Sa Closes In On Key National Airlift Strategy

South Africa is in the closing stages of formulating a nationally coordinated strategy to drive air connectivity with key international markets a critical initiative for the country to reach its target of attracting 15million annual arrivals by 2030.

The National Route Development Marketing Plan NRDMP approved by Cabinet in December last year aims to foster route development through joint marketing and promotion initiatives between the public and private sectors.

The Department of Tourism and South African Tourism presented the NRDMP to Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Tourism on March 18. Southern Africas airline associations presented additional inputs this week.

South African Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe said the NRDMP will initially focus on markets such as China and India with additional emphasis on major markets that lack direct access to South Africa including Canada, Ireland, Italy, Japan and Spain.

Activation of the plan includes route launch marketing aimed at achieving affordability and joint marketing efforts with participating airlines to stimulate and sustain the South African and international markets, Guliwe explained.