Johannesburg - The start of direct flights from South Africa to China by China Airways has been greeted with enthusiasm.
Gateway Travel booked 40 passengers on the inaugural flight from Joburg to Beijing last week and it says it is looking forward to a growing business relationship with China.
Keith Gow, managing director of Gateway Travel and Tours, says: “We can expect to see an increase in (the number of) business and leisure travellers from Asia, as well as in outbound leisure travel to China – which remains an affordable destination for South African travellers, despite the weaker rand.”
This new route will also provide access to Asia, Australia, the west coast of Canada and the US.
Gateway Travel and Tours is working with Air China to offer a selection of well-priced tours to China.
These include an eight-day Beijing itinerary from R12 990; 10 days (to Beijing and Shanghai) from R16 990; and 12 days (Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai) from R19 990.
The tour prices include return flights from Joburg, airport taxes, all transfers, the Bullet Train trip between Beijing and Xi’an (where applicable), four- and five-star hotel accommodation, breakfasts daily, and full-day sightseeing tours with lunch.
See www.gatewaytours.co.za for details.
l The Department of Tourism says the new service will provide Chinese tourists with a wider choice of options to travel to South Africa.
It will also improve connectivity with the region and with Africa, through code sharing with South African Airways.
“South African Tourism, the country’s destination marketing arm, regards China as a core source market. China is the fourth-largest overseas source market for South Africa.”
According to the China Tourism Research Institute, 61.9 million outbound tourists departed from China in the first half of this year. The figure was about 12 percent higher than in the same period last year.
The number of Chinese visitors who came to South Africa was 35 551 – a figure that was about 30 percent lower than the 51 079 in the same period last year.
The decline was due mainly to the new visa regulations – which stipulated that Chinese visitors apply in person, to provide biometric information. Because there are only two South African diplomatic offices in China, they would have had to travel long distances simply to apply.
The regulations have been revised, so would-be Chinese visitors may apply for visas through accredited travel companies and their biometrics will be obtained on their arrival in South Africa.
South African Tourism is arranging a trade familiarisation trip for Air China officials, so they may visit South Africa and experience the country’s amazing offerings.
Ten invited travel agencies are to promote the non-stop flight, design new products, and upgrade their products in line with the new flight schedules.
Saturday Star