South African Tourism is delighted by the huge success of World Cup 2010 in South Africa (nán fēi, 南非)

It’s figures reported that the tournament boosted visitor numbers by 25% from 1 June to 1 July in 2010 compared with the same period in the previous year.

According to figures released by the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa, a total 1,020,321 visitors visited the ‘Rainbow Country’ during the month, clearly demonstrating the tremendous pulling power of the World Cup.

From January to October 2010, 55,874 Chinese travelers visited South Africa, an increase of 65.5% compared with the same period in 2009, making China the fastest growing market in Asia for tourists visiting the country.

“The success of the World Cup 2010 presented a colourful South Africa to the world and further enhanced South Africa’s brand internationally,” said Mr. Bradley Brouwer, Regional Manager: Asia Pacific, South African Tourism (SAT). “In 2011, SAT will enter a new era and look to ride on the tremendous growth experienced in 2010 by continuing to explore more diversified cooperation with media and trade partners making South Africa an even more attractive destination for travelers.”

South Africa rakes in awards in China

Last year, South Africa received many awards from media and trade partners in China, including the “Year’s Most Influential Tourism Destination”, “The Most Popular Long-haul Destination” and “Top 10 Overseas Destinations”.

SAT recently held a roadshow that visited Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou, with the theme of “Leave Ordinary Behind and Enjoy the Green South Africa”, to further promote the Rainbow Country as a preferred tourist destination for Chinese travelers.

SAT also embarked on a series of marketing activities using the “Leave Ordinary Behind” theme to enhance the profile of South Africa following the huge success of the World Cup where the country extended a hand of friendship to visitors from all over the world.

‘Reality tourism’

Last November, SAT launched a “20 Experiences in 10 Days” casting campaign organised by Rapid Blue, a professional TV production company from South Africa. This promotion seeks to find a couple from China to travel around South Africa while being trailed by Rapid Blue’s cameras that will record all the fantastic sights experienced along the way. Following this, a TV commercial will be produced for broadcasting internationally.

A four-month sales campaign was also recently launched targeting travel agents to promote South Africa.

The five sales agents that generate the most sales will receive an award from SAT.

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Do you remember this classic Douglas Green advert from waaay back in the days?

(OK… they were Japanese tourists, but I’m sure enjoyed it!)

Leveraging the state visit of President Jacob Zuma, South African Tourism‘s China office held “The Tourism Round Table Activation” event on 24 August 2010 in Beijing.

Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism highlighted to key industry stakeholders the successes and lessons derived from hosting the 2010 World Cup event and the tourism focus beyond the tournament.

More than 100 tour operators, travel and lifestyle media and executives from multinational companies across China were invited.

The visit of President Zuma highlights the strengthening cooperation between the two nations including the signing of a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aimed at deepening and broadening bilateral relations. The visit also demonstrates the importance that South Africa attaches to its political, economic and cultural relationship with China.

South Africa’s trade relations with China have expanded dramatically in recent years, with China becoming South Africa’s largest export destination by market since the start of 2009. China remains South Africa’s largest partner with regard to imports. Trade and tourism are often closely correlated.

“The World Cup was a phenomenal success and positioned South Africa to the world as a capable, friendly, welcoming, exciting nation and hence a great place to visit. Many people understand that South Africa has become a globally noteworthy destination for leisure, business and big event tourism,” said Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

Minister Van Schalkwyk

He added: “South African Tourism is confident that it will attract 10 million foreign visitors in 2010. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will contribute to this number, but will not be the sole driver of arrivals. Excellent service and a welcoming attitude enriches the diversity of our tourist offerings and enhances the experience of being a tourist in South Africa.”

The world-renowned STAR grading has been introduced in South Africa, lead by The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). TGCSA is a business unit of South African Tourism, responsible for the administration of the STAR grading, and is the only officially recognized organization that authorizes accommodation establishments to display Quality Stars.

There are over 8,000 star graded establishments in South Africa. Travel to South Africa to experience quality and cost effective leisure and business accommodation facilities, providing a “Home-Away-From-Home” experience with world-class conferencing facilities for the visitors in South Africa.

“China is definitely a very important source market for South African Tourism, ” said Mr Bradley Brouwer, Regional Manager:Asia Pacific, South African Tourism.

