South African Tourism successfully concluded the Kolkata leg of its Annual India Roadshow after launching the initiative at OTM Mumbai, reinforcing India’s growing importance as a key source market. Led by Marketing and Communications Manager (MEISEA) Mitalee Karmarkar, the roadshow provided a strategic platform to deepen engagement with the Indian travel trade and identify new opportunities across leisure, corporate, and MICE travel segments.
The event featured over 40 exhibitors showcasing diverse tourism offerings and attracted participation from more than 220 travel trade agents in Kolkata. The multi-city roadshow will next move to Delhi on February 12, aiming to further strengthen trade collaborations and boost outbound travel to South Africa. The tourism board also reiterated its target of returning to pre-COVID Indian tourist arrival levels by 2026, while building long-term partnerships with Indian stakeholders.
Kolkata remains a strategically important source market, with travellers from the city showing strong interest in culturally rich, experience-driven itineraries that combine heritage, wildlife safaris, adventure, and premium travel. Tourism officials noted that the city’s mature outbound travel base and increasing preference for long-haul destinations make it a key contributor to South Africa’s India growth strategy. South Africa also expects global visibility ahead of hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is anticipated to further boost tourism inflows.