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New route Pics: MANGO Scheduled flights to Zanzibar Now that it is serviced with twice-weekly scheduled flights, Zanzibar looks set to become a top destination for South Africans, writes Chana Boucher. THE launch of direct services by Mango between Johannesburg and Zanzibar is expected to boost visitor numbers to the Spice Island. Since the end of September, Mango has operated twiceweekly flights on the route on Tuesdays and Saturdays and is expected to increase its flights to three times a week during peak periods. The scheduled service follows almost eight months of charter operations and launch fares from R2 880, all inclusive, make it attractive to the local market. Announcing the flights in early September, Mango ceo, Nico Bezuidenhout, said: “Zanzibar continues to represent value to South African travellers. The expectation is that Zanzibar will become a strong route for Mango.” Hein Kaiser, the airline’s communication manager, says response to the carrier’s first regional route has been “phenomenal”, with widespread support. According to Marian Sandu, md of tour operator, AfricaStay, the flights will make the destination more affordable and more sought after as a leisure and incentive destination. “Zanzibar will now be able to compete with the more established destinations as a good value-for-money alternative.” Juan Nel, marketing and product manager at African Encounters, says the change from charter to scheduled flights gives more operators access to the destination, meaning more competition and lower prices. The two flights a week will also allow for shorter stays, which are great for groups and incentives. - Angela Uys Angela Uys, product and contract executive, Indian Ocean Islands at Thompsons Holidays, says current fares on offer on Mango are cheaper than those offered via Dar es Salaam on other carriers such as SAA. Further, the direct scheduled service means reduced travelling time, allowing clients to maximise their time on the island. Target market Nel adds that Zanzibar has always been a feasible route but it has had its fair share of bad luck with airlines. “Having a well-known brand and a reliable airline will build the trust of travellers.” After 1time filed for liquidation late last year, the only scheduled option travellers had was to fly via Dar es Salaam, Nairobi or Addis Ababa on SAA, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines. Nel continues that Zanzibar has a variety of properties, from bed and breakfast low-budget properties up to five-star luxury resorts. The addition of Mango’s scheduled direct flights to Zanzibar has given African Encounters new packaging options for the destination it has specialised in for the last 12 years. Sandu agrees, saying the two scheduled departures a week will make it possible to create three-, four-, seven- or ten-night packages, which will be suited for corporate incentives. Uys also believes there will be increased demand from the MICE market considering that it is a short-haul destination with only a four-hour flight. “The two flights a week will also allow for shorter stays, which are great for groups and incentives.” Zanzibar, says Nel, has conference facilities and enough rooms to cater for big groups. “Another great benefit is that clients won’t have to stop over anywhere and will have a pleasant short flight to Zanzibar to start off their wonderful experience.” The island has always been a good alternative to destinations Special at Hilton Doubletree THOMPSONS Holidays is running a special offer at the four-star DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Zanzibar- Nungwi, from R12 904pps. The hotel is located on the northern tip of the island. The package is all-inclusive with three meals a day such as Mozambique, Mauritius and Seychelles, believes Nel. “Zanzibar is popular all year for South Africans because it’s always warm.” He says there is a rainy season around May/June and a few days in November but this usually comprises short cloudbursts that last for only an hour or two. The coolest months are June through to October when the temperatures average around 26˚C, says Uys. She adds that during the hot season (from December to March) the temperatures can soar to well over 30˚C with high humidity. Did you know? IF peak period demand justifies it, Mango will increase its flights to thrice weekly. The airline is also in the process of rolling out its new seats, a process due for completion by April 2014. The seats are said to increase leg room by between 6-7,5cm depending on location. and selected drinks. It also includes return flights from Johannesburg with airline levies and return airporthotel transfers. The special is valid for travel from November 1-December 21, with an airfare supplement from December 7. g 4 November 2013 • TRAVEL BUYER
News Buyers invited to apply for hosted programme Pic: SUPPLIED Craig Moyes, portfolio director of Africa Travel Week WORLD Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa), taking place on May 2-3 2014 in Cape Town as part of the inaugural Africa Travel Week, is inviting senior buyers from across the globe including Africa to be part of its Hosted Buyer programme, says Craig Moyes, portfolio director, Africa Travel Week. “The programme is targeting those global buyers with direct purchasing responsibility for large volumes of African product. There will be 300 hosted buyers for WTM Africa of which about 10% will be recruited from the African continent. In addition, there will be over 2 500 trade visitors from Africa at the event.” WTM Africa is the B2B exhibition for the African leisure travel industry, attracting exhibitors from within Sub-Saharan Africa as well as North African destinations. Africa Travel Week – a ‘3 shows in 1’ concept – includes fellow Reed Travel Exhibitions’ (RTE) events, namely Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM) Africa and International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Africa; the latter shows (April 28-30) will only be hosting international buyers who are looking to place inbound business with the continent’s suppliers. The three individual events are co-located at the Cape Town ICC. Following the global RTE hosted buyer formula, these pre-qualified buyers will meet with their suppliers of choice throughout Africa Travel Week in pre-scheduled, targeted business meetings and benefit from complimentary flights, transfers and accommodation. Other benefits include access to a Hosted Buyer lounge, invitations to exclusive networking functions and education programmes. Comments Moyes: “RTE has a portfolio of market-leading events where the hosted buyer format is at the core of the shows. We will focus our efforts through a global network of specialists in researching, identifying and inviting the highest-quality buyers to each of our events, specifically targeting a greater proportion of buyers from established source markets including the US and Europe at Africa Travel Week, as well as emerging international markets including Asia-Pacific and Latin America.” Buyers are pre-selected through a strict qualifying process by teams around the world; buyers can also apply directly through each of the show websites. All of the eligible candidates for the RTE Hosted Buyer programme at Africa Travel Week must meet the following set of requirements: potential for future international business; evidence of past/future business in Africa; responsibility for contracting/purchasing authority; annual budget; and reasons for attending. In general, but not specifically, a Hosted Buyer programme’s registration will remain open until about a month before the event or until the diary system of appointments is closed. g TB1685SD November 2013 • TRAVEL BUYER 5
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