SA Tourism’s Bradley Brouwer

“China arrivals to South Africa totaled 45,326 from January to December 2009 which was a 12.4% increase compared to 2008. China arrivals numbered 18,928 from January to April 2010 and it represented a 40.2% increase compared to the same period in 2009. In 2010, China became one of the fastest growing overseas markets for South Africa in Asia. South Africa is still quite a new travel destination to the Chinese people. So we see the Chinese market as having great potential.”

2010 is a critical year for both South Africa and China. South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup and China is currently hosting the World Expo in Shanghai – both global events. The target of the South African Pavilion in the Shanghai Expo was to welcome 10 million visitors during the whole 184-day Expo duration, which has been achieved in only 88-days.

The Expo as a whole has attracted over 100 million visitors.

The South African Pavilion at the World Expo, Shanghai. Read more about the Pavilion here

Images from the recent Tourism Workshop in Hong Kong:

Howzit-HongKong.com regularly field e-mails from people who have attended South African promotional events in Hong Kong with requests for various contact details of participants and exhibitors.

In the interest of those who may be interested in contacting any of the exhibitors at this weekend’s South African Tourism Workshop at the Park Lane Hotel, here are the contact details of the role-players:

South African Tourism

(1) Evelyn Mahlaba: Regional Director: Americas, Asia & Australasia

27 11 8953000 27 11 8953001

evelyn@southafrica.net

(2) Bradley Brouwer: Regional Manager: Asia Pacific

86 10 85236881 86 10 85236897

bradley@southafricantourism.cn

(3) Tracy Qi :General Manager: Marketing & PR

86 10 85236883 or 86 10 85236897

tracyqi@southafrica.sina.net

(4) Simon Wang: Finance & Administration Officer

86 10 85236881 or 86 10 85236897 13681220731

simonwang@southafrica.sina.net

SA Tourism Regional Manager: Bradley Brouwer (pic: Mike Jansen)

South African Embassy

Busisiwe Mkhwebane-Tshehla: Councillor: Home Affairs

86 10 85230000

KER & DOWNEY SA PTY LTD

Stephen Chak Yum Li: Director of Business Development

27 21 4698800 27 21 4698895 27 83 3023737

stephen@ker-downey.co.za

Thebe Tourism Inbound, UTC Asia

Heather Rose Gutierrez: Head of Thebe Inbound

27 21 5510288 or 27 21 5510207 27 71 8591202

heather@thebetourism.co.za

Rock Sun

Lucky Liang: Managing Director

886 2 25631166 886 2 25641122 886 910092921

rocksun.sa@msa.hinet.net

Kuo Yu Chen:

rocksun.tpe@msa.hinet.net

Kuo Yu Chen (Taiwan)

886 2 25631166 or 886 2 25641122

rocksun.tpe@msa.hinet.net

Comfort Travel

Jason Pan: GM

27 11 8071188 or 27 11 5076688 or 27 82 7127965

jp@comforttravel.co.za

Feizhong International Travel

Cheng Chong: Tour Operator

27 11 6163378 or 27 11 6162835 or 27 83 2735607

mickeyw@harveyworld.co.za

Walk Through Africa Tours

Yuan Wei: GM

86 10 64958831 or 86 10 64975505 or 86 13501010811

wtatbj@gmail.com

Asian Sun Tours

Su Young Lee: Director 27 21 4215993 or 27 21 4215996 27 82 0626365

rachel@asiansun.co.za

Franschhoek Wine Valley Tourism Association

Jennifer Ann Prinsloo: CEO

27 21 8762861 or 27 21 8762768 or 27 82 9007410

ceo@franschhoek.org.za

Kelcy le Keur from the Cape Winelands District Municipality (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Cape Winelands District Municipality

(1) Kelcy Sharon Cheryl Le Keur: Executive Director

27 21 8885156 or 27 21 8874797 or 27 82 4144751

kelcy@capewinelands.gov.za

(2) Badih Jamil Chaaban: Executive Mayor

(3) Christelene Claurene Brink: Councillor, Regional Development and Planning Services

