources, which are being shared publicly for the first time at Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 – and live on SATSA's website – cover five important categories: Aerial Non-Flight Activities (including zip lines, rope courses, canopy tours, and suspension bridges) Wheel-Based Activities (including mountain biking, BMX, skateboarding, ATVs, quad biking, and off-road motorcycling) Boat-Based Activities (including whale watching, shark cage diving and other marine-based activities) Paddling & Rafting Activities (on flat water, flowing water and oceans, including rafts, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards) Hiking & Trekking Activities (from short day walks to multi-day expeditions) These documents are open to public comment and are intended to spark dialogue, encourage industry input, and ensure broad-based ownership of the standards that will define the future of Southern Africa's adventure tourism. A Risk, Safety and Incident Management Toolkit has also been added, broadening the arsenal of existing resources. Currently, the resource library consists of a Self-Regulation Road Map, a General Code of Good Practice Guide and Checklist, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Participant Care. First-of-its-kind self-assessment tool and updated resources In another exciting development, SATSA has introduced a Self-Assessment Tool for adventure operators in Southern Africa. Designed to measure alignment with global best practices, the tool is freely available. It provides operators with a detailed benchmark of their operations across key areas, including safety, sustainability, and operational excellence. Operators who complete the assessment will also receive tailored feedback, practical tips, and links to additional resources – all at no cost. In line with this, all SATSA adventure tourism resources have been reviewed and updated to reflect current international standards and evolving market demands. The full range of toolkits and the self-assessment tool can be accessed via the SATSA website. 'What's really exciting is the level of industry input and buy-in. Right from the very beginning in 2023, industry experts have really leaned in to offer their expertise and support, including the team at Dirty Boots, SATIB Insurance Brokers, and Nick Shaw, SATSA's Adventure Chapter Chair,' says du Toit. As du Toit explains, what makes the approach unique is its fluid, collaborative nature. The toolkits include publication and review dates, allowing for honest feedback, additional input, and ongoing updates as standards evolve and technology advances. The framework actively encourages industry feedback, creating a living document that grows with the industry. 'The new documents align with international best practice, incorporating elements from ISO standards, European standards, Australian frameworks and input from the Adventure Travel Trade Association's (ATTA) Travel Life programme,' says Nick Shaw, Adventure Chapter Chairperson. Economic impact across all regions Adventure tourism plays a crucial role in South Africa's broader tourism strategy, particularly in addressing geographic diversity, job creation, youth development, and tourism prosperity. While traditional tourism hotspots like Cape Town and Kruger National Park have recovered strongly post-pandemic, regions like the Eastern Cape, which has so much potential as an adventure destination – have lagged far behind. 'There's a reason this initiative is called '101 Adventures',' says SATSA CEO David Frost: 'While New Zealand may call itself the adventure capital of the world, South Africa offers a far more diverse range of adventure experiences with superior products – closer to 104 at last count – we just need to position ourselves better globally. These toolkits are a critical step in that direction.' Next steps Alongside the launch of the '101 Adventures Southern Africa' toolkits and self-assessment tool, SATSA is conducting a comprehensive Adventure Tourism Industry Survey to better understand the sector's size, economic contribution, and employment statistics. All adventure tourism operators are encouraged to participate by completing the survey here. A webinar scheduled for 28 May at 12:00 will guide operators through the toolkits, the self-assessment process, and how to attain certification. Regular quarterly webinars will follow, providing ongoing support and updates. 'This initiative is about positioning Southern Africa as the premier global adventure destination,' says Frost. 'We have the industry will – now we're creating a framework that will drive growth, ensure safety, and spread tourism benefits to every corner of our region.'
Zawya
11-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa's tourism recovery: Why geographical spread is crucial for future growth?
