As economies globally struggle to grow and expand, South Africa remains the most well-developed country on the African continent and is well placed to increase its market value through safari incentive tourism where both local and international corporate incentive travel budget spend remains within South Africa’s own shores.

“We have 6.2 million unemployed people in South Africa (27.6%); if South African’s are looking for transformation and inclusive growth we need to take advantage of responsible tourism developments within our own country as a prime incentive destination and support local tourism businesses to grow.”

This is according to Adventure Extraordinaire Peter Hayward who has been hosting local and international incentive travel for both international and South African groups for well over two decades.

“I am always amazed to hear about South African incentive travel groups being taken to far flung destinations which don’t offer even half of what our country has. You can wow top South African incentive participants in their own country, whether they spent their childhood surrounded by natural bushveld or not.

“From our perspective, camping or day tripping in the Kruger National Park is very different to a 5-star Grand Safari which focuses on and celebrates the individual’s journey in luxury adventure.

“To add to that, we have the highest caliber of destination management companies (DMC), hospitality and service providers to ensure big groups get the most out of our other incentive travel. Some of the highlights from incentive trips, team-building and training meetings, product launches and related incentive benefits such as corporate social investment (CSI) are not only breathtakingly beautiful but uplifting to all involved.”

Top-class Incentive Destination for everyone

Growth to the South African economy is well supported by the country’s abundant natural resources, access and infrastructure, value for money and service ethos for the luxury travel market.

South Africa’s first world technology and financial support generate increased corporate incentive-related events and we need to look at ways of encouraging local business to celebrate South Africa’s rich incentive landscape within our own borders instead of taking that spend out of the country,” says Hayward.

“South Africa is definitely not second best to foreign destinations such as Hong Kong, Moscow, Singapore, or Botswana. In accordance with Ramaphosa’s number of interventions being implemented to “revive and stimulate economic growth,” I encourage local business looking to incentivise their top performers in South Africa. Let’s keep South African budget spend within our borders and uplift locally-owned products and business. I would even suggest not using international hotel chains as their profits are sent offshore.”

International style incentive adventures for South Africans

Working closely with many other DMCs and international incentive planners and their high-end clientele, Hayward Safaris provides 5-star big group wildlife experiences within their luxury mobile tented safari camps.

Both international and South African incentive groups experience an authentic safari adventure before moving onto other internationally celebrated service providers such as Rovos Rail, the Blue Train, Harrops Hot Air Balloon Company or Spier Wine Estate which when compared in terms of budget spent is comparative to spending just a weekend in St Petersburg.

“We need to retain our own country as a key source market and help to drive South African volumes in what is still an emerging tourism market but one with a firm foothold on international incentive travel books. We have seen top international companies such as IBM returning again and again. Strangely South African’s don’t seem to realise the incentive advantage on our own doorstep.

“We’ve hosted Top 100 groups with the very best of the best South Africa has to offer. Logistics and accessibility are first world and we create bespoke incentives. The client can request anything and we make it happen; for example vintage aircraft re-enactments in the desert to tracking in the desert with bushmen. Compare these experiences to a weekend in St Petersburg and the incentive planner’s and the clients budget goes further in South Africa and offers more experiences than just art and history. And, you can’t compare a cultural incentive to Vietnam to the culture and lifestyle which can be enjoyed in either Durban, Cape Town or Gauteng.

“Local incentive travelers still have a lot to learn about their own country and South African incentive organisers will find a real advantage in cost-effective, convenient and unforgettable experiences within any of South Africa’s nine provinces.”