“Scandinavian tourists are a very good emerging market for Africa. African and Indian Ocean hotels and operators recognize that Scandinavians are high spending tourists, and are very keen on Beach resort holidays as well as Safaris.
That is why we are holding Africa & Indian Ocean Islands Workshop in Scandinavia,” says Derek Houston, CEO, Houston Travel Marketing Service.
Africa & Indian Ocean Islands Workshop will be held November 24th in Stockholm, Hotel Birger Jarl, November 25th in Copenhagen, Scandic Hotel Copenhagen and November 26th in Oslo, Scandic Solli.
“We have 24 exhibitors this year and four new exhibitors in particular from Zanzibar and information about South Africa, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mauritius, Namibia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique and Ethiopia.
“We started the Scandinavian workshops in 2008 and have been back every year since then. We have always had a very enthusiastic response and a very high level of trade attending (CEO’s, Contract managers, Directors Etc).”
“How many tourists do you expect from Denmark, Sweden and Norway to Africa every year?”
“Sweden is the major market for Africa followed by Denmark, Norway and Finland. Tourist arrivals from Nordic countries to Africa were not too badly affected by the global financial crisis and indications are for 2015 that tourism from the Nordic countries will increase.
Unfortunately we do not have 2015 Info as yet. I think Africa and East Africa arrivals have been lower this year due to various problems in East Africa and Ebola etc, but indications are that the numbers are now increasing again for the last quarter of 2015
Arrivals from Denmark saw the biggest annual increase in 2014 out of all the Nordic countries with 11% growth year on year. Arrivals from Sweden increased by 4% to 37 901 in 2014. Arrival numbers from Norway in 2014 were very similar to those in 2013 at 18 227.
Nordic citizens enjoy the highest average income in the world, and travel a lot.
Our Copenhagen workshop has always been very popular. We also attract a number of operators from Malmo & Southern Sweden to the Copenhagen workshop.
Our final destination is Oslo, Norway, one of the fastest growing of the Nordic markets for Africa.
Nordic countries are seen as key markets for Africa with an excellent growth potential.
Nordics travelers are big spenders –per capita. Nordics travelers are amongst the highest spenders in the world .They spend 90% more on food & accommodation than other European tourists.
The four Nordics markets are proving to be very resilient market for South Africa with no significant downturn in numbers in 2014. Close to 100,000 Nordic arrived into South Africa in 2014.
Kenya, Tanzania Zanzibar South Africa and Zimbabwe are the most popular countries in Africa
“How many will participate in Africa & Indian Ocean Islands Workshop from Sweden, Norway and Denmark?”
“We expect around 60-70 Trade to attend each workshop,” says Derek Houston.
