Travel & Leisure

The Luxury Travel Report 2025 has identified a fascinating shift in traveller preferences: the rejection of what it calls "beigeification" - that creeping sameness that has gradually homogenised hotel experiences worldwide.

More than 30% of South African adventure travellers spend under R500 per person per day. Yet, they demand high-value experiences. This is according to our new traveller insights. The study is the most comprehensive analysis of South Africa's domestic adventure tourism market to date. It surveyed over 4,200 respondents in partnership with Wesgro through the 101 Adventures Western Cape Competition.

Recent headlines sparked by a widely publicised exchange between US President Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa have reignited international focus on crime in South Africa. Unfortunately, much of the coverage has leaned toward sensationalism, lacking the nuance needed to understand the real experience of travellers to the country.

Industry-wide collaboration has led to the publication of new and updated safety standards and toolkits. This is part of a broader vision to position the region as the ultimate adventure destination. We have launched a new toolkit and five category-specific Codes of Good Practice. This marks another milestone in the industry's journey towards global best practices and enhanced safety standards.

Are we there yet? E-visas could boost SA’s tourism competitiveness, but we are not yet geared for arrivals. Properly rolled-out digital visas will boost inbound travel. They will also dismantle long-standing entry hurdles. For anyone returning to South Africa after time abroad, there’s an unmistakable sense of homecoming – the warmth of a genuine South African welcome, coupled with the relief of the end of a long-haul flight.

We are warning against misinformation that distorts global perceptions. This follows US President Donald Trump’s Executive Order suspending foreign aid to South Africa. He also proposed resettlement for Afrikaner farmers.

Trends shaping business travel reveal a shift toward wellness, personalisation and clearer communication to meet evolving traveller needs. The business travel industry is growing rapidly. According to GBTA research, 52% of companies plan to increase travel budgets in 2025.

Just when you thought your travel budget was sorted for 2025, new corporate travel trends data from our Consulting Q3 2024 Business Travel Report might have you reaching for your calculator. Here's why. Business class fares are jumping, and flights are packed. Travel managers are facing tough conversations about rising costs.

At some point during your daily internet and social media trawl, you will probably have encountered the term “eSIM.” You would not be wrong to think the name sounds a bit techy. It most definitely is, as it stands for “Embedded Subscriber Identity Module". That’s a mouthful. Chances are, if you are scrolling your newsfeed for something light after a hard day, you would skip it.

In a welcome twist for South African businesses juggling cost pressures with environmental targets, sustainable hotels are emerging as an unexpected solution. Companies switching to green accommodation are discovering significant savings alongside meaningful reductions in their carbon footprint.