South Africa Ranks Among Top LGBTQ+-Friendly Destinations in the World

According to a recent study by mydatingadviser.com, South Africa ranked 11th among the top 20 best LGBTQIA+ travel destinations in the world. The key factors determining the most gay-friendly travel destinations included: social acceptance, sexual activity rights, civil union rights, marriage rights, adoption rights, military service rights, existence of anti-discrimination laws, and existence of gender identity laws.

In June, the SA Tourism North America team celebrated Pride Month by returning to PROUD Experiences, an event bringing together leaders from the travel and lifestyle sectors looking to develop business strategies to embrace and elevate the LGBTQ+ travel community.  This continued the team’s efforts to expand outreach to the LGBTQ+ travel market which spends over $218 billion annually on travel.  

South Africa boasts an impressive number of LGBTQ+-friendly properties, tour operators and organizations that are members of IGLTA (the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) and South African Tourism North America works closely with IGLTA to seed messaging across their platforms that positions South Africa as the ideal holiday destination for LGBTQ+ travelers looking for an especially warm welcome.  

Understanding that 85% of LGBTQ+ travelers have passports and if the LGBTQ+ travel market was a country, it would be the 4th biggest economy in the world, South African Tourism North America is committed to continuing to invite LGBTQ+ travelers to get out in the Rainbow Nation and Visit South Africa, not only during Pride Month, but all year long.
 
 

Celebrating Recent Accolades

This month, South African Tourism North America celebrates two best-in-class honors received from leading travel industry publications.  

TravelAge West presented their annual WAVE Awards on June 8, and South Africa was voted the Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Africa.  This special recognition was determined by TravelAge West’s audience of more than 6,500 travel advisors who voted on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Picks. 

In addition, Global Traveler announced its 11th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards in June, and their readers voted South Africa the winner of Best Leisure Destination in Africa.  Their yearly awards are a highly respected and unbiased reflection of the best in travel, as they are based solely on business and luxury traveler reader votes with open-ended questions for the best in leisure, luxury, and lifestyle travel.

These recent awards are testament to the continued enthusiasm for South Africa from the North American travel trade, as well as business and luxury travelers. Thanks to all the readers, voters, and fans of destination South Africa for your continued support.  
 

South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province Launches VR Tours

Give your clients a preview of the beauty and excitement that awaits them in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province with new virtual tourism experiences.

The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency has recently developed 15 interactive VR platforms to showcase the region’s unique experiences available to travelers. These virtual tours can be accessed online from anywhere in the world and include a segway tour, sandboarding, an ocean safari, Addo Elephant Park, the Nelson Mandela Museum, and more.

The featured attractions and locations were chosen to exhibit the broad variety of experiences in this vast and incredibly scenic coastal province. These new VR tours are a fantastic representation of the mix of exciting tourism activities available in the Eastern Cape and create a fun way to learn more about the province.

Take a break from your inbox today and transport yourself to South Africa on a virtual journey to see the magic of the Eastern Cape for yourself.  Feel free to share these tour links with your clients so you can help them incorporate their favorite experiences into their next visit to South Africa.

Take a Virtual Tour of the Eastern Cape
 

Pro Tip: VAT Refunds for Your Clients

South Africa is already well-known as a value for money tourism destination to North American travelers, but did you know that your clients can get even more value from their trip by claiming back their value-added tax (VAT) refunds of 15% for qualifying purchases when they shop in South Africa? Keep this pro tip in mind when planning your clients’ next visit, as most travelers enjoy shopping for and purchasing crafts, fashions, gifts, and artisan goods in South Africa.

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) recently appointed VAT Refund Agency as the official facilitator of VAT refunds. The VAT Refund Agency is committed to assisting qualifying international visitors in recovering their VAT paid on their purchases made in South Africa. A VAT refund claim must be submitted at the time of departure or export and applies to goods specifically (not services).

Please ensure your clients collect tax invoices and receipts for all goods purchased in South Africa to present alongside the merchandise at the Cape Town International (CPT) or OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) upon departing the country. You can find more info to familiarize yourself with the process by visiting the VAT Refund Agency’s website.

Learn More about VAT Refunds
 
 

Product Spotlight: Ximuwu Lodge

South Africa is a diverse, welcoming, and accessible tourism destination, and this month’s product spotlight is on Ximuwu Lodge, a luxury wheelchair-friendly lodge in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park.
This safari lodge was designed specifically to accommodate guests with mobility challenges, offering a range of wheelchair-friendly features throughout the property.

Ximuwu Lodge’s gameviewer, shuttle bus, bar, spa, photographic hides, boma, and all other amenities are fully accessible, ensuring that guests with mobility challenges can enjoy every aspect of their stay to the fullest. In addition to being wheelchair-friendly, the lodge is exclusive use and offers four luxury suites to accommodate up to eight guests in a private and luxurious setting.

The lodge is located in the Klaserie Private Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with the Kruger National Park. It’s about a 20-minute drive from the Hoedspruit (Eastgate) Airport.

Visit Ximuwu Lodge’s Website