TURKEY, Iran, Tunisia and Morocco are looking into South Africa as an emerging tourism destination for both inbound and outbound markets and some are even considering investing in tourism products, as long as certain obstacles such as "a lack of security", are addressed.
This emerged during interviews held in Johannesburg yesterday between Travel Now and marketing officers from the South African embassies of these countries.
They arrived as part of a delegation of embassies and consulates from Africa and the Middle East who came to the country last week to encourage South African exports and to investigate investment opportunities in South Africa.
"There is a big potential for Turkish tourists to South Africa, with about 8 000 people having visited your country last year," said Meryem Yildiz, marketing officer for the South African Embassy in Turkey.
According to her, this is further boosted by the two flights a week by Turkish Airlines, a nine-hour flight from Istanbul to Cape Town via Johannesburg.
Interest has also been expressed by certain travel agencies in Turkey to establish two-way business co-operation with some of the agencies and operators in South Africa.
"We can exchange tourists, providing competitive tour packages and in that way, dramatically increasing tourism figures between the two countries".
Yildiz says that five SA companies attended the International Tourism Fair held annually in Turkey for the first time this February, laying the foundation for "good partnerships".
The companies included Avis, Wilson Collins and African Eagle Tours as well as representatives from Satour.
It is currently difficult to attract Turkish investors to invest in tourism products - such as hotels - in South Africa, says Yildiz. She mainly ascribes this to a lack of security as a result of high crime levels.
"But certainly if a reliable company in South Africa comes to us with a good offer, we will give it serious consideration. The embassy in Turkey will also provide assistance in finding potential partnerships in Turkey."
Tunisia shares many aspects in common with South Africa, especially as both countries are trying to grow their tourism potential, and is particularly looking to share expertise within the travel and tourism industry, related Manel Malki.
According to her, the two countries share the same type of international market, ranging from backpackers to five-star tourists, with the need to focus on increasing the volume of tourists, irrespective of income.
"We also have a coastline which is our main tourism attraction, 4x4 routes and tented accommodation and South Africa's expertise in these kind of areas will be a valuable commodity," she said.
Investment into tourism products in South Africa is not possible at this stage since both countries are still emerging markets, but it may be a consideration at a later stage, believes Malki.
Visitors to South Africa from Iran are still very limited, says Iranian marketing officer, Hengameh Safavi, although a number of agencies have expressed interest in visiting the country.
"There are two major obstacles, one is that there are no direct flights to South Africa and people have to take long, expensive connecting flights via Turkey or Dubai. In the end people just go to Europe or America because it's cheaper and closer."
The second major obstacle is that Iran limits travel visas to South Africa and other countries. "The only way we can stimulate tourism to South Africa is to get them to go on incentive business trips as a result of other business investments in the two countries."
(Adele Mackenzie)