TRAVEL AND TOURISM Getty Images Comparing 2019 to 2024, we are currently at just under 82% recovery PHOTO As we step into 2025, South Africa's tourism recovery remains uneven. While overall inbound tourism sits at just under 82% of 2019 levels, the distribution of visitors is highly concentrated in just two key regions: Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. Meanwhile, other provinces—despite offering exceptional tourism experiences—continue to struggle. If we are to surpass pre-pandemic numbers and drive sustainable tourism growth, we must ask: How do we expand geographical spread and ensure a more balanced recovery? David Frost, CEO, Satsa Looking at overseas arrivals between 2000 and 2017, we saw steady growth—from 1,394,395 arrivals in 2000 to 2,725,855 in 2017. Since then, international arrivals have declined, followed by the pandemic years. Now, we measure our recovery against 2019, the last pre-pandemic year, although it was not our peak—2017 was. The state of recovery Comparing 2019 to 2024, we are currently at just under 82% recovery. Some source markets have rebounded faster than others—such as the United States (99.64%) and the Netherlands (91.91%)—while key European markets, including the United Kingdom (80.14%), Germany (79%), and France (76.24%), lag. This is concerning, as these markets traditionally contribute a good-value, mid-market segment that drives intrepid travel. Three of our top four source markets for South Africa are at 80% and under. While the national recovery rate sits at 81.79%, certain regions have surged ahead. The greater Cape Town area, hailed as a top global destination, has outperformed expectations thanks to a coordinated effort by stakeholders. Similarly, luxury lodges in the Kruger National Park have exceeded 100% recovery. But if Cape Town and Kruger are thriving, what does this mean for the rest of the country? A tourism imbalance To gain deeper insight, we turn to the data. SATSA has been engaging with leading Destination Management Companies (DMC) groups to assess turnover and bed nights per province as a barometer of geographical spread. The findings are stark. Travel Smart Crew's 2023 data shows that, of their R3.5bn turnover: • 76.4% was spent in the Western Cape (excluding the Garden Route) and the Kruger National Park region. • The Eastern Cape accounted for just 5%. • The Garden Route's share was 4%. • KwaZulu-Natal accounted for a mere 2.7%. • Mpumalanga (outside KNP) sits at a shocking 0.8%. This pattern is corroborated by Tourvest Destination Management, with a similar concentration of tourism spend in the Western Cape and greater Kruger National Park. Meanwhile, New Frontiers provided room-night data shows: • Cape Town and Kruger accounted for 60% of total room nights in 2019, rising to 69% in 2024. • KwaZulu-Natal's share fell from 8% to 5%. • The Eastern Cape declined from 6% to 5%. • Mpumalanga remained stagnant at 2%. Interestingly, data from Royal African Discoveries, who have a strong Indian and South-East Asian market, show a slightly better geographical spread. Western Cape (excluding Garden Route) and KNP lodges accounted for 61% of turnover. However, in terms of bed nights, the Garden Route accounts for 15%, North West 12%, and Gauteng 8.5%. Lessons from competitors How does our overall recovery compare to our East African competitors? In 2023, Kenya had recovered to 105% of its 2019 figures, reaching 134% in 2024. Tanzania saw a similar pattern, with recovery at 119% in 2023 and 142% in 2024. The reality is clear: we are stagnating at around 82% of our 2019 arrivals, and our geographical spread is becoming increasingly skewed. Does this concern us? It should. What needs to change? Everything we have done collectively—both from a public and private sector perspective—has led us here. But if we want to shift this picture, we must ask: What can we do differently? A properly structured partnership between the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) and its constituent associations, along with South African Tourism, is a fundamental first step. Many challenges lie beyond the immediate control of SATSA members—safety and security concerns, infrastructure issues, and domestic flight constraints, to name a few. However, the process of selling a holiday to South Africa is a private sector transaction, be it B2B or B2C. Long-haul visitors will naturally gravitate toward iconic destinations—Cape Town, Kruger, and Victoria Falls. We commend Cape Town's success and the efforts behind its positioning as a world-class destination. But what happens when peak season hits and availability in these destinations becomes scarce? This constrains growth and limits our ability to surpass the 2,6-million-arrival mark annually. To truly drive growth, we need to: • Showcase exceptional destinations beyond Cape Town and Kruger—this is not a short-term fix but a long-term investment, starting now! • Better data is also essential. South Africa has high repeater rates—visitors appreciate our affordability, service excellence, and world-class tourism offerings. Are we leveraging this to drive geographical spread? • Strengthen industry collaboration—our ability to find solutions lies in unified action. One key lesson from the pandemic is that when industry leaders collaborate, solutions emerge. Now, we must apply the same energy to driving a more equitable tourism recovery and, indeed, to facilitating growth going forward. Join the conversation Satsa is taking the lead in tackling these issues head-on. To advance this conversation, we invite industry stakeholders to join us for a critical discussion on Thursday, 13 March 2025, from 3.30pm to 5pm, focusing on geographical spread and tourism prosperity in South Africa. Key industry leaders will share their insights on how we can achieve this. The inimitable Natalia Rosa will facilitate a panel discussion with the following industry leaders: - Helen Bolton, head product and sales, New Frontiers - Illana Clayton, CEO, Travel Smart Crew - Suzi Benadie, sales director, Sense of Africa - Johan Groenewald, MD, Royal African Discoveries - Monika Iuel, CMO, Wesgro You can register for the webinar here. Access the data here. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
