South African Tourism
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Government of South Africa |
| Headquarters | Bojanala House, Sandton, Gauteng |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executive |
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| Website | www |
South African Tourism (frequently shortened to SA Tourism) is the official national marketing agency of the South African government, with the goal of promoting Tourism in South Africa both locally and globally. [1] SA Tourism hosts, "The Tourism Indaba", held in Durban, South Africa annually which is one of the top three tourism marketing events on the global calendar and the largest in Africa attracting thousands of delegates, visitors and media representatives from across the globe.[2] The Lilizela Tourism Awards, an annual awards' ceremony held in recognition of the top South African leisure and holiday service providers is hosted by SA Tourism. [3] Previous winners of the Lilizela Tourism awards include, Birds of Eden, the world's largest free flight aviary and bird sanctuary, located near Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Governance structure
The Minister of Tourism appoints the Chief Executive Officer who is then submitted to the Cabinet of South Africa for approval [4] Additionally, the SA Tourism board of directors is appointed by the Minister of Tourism also to be approved by the Cabinet of South Africa. [5]
Challenges faced by South African Tourism
Chinese tourists are considered to be a lucrative market, but South African Tourism has struggled to attract them due to the high crime rate and complicated visa policy of South Africa. [6][7] The Institute for Security Studies, said it was becoming increasingly difficult to market the country as more and more people emigrate to countries like Australia and New Zealand due to the crime rate in addition to numerous tourists being attacked in Cape Town on Table Mountain and Johannesburg.[8]
In September of 2018, The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) council called for the government to regulate Airbnb rental sites as they pose a threat to the viability of conventional lodging providers such as hotels.[9] This sentiment was also echored by the CEO of SA Tourism Sisa Ntshona who pointed out Airbnb, Uber, and Lyf as the new face of the sharing economy but suggested for fairness between these new players and conventional service providers. [10]
In the media
SA Tourism as a Destination marketing organization has emphasised the need for South Africa to be viewed as a "value-for money destination" instead of a "cheap destination" [11] At the 2018 World Travel Market in London SA Tourism stated that the South Africa had to be different as lose of customers to reflect negatively on the country's reputation.[12]
In academia
South African Tourism has been portrayed in a Doctor of Philosophy Thesis by Dr Tinashe Chuchu titled, Destination marketing: a study into international airport service experience, destination image and intention to revisit South Africa published by the University of the Witwatersrand.[13] In 2001, Academics, Prof Leyland Pitt, Michael Ewing, Julie Napoli based at Curtin University of Technology collaborated with Pierre Berthon from University of Bath and Clive Wynne from the University of Cape Town to study the impact of the internet on the South African Tourism industry[14]
References
- ^ "Cabinet appoints new SA Tourism Board". Daily Southern & East African Tourism Update. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to INDABA 2011". South African Tourism. Retrieved Dec 9, 2018.
- ^ "Here's how the people who are making SA more welcoming are recognised". News 24. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "New CEO of SA Tourism appointed". Daily Southern & East African Tourism Update. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Cabinet appoints new SA Tourism Board". Daily Southern & East African Tourism Update. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "SA tourism 'must not create cheap image'". Fin24. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "New Exhibition Company appointed to manage South African Tourism's key strategic events - Meetings Africa and Africa's Travel Indaba". indaba-southafrica. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Crime affecting SA tourism profits". iol. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft - why regulations are necessary - SA Tourism". 702. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft - why regulations are necessary - SA Tourism". 702. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "SA tourism 'must not create cheap image'". Fin24. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "How SA should handle its branding - SA Tourism CEO". Fin24. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
- ^ "Destination marketing: a study into international airport service experience, destination image and intention to revisit South Africa. Chuchu, Tinashe". wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
- ^ "Clive Wynne, Pierre Berthon, Leyland Pitt, Michael Ewing, Julie Napoli, (2001) "The impact of the Internet on the distribution value chain: The case of the South African tourism industry", International Marketing Review, Vol. 18 Issue: 4, pp.420-431". wwww.emeraldinsight.com. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
