SOUTH Africa’s profile in Japan and South Korea has been raised a few notches as a result of a recent four-city road show, which participants have hailed as their “best ever”. Exhibitors have praised the “superior” organisation of the show, which they say attracted an unprecedented number of trade delegates.
The same could not, however, be said for several South African provincial tourism authorities, who delegates say withdrew from the road show at the 11th hour. This despite having been listed in the road show’s marketing collateral. “People were eager to get news on South Africa because the SA Tourism team actually personally invited senior delegates to attend the road show, and then three of the provinces that were listed did not arrive. Only Cape Town Routes Unlimited attended and did exceptionally well,” says Fairfield Tours md, Ian Kleinhans. Legend Lodges sales and marketing manager, Manuela Pallamar, says the Japanese see this last-minute cancellation as a “loss of face”.
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency had planned in advance to be part of the delegation, but had to cancel at the “last minute” due to unforeseen circumstances with ceo, Solly Mosidi, said public relations officer, Kholo Khwinana. “Due to the requirements in travel arrangements like visas, transport and other logistics, we could not send someone else at the last minute to represent us,” said Khwinana. Limpopo Tourism and Parks, for its part, also blamed logistical problems for its failure to attend. “There was a death in the family of the person who was supposed to attend, and we were unable to secure a visa in time for the replacement,” said communications officer, Kgatla Ntlehekeng.
