The luncheon held on the 11th at the Renaissance São Paulo Hotel brought together South African authorities, tourism executives, airlines, tour operators, partners, and the press. The objective was to celebrate significant results throughout the year and present new developments that promise to further boost the presence of Brazilians in the destination. The tone was one of optimism, reconnection, and recognition of the joint work between Brazil and South Africa.
Appreciation of South African culture and riches by Tinyiko Kumalo
The Consul General of South Africa in São Paulo, Tinyiko Kumalo, highlighted the natural and cultural riches of her country during the event, reinforcing the importance of further strengthening ties between the two markets. Kumalo emphasized the transformative potential of tourism and South African hospitality, inviting Brazilians to explore the diversity of the destination.
The transformations in tourism announced by Marcelo Marques
The Trade Relations Manager of South African Tourism, Marcelo Marques, presented new developments that are expected to transform the tourism experience in and around Cape Town. He highlighted that the city will undergo a significant renovation, driven by new investments and the arrival of major events.
Among the new developments, the announcement of the first edition of the traditional Montreux Jazz Festival outside of Switzerland, which will take place in March in the charming Franschhoek, was particularly noteworthy. The event is expected to bring together music lovers and increase international interest in the region.
Marques also reinforced South Africa's commitment to environmental conservation, highlighting the existence of two private reserves and the creation of Grasslands National Park, a new national park focused on preserving native ecosystems.
In addition, he presented the calendar of major international trade fairs in the country, such as Meetings Africa, focused on the MICE market, and Africa's Travel Indaba, the largest tourism fair on the African continent, celebrated for its diversity and commercial impact. The executive also announced that the South Africa brand will promote an exclusive trade show aimed at the Brazilian market in early March.
The social impact of tourism from Dinky Nkosi's perspective.
Dinky Nkosi, General Manager for the Americas at South African Tourism, delivered a special video message to the audience, emphasizing the vital role of Brazilian partners in strengthening South African tourism.
She thanked the agencies, press, and strategic partners for their commitment, noting that each package sold directly impacts the lives of families in her country—especially female heads of household who depend on the sector for their livelihood and opportunities.
Nkosi also recalled the critical period faced during the pandemic, when the destination lost a large portion of its international arrivals and had no direct flights. She highlighted that the recovery was only possible thanks to the support of the Brazilian market and reinforced that South Africa is ready to welcome even more visitors.
In her final message, she invited Brazilians to explore the country and experience true South African hospitality.
The power of the press and airlines according to Tati Isler
Tati Isler, from TI Comunicações — the official representative of South African Tourism in Brazil alongside Diogo Caldeira — emphasized the essential role of the press, airlines, and the trade in the destination's growth.
She recalled that the tourism sector only advances when there is an active and efficient collaborative network, highlighting the presence of two partner airlines at the event. According to Isler, this year has brought very positive results, and 2025 is expected to exceed expectations even further, with concrete prospects for the resumption of two daily flights between Brazil and South Africa.
For the executive, the world continues to face complex times, but the South African destination is experiencing a period of great opportunity and expansion. She reinforced that the diversity of experiences offered by the country remains one of the main attractions for Brazilian travelers.
The new campaign at Guarulhos Airport announced by Diogo Caldeira
Diogo Caldeira presented one of the main novelties of the meeting: a groundbreaking campaign by South Africa with South African Airways at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, which will run from December 2025 to February 2026. Also present at the event were the South African Airways team, Gabriel Gomes and Cássio Lucas.
The campaign aims to increase the visibility of the destination during the peak travel period and reinforce the brand's presence in the arrival and departure of Brazilians traveling abroad.
Caldeira also highlighted important figures: up to September, South Africa received 45,000 Brazilian visitors – a 25% increase – and the expectation is to reach 60,000 by December 2025. He noted that, with the consolidation of routes and new promotional strategies, the country could once again approach the records of 2019.
The executive also emphasized natural attractions little known to the Brazilian public, such as the South African coast, with 560 kilometers in the western region alone, marked by clear rivers and impressive landscapes.
A promising future for the Brazil-South Africa relationship.
The meeting at the Renaissance São Paulo Hotel solidified a moment of celebration and optimistic projections. The union between government, trade, press, airlines and strategic partners creates a favorable scenario for South African tourism to continue growing in Brazil.
With new initiatives, global events, investments in conservation, and the strengthening of air routes, everything indicates that 2025 and 2026 will be landmark years for the destination — and that Brazilians will continue to discover, more and more, the charm, diversity, and hospitality of South Africa.
Reporting and photo: Mary de Aquino.