Tag Archives: Hanneli Slabber

The South African Department of Home Affairs has finally submitted to the demands of the travel agents and tour operators regarding visa issues for Indians. Hanneli Slabber, Country Manager – India, South Africa Tourism, who will be in India till December 2016, has revealed that Indians do not have to carry birth certificates while travelling with children anymore. “We are very happy that the visa process for Indians has been simplified. The processing days have been brought down under five days as well as the need for carrying birth certificates for children has been eliminated. The Department of Home Affairs has mapped out the seasons and they send us extra support, in terms of manpower, during those times. So the processing is quickened at both the High Commission as well as the Consulate specifically for the Indian market. The big part of our travel is during the Indian monsoon from May through August, which led to a huge bottleneck,” she said.

South African Tourism has launched a new campaign called ‘Fastest 50’- a unique incentive campaign for trade partners in India. The first 20 agents to book fastest 50 customers for a nine-night or more package will win an all-expense paid trip to the Rainbow Nation. To participate, partners have to be certified SA Specialists (both phases) and have at least two packages featured on South African Tourism website deal page. The Fastest 50 campaign is valid for travel period from June 1 onwards. Commenting on the campaign, Country Manager – India, Hanneli Slabber said that, “India is an important market for South African Tourism and our trade partners have been vital in our success here. It is essential that we engage with our partners in meaningful and innovative ways to allow them to sell the destination and experience South Africa first hand. This campaign is our effort to sustain these engagements so that we have destination loyalists. We invite all our partners to participate and be the first in this exciting run chase and make the most of it.”

During January-September 2015, South Africa received 58,373 Indian arrivals to the country, shared Monika Iuel, General Manager-International Marketing, South African Tourism, at the Delhi leg of 4-city South African Tourism roadshow. She stated that they are hoping for exponential growth with the help of various campaigns, due for launch in 2016. Talking about the initiative, Hanneli Slabber, Country Head, South African Tourism, said that the Chalo South Africa and T20 World Cup campaigns set to launch on March 1 and March 10 respectively, will surely be beneficial in upping the tourist arrival number to the country. After Delhi, the South African Tourism roadshow moves to Hyderabad on January 21, and ends at Mumbai on January 22.