The Incentive Planner 23/24

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INCENTIVE DESTINATIONS

TOP DESTINATIONS FOR LOCAL INCENTIVE PLANNERS

Thank you to SITE Africa, SAACI, and SATSA for sharing our trending destinations survey with their members – and thank you to those who responded! Find out which outbound and inbound destinations they voted for and why. OUTBOUND DESTINATIONS “South African outbound incentives trends are still seeing visa-free destinations as preferred places of interest, with as little pack and unpack as possible, and budget friendly due to exchange rates. All-inclusive resorts are also still a firm favourite for pocket-free travel,” says Kathy Lavery, business development manager at Euromic. Despite these preferences, many groups are still opting to travel to destinations where visas are required, proving that the allure of a good destination can overcome some inconveniences. For example, Kathy’s three most popular outbound destinations include Turkey, Italy, and Paris.

EGYPT Gill Dewar, owner of MICE Cubed, shares that Egypt has been the most popular destination with her clients this year. Aside from the many unique historic and cultural attractions the country offers, it also has some intriguing landscapes to explore such as the Siwa Oasis, the Bahariya Oasis, the White Desert, and the Black Desert. Gill says that direct flights and value-for-money make Egypt very appealing for group bookings.

TURKEY “Istanbul is easily accessible with frequent direct flights from South Africa. eVisas are inexpensive and quick and easy to arrange,” says Kathy. She adds that the destination has a rich offering that will appeal to a variety of tastes and preferences; “It’s a fantastic combinable destination that pairs well with the gorgeous beaches and exciting nightlife in Bodrum, or fascinating ruins and glorious beaches of Antalya. Even Cappadocia, with it’s unique, Instagram-worthy, bucket list fairy chimneys and underground cities is an enticing destination, with the bonus that both are fabulous to visit in both winter and summer.” ITALY Some destinations never go out of fashion, and Italy is certainly one with enduring appeal. Famed for its wide breadth of tourism offerings, Kathy shares that Italy also has a range of options for different budgets. “We’ve been quoting awesome city and coast combinations of Rome and Sorrento, luxurious Venice and Positano, and Palermo and Cefalu to suit the budget conscious,” she says.

FRANCE “The Rugby World Cup saw streams of proposals and quick conversions for groups that already purchased tickets and needed land programmes to accompany their rugby games,” notes Kathy. Much like Italy, Fance is also an iconic destination for those with wanderlust, with its well-developed tourism offering encompassing history, culture, food and wine, art, adventure, scenic beauty, and romantic charm.

ZANZIBAR Closer to home is Gill’s second most popular incentive destination, Zanzibar. FlySafair offers 3 ½ hour direct flights from Johannesburg to Zanzibar, and South African citizens have visa-free access to the island archipelago, making it incredibly accessible. Paired with its beautiful beaches and balmy sunny weather, it’s a perfect island paradise.

26 • THE INCENTIVE PLANNER l 2023/24 www.theplannerguru.co.za


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