DRNeliswa Nkani took over the reins from Hanneli Slaber who has returned to headquarters promoted as Regional General Manager – Asia, Australasia and Middle East. Nkani will also be Hub Head for Middle East and South East Asia, and report to Slaber.
As South Africa commemorated Women’s Month in August, the nation appointed a woman leader yet again in India as Hub Head of South African Tourism.
“Tourism is helping grow the economy, feed our people and create jobs,” said Sthembiso Dlamini, COO, South African Tourism, addressing the gathering of trade partners and travel media at an event to introduce the new Hub Head.
“Tourism has the potential to change the life of our population – 57 million people. Currently, tourism’s contribution to the GDP is more than that from agriculture. Today, tourism sustains 7,00,000 jobs full time and the multiplier effect studies show that one job in tourism supports 12 people. Tourism contributes 3 per cent directly to our GDP and another 9 per cent indirectly. If we can double the total visitors to our country, then imagine the impact we can bring about?”
South Africa’s new President Cyril Ramaphosa is bullish about tourism and believes it can truly transform the nation. In 2016, the nation welcomed 10 million foreign visitors. South African Tourism is pursuing an ambitious goal christened ‘5 and 5’ – 5 million more tourists in the next five years starting 2017. Which means, by end of 2021, South Africa is set to touch 14 million foreign tourists.
“India closed last year with 98,000 visitors. And the target this year is 1,04,000,” said Slaber. “As a destination marketing organisation, we create demand and rely on our trade partners for fulfillment. We are targeting first timers in a big way. One cannot exhaust the offerings we have in just one visit. So we will also look at repeat visitors.”
Nkani is not new to South African Tourism. She had headed the Dutch market as country manager before moving on to become an entrepreneur. On the occasion, she said, “South Africa has a lot more to offer than Cape Town and Johannesburg. We want tourism to spread across the nation and benefit all. We need the help of trade partners to show visitors our wide diversity and unique experiences. Visa for Indian travellers has been a challenge and very soon you will hear good news as we are working to simplify the process.”
Alpa Jani, Trade Relations Manager – India, Middle East and South East Asia, and Mitalee Karmarkar, India Head, Marketing and PR, also attended the function.
On July 18 (also known globally as Mandela Day) 2018, the world came together to celebrate 100 Years of Mandela. The annual Mandela Day lecture was delivered by former US President Barack Obama. With Obama setting the tone for this year’s celebration, 2018 will also be iconic in its bringing together of the crème da le crème of the world to celebrate the legacy of Madiba.
Among the many ways in which the learnings and memories of Madiba are being brought alive, the most anticipated is the Global Citizen Festival, which will be headlined by celebrity couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Scheduled to take place in Johannesburg in December, Global Citizen Festival will see popular celebrities play their part in paying homage to Nelson Mandela and alleviate extreme poverty. The festival will see performances by artists like Cassper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams, Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, and Wizkid. The festival’s hosts include Naomi Campbell, Sir Bob Geldof, Gayle King, Bonang Matheba, Tyler Perry and Forest Whitaker.
Many places in the Rainbow Nation are commemorating the birth of the revolutionary. From the rolling hills and scattered villages of Qunu in the Eastern Cape, to reverent reflections in the prison cells of Robben Island, to the sacred sidewalk on Vilakazi Street in Soweto – South Africa offers a chance to follow in the footsteps to freedom of the nation’s most iconic hero – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
