At the 2024 Corporate Think Tank in Hyderabad’s ITC Kohenur, South African Tourism highlighted its expertise in MICE, with the event being significantly enriched by the involvement of senior corporate travel leaders from India’s majestic city, Hyderabad.
Emphasizing its dedication to India’s business and MICE travel sector, South African Tourism progressed with its fifth Corporate Think Tank of this year’s series, a key component of its Corporate MICE program. The event took place at ITC Kohenur, Hyderabad on 22nd March 2024.
The corporate outreach initiative has been a significant triumph for the tourism board, evolving into a robust platform for delving into business and corporate event prospects for South Africa.
Programs such as Corporate Think Tank sessions create a foundation for immediate recognition, targeting the increasing interest in MICE tourism. These have become a crucial element of the South African Tourism Board‘s strategic approach, enabling direct engagement with those in charge of corporate travel procurement within their organizations to meet their requirements.
India stands out as one of the largest contributors to the inbound incentive travel market in South Africa.
Some notable achievements in past editions, the Corporate Think Tank initiatives have become a pivotal platform for South African Tourism to grasp and streamline the corporate travel demands of Indian companies.
Organizing these events allows the tourism board to establish connections with key decision-makers and strengthen its business relationships.
Thanks to favourable exchange rates against the USD (approximately $1 = 82.70 INR) and GBP (approximately £1 = 105.50 INR), the Rainbow Nation stands out as an exceptionally cost-effective and accessible international travel destination, with the South African Rand (ZAR) being valued at around 4.40 INR. Furthermore, the tourism board has noted a clear interest in South Africa as a preferred destination for incentives, reflecting the growing emphasis on such travel programs by Indian companies.
Organized by OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd, these sessions have been specifically curated to be interactive and encourage a healthy free-flowing exchange of ideas amongst the attendees and South African Tourism.
Led by Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India and South-East Asia, South African Tourism the Corporate Think Tanks are specifically curated to be highly interactive and encourage attendees to participate in a healthy free-flowing discussion.
“At a time when outbound tourism from India is firing on all cylinders, engagement sessions such as these assist in setting the ground for quick recall and are particularly aimed at capitalising on the growing demand in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions travel segment,” said Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India and South-East Asia, South African Tourism.
A key feature of the 2024 Hyderabad Corporate Think Tank was the opportunity it offered South African tourism officials to interact with top MICE buyers from the Hyderabad area directly.
During the session, discussions spanned a range of topics including South Africa’s capacity to host corporate travellers, conduct closed-door meetings, and seminars, as well as the unique selling points that make the destination appealing for incentive-driven travel.
Neliswa Nkani enthralled the audience with an engaging keynote speech, highlighting South Africa’s exceptional capacity to host MICE events. Said Neliswa Nkani, “With India’s outbound tourism market recovering strongly post-pandemic, South African Tourism aims to maintain this momentum, emphasizing the strategic importance of India as a focus market for 2024 and beyond. With 95,000 Indian visitors in 2019, the country expects to exceed 1,00,000 tourists from India in 2024.”
She went on to say, “We have noticed a marked interest in South Africa as a prime location for incentive travel, particularly as Indian corporations increase their investment in such travel initiatives. We have also noted that organizing these events is a strategic way to engage with influential figures and strengthen partnerships. Further the value proposition of South Africa as an exceptionally cost-effective destination for Indian travellers, thanks to its favourable exchange rates against the US dollar and British pound makes South Africa an attractive choice for MICE travel.”
The event encouraged a vibrant exchange between South African tourism representatives and corporate purchasers, covering essential topics like visa procedures, airfare, and the extensive selection of MICE venues in South Africa, as well as providing thorough details on the nation’s accommodations and convention facilities. This dialogue enhanced comprehension and laid the groundwork for establishing meaningful business relationships.
South Africa boasts some of the world’s most breathtaking landscapes, thrilling 3,000+ adventure activities catering to millennials, and mesmerizing wildlife encounters. Employees arriving on incentive trips are presented with many opportunities, from surfing through wildlife safaris, road-tripping famous routes or basking in the nation’s natural beauty, all within a week. The nation has an excellent track record in meeting the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) travel requirements of well-known Indian companies. South Africa’s recent growth has exceeded that of many countries, showcasing its resilience.
Hyderabad is rapidly becoming an important hub for multinational corporations worldwide, contributing significantly to the inbound traffic from India to South Africa.
In 2023, 59% of travellers from Hyderabad to South Africa were on professional visits, highlighting the city’s increasing contribution to business travel to South Africa.
Recognizing the necessity for swift processing, South African Tourism ensures corporate visas are processed within 5 to 7 working days. The country boasts an impressive record, having effectively met the MICE travel requirements of prominent Indian companies throughout India in previous instances.
Moderated by Kamal Gill, Director of OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd, the dialogue spanned numerous topics such as the forthcoming cycle of employee engagement, the unique advantages of South Africa for MICE groups, the assistance provided by the tourism board, and the opportunities for activities available to prospective MICE groups in the contemporary era.
“India is strategically important for South African Tourism and has cemented itself among the top three growth markets. The country’s growth over recent years has outperformed many nations and displayed remarkable resilience. Being a major metro of India, Hyderabad is a city of increasing significance in realising the tourism board’s MICE arrivals targets from India.,” said Kamal Gill, Director, OptiMICE Events Pvt Ltd.
Overall, South Africa welcomed 79,774 Indian travellers last year, marking an increase of 43% in visitors from India on a year-on-year basis. Notably, 46% of overall travellers were motivated by business travel of which MICE alone attracted 21% signifying its underlying potential.
To further propel this momentum, the tourism board will continue with its efforts to improve accessibility and encourage dialogues aimed at establishing direct air connectivity to boost tourism and trade between the two nations.
About South African Tourism:
South African Tourism is the tourism marketing arm of the South African government. Simply put, their job is to promote the country domestically and internationally, whether for leisure, business, or events tourism. As a government body, they are committed to meaningfully contributing to the South African government’s objectives of inclusive economic growth, sustainable job creation, and redistribution and transformation of the industry.
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