(4) Claude Vernon Schroeder: Executive Director, Rural & Social Development

Plettenberg Bay Tourism

Dianna Martin

27 44 5334065 or 27 83 4555061

dianna@mweb.co.za

Cape Town Routes Unlimited

Itumeleng Pooe: Executive Manager

27 21 4874860 or 27 21 4874801 or 27 82 4874860

itumelengp@tourismcapetown.co.za

Sun International

Mark Wang: Assistant Market Manager

27 11 7807903 or 27 11 7807188 or 27 83 3272485

mark.wang@za.suninternational.com

City Lodge Hotels Limited

Rosemary Bischoff: Assistant Sales Tours and Incentives

27 11 5572600 or 27 11 5572670 or 27 82 9030303

rose@citylodge.co.za

Recreation Africa Leisure Industries

Timothy George: Director

27 11 9506000 or 27 11 9573212 44 7824832476

recafrica@rali.co.za

African Romance

(1) Daviele Carta: Sales & Business Development Manager

27 11 3845606 or 27 11 3845661 or 27 83 3096409

devi@africanromance.com

(2) Chin Mei Tang: Sales Executive

27 11 3845600 or 27 11 3845661

Jerry Khalo from Sabi Sabi (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

Negi Jeremiah Khalo: Arean Manager, Marketing & Sales

27 11 4477172 or 27 11 4420728 or 27 84 8828466

jkhalo@sabisabi.com

Southern Sun

Jin Xiaoxu: China Representative

86 10 64731556 or 86 18910657157

steven_jin@sohu.com

Southern Sun

Jin Xiaoxu: China Representative

86 10 64731556 or 86 18910657157

steven_jin@sohu.com

Legend Lodges Hotels & Resorts

Nicolette Gauche Fourie: International Sales Manager

27 21 9819366 or 27 21 9822352 or 27 82 5200997

nicci@legendlodges.co.za

Protea Hotels

Tessa Jane Bott: Sales Manager

27 21 4305000 or 27 21 4305116 44 7776191177

tessab@africanpridehotels.com

SA Tourism

Click here to visit SA Tourism online

One Sunday afternoon, Howzit-HongKong.com attended an informative tourism workshop hosted by South African Tourism at the Park Lane Hotel in the busy shopping district of Causeway Bay.

The Hong Kong-leg is part of an aggressive travel promotion campaign across the Greater China region following a highly successful World Cup that drew an international audience of billions.

The campaign took in Shanghai and Hong Kong and at the time of writing, workshops are being conducted in Korea.  It concludes in Japan at the end of this week.

The series of workshops is targeted at the travel trade highlighting the rich and varied travel resources that the country has to offer and will be followed by other promotional activities aimed at the broader market. Forward bookings are already showing a marked pickup driven by intense media coverage of the sporting event over the past month.

More than 20 South African trade partners, including representatives from airlines, hotels, ground agents, wine associations and game reserves have taken part and provided comprehensive and in-depth information to more than 500 trade guests attending.

Jerry Khalo from the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve interacts with local service providers (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Just under one million foreign visitors have traveled to South Africa over the month of the World Cup according to new government figures and more than three million fans have attended matches, a new record.

The latest tourist arrival figures for 2010 show that more than 1.9 million (1,916,544) tourists arrived in South Africa from January to March 2010, representing a growth of 20.9% during the same period last year. Tourist arrivals were up from all major source markets, among which 21.9% are from the Asia market.

SA Tourism’s Bradley Brouwer (middle) and Minister Marthinus Van Schalkwyk meet a local service provider (Pic: Mike Jansen)

“South Africa’s tourism arrivals for the first quarter of the year exceeded our expectations, and we are confident the publicity from the World Cup will help us achieve our ambitious growth targets for 2010,” said Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the Minister of Tourism, Republic of South Africa at the Hong Kong stop trade workshop.

“The successful staging of the World Cup has changed global perceptions about the country. These China trade workshops come at the right time to provide a platform to create and explore more cooperation opportunities between the trade in South Africa and China. I am convinced the championship has opened up the door to our destination to scores of new visitors, and I look forward to bringing more exciting, meaty and in-depth itineraries to Chinese travelers.”

SA Tourism Regional Manager Bradley Brouwer (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Mr. Bradley Brouwer, Regional Manager: Asia Pacific, South African Tourism, thanked all honorable guests, trade partners and media friends for their long-term support given so for to South African Tourism.

“South African Tourism Beijing Office will strengthen cooperation and communications with the trade and acquire more cooperative measures to showcase the true beauty of South Africa to Chinese travellers,” said Mr. Brouwer. “Besides the trade workshop we hold annually, we are also going to tailor more substantial and value-for-money itineraries for the Chinese market and generate word-of-mouth influence to reach out to consumers through the trade and various media channels.”

Here are some more pictures from Sunday’s SA Tourism workshop:

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk will be in Hong Kong this weekend as part of an initiative to improve the country’s tourism offering to the Hong Kong market.

