A DAUNTING exchange
rate is not deterring
South Africans from
travelling to the UK. In fact,
the independent growth
forecast from Tourism
Decision Metrics (Oxford
Economics) estimates
that by 2020, Britain will
welcome 260 000 visitors
from South Africa annually –
representing a 20% increase
on 2014 figures.
According to VisitBritain,
while there was a small
dip in visits to the UK
from South Africa in 2014,
there has been an overall
trend toward a steady
increase since 2011.
Provisional figures from the
International Passenger
Survey for Q1 of 2015 also
show positive growth and an
8,18% increase compared
with Q1 of 2014.
“Britain saw 216 639
South African visitors in
2014, spending a total
of around £230 million
(R4,8bn) over an average
stay of 12,4 nights for each
visitor,” says Emily Moore,
nurture market manager at
VisitBritain.
What’s more, Lorna
Burke, marketing and
communications at Air
France KLM, says there is
no seasonality between
South Africa and the UK.
Trafalgar has also noticed
growth in outbound travel
to the UK. “South Africans
have never stopped
travelling to the UK, and
while we saw a dip when the
new UK visa requirements
were implemented, there
was a welcome surge of
interest after the Olympics,
and Trafalgar has seen
growth this year,” says
Trafalgar md, Theresa
Szejwallo.
Due to this growth, the
tour operator has increased
its product offering to Britain
and Ireland exponentially,
and now offers 25 guided
holidays and five separate
travel styles in its Europe &
Britain brochure.
“We are still seeing an
interest from South Africans
wishing to travel to the
UK,” agrees Virgin Atlantic
Airways country manager,
Liezl Gericke. “However,
while there is still interest
from South Africans to visit
the UK, we feel that the new
visa regulations along with
the weakened rand will have
a negative impact on future
travel trends for South
Africa.”
The RWC effect
Emily says that interest from
South Africans travelling
to the UK increases
with sporting events, as
evidenced by the 2015
Rugby World Cup, which
kicked off at Twickenham on
September 18. Liezl agrees,
saying an increase in the
number of South Africans
travelling to the UK has
definitely been noted as a
result of the major event.
“We have certainly
seen interest in all things
British in general in light
of the Rugby World Cup.
South Africa’s pool games
are taking place in someArrival numbers may be
positive but added expenses
brought about by the
unfavourable exchange rate
as well as the fact that South
African passport holders need
a visa, means that travellers
who want to go to the UK
look for the real value in their
experience, says Theresa.
In light of this, VisitBritain
has launched a guide to
travelling cost-effectively in
Britain, says Emily. “This
new online guide is packed
with ideas on how to enjoy
Britain on a budget,” she
says, adding that it contains
information on free attractions
and tips on where to eat and
how to travel.
“I would suggest agents
have a look at Great Value
Britain, which they can use to
assist South African travellers
to combat the currency
difference,” says Emily.
The site is titled
lovewall.visitbritain.com
and provides users with
a sidebar of options such
as ‘landmarks’, ‘culture’,
‘countryside’, ‘secret Britain’
and many more.
fantastic destinations
– Brighton, Newcastle,
Birmingham and the Olympic
Stadium – so there is a lot
for South African fans to
see and do while supporting
their team,” says Emily.
Travellers demand value
Arrival numbers may be
positive but added expenses
brought about by the
unfavourable exchange rate
as well as the fact that South
African passport holders need
a visa, means that travellers
who want to go to the UK
look for the real value in their
experience, says Theresa.
In light of this, VisitBritain
has launched a guide to
travelling cost-effectively in
Britain, says Emily. “This
new online guide is packed
with ideas on how to enjoy
Britain on a budget,” she
says, adding that it contains
information on free attractions
and tips on where to eat and
how to travel.
“I would suggest agents
have a look at Great Value
Britain, which they can use to
assist South African travellers
to combat the currency
difference,” says Emily.
The site is titled
lovewall.visitbritain.com
and provides users with
a sidebar of options such
as ‘landmarks’, ‘culture’,
‘countryside’, ‘secret Britain’
and many more.
Promote package deals
When you consider the
price of most everyday
items in the UK, it is easy
to see how costs can
add up. Agents should
recommend UK package
deals for travellers who
want value for their rands.
Suppliers are able to
package deals and offer
agents value-for-money
offers that will allow
travellers to make the
most of their rands, as
package deals usually
include various meals,
transportation, tickets to
tourist attractions and
many more, all at one
standard price.
Theresa notes that
travellers can really
benefit from Trafalgar’s
Rand price guarantee and
Preview offer. “On the
Preview offer, Trafalgar
sells 2016 trips at 2015
prices, less 10%. Not only
are these great deals,
but they are also sold
on easy payment terms.”
This means that once a
client books and pays the
deposit on their holiday
the price is guaranteed,
safeguarding them against
any negative currency
fluctuations.
“This makes visiting
the UK easier for South
African travellers,”
Theresa maintains.
“Clients can book and
pay a R5 000 deposit
for their 2016 holiday on
2015 rates by October 5
and still get a 10%
discount with the balance
only due by January 29,
2016,” she adds.
Book it!
British T.I.P.S is offering London Sightseeing Value Packs from R2 410
per person, or R1 490 for children between the ages of four and 15.
The package includes the Original Sightseeing Open Top Bus Tour, a
45-minute Thames cruise or Hop On, Hop Off cruise, walking tours of
London, a Madame Tussaud’s with Chamber Live (renamed Chamber
of Horrors) ticket, a Tower of London ticket and ride on the London
Eye. The special is valid for travel until February 28, 2016.
Know your air travel options!
A SOUND knowledge of
the best air and ground
arrangements will enable
agents to provide travellers
with the best value for money,
points out spokesperson
for British Airways, Stephen
Forbes.
