Going beyond the popular hubs of Cape Town and Johannesburg, South African Tourism showcases lesser-explored regions to meet Kolkata’s growing appetite for customised travel experiences
Marking another milestone in its journey to engage key travel trade partners across India, South African Tourism commenced its latest multi-city ‘Learn South Africa’ workshop series in Kolkata on 16th January 2026. Reflecting the steady rise in outbound interest from non-metro markets, the initiative will conclude with its final leg in Lucknow on 27 February 2026.
Strengthening its efforts to tap into the growing appetite for international travel across tier-2 cities, the workshop series is designed to offer travel trade partners deeper insights into South Africa’s diverse tourism experiences from cultural routes and adventure offerings to emerging regions beyond well-known favourites like Cape Town and Johannesburg. With rising demand from non-metro travellers seeking curated and immersive journeys, these workshops play a pivotal role in equipping partners with the knowledge and tools to craft personalised itineraries.
Through this multi-city initiative, South African Tourism seeks to deepen engagement with the travel trade community, address market-specific challenges, and strengthen partner readiness to capitalise on the growing demand for South Africa as a preferred leisure and MICE destination. India continues to be a vital source market for South African Tourism. Kolkata is playing an increasingly important role, supported by a strong base of legacy corporates, MSMEs, and a growing segment of outbound leisure travellers.
Travellers from Kolkata are demonstrating rising interest in immersive and experience-led holidays that combine culture, heritage, wildlife, scenic landscapes, and soft adventure, along with premium leisure and incentive-led travel. The workshop equips travel partners with deeper destination knowledge and practical insights to curate tailored itineraries that align with Kolkata’s evolving travel aspirations, further strengthening South Africa’s positioning as an attractive destination for both leisure and MICE travel.
Commenting on the successful event in Surat, Mr. Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager for Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East, South African Tourism, stated: The Kolkata city’s travellers, including well-travelled families, professionals, and affluent leisure seekers, are increasingly inclined towards meaningful, experience-rich holidays that blend wildlife, natural beauty, heritage, cuisine, and relaxed luxury. South Africa’s diverse offerings across landscapes, experiences, and city stays resonate strongly with these evolving preferences.
To respond to this evolving travel appetite, we continue to focus on strengthening collaboration with travel agents in key markets like Kolkata, enabling them with enhanced destination knowledge and itinerary-planning expertise. Our engagement with Kolkata’s travel trade community has been extremely positive, and we are confident it will inspire more travellers from the city to discover South Africa’s diverse regions beyond the traditional entry points. These workshops remain central to our strategy of showcasing the depth, diversity, and strong appeal of South Africa as a leading leisure and MICE destination.”
South Africa continues to gain traction amongst the Indian audience, supported by a favourable exchange rate where 1 South African Rand equals approximately 5.21 Indian Rupees, making long-haul travel more accessible and appealing.
The 11th edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ in Kolkata marks a key milestone in South African Tourism’s continued endeavour to strengthen its partnerships with India’s travel trade professionals. In line with the board’s strategic vision to position South Africa as a versatile and high-value destination, the Rainbow Nation continues to deepen its engagement in tier-2 cities, recognising their increasing influence in India’s outbound travel landscape.
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