SATSA Conference 2023 Day 2 Highlights – ‘From Talk to Walk’

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED AT SATSA’S CONFERENCE ON DAY 2.

Scene Setting – Structured Engagement 

Day 2 of the conference kicked-off with TBCSA CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa and South African Tourism’s acting CEO, Nomasonto Ndlovu delivering an inspirational message on structured engagement and how crucial this is for all sectors contributing to South Africa’s Tourism industry.  

Watch here to learn about a most interesting industry wedding…

Target Markets: UK, North America and Germany

Expert panellists took us through challenges, recovery rates, opportunities and strategies to grow and retain these important markets. Keeping with the conference theme of ‘Partnerships for Action,’ a key message was that we have to work together to ensure that these markets experience South Africa, which will inevitably keep them coming back. 

National Tourism Inclusivity Pledge 

This session unpacked the proposed National Tourism Code of Conduct Pledge and how it encourages tourism activities to be undertaken with respect for basic rights like dignity, safety, and freedom from exploitation. The session promoted responsible tourism practices, how we can improve the visitor experience and increase industry credibility. 

BMW Golf Partnership 

This session provided an overview of South African Tourism’s partnership with BMW Golf to promote South Africa as a top golf destination.  

Minister of Tourism Keynote Address 

Addressing delegates, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille outlined her department’s four key priorities and welcomed SATSA members’ input in achieving these priorities. Among these was a call for input into a draft master plan guiding the tourism industry’s recovery.  

Adventure Tourism 

Buckle up! This session uncovered the power of adventure tourism in South Africa. The panel delved into the potential of adventure tourism for the inbound tourism industry from unique experiences and high-spending visitors to economic benefits for local communities, sustainability, destination competitiveness and how we can position South Africa as a top Adventure Tourism destination. 

Tourism Safety & Security 

Safety and security are critical for tourism in South Africa and has an impact on visitor safety, destination reputation, economic growth, regulatory compliance, and community support. This session explored how the industry can prioritise safety and security including compliance with regulations, stakeholder responsibilities and building community support to safeguard the future of tourism in our country. 

View the full conference speaker line up here. 

IMAGE GALLERY

The man behind the lens – Sam Sithole from People Photography 

We would like to thank Sam for joining us last weekend and for capturing the SATSA ‘Partnerships for Action’ in such a magical way. We will be sharing professional images soon.  

If you would like to book Sam for your special occasion or event, please email: sitholesam12@gmail.com  or follow Sam on Instagram: people_photography1 

View the image gallery here

CONFERENCE FEEDBACK

Let us know your thoughts 

This year’s conference was a great way to kick off Africa’s Travel Indaba and we received positive feedback that many delegates loved arriving in Durban to attend the conference and head straight into Indaba, saving on travel costs and time. However, we also received feedback that it has been a very busy period with a host of events taking place in the event/trade show calendar.  

We would appreciate your feedback so that we can consider your comments for the 2024 SATSA Conference. Share your thoughts here. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 

The Batho Pele initiative and a directive from Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), informs that the department must have an approved Service Delivery Charter, and within the Charter the department outlines the handling of suggestions, complaints and compliments in two ways, electronically and manually through the suggestion box.

Complaints and compliments can be submitted and the system guaranties confidentiality of everyone who is submitting suggestions, complaints and compliments.Share your thoughts with the Department of Tourism here.

Unlocking Travel Markets 

South African Tourism (SAT) has compiled a comprehensive guide to understanding the markets in which SAT operates. These booklets are packed with actionable insights and is a must-read for anyone looking to invest in one of SAT’s MPIF markets. Click here for more information.