South African Tourism concluded the fifth edition of its flagship corporate engagement initiative, Corporate Think Tank, with Kolkata as the fourth and final stop of the current four-city series. The event brought together over 25 corporate leaders for discussions focused on business travel trends, collaboration opportunities and destination-led experiences. Designed to deepen engagement with India’s corporate sector, the initiative showcased South Africa’s growing strengths as a destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE), alongside leisure travel. Through interactive sessions and destination presentations, the programme highlighted the country’s positioning as a value-driven and experience-rich choice for business events.
Kolkata has emerged as a key focus market for South African Tourism, supported by the city’s strong base in IT, BFSI, manufacturing, trading and education, and a steadily growing segment of corporate and young professional travellers. Rising outbound aspirations and demand for incentive travel and conferences have placed Kolkata on the tourism body’s priority map for both MICE and leisure travel.
Addressing participants, Regional General Manager for Asia, Australia and the Middle East Gcobani Mancotywa said the discussions in Kolkata reaffirmed the city’s relevance as a source market for South Africa’s MICE segment, adding that India remains among the fastest-growing markets for the destination.
With India’s outbound travel market expanding rapidly and corporate spending on overseas events projected to rise significantly, South Africa is positioning itself as a natural partner, offering cost-effective, diverse experiences from adventure activities and wildlife safaris to scenic road journeys within compact itineraries.