DESPITE THE challenges of jet fuel shortage in South Africa, investors continue to have business confidence in the country.
This follows the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the global airline operator Emirates and the South African Tourism at the Arabian Travel Market exhibition.
The deal means promotion of tourism and boost visitor arrivals and inbound traffic to South Africa from key markets across the 130 Emirates network.
Kazim, Emirates’ chief commercial officer said: “For more than 25 years we have invested in, and grown our operations to, South Africa. We’re working hard to restore our services to pre-pandemic levels to help generate more opportunities for travelers from around the world to experience South Africa’s unique natural experiences, world-renowned cuisine, and local culture.
Emirates is well-placed to support the recovery of South Africa’s tourism sector and help raise the profile of the destination again, offering convenient connections from over 130 destinations, and providing even more links for travelers who want to explore beyond our three South African gateways through our four airline partners,” he said.
The Emirates brand is popular in SA having invested in business to sporting events amongst others.
It has been serving South Africa for 27 years, connecting close to 20 million travellers to and from South Africa and Dubai.
“We want to continue ensuring ease of access into South Africa for Middle Eastern travelers and this collaboration will assist us in elevating our trade efforts; in terms of packaging the destination. We look forward to welcoming more travelers from the Middle East, to experience the various quality assured products and experiences that cater for this market, including; family friendly accommodation establishments and activities, a diverse offering of cuisine as well as wildlife and safari,” says minister of Tourism in SA, Lindwe Sisulu.
Both parties will also explore opportunities to collaborate on joint advertising and marketing campaigns, as well as familiarisation programmes to South Africa for travel trade and media representatives, among other initiatives.
Emirates will also support the transport of South African Tourism’s marketing collaterals to select destinations in its network.
“The Middle East is a critical market for South Africa so this partnership will be very instrumental in ensuring ease of access to and from South Africa for travellers from this region. This will increase direct airlift, making room for more travellers, and as our tourism sector recovers we look forward to welcoming more visitors from the Middle East,” says South African Tourism acting CEO, Khumalo.
Recently, Airports Company SA announced there was jet fuel shortage that has cost millions in the industry.
As a result, some international companies also cancelled their trips to SA, but ACSA and the Airlines Association of Southern Africa, were quick to point out that contingency plans were in place to avoid total shortage of fuel jet or force majeure.
Image SAT (Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu, acting SAT CE Themba Khumalo, SAT board member Thebe Ikalafeng and executive members of Emirates at the MOU signing ceremony in Dubai).