British Airways is currently
the only carrier offering direct
flights from Cape Town to
London.
The airline’s new First cabin
– already on A380 and B747
services from Johannesburg
– will be available on the
double-daily Cape Town
services from October. “We
have also introduced a new
Club World menu on the Cape
Town route,” says Stephen.
Air France KLM connects
to 15 destinations in the
UK from South Africa –
Aberdeen, Birmingham,
Bristol, Cardiff, Durham Tees
Valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Humberside, Leeds, London
Heathrow, Manchester,
Newcastle, Norwich,
Bournemouth and Exeter.
“Travellers can connect to
these destinations quickly
and easily via our hubs in
Paris-Charles de Gaulle and
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol,”
says Lorna Burke.
Travellers can currently
take advantage of an
economy-class fare on Air
France of R8 982 per person,
including taxes, while KLM is
currently offering an economyclass
fare of R8 685 return,
including taxes.
Get around town easily
TRAVELLING around the
UK is easy for tourists.
With daily scheduled
buses and trains departing
major cities and towns,
tourists are able to explore
the UK hassle-free.
Agents should recommend
travellers visiting London
to buy an Oyster Card,
which allows them to
board the Underground
from over 270 stations in
London. The Underground
also links to various
over-ground train stations
that link to other major
destinations across the
UK, including Wales and
Scotland, while Northern
Ireland can be easily
reached by ferry.
A train ride from London
Kings Cross station to
Edinburgh takes around
four hours and 20
minutes, and costs around
£40 (R836) one-way.
Airports gear up for an
increase in arrivals
WITH major airport expansion
plans under way, the appeal
of the UK is predicted to
increase, and the country
intends to welcome a growing
number of visitors in the
coming years.
Rated as the best airport
in Western Europe, Heathrow
is undergoing major
development. In 2014, 73,4m
passengers passed through
Heathrow, and expansion
plans will result in facilities
that cater for 740 000 flights
a year.
The plans include three
runways, two main passenger
terminals and transport hubs
– Heathrow West (Terminals
5 and 6) and Heathrow East
(an extended Terminal 2),
which will be connected by
an underground passenger
transit and baggage system.
Land is also being set aside
for commercial developments
such as offices and hotels.
Meanwhile, Gatwick can also
expect increased volumes of
traffic. As the second-largest
airport in the UK, Gatwick
hosts 45 airlines, and handles
38m passengers flying to 200
destinations each year. The
airport expects this number to
rise to 40 million by 2016.
The Gatwick passenger
profile reveals that only one
in five travellers through the
airport travels on business,
with 11% comprising UK
business, 57% UK leisure, 8%
foreign business, and 24%
foreign leisure.
Gatwick has a single runway
and two terminals but despite
its moderate facilities in
comparison with Heathrow,
Gatwick has reported growth
over the past two years.
“The results are putting
us 10 years ahead of
forecasts done by the Airports
Commission,” says Stewart
Wingate, Gatwick ceo. He says
July saw 4,3m passengers
travelling through the airport,
a 6,4% increase on the
previous year.
It’s the extras that add value
PACKAGES with unique
inclusions are good way to
offer added value. Theresa
Szejwallo says Trafalgar
offers many inclusions with
its UK packages – where
most of the accommodation
is four-star – such as a full
English breakfast daily with
additional meals, services
of a travel director, travel on
luxury coaches with WiFi and
Insider Experiences.
The Trafalgar Insider
Experiences, introduced five
years ago, have become
the highlight of each travel
experience and lend a
different dimension to
guided holidays, according
to Theresa. “These
Insider Experiences are
made up of four specific
experiences. The Be My
Guest experiences are
where guests are taken
into the homes of local
families where they enjoy
lively conversation and
home-cooked meals, while
authentic accommodation
showcases the destination
through specially selected
authentic hotels, specially
chosen for their architecture,
history, and décor.”
According to Trafalgar,
local specialists are the
best way to get to know a
place. “We have a range
of local historians, artists
and craftspeople waiting
to share their stories with
our guests,” says Theresa.
Finally, the Cultural Insights
in each destination uncover
the gems and treasures that
Trafalgar says make a holiday
special for travellers. For
example, at Tatton Park on
the way to the Lake District,
Trafalgar takes guests to visit
an elegant mansion set in a
400-hectare deer park, where
the butler and housekeeper
host a guided visit.
The operator also offers
special-interest guided
holidays, including English
Country Gardens. “English
Country Gardens is sure
to appeal to all those who
have even the slightest
hint of green fingers as
well as those who have
always hankered to visit
the magnificent gardens in
England,” says Theresa.
Priced from R28 530pp
twin share, this nine-day
guided holiday begins and
ends in London and takes
in Hampton Court Palace,
Kew Gardens, Sheffield Park
and Gardens, the Bluebell
Railway, Brighton, Sussex,
Dover, Canterbury, Mount
Ephraim Country House,
Royal Tunbridge Wells, the
Chelsea Flower Show, Hever
Castle and Chartwell.
Included are the unique
Trafalgar Insider Experiences
such as a sightseeing tour
with a local specialist in
London and Hampton Court
Palace, a cultural insight into
the White Cliffs of Dover and
a delicious Be My Guest
cream tea at Mount Ephraim
Country House. Travel is
valid from May through to
September 2016.
Book it!
Kulula holidays is offering London City Stays from R12 080pps. The package includes five nights’
accommodation at the Chrysos Hotel (or similar), breakfast daily, a three-day London Pass with
transport, fast track and free entry to the top 50 attractions in London, a guidebook and Oyster Card
valid for zones 1-6. Valid for travel from November 1-30.
