Agents rate Turkey tops
TURKEY is a land of
contrasts, with snow,
beaches, caves, cities
and more. It is also one of
the hottest up-and-coming
destinations of choice for
South African shoppers.
Travel agents responding
on Travelinfo’s Facebook
group, Open Jaw, agree.
“Istanbul is definitely
one of the new shopping
destinations. Lots of the
luxury brands manufacture
their goods there,” says
Sharleen Ramcharan, sales
and support manager at
Globetrotter Online Travel.
Stuart Goodall, owner
of Travel 15, agrees that
Turkey probably offers the
best value for South African
shoppers. “Most things
are much cheaper and
the range of products is
incredible.”
Taheer Amod, owner of
Tafaza Travels, believes
Turkey has become the
latest Dubai in terms of
shopping, with visas also a
major factor.
“South African shoppers
are having a ball. Like the
rand, the Turkish lira is
not doing so well. R2,50
for a lira is better than
R4,20 to a dirham in
Dubai. The same applies to
another popular shopping
destination, Vietnam.
Strength of currency against
the rand definitely plays a
role.”
Nadia Horn, travel
consultant and owner of
Selena Travel Agency (ITC),
says visas are an additional
expense, which means less
money for shopping.
“The visa for Turkey is free
of charge and can easily be
accessed through a quick
online application. You
apply, print it and you are
ready to go.”
Nadia adds that Turkey
also offers delicious cuisine
and lots to do for visitors
of all ages. “Visitors can
travel with or without a
group. Travellers can shop
in all areas. Shops open
from the morning until late
in the evening. It’s safe and
bargaining is a must.”
Other selling points
While shopping may be the
main purpose, Taheer says
most travellers combine
shopping with a leisure
holiday, sightseeing and
food.
“Turkey is a great option
for Muslim clients, and
halaal food is widely
available. It is rich in Islamic
and Christian history and
caters for the adventure
traveller too with hot-air
ballooning and caving
experiences.”
Taheer advises consultants
to use these features as
selling points. “I highly
recommend a tour or two
to the markets. The Grand
Bazaar and Spice Bazaar in
Istanbul are great shopping
spots as well as being
interesting and fun.”
Nadia suggests selling
packages that combine
Istanbul with a beach
holiday at, for example,
Bodrum, Kusadasi or
Antalya.
Shoppers looking for
great bargains in Turkey
should consider carpets,
clothing, leather goods,
shoes, textiles, bath
products, handmade soaps
and lotions, as well as the
famous Turkish Delight.
Weak rand boosts local options
LOCAL shopping
destinations are benefiting
from the weak rand
exchange rate, says Phindile
Makwakwa, acting ceo of
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.
“South African travellers
who would usually shop
abroad are looking for local
options instead.”
Astrid Sanders, content
manager at FlightSite,
says the weaker rand has
certainly made many people
reconsider trips to Europe.
“As many international
fashion brands have entered
the SA market in the last
five years, shoppers are
more satisfied with what
is locally available and
therefore travel less often.”
Phindile says with
continuous developments
across SA, destinations
such as KZN are becoming
global players with regard to
shopping and other activities
that attract tourists.
She adds that KZN
is a popular shopping
destination, particularly
for neighbouring African
countries that are
landlocked and, more
specifically, for road
travellers who visit to shop
in bulk for resale at their
respective destinations.
“We’ve also enjoyed an
increase in numbers coming
from Botswana to purchase
automobiles in KZN.”
Visitors who arrive to shop
in KZN usually combine
the experience with leisure
and events. KZN has some
of the biggest shopping
malls in the country, such
as Gateway Theatre of
Shopping and The Pavilion.
“We also have factory
shops such as those on
Stamford Hill or Springfield
Park, as well as markets
catering for different
requirements. Leading up
to the festive season, our
shopping malls and markets
are running specials to
make shopping more
affordable for our visitors.”
Photocap: Winter wonderlands
Travel Vision reservations
supervisor, Venice Barris, says
shoppers looking for a truly
European Christmas experience
this year should include a
Christmas market tour with
traditional snacks in Prague
(pictured), the Christmas markets
and walking tour in Cologne or
Winter Wonderland Christmas in
Brussels. Travel Vision is offering
a ‘Christmas Market Europe
Experience’ for R24 300pps for
nine days, valid from December
17-25. The offer includes flights
from Johannesburg to Brussels (incl
taxes), return airport transfers,
six nights’ accommodation with
breakfast and a seven-day secondclass Eurail Pass.
Book it!
World Leisure Holidays is offering a 45% discount special offer at the five-star La Pirogue resort in
Mauritius. The package includes a half-board, seven-night stay in a senior suite pavilion (including return
flights from Johannesburg and transfers) for R86 460pps. Kids under 12 stay free when sharing with
adults. The offer is valid from December 22-31 and bookings must be made before November 30. The
resort’s boutique store offers a selection of locally sourced souvenirs and clothing items along with some
international brands for those wanting to escape the sun and do some shopping.
