South African Tourism is currently promoting their country in the USA with their ‘Ubuntu Expo’. The Expo, a trade show, has visited many major American cities in order to improve South Africa’s standing as a prime tourist destination. It’s intended to be a forum where tourism agents and suppliers can meet and form networks, while learning more about tourism opportunities in South Africa.
The expo was launched in New York at the Pierre Hotel, with more than 150 travel agents and journalists, and more than 20 South African suppliers attending. Several important South Africans were there for the launch, including Executive Mayor, Parks Tau – the current mayor of Johannesburg; his head of finance, Geoff Makhubo; the Consul-General of South Africa in New York, George Monyemangene; and Sthu Zungu, the President of South African Tourism North America.
South Africa is eager to raise its profile in the USA after promising tourism growth figures showed a 15.6 per cent year-over-year increase in US visitors since April. 8 million people visited the country in 2010, giving the tourism sector a 15.1 per cent boost, and between January and April this year, foreign tourist arrivals were up by 7.5 per cent from the same period last year.
Sthu Zungu commented on the expo’s approach and how the name of the event referred to an African philosophy of human bonds and connection: “It is the essence of being human. I am because you are. This is the very spirit and philosophy behind the Ubuntu Expo, bringing a wide variety of influencers together, including suppliers, vendors and the tourism board to showcase the best that South Africa has to offer as a leading travel destination.”
