Fly, My Beloved Country...

Tourism seems to be one of the few industries in South Africa that haven't really been affected by the global recession. Or has it? It's true that jobs haven't been lost (go 2010!)but the numbers are still down. Reports indicate that the number of foreign tourists that visit the country from outside of the African continent have dropped by 110 000.

The SA Tourism Services Association (SATSA) claims that leisure travel has dropped by 40%. Fortunately business travellers, sport travellers and visits to friends and family (even if immigration is a drain on skills, at least it's good for tourism) are the reasons the industry is being kept afloat.

While tour groups are drying up, tourists to SA have had to resort to travelling alone. Not a bad idea, especially in light of the fact that Tourism Radio, now available in the Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal, will keep lone rangers company while exploring the country in their Range Rovers. Access to Tourism Radio has never been easier as a partnership with Expedia.com makes Tourism Radio a check box away. Visit www.tourismradio.co.za or www.expedia.com to book your seat with the station that gets you going.

According to industry experts, there is also one last component that will keep South African tourism from drowning in a sea of tears...domestic tourism. And we're not just talking about going to see the flowers in Namaqualand, we're talking about visitors from Africa. While the Americans, Europeans and Asians are staying put, the African continent is clinging to the sentiment that you either go big, or friends...you go home.

So, what are we doing about it? Not much apparently. As an industry, tourism seems to be ill prepared and clueless about the needs of the African tourism market. Now, it is being looked into, research is being done and sights are set on capitalising on this fairly untapped market.

A few comments have been passed that South Africa's Apartheid past and the bias attitude of tour operators are some reasons why we aren't looking to Africa for more business. Strange but quite possibly true. If bad attitudes mean the difference between Rich Tata Poor Tata, than I say, get over it and get rich. Especially because South Africa is to Africa what France is to the European Union.

Drop the prejudice for a Peugeot and get Tourism Radio in your car. Like so many other parts of the world, South Africa has earned their wings, now its time to learn to fly...Africa, we're ready for you. Welcome.