South African Tourism (the organization responsible for the marketing and promotion of South Africa as a world-class destination) has kicked off its annual West Africa Trade Road Show event in Ghana. Held at Holiday Inn in Accra, the event featured a one-day, tailor-made Trade Workshop which aims to update Ghanaian tour operators and travel agents on the available business and leisure tourism products, enhance their destination marketing skills and creating excitement for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup. “SA Tourism is embarking on this workshop as Ghana has become a tactical source market for arrivals into South Africa from the West Africa sub-region and it presents the opportunity to share SA Tourism’s marketing and activation calendar for the year with the trade, consumers and the media”, explained Mr. Phumi Dhlomo, Regional Director, Africa & Domestic Markets for South African Tourism. In addition to the trade workshop, there was a Media Roundtable, Round Robin Session/Product Presentations and a Consumer activation (exhibition) to boost public excitement about SA destinations. “Our partnership with trade and media in the country is key to our success. By showing them what is on offer from a business and leisure perspective, and giving them the opportunity to explore and experience the offerings and country, they are better equipped to sell the packages and encourage people to visit South Africa ,” concludes Dhlomo. Though the Ghanaian market is characterised predominantly by business arrivals, South African Tourism aims to significantly grow the numbers for the next three years by encouraging more Ghanaians to visit South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup and beyond. “We know Ghanaians are very passionate about football and we hope this workshop has built up momentum to get more Ghanaians to visit South Africa now, during the FIFA 2010 World Cup and after”, concluded Mr. Hloni Pitso, Acting Manager: Trade Relations, West Africa for South African Tourism. Source: GMA