Agents pick their top destinations
Vietnam, Morocco, India, Singapore and Buenos Aires
in Argentina were among the less-obvious, but growing,
shopping destinations mentioned by travel agents
contacted by TNW.
Vietnam
AS WITH Turkey, Vietnam’s
easy-to-get and fairly
inexpensive visa as well as
its good value for money and
exchange rate are making it
a destination of choice for
shoppers.
Taheer Amod of Tafaza
Travels says a visa preapproval letter is obtained
online or through the tour
operator and then the traveller
pays US$25 (R366) for a visa
on arrival.
Nadia Horn of Selena Travel
Agency says Vietnam offers
great bargains when it comes
to sports shoes and jackets,
clothes and more. It also
offers good variety in terms
of shopping hotspots and
attractions.
Joining a coach tour or
getting a private guide
are good ways to visit the
shopping hubs. Hanoi and
Ho Chi Minh City offer stores
and markets trading in wellpriced items. An overnight in
Ha Long Bay is a must. The
Ben Thanh market (Ho Chi
Minh City) is popular amongst
shoppers, as is a visit to the
fresh produce markets and a
walking food tour.
For those wanting to see as
much of Vietnam as possible
and capitalise on shopping in
a short space of time, open
bus tickets work on a hop-on,
hop-off system. Passengers
can opt to travel through the
night, reaching the next stop
in the morning.
India
Venice Barris on the itinerary. , reservations
supervisor at Travel Vision,
says India is popular for South
African shoppers especially
those looking for an authentic
experience and wanting local
personal shoppers to assist.
“The weak rand is definitely
a factor encouraging travel
to India where shoppers
are getting more value for
money. They are also looking
for packages that include
shopping festivals, off-thebeaten-track stores and shops
where locals shop.”
She adds that agents
need to sell shopping as
an experience and should
look at offering tailor-made
experiences with guides.
“Side-street explorer packages
are what our clients want.”
India is also popular for
those wanting great deals
on textiles, but it is really a
shopper’s paradise, producing
both modern and traditional
goods.
Handicrafts, jewellery,
furnishings, art, spices
and more can be bought
at bazaars, markets, street
stalls and malls. Shopping
destinations to be included
in an itinerary in Delhi are
Connaught Place (Delhi’s
commercial centre), Khan
Market (clothes, shoes and
jewellery) and Old Delhi, one
of the largest markets in Asia.
Be aware that due to India’s
high import tax, imported
merchandise at the malls is
expensive.
Visas to India are free with a
minimal cost of around R160
for the VFS service.
Morocco
Morocco offers a desert,
shopping and cultural
experience without the
costs associated with
destinations like Dubai. A
single-entry, 60-day visa
costs R332 if applied for
through the consulate
or R342 through MDS
Visapak.
Nadia Horn at Selena
Travel Agency says
Casablanca and Fez are
both worth a visit and
offer a variety of shopping
experiences including
markets. Coach tours are
readily available. Best-buys
include carpets, leather
goods, kaftans, pottery
goods and brassware.
With increased low-cost
flights to Fez, it has become
popular with the English
and European market,
which means locals are
more tourist-savvy, however
bargaining is accepted and
shopping is still relatively
inexpensive for South
Africans.
If brands are what your
clients are after then
the Morocco Mall and
Anfaplace Shopping Centre
in Casablanca need to be
Venice Barris on the itinerary.
Did you know?
Princess Cruises offers on-board shoppers a Princess Shopping Host.
Sabrina Allcock, director of Discover the World in SA, says the host assists
passengers while in port to make the most of their time ashore with
insider tips into hidden shopping gems and the best-value items available.
“While the host is only available on selected itineraries, this is a great
resource for shoppers after bargains or specific items.” Princess Cruises
also offers on-board shopping with European and American designer
brands including jewellery, handbags, sunglasses, fragrances and clothing.
It is all duty free and passengers receive 30% off retail prices.
Argentina
Penny Bannerman, owner
of Curious Traveller, says
Buenos Aires is a hit with
South Africans for its leather
handbags and art.
“Mix this with regional
cooking and you’ve got a
destination that is becoming
more popular,” she says. It
is visa free for SA travellers
and visitors get 90 days to
enjoy the country.
It is often referred to as the
Paris of South America, and
shoppers can enjoy a French
influence without the French
prices. Besides leather
goods and art, shoppers can
also look out for bargains on
hand-embroidered clothing,
art-deco furniture, antiques
and local wines. It is also a
concept-boutique shopper’s
dream with many young
entrepreneurs and designers
opening stores that are
pushing boundaries and
setting trends.
Galeria Patio Del Liceo, an
art and shopping concept
store, is well worth a visit.
Here several artists and
creatives have transformed
the shopping-mall stereotype
into a collection of boutiques
and galleries combined with
music, film screenings and
other entertainment in the
evenings. For those on the
lookout for local brands,
Panorama in Palermo should
be included.
