Communitynews:Tourism industry mourns death of SA brand ambassador

THE tourism industry
mourns the death of tourism
industry stalwart, Anitha
Soni, aged 57.
Soni had been unwell since
September last year. Her
husband Advocate Vas Soni
resigned from his post in
February this year in order
to provide support and to
spend more time with her
and their children.
Anitha had extensive
knowledge of the tourism
industry and held several
executive management
positions in SA and the USA.
She lectured and trained
many of today’s leaders in
the SA tourism industry. She
was instrumental in setting
up key tourism institutions
and agencies, including
South African Tourism, KZN
Tourism Authority, Durban
Africa, Tourism Grading
Council and the Tourism
Enterprise Programme.
“Today South Africa
has lost a passionate
and committed brand
ambassador. Anitha was
a patriot in the true sense
of the word, she used her
innate skills and ability
to serve our country,”
says Brand South Africa’s
chairman, Chichi Maponya.
“Under her leadership as
chair of the Board, Anitha
led the rebranding of the
then-International Marketing
Council (IMC) to Brand South
Africa. It was also during
her tenure that Brand South
Africa began to focus on the
domestic market as well
as international. This was
based on the understanding
that a successful nation
brand is built by citizens of
the country, from the inside
out.”
Craig Drysdale, former
Satsa chair and global sales
manager of Thompsons
Africa, said: “When I started
my career in 1996, Anitha
was one of the first people
I met in the industry. Anitha
was always so encouraging
and inspiring, and a
formidable debating partner.
The industry has lost a true
ambassador and angel. She
will be sorely missed.”
“This is devastating news
for those of us who have
worked and interacted
closely with Anitha for
many years” says the
Tourism Business Council of
South Africa (TBCSA) ceo,
Mmatšatši Ramawela. “She
was a true tourism champion
and a true inspiration,
particularly for us as women
in the travel and tourism
industry.”