Top Destinations For SA Business Travellers
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A corporate travel management company looked at traveller behaviour, booking patterns, airfares and popular destinations for an indication of what the top business travel destinations are.
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For example, booking behaviour has very much remained on par with 2022.
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"Businesses are booking on average 15 days before travelling. What has changed, however, is the top 5 international and regional business destinations and the airfares to get to these destinations," Smith says.
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London, UK
It comes as no surprise that London is a popular destination for South African business travellers and will remain so for 2023.
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In addition, Smith says Heathrow is one of the top international airports for corporate traffic originating from South Africa with many South African businesses having headquarters in the UK or being listed on the London Stock Exchange. "We are therefore not surprised to see London in top position once again this year," says Smith.
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Dubai
There has been an increase in the interest rate, hence Emirates boosted the number of flights to South Africa. From March onward, the total frequency of Emirates flights into South Africa will be 42 weekly flights.
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However, the cost of an economy class ticket has increased by 53% in 2023 in comparison with 2022.
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Inbound tourism to Dubai flourished in 2022, with the hotels seeing 15-year occupancy highs, according to KPMG. The UAE now hosts one of the richest hospitality markets in the world; with an expected 25% growth in the industry by 2030 and 40 million new visitors staying at hotels in Dubai by 2031.
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Paris and Mauritius
Coming in hot on the third spot is Amsterdam and Mauritius: "With conferences and events picking up, it is not surprising to see Paris, Amsterdam and Mauritius in the top 5," explains Smith.
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Additionally, Airfares to Paris are currently affordable and have decreased by 14% as compared to 2022, whereas, economy class fares to Amsterdam have increased by 45% and fares to Mauritius by 24%.
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Entebbe/Kampal, Uganda
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Uganda has been identified as an anchor state for South Africa, particularly given its geopolitical position within the East African region. Airfares to Entebbe increased by 18% compared to 2022.
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Nairobi, Kenya
In the second most popular destination for South African business travellers with airfares having only increased slightly by 5%.
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According to Smith, Nairobi was named Africa’s leading business travel destination at the World Travel Awards in 2022. ‘’What’s more, is that leaders of Kenya and South Africa have been actively collaborating in the past few weeks to address any trade barriers," says Smith.
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Antananarivo, Madagascar
Madagascar takes the third spot; with restrictions being lifted, South Africans can once again enjoy regular scheduled services to Madagascar.
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Smith adds that South Africa has always been an important source market and supply-chain link for Madagascar’s business and leisure tourism sector; with Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport being a key factor as it is well-positioned for Madagascar-based businesses and travellers to access destinations within Southern Africa.
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