The year that was…

IT’S been a tough year for
the travel industry – a weak
rand, the Eskom crisis and
government visa regulations
have put a damper on
business confidence. But
in these difficult times,
eTravel has managed to still
record growth by keeping its
expenses in check.
This was the word from
upbeat ceo, Garth Wolff, at
eTravel’s Open Forum 2015
held at the Indaba Hotel in
Johannesburg on October 17.
The company recorded a
turnover of R933 million,
growing 5% from 2014
and Garth forecasted that
eTravel would reach the
“elusive billion” in 2017. The
company has 154 ITCs in its
stable.
The ITC solution provider
has been busy – it has
opened an ITC resource
centre and revamped its
eTravel and eHolidays
websites. It had also upped
its activity online through
social media platforms such
as Instagram, Facebook and
LinkedIn, and participated
in more educationals, Garth
said.
Looking at the year ahead,
Garth predicted that it would
be another tough year for
travel. “SA’s GDP growth for
2016 is expected to be a
dismal 1,4%. The rand would
fluctuate between R12,50
and R14,50 to the dollar
but this would be offset
by the low oil price,” Garth
predicted.
At least one of SA’s four
LCCs would fail within the
next six months, he added.
“There’s been a drop in
demand, prices have fallen
and we can expect one of
the domestic carriers to exit
the market before February
or March.”
However, on the ITC front,
things are looking good.
“The ITC model is gaining
momentum as more large
consortiums follow what we
started 16 years ago,” Garth
said. “I believe our growth
will outstrip that of the
market, which has been the
case since eTravel launched
in 2009.
“Overall, I’m not concerned
about SA’s future. We have
so much to celebrate,
including our entrepreneurs
here tonight,” Garth
concluded.