Exploring South Africa’s Tourism Vision: An Exclusive Interview with Mr. Gcobani Mancotywa

by Prakriti Parul

South Africa continues to captivate travellers with its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and thrilling adventures. As Indian travellers increasingly seek immersive and experiential journeys, South African Tourism is evolving its strategies to cater to these dynamic preferences.

In this exclusive email interview with Mr. Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager for South African Tourism (Asia, Australasia, and Middle East), we delve into the future of tourism between India and South Africa. With over 28 years of expertise in global tourism and hospitality, Mr. Mancotywa shares insights on evolving travel trends, sustainability, trade partnerships, and the impact of the 2025 Roadshow.

The Indian market has consistently been a key focus for South African Tourism. How do you see the evolving preferences of Indian travellers shaping your strategies for 2025 and beyond?

Indian travellers have undergone a significant transformation over the past five years, shifting from traditional sightseeing to seeking immersive and experiential travel. Today, they prioritize unique adventures such as shark cage diving, bungee jumping, ecotourism, and cultural explorations, reflecting a growing appetite for unconventional and meaningful travel experiences.

Recognizing this shift, particularly among Gen Z and millennial travellers, South African Tourism is curating tailored itineraries that highlight lesser-known destinations through the More & More campaign. This initiative, featuring popular influencers Radhika Sharma and Ankita Kumar, showcases hidden gems and newer provinces, reinforcing the country’s diverse offerings. With over 3,000 adventure activities available, South Africa continues to position itself as an exciting destination for Indian travellers.

To further strengthen ties with travel trade partners and enhance South Africa’s appeal, we hosted our annual three-city roadshow in 2025, covering Delhi, Chennai, and Mumbai. With over 40 exhibitors showcasing luxury stays, curated activities, and family-friendly packages, this event reaffirmed our commitment to providing tailored experiences that align with Indian travellers’ evolving preferences for both leisure and adventure.

South African Tourism has been a pioneer in fostering strong ties with Indian trade partners. What do you believe are the key ingredients to building and maintaining these long-term relationships?

MICE tourism plays a pivotal role in driving business-led travel to South Africa and fostering strong relationships with our travel trade partners which remains as one of our top priority. At South African Tourism, we actively engage with Indian trade partners through key initiatives such as our annual roadshow, which provides them with direct access to buyers, and the Learn SA workshop, designed to educate travel agents particularly in Tier II and Tier III markets on South Africa’s diverse offerings. Additionally, our deal-driven campaigns, launched during peak festive seasons, ensure access to the most competitive flight deals, making South Africa a more attractive and accessible destination. These efforts not only strengthen ties with travel agents and Indian travellers but also empower our partners to curate personalized itineraries for corporate and business travellers, encouraging extended leisure stays.

Moreover, Africa’s Travel Indaba is an iconic African leisure trade show, owned by South African Tourism where we host Indian travel agents and media delegates to provide them with a firsthand experience of South Africa’s diverse offerings. Our idea is to allow them to engage directly with local suppliers, explore unique travel products, and gain deeper insights into the destination. By immersing them in South Africa’s rich culture, adventure activities, and world-class hospitality, we empower our trade partners to craft more compelling itineraries for Indian travellers, further strengthening tourism ties between the two countries.

Looking ahead, we are set to expand our reach further with a five-city roadshow in 2026, targeting Tier II and Tier III cities to diversify and deepen our engagement with Indian travel professionals. These strategic efforts reinforce South Africa’s position as a premier MICE destination by offering seamless event planning and post-conference experiences, from safaris to wine tours, ensuring unforgettable and highly customized journeys for Indian travellers.

The global tourism industry has undergone significant changes in recent years. How has South African Tourism adapted to these shifts, particularly in terms of marketing and engagement strategies?

Over the years, global tourism has been evolving significantly, and South African Tourism has strategically adapted its marketing and engagement initiatives to align with shifting traveller preferences and industry trends. More & More campaign is a key pillar of our approach, which highlights South Africa’s lesser-explored destinations and diverse experiences, catering to the growing demand for immersive and adventure-driven travel.

Strengthening business-led travel, Meetings Africa continues to position South Africa as a premier MICE destination by facilitating global networking opportunities and showcasing the country’s world-class infrastructure for corporate events. Additionally, our annual India Roadshow and Africa’s Travel Indaba serve as pivotal platforms to engage with trade partners, fostering deeper connections with Indian travel agents and media while offering firsthand exposure to the country’s vast tourism potential.

To enhance knowledge-sharing and destination awareness, we also organize ‘Learn SA’ workshop which plays a crucial role in educating travel agents, especially in Tier II and Tier III markets, equipping them with the tools to effectively promote South Africa’s newer province. Meanwhile, we also organize Corporate Think Tank that brings together key industry leaders to exchange insights and develop innovative strategies to boost inbound travel.

Understanding the price sensitivity of Indian travellers, our deal-driven campaigns especially during peak festive seasons, we ensure competitive flight and accommodation packages, making South Africa more accessible to Indian tourists. Furthermore, we continue to leverage cultural and sporting synergies by hosting Bollywood and cricket-focused engagements, tapping into two of India’s biggest passions to further strengthen the emotional and aspirational appeal of South Africa as a travel destination.

Sustainability is becoming a critical factor for travellers worldwide. How is South African Tourism integrating sustainable practices into its offerings to appeal to environmentally conscious travellers from India?

Sustainability is at the heart of South African Tourism’s long-term vision, and we are committed to promoting responsible travel experiences that align with the growing consciousness of environmentally aware travellers from India. South Africa’s rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes make conservation a key priority, and we actively encourage eco-friendly tourism through various initiatives.

Our national parks and private game reserves champion sustainable wildlife tourism with eco-conscious accommodations ranging from solar-powered luxury lodges to carbon-neutral boutique stays that are increasingly being integrated into our travel itineraries, offering Indian travellers the opportunity to experience South Africa responsibly.

South African Tourism also supports sustainable travel through experiences that promote cultural preservation and community upliftment. Our More & More campaign highlights off-the-beaten-path destinations that allow travellers to engage with indigenous communities, support local artisans, and participate in farm-to-table dining experiences that emphasize sustainable food sourcing.

If you could envision the ideal outcome of the 2025 roadshow, what would it look like, and how would it impact the Indian market?

We kicked off this year on a strong note, hosting delegates for Meetings Africa and amplifying our 2025 annual India roadshow, both of which serve as crucial platforms for deepening our engagement with the Indian market. With the recent roadshow, we saw remarkable engagement from Indian travel trade partners, including key tour operators, corporate travel planners, and MICE specialists. By facilitating direct interactions between Indian buyers and 42 South African exhibitors, we aim to equip our partners with the expertise to curate immersive, experience-led itineraries that align with evolving Indian traveller preferences.

Our two primary focus areas for the year ahead will be to drive MICE and leisure travel to South Africa. We will be expanding South Africa’s presence in tier-II and tier-III cities. To achieve this, we will be hosting 40 Indian trade and media delegates to Africa’s Travel Indaba, one of the continent’s largest tourism trade shows. Furthermore, we plan to host Learn SA workshops in smaller Indian cities. Additionally, we are actively engaging with partners to strengthen film and sports tourism, recognizing the immense influence of Bollywood and cricket on Indian travellers.

Furthermore, we aim to drive visitation through our deal-driven campaigns, offering competitive flight and stay packages that enhance South Africa’s accessibility. With these strategic efforts, we are committed to positioning South Africa as a top long-haul destination for Indian travellers, catering to their growing appetite for unique and enriching experiences.

Author: Prakriti Parul