One of the largest tourism companies in the world, the TUI group, selected South Africa as its featured destination for the recent launch of their 2010 annual global Airtours brochure. Airtours senior representatives and 170 top European travel agents attended the exclusive Airtours brochure launch which was held at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa and at The Westin Grand Cape Town last month.Airtours is the leading provider of premium and luxury holidays in Germany, and is owned by TUI Deutschland GmbH. Airtours is renowned for its annual global brochure, which remains at the forefront of holiday travel by offering exceptional holiday destinations and innovative holiday packages to destinations worldwide. In excess of 238,000 Germans visited South Africa during 2008 enjoying an average stay of 14 nights and according to South African Tourism (2008 Annual Report), a spend of R767 per person per day.
Says Arabella Starwood Hotel Chief Operating Office, Friedrich Schaefer, “Germany represents an important tourism partner for South Africa and is one of the countries leading long haul inbound markets. Airtours selection of South Africa as its featured global launch destination presents an ideal platform to place South Africa firmly in the spotlight as a travel destination, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, an important catalyst for economic growth within the hospitality sector. We were particularly proud to be able to host this important trade delegation at the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa and The Westin Grand Hotel respectively, highlighting Cape Town’s status as proud Host City for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the lifestyle capital of Africa.”
Fiona Buchner, Regional Director: Europe at South African Tourism is full of praise for Airtours’ global endorsement of South Africa as a preferred destination ahead of 2010. “Airtours’ decision to launch their global brochure and host their delegation of European travel agents in South Africa highlights the country as the destination of choice for the European market and goes a long way to further entrenching South Africa as a globally competitive tourism and business destination before, during and beyond the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Partnerships like this one, that invites the world to visit and experience the best of South Africa, will provide a significant boost to the economy through tourism, and stimulate new job opportunities within the hospitality sector,” she says.
The FIFA World Cup is to be held from June 11 to July 11th 2010, with South African Tourism predicting an influx of 450 000 additional visitors to the country. Tatiana Rokou - Wednesday, August 05, 2009