This weekend’s Tourism Workshop which Howzit-HongKong.com will be attending, comes at a very opportune time after South Africa’s recent triumphant hosting of the world’s biggest sports event: the 2010 World Cup.  Now is the time to make the best of all the positive exposure and Van Schalkwyk and his team are seizing the moment.

Meanwhile, SouthAfrica.info reports that the Minister has been appointed to chair the World Economic Forum’s tourism council.

Van Schalkwyk, who has been part of the South African delegation to Davos for the past two years, was invited by World Economic Forum (WEF) executive chairman Klaus Schwab to chair the WEF’s Aviation, Travel and Tourism Industry Agenda Council through to 2011.

Hopefully we’ll be able to congratulate Minister Van Schalkwyk in person this weekend.

Read the full story on Van Schalkwyk’s appointment here

A very successful South African Festivalcame to an end today at the Olympic City Mall here in Hong Kong.

Howzit-HongKong.com visited on Saturday (in part to pick up a case of Castle Lager beer at the Sheffied stall) and found the promotions area packed to the rafters with curious onlookers and Diski dancers alike.  This was the big day that many local dance groups were waiting for because the Mall was hosting a Diski Dance Competition as well as a mass dance display. South African Consul-General Tembi Tambo joined Diski Dance inventor Wendy Ramokgadi and other VIPs on the judging panel in front of the stage.

(Click on the images to enlarge)

Tembi Tambo and other VIPs join the mass Diski Dance performance at the SA Festival. 

Wendy Ramokgadi and his dancers are joined by local pop-star William at the Mass Diski Dance.

Dankie/Thank You/Mgoi!

Howzit-HongKong.com would like to take this opportunity to thank the Retail Marketing & Promotions Department of the Olympian City Mall (Sino Group) for staging this wonderful Festival in support of South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 World Cup.  Your efforts have gone a long way in focussing Hong Kong’s attention on our country and the 2010 World Cup.

Here are some more images from the 10-day Festival:

South Africa 2010… Ke Nako. It’s time!

South Africa’s economic ties to China were strengthened today with the opening of the South African Pavilion (pictured right) at the massive six-month Expo 2010 in the eastern port city of Shanghai, the largest centre of commerce and finance in mainland China and the showpiece of the world’s fastest-growing major economy.

With the payoff line Ke Nako! or It’s Time! – the same slogan as the 2010 Fifa World Cup – the pavilion offers visitors a taste of the best South Africa offers and its advantages as a strategic partner with China, given that country’s increasing interest in Africa. Each month until the end of October the pavilion will have a different theme: the 2010 Fifa World Cup, urban renewal, tourism and heritage, environment, and trade and investment.

At the 2010 Expo Shanghai South Africa aims to promote its most promising industries:

* agriprocessing,

* minerals and metals beneficiation,

* mining and defence technology,

* ICT, and

* alternative energy such as biofuels.

The pavilion, opened by South Africa’s international relations minister Mite Nkoana-Mashabane, uses the rondavel round house as its motif, interpreted in a modern way fusing traditional designs with modern materials.

Expo 2010 Shanghai is the largest ever held, with some 300 pavilions over an area of 5.3 kilometres. With the theme “Better City, Better Life” it is expected to attract 100-million visitors – double South Africa’s total population – during its six-month run from May to October.

More information about the South African Pavilion coming soon.

(Story: Mary Alexander, MediaClub SA)

Here at Howzit-HongKong.com, we’ve been moerse (very) impressed at the effort put in by the South African Consulate in Hong Kong in promoting our country’s honour of hosting the world for the FIFA Football World Cup in June 2010. 

Local Hong Kong businesses have joined the party and added their own events to the groundswell in anticipation of the world’s biggest sports event back home.

It is more than clear that world-wide, South Africa, and in a wider scale… Africa, is currently the flavour of the month.

I regularly visit the new K11 Mall near my apartment and have been impressed at the levels the promotions department of Hong Kong (and the world’s) only Art Mall have gone to in promoting Africa and South Africa.  In late March, K11 hosted a South African dance troupe to kick-off their Africa focus.  All over the Mall, exhibits and fotographs featuring Africa can be seen while their frontline promotions staff are all kitted out in African-print uniforms. 

Last week, I popped in to the Jason’s Grocery Store at K11 for my weekly provisions and took the following pictures:

The K11 frontline staff are dressed in African-style uniforms:

Well done K11 Mall!  You are playing your part in focussing local attention on South Africa in 2010!

