California-based Africa specialist Africa Travel and South African ground handler Thompsons Africa have successfully hosted what they called a mega-fam trip to South Africa this month, taking agents to such South African destinations as Cape Town and the Kruger National Park.
Some 32 agents from consortia such as Vacation.com, Signature, Virtuoso and Vacations to Go were scheduled to join this trip, though several were unable to attend due to flight disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy.
Those who were able to visit the country were treated by Thompsons Africa to a trip around the Cape Winelands, a visit to Table Mountain and a safari in South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park.
Jim Holden, president of Africa Travel, said the operator sees far better results when exposing travel agents to a destination and its product than other forms of training. In addition to the sightseeing component of the trip, agents attended a full day of presentations by some of South Africa’s most renowned suppliers, including Red Carnation Hotels, Sabi Sabi, Sun International, Lion Sands and Wilderness Safaris.
Africa appears to be on everyone’s bucket list, he said. Africa Travel said its business is up 40% year over year, while forward bookings for 2013 are already up 91%. “Africa really is experiencing a boom and has certainly captured our market’s attention,” said Holden.
Holden adds that although there is interest in the entire continent, South Africa remains higher on the U.S. market’s radar than even East Africa.
In addition to the exposure South Africa enjoyed as a result of the 2010 Soccer World Cup, airfares to South Africa are much more in sync with Europe fares than they have been in the past.
Virtuoso agent Heather Schuyler from Robertson International Travel in Santa Barbara, Calif., was among the retailers visiting South Africa on the fam. “The fact that I have that much more knowledge about the destination because I’ve visited it ensures clients can hear the passion in my voice when I’m presenting them with options,” she said.
New York-based agent Bobette Spence from Courtyard Travel agreed. “There’s certainly interest in South Africa from my clients. And now that I’ve visited, I will be able to choose experiences and create tailor-made trips that suit their needs.”