South African Tourism engages over 235 trade partners at Bengaluru roadshow
Initiative underscores India’s growing importance across leisure, corporate and MICE travel segments
Bengaluru, February 9, 2026:
South African Tourism on Monday concluded the Bengaluru leg of its Annual India Roadshow, engaging with more than 235 travel trade partners and reinforcing India’s position as a key source market for outbound travel to South Africa.
The Bengaluru event followed the roadshow’s opening in Mumbai and is part of a multi-city initiative aimed at strengthening partnerships with the Indian travel trade. The next stop on the tour will be Ahmedabad on February 10.
Led by Ms. Mitalee Karmarkar, Marketing and Communications Manager (MEISEA), the roadshow brought together over 40 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of tourism offerings across leisure, corporate and MICE segments. The platform also enabled discussions around evolving traveller behaviour and emerging business opportunities.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Karmarkar said India continued to be a priority growth market for South African Tourism, driven by increasing interest in family travel, experiential holidays and premium travel experiences. She noted that Indian travellers were now planning trips more strategically, leveraging AI-powered tools for research and customisation, travelling more frequently, and showing greater openness to exploring destinations beyond traditional favourites.
“This shift reflects a more confident and curious traveller profile and creates opportunities to spotlight lesser-known regions and experiences across South Africa,” she said.
Highlighting Bengaluru’s importance, Ms. Karmarkar described the city as one of South Africa’s key source markets in India. “Travellers from Bengaluru are digitally savvy, experience-driven and increasingly comfortable with long-haul travel. The roadshow allows us to deepen engagement with the local trade and enhance South Africa’s visibility in this market,” she added.
With a strong base of frequent international travellers, Bengaluru offers significant potential across premium leisure, adventure and wildlife tourism. Safaris continue to be a major draw, alongside growing demand for personalised itineraries that balance iconic attractions with lesser-explored destinations.
South African Tourism is targeting a return to pre-COVID Indian traveller volumes in 2026 and remains focused on long-term collaboration with Indian trade partners. The tourism board is also preparing to leverage the 2027 ODI World Cup, to be hosted by South Africa, as an opportunity to showcase the country’s tourism offerings to a global audience.
Through sustained trade engagement, targeted consumer outreach and innovative marketing initiatives, South African Tourism aims to strengthen its presence in India and position the country as a preferred long-haul destination in the years ahead.
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