This kind off African/South African-promotional initiative is but one of the un-recorded spin-offs of the FIFA 2010 World Cup that often go un-noticed.  Howzit-HongKong.com can only hope that local events like this will in the future help to welcome more Hong Kongers, Mainland Chinese and other Asians to South Africa.

That, for us, will be the REAL benefit and legacy of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Ke Nako. It’s our time.

Mike Jansen

K11 is a high-rise building located in Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon developed by New World Developments.  Underground it can be accessed via the pedestrian walkway from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR towards Tsim Sha Tsui East MTR.  The building features a 340 000 square-foot, 6-storey shopping centre beneath the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong.

On Sunday May 2, my family and I visited the South African Festival presented by the Olympian City Mall, in association with the South African Consulate in Hong Kong.

The kids were quite excited at the prospect and tried to see who would be the first to spot anything South African upon entering the mall from the Olympic MTR Station Exit D.  Micaela won when she was the first to see the South African flag draped on the stage!

As is the case at any mall around Hong Kong on a Sunday around lunch-time, Olympian City2 was buzzing with shoppers and the lunchtime-crowd.

I was pleased to see that quite a number of shoppers were carrying bags with products bought at some of the stalls that make up the South African expo.  This is Hong Kong so needless to say, the stalls that offered free tasting of their products had the most shoppers buzzing around.

Jim Lai’s uniquely South African liqueur was very popular!

I stopped over at the Africa 2 Asia stall, where the passionate Claire and Dom were exhibiting their unique South African products.  The girls are the sole representatives for NoMu, a designer range of meat rubs, spice grinders, dips and other deeee-licious products.  They also import some really delectable dressings and condiments from So!Go.  I don’t want to tell you too much, save to say: try and get out to Olympian City Mall by Sunday and visit the girls to see all the products they have.  If not, you can always contact them online.  

Work it! Dom & Claire working the early shoppers on Day 1 of the SA Festival at Olympian City2.

If it wasn’t for the fact that I still have a decent stock of SA goodies including NoMu spices from my last trip home, I’d have loaded my shopping bag at Africa2Asia even more.  As it were, I already had to carry home a case of Castle Lager beer, a selection of Mrs Ball’s chutney, some organic RooiBos tea and a couple of cartons of Cape-brand berry fruit-juice!  

Wendy Ramokgadi and his Diski Dancers were also working the crowd and, like they do every single day, invited members of the audience to the stage where they took them through their paces.   By the look of it, by the end of the Festival they will have trained quite a number of HongKongers to do the Diski Dance!

 Edith Poon from Olympian City told me that the dancers also “worked the crowds” in the big shopping centers like Times Square, Mon Kok as well as Central.  Have a look:

The South African Festival is on at Olympian City2 Mall until Sunday May 9.

As I am typing this, I am also watching the Stormers vs. Crusaders Super 14 rugby game at 2:45 on Saturday morning.  I don’t know if I’m more excited tellling you about what I found today, or at the fact that the Stormers are currently beating the New Zealanders at Newlands in Cape Town.  Let’s just say I’m doubly excited!

Earlier today, I visited the South African Festival hosted by the Olympian City Mall and the South African Consulate in West-Kowloon. (More about all the activities later.)  There I found a stall hosted by my old Saffa friend Leonora Sullivan who is the MD of Sheffied Limited, a locally-based company that imports SA goodies to Hong Kong.

Fresh off the plane

Imagine my excitement upon seeing this:

I support any brand that supports South African sport!  Hello and welcome back to HK, Castle Lager…

Every South African’s favourite Antie… Mrs Ball’s Chutney (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Leonora told me that these two brands are literally fresh off the plane and that Sheffied has some more surprises up their sleeves for the local Saffa expats (and locals of course).

To get your hands on this limited stock (for now) of Castle Lager & Mrs Ball’s Chutney, make your way out to the Olympian City Mall where you can buy them at the Sheffied Stand.

To get to Olympian City Mall, take the Tung Chung MTR line, get off at Olympic City MTR and exit at Exit D  

At 3:10am on Saturday morning, I’m the happiest South African in Hong Kong: I have a case of Castle Lagers, 3 bottles of Mrs Balls Chutney AND my team the Stormers just comprehensively beat the Crusaders 42-14.

What more does a man want this time of the morning?!

Mmmmm…