MYANMAR’S relative novelty in the South African market is providing luxury travel buyers an opportunity to gain first-mover status in selling the South-east Asian destination to more adventurous travellers.
While South-east Asia remains a popular destination for South African tourists, especially given its better value when compared with the US, Myanmar remains off the radar for many consumers.
The lack of promotion of Myanmar in South Africa presents both challenges and opportunities, Shona Pittaway, managing director of Perfect Destinations told TTG Asia e-Daily at the recent ASEAN Tourism Forum.
“We want to add Myanmar as a destination,” she said. “The main challenge is it is not marketed in South Africa, but that gives us an opportunity. We will be one of the first agencies to offer Myanmar there.
“A lot of effort will be needed to educate the market and inform people about Myanmar being a safe place to travel. Currently, Myanmar is definitely for the more experienced traveller.”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is currently the only NTO from South-east Asia to market itself in South Africa, said Pittaway.
Having successfully built brisk trade with Thailand, Trade Global Marketing Tours is keen to expand into Myanmar. Said CEO, Ayo Oyeneyin: “(Myanmar) is a new market and we are trying to venture into it.
“I foresee good opportunities in Myanmar in the future and think it can be developed into a stand-alone destination (for the South African market).”
