2013

2013

EMBASSY PARTICIPATED IN FEIRA VIAGENS TRAVEL FAIR

Mr R Stroebel ( First Secretary) promoting South Africa

       

From 31 May - 2 June 2013, the South African Embassy had the pleasure of participating in the 2013 Feira das Viagens travel fair which took place in Campo Pequeno bullfight arena complex in Lisbon.

The event aimed at creating an opportunity to further promote tourism and maximising holiday sales to hundreds of potential visitors. Approximately 70 exhibitors were present, amongst travel agencies, airlines, cruise companies, online operators, hotels, tour operators, regional and international tourism offices and travel press.

The Embassy distributed maps and tourism information brochures in Portuguese which promoted South Africa as a travel destination of choice. The 3 day event attracted approximately 10 000 visitors and was widely covered by printed media and TV stations.

SA Embassy participated in the Tourism Road Show “Os Especialistas 2013”

 

Ms. Ribeiro (Tourism Information Clerk) and Mr. Stroebel (First Secretary) promoting South Africa in the road show

 

The SA Embassy in Lisbon was on the road in April 2013 to promote South Africa as a holiday destination of choice among travel agents. The workshops were held in 3 cities across Portugal - Porto, Coimbra and Albufeira (Algarve) - and evoked good response from the tourism industry.

 

According to the press, as many as 135 travel agents attended the event in Coimbra, 103 in Albufeira (Algarve) and 310 in Porto. A quality crowd of 160 trade partners had already attended the road show in Lisbon during BTL (Lisbon International Tourism Fair) on 28 February 2013.

 

The SA Embassy in Lisbon has been using this annual road show to actively promote South Africa as a holiday destination of choice among Portuguese travel agents and updating them on the variety of experiences and products on offer across the destination. This is a unique opportunity to directly communicate with travel agents from different parts of Portugal and increase their awareness about South Africa as a destination with rich natural and cultural heritage.

 

Road Show in Coimbra

 

The road show further highlighted the assistance the Embassy can offer in terms of material and advice. Many agents were unaware that the Embassy had a tourism section and could assist them.

 

From the feedback received, it is interesting to note that more and more agents are getting familiar with South Africa as a destination.

 

The Mission also found that agents throughout the road show recognized us from previous years. Many mentioned that they receive our newsletter and expressed their congratulations on this initiative.

 

Finally, direct contact with agents has been important to remove any prejudices regarding the insecurity of the country. Unlike previous years, travel agents asked very few questions about this issue and pointed out the high cost of travel as the main obstacle for them to sell South Africa more.

 

                  

                                                   Road Show dinner in Porto

 

Ultimately, the road show is expected to attract interest and awareness of South Africa’s tourism potential by travel agents in Portugal and result in upscale of sales volumes.

SA Embassy participated in Mundo Abreu Travel Fair 2013

 

Last weekend (6 and 7 April 2013) the South African Embassy in Lisbon participated in the MUNDO ABREU TRAVEL FAIR, one of the most important travel exhibitions in Portugal, organized by Abreu, the biggest Portuguese tour operator and owner of the largest network of travel agencies in the country.

 

The Embassy was invited to be present in the stand of Mundial Tours, a South African-based Portuguese-owned travel agency that represents Abreu in South Africa.

 

The fair was an excellent opportunity for the Embassy to market and promote South Africa as a major travel destination and create a bigger awareness of the country’s tourism offer by the general public in Portugal.

 

The Embassy’s participation was also very important to strengthen working relations with Abreu and Mundial Tours.

 

The promise of “discounts of up to 60%” was once again the main reason for the public to visit the fair. This year, there was an increase in visitor numbers with over 120 000 people attending the fair and a growth of 4,8% in terms of the volume of reservations.

 

Some discounts will be available at Abreu travel agencies by 28 April 2013, including the following 3 travel packages to South Africa:

 

Package 1: South Africa – Classic Safari (8 days/ 6 nights) with prices from 1.449,00 Eur

 

Day 1: Lisbon – Johannesburg

Day 2: Johannesburg

Day 3: Johannesburg – Greater Kruger National Park

Day 4: Kruger National Park

Day 5: Greater Kruger National Park – Pretoria – Johannesburg – Cape Town

Day 6: Cape Town

Day 7: Cape Town

Day 8: Cape Town – Lisbon

 

Package 2: Discovering South Africa (9 days/ 7 nights) with prices from €1.646

 

Day 1: Lisbon – Johannesburg

Day 2: Johannesburg

Day 3: Johannesburg – Pilansberg Park – Sun City

Day 4: Pilansberg Park – Sun City

Day 5: Pilansberg Park – Sun City – Johannesburg – Cape Town

Day 6: Cape Town

Day 7: Cape Town

Day 8: Cape Town

Day 9: Cape Town – Lisbon

 