There are shopping tours
aplenty in Buenos Aires and
agents should advise clients
to look out for the Tax Free
shopping sign, which means
foreign visitors can claim
back the 21% sales tax
on purchases made in the
country.
Singapore
While not as budget friendly
as other destinations
mentioned by agents,
Singapore’s big selection
of international brands,
department stores, boutiques
and malls, as well its unique
cultural experience, make it a
destination of choice.
This is according to Sally
George, market development
manager for Singapore
Airlines in SA, who also
emphasises that South
Africans do not need visas
to visit.
Orchard Road (don’t miss
the Christmas lights and
Design Orchard), Marina Bay
Sands, Chinatown, Little India,
VivoCity, Haji Lane, and Clarke
Quay are shopping hubs not
to be missed, she says.
“Those after an authentic
Singaporean shopping
experience should head to
Chinatown Street Market.
There you will find great
shopping, authentic food,
entertainment and more.”
Christmas sales started on
November 15 and continue
until December 25. Chinese
New Year sales start on
December 27 and run until
January 24.
SQ launches next-gen inflight shopping
AIRLINE inflight shopping
experiences have
undergone radical
disruption in recent
years, mainly driven by
digitisation.
In response, Singapore
Airlines has relaunched
its next-generation
retail travel experience,
KrisShop.
The revised website
now sports a new
interface with a number
of enhanced order and
delivery options aimed
to improve a customer’s
shopping journey.
Last-minute shopping
New pre-order features
have been added,
catering for last-minute
shoppers. Previously,
orders had to be made
more than 24 hours
before a flight, while now
they may be placed up to
60 minutes before flight
departure. Orders can
be delivered straight to
the passenger’s seat on
board.
KrisShop has also
collaborated with
selected hotel groups and
is introducing a service
where purchases can be
delivered to hotel rooms
for added convenience.
Multiple payment options
are also being added,
including KrisPay, Apple
Pay, Samsung Pay and
Alipay.
Passengers will
soon be able to shop
on KrisShop.com via
Singapore Airlines’
in-flight entertainment
system and have their
parcels delivered to their
homes.
POP Stations will also
be set up for hassle-free
self-collection.
KrisShop has introduced
a number of concept
store experiences,
such as With Love,
SG, which showcases
home-grown brands; or
KrisShop Cares, which
offers a selection of
curated products and
artworks where proceeds
are invested back into
community projects.
Major destinations still pull tourists
WHILE some South Africans
may be feeling the strain of
the weak rand, destinations
including London, Paris, New
York and Bangkok remain
popular.
FlightSite’s Astrid Sanders
says tourism to Dubai for
pure shopping purposes, for
example, is definitely dropping
because it has become so
expensive, with most of the
brands there also available
elsewhere.
“We’re seeing a steady
increase in travellers heading
to Amsterdam for the latest
trends.”
Lesley Simpson, Tourism
Authority of Thailand’s
marketing representative in
SA, says Bangkok in particular
is seen as a South African
shopper’s paradise. “The
favourable exchange rate
means South Africans still find
great deals on everything from
clothing to household items
and souvenirs.”
She recommends
encouraging clients to head to
Bangkok’s Chatuchak Weekend
Market. It is the largest market
in Thailand, divided into 27
sections with over 15 000
stalls selling everything from
clothing to coconuts.
“MBK shopping centre is still
a big drawcard for its location
and easy accessibility, plus
it is air-conditioned. There is
also a well-priced boutique
hotel called LiT just around the
corner. The recently opened
mega-centre, Iconsiam, on
the Chao Phraya River offers
most of the world’s top
brands and is worth including
in a shopping itinerary. The
Asiatique night market is a
little more expensive, but it is
well organised and has great
restaurants and bars.”
While the northern part of
Thailand including Chiang Mai
is not considered a shopping
hub, Lesley says it is cheaper
than the south and great
for purchasing fabrics and
artworks.
South Africans are savvy
travellers who like to combine
shopping with traditional
sightseeing, says Astrid. “We
frequently see requests for
accommodation close to the
shops or for tips and advice
when booking passengers to
new destinations.”
She says agents should
quote clients on centrally
located hotels close to the
shopping areas or public
transport.
“Do your research and
advise clients on the
traditional sale dates for their
specific destination. Also
highlight other attractions in
the area, which can make
one option stand out from the
rest.”
Did you know?
If clients flying with Virgin
Atlantic Airways need
to bring extra luggage
over and above their free
baggage allowance, they
can pay online to check
in up to seven extra bags
per person. Each bag can
weigh up to a maximum
of 23kg with dimensions
of up to 90 x 75 x 43cm.
Any bags weighing over
23kg will be charged as
overweight bags. Travellers
can purchase up to ten in
total, but they will have to
do this at the airport. If
travelling in Upper Class,
the maximum weight is
32kg per bag.
