South Africa elevates golf tourism with new Satsa chapter

Friday, March 22, 2024

The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) has unveiled its Golf Chapter, an innovative move designed to synergize efforts within the golf tourism sector. This initiative represents a significant step forward in promoting South Africa as a key player in the global golf tourism market, according to Satsa CEO David Frost. Highlighting the sector’s rapid expansion and its lucrative nature, Frost pointed out that golf tourists tend to spend substantially more than the average visitor, making them a valuable target demographic for the region. This new chapter aims to capitalize on this spending power to offer enriched travel experiences throughout Southern Africa, appealing to both international and local markets.

This development is the culmination of Satsa’s sustained efforts to forge a collaborative relationship with South African Tourism (SAT) specifically for golf tourism promotion. The establishment of the Golf Chapter facilitates structured dialogue with SAT, providing a dedicated platform to spearhead growth in this pivotal sector, as articulated by Carl Reinders, newly appointed Golf Chapter chair and co-owner of Pro Golf Africa Safaris.

Reinders underscored South Africa’s competitive edge, citing its comprehensive travel offerings that transcend the high-quality golfing experiences and hospitality the country is known for. He emphasized the added allure of South Africa’s cultural richness, gastronomic excellence, renowned wine regions, favorable climate, natural beauty, and unique wildlife safaris, which collectively position the country as an unmatched golfing destination.

In a bid to elevate South Africa’s stature as a leading golf destination, Satsa has submitted a strategic business plan to SAT, centered around enhancing the country’s visibility in this domain. Plans include significant participation in the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) conference in Lisbon, facilitating a South Africa pavilion and a destination showcase. Additionally, initiatives such as hosting familiarization trips for international golf tour operators and creating promotional content are part of the strategy to showcase South Africa’s premier golfing capabilities and attractions.

The inaugural meeting of the Golf Chapter, conducted virtually on February 23, 2024, brought together members to deliberate on the chapter’s future direction, organizational structure, and key activities. Frost expressed enthusiasm about the chapter’s potential to enrich Satsa’s member offerings and encouraged stakeholders within and adjacent to golf tourism to engage and contribute to its mission. This concerted effort signifies Satsa’s dedication to promoting South Africa’s golf tourism sector, leveraging its unique attractions to draw high-value tourists and stimulate economic growth.

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