America Leads A Tourism Comeback In Africa

New flights across the sky, revising traditional seasons and increasing passenger confidence are fueling the future of the African travel and tourism industry. To some extent, it owes much to American travelers, who position African tourism as one of the three main market sources that help revitalize the continent.

In a presentation to WTM in Africa in early April, Louis Millan, head of research at ForwardKeys, explained that African tourism is primarily driven by long-distance travel, and listed the source markets that are currently driving recovery, such as France, the United States and United States. United Kingdom and United Kingdom.

In South Africa in particular, Milan noted an increase in the interest of American travelers seeking to visit the country. Searches for flights to South Africa increased significantly from January to February. “By identifying real-time travel trends, destinations can find tremendous opportunities,” Milan said.

Delta Air Lines has certainly taken advantage of the opportunities that were available. The airline has announced that it will begin flights to Cape Town after its final request to fly from Johannesburg between Atlanta and Cape Town is finally approved this month, after a two-year delay.

The airline, in collaboration with travel expert Giltage Africa, recently hired a U.S. business partner on an exclusive “Updating South Africa” tour. The trip study was created in response to the growing demand and interest of American tourists to book holidays in South Africa. According to Giltedg co-owner and director Murray Gardiner, the US is currently positioning itself as South Africa’s main international entry market by 2022, with expected higher growth.

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According to Giltedg co-owner and other director Sean Kritzinger, the news of the new Delta flight is the first sign of that rise. He said: "It is an important decision because of the number of tourists in South Africa, job creation and the relocation of Covid after two years, and the resulting reduction in the number of people. and services, world cuisine and, of course, wine many times lower than our competitors. Congratulations Delta Air Lines! ”

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Marcelo Novais, Africa’s Ker & Downey CEO of North America, added that not having to transfer from another airport or not having to stay at another destination reduces travel time, which is especially appealing to American travelers looking to visit South Africa. .

It will join Delta United to offer direct flights to Cape Town (the carrier has provided services to Johannesburg for years). United operates direct flights between Newark and Cape Town three times a week and five times a week between Newark and Johannesburg. The airline also allegedly requested direct flights between Washington Dulles and Cape Town, a service expected to be launched in November.

“Because United Airlines and Delta offer direct flights from various parts of the United States, there is a huge demand for this route and we are seeing more and more American travelers coming to Cape Town throughout the year,” he said.

Onne Wegter, CEO of Wild Wings Safaris, confirmed that crossing the new Delta route would soon provide dividends in terms of arrival in the U.S. and tourism spending. He said: "This is likely to encourage more American travelers to combine their African safaris with other important local destinations, such as Cape Town and Garden Route. The U.S. remains one of our most important and profitable domestic markets." the key to maximizing the potential of this key market. It's the perfect time to see a huge increase in demand in the US market in the last month or two. "

And is end-of-season a problem?

The Delta Roadmap agreement could help them meet the seasonal challenges of coastal destinations, which culminate in the summer, Wegter said. He said: "Kruger National Park, Madikwe, Kgalagadi and other widespread safari destinations are the most popular in the dry winter months, which are the low season on the Western Cape and Garden Road. ".

Wegter says the traditional low season (at lower prices) is getting shorter and shorter. He said: "There's really no better time for American travelers to visit South Africa. South Africa is a year-round destination. Game Reserves In the dry winter season in the north, you can watch great games, see whale and shark cages, and explore Cape Town without the crowds.

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However, according to Ker & Downey's novel, "seasonal" changes are likely to be short-lived. “This year is an exception because everyone is desperate to travel. U.S. travelers are never "regular" customers; They usually plan their trips in advance, especially when traveling to Africa. “However, a lot of people this year have made a reservation with a short booking, which is not normal, but I think it is an exclusive trend for 2022 due to the excitement of traveling after the pandemic,” he said.

Abroad, Kate Powell, chief marketing officer of the Zambezi Queen Collection, has had a similar trend with shorter delivery times and last-minute orders. However, he did not anticipate that the season would be a thing of the past.

Jim Holden, president of Safen Holden, echoed that sentiment, saying he wanted to get back to traveling as soon as possible, no matter what the season.

He concludes: "Americans are always trained to ask, 'When is the best time to go on safari?'

"This is because Americans are always on the lookout for the 'best deal', whether it's buying a car or waiting for a sale in a store, along with the 'best experience.' I told him it was the best place to go for a safari between Cape Town and Cairo.

Description: The new Delta Triangle Route to South Africa, from Atlanta to Cape Town, is marked by Johannesburg, the first airline to Cape Town. The report initially said this was his first trip to the country, but Delta had moved to Johannesburg before.

The biggest lion that has obstructed the road in Kruger Park