Zibonele Ntuli
28 January 2004
South Africa was voted Ireland's favourite long-haul destination at the Irish Travel Trade Awards held during the Holiday World eXperience travel trade exhibition in Dublin last week.
This was the second Irish award for tourist destinations that South Africa has won this year. In January, the country was named best long-haul destination by the Evening Herald.
South African Tourism's portfolio manager for Europe, Mzwakhe Msimango, said he was delighted at the award, "particularly because it was voted by the Irish Travel Trade. It shows that once people are aware of the authentically unique products that we have to offer, they will vote with their feet and visit our beautiful country".
Msimango said South Africa had experienced a 43% growth in tourist arrivals from Ireland over the last two years. Last year alone, arrivals increased by 22% between January and September.
"In May last yearm 100 travel agents from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were jointly hosted by South African Tourism and South African Airways in what was believed to be the largest expedition of Irish travel agents ever to South Africa", Msimango said.
He said the two trips were followed later by a South African roadshow throughout Ireland. "These two initiatives demonstrate SA Tourism's commitment to the Irish market, and have had a flow-on effect in real terms to arrivals."
This was the third consecutive year that South Africa exhibited at the Irish tourism and travel show, Holiday World. Exhibitors from the country included SA Tourism, South African Airways, Cape Grace, Western Travel Focus, Avis Car rental, Cape Tourism Board, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and Kagga Kamma.
Source: BuaNews