Package 3: Discovering the South of Africa (11 days/ 9 nights) with prices from 4.450,00 Eur

 

Day 1: Lisbon – Johannesburg

Day 2: Johannesburg

Day 3: Johannesburg – Victoria Falls

Day 4: Victoria Falls

Day 5: Victoria Falls – Chobe National Park

Day 6: Chobe National Park

Day 7: Chobe National Park – Johannesburg – Cape Town

Day 8: Cape Town

Day 9: Cape Town

Day 10: Cape Town

Day 11: Cape Town – Lisbon

 

More information: www.mundoabreu.pt

South African Embassy participated in BTL (Lisbon Tourism Fair)

 

The South African Embassy in Portugal successfully participated in the annual BTL fair held from 27 February to 3 March 2013 in Lisbon.

BTL, now in its 25th edition, is the biggest travel fair taking place in Portugal.

This year, for the first time, the Embassy shared “Os Especialistas” stand with eight companies with whom it annually embarks on a series of nationwide tourism road shows, namely: Across, Image Tours, Pullmantur, ATR, VT, Keytel, Inter Mundial and Travelport.

 

 

“Os Especialistas” stand with South Africa’s desk in the middle

 

The first two and a half days of the fair were reserved for tour operators and trade visitors. This year around 900 exhibitors, representing 36 international destinations, participated in the event while official visitor figures, although not available yet, might show a decline due to the current financial situation.

Most exhibitors and tourism professionals were in agreement that the Embassy’s participation in the fair was very important in respect of raising the profile of the country and creating awareness of South Africa as a destination of choice.

South African Embassy participated in cultural event at Eça de Queiroz Secondary School

 

The Embassy was invited by the President of the Council of Lisbon’s Eça de Queirós Group of Schools, Mr Fernando Pinto, to take part in a cultural event/interactive session in the school on 24 January 2013. The event was the main session of the school’s week project called “The Week of Philosophy and Psychology”, held from 21 to 25 January 2013. Having Nelson Mandela as the central personality, the leading theme of the school’s week project was “Around the Feast. Around Celebration”. Other topics of discussion during the school’s week programme also included the celebration of the end of apartheid, the election of Nelson Mandela as President and the victory of South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in 1995.  During the week the film, Invictus was projected twice and the theme discussed by a few members of the Ubuntu Academy who accepted the school’s invitation to participate in the debate with the students during which the Ubuntu concept and the example of South African historic leaders were also conveyed to the students.

The Embassy was represented by the First Secretary, Mr Rudolph Stroebel, who took part in the interactive session on Nelson Mandela and addressed the students in the school’s main auditorium. The session was also attended by the Portuguese journalist António Mateus who was invited to talk about the main personality of his book Mandela, the Construction of a Man as well as on his own experience and work in South Africa as a journalist.

South Africa’s flag was hoisted and the National Anthem respectfully heard by the audience that also had the opportunity to appreciate some South African crafts displayed by the Embassy in the auditorium.

The event was attended by nearly 120 youths and teachers as well as by the President of Santa Maria dos Olivais Parish Administration Office, Mr José Manuel Rosa do Egipto.

 In the end, all were invited  by the organizers of the event to taste Rooibos tea.

RTP Journalist, António Mateus, Rudolph Stroebel and Teresa Carrola from the South African Embassy

Mr Rudolph Stroebel with a group of students from Eça de Queiroz Secondary School

 

A large group of students and teachers attended the event

Embassy participated at APME event in Evora

The Embassy was invited to be the guest speaker at an APME (Portuguese Association for Women Entrepreneurs)seminar which took place in Évora on 31 January 2013. The event is part of the EMMA Project-ALENcrise aimed at focusing on the development of bilateral trade relations and business partnerships with non traditional markets for Portuguese companies. The pre-selected markets were South Africa, Argentina, Canada and Romania.

 Ambassador KST Matthews and Mr. N Sifuba, First Secretary, made a 20 minute presentation to the targeted audience of entrepreneurs on the South African market in general and its business potential.  The current trade & investment opportunities, the major South African economic & business policies, such as BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) and the NGP (New Growth Path) and the implementation of the TDCA (Trade Development and Cooperation Agreement between EU and South Africa) were some of the subjects addressed.Mr. Sifuba participated also in a Q&A session with the attending businesspeople. The workshop was live broadcasted to APME partners in Spain, Italy and United States.

 APME’s mission is to promote and assist the creation and development of business and establishment of companies by women. Established in 1985 with headquarters in Lisbon, the Association engages with the relevant business players, at a national and international level, aiming at (further) promoting the participation of women in the business arena.