INTERNATIONAL RESORTS

POPULAR OUTBOUND DESTINATIONS IN 2022

The Incentive Planner does a temperature check with some leading outbound operators to find out which travel destinations are trending hot right now. Here are their top picks.

THE MEDITERRANEAN

With so many incredible destinations to choose from, it’s no surprise many different places were put forward for this piece. However, one did come up repeatedly: the Mediterranean.

It’s no surprise that the azure sea and sun-kissed coastline of this part of the world remain a big drawcard – especially when you add in the countries that enclose these waters. Each has its own vibrant culture, cuisines as well as ample inland scenery and activities to enchant all types of visitors.

David Sand, founder and CEO of Uwin Iwin, says that France, Italy and Spain are among his top requests, as they have so much to offer. “Historic, culturally immersive experiences, combined with fun-filled activities, great food and easy-to-access diverse optional activities, give the incentive winner a travel setting that engages at a personal and group activity level,” says Sand. He adds that good flight connectivity and reasonably efficient visa services make it preferable to many other European destinations.

Stephanie Moss, director of Solutions Group Events, says that Turkey is also a popular choice; “It’s very well priced, has direct flights and visas are fairly easy to access. There’s lots to see and do, with good value-for-money, five-star experiences and accommodation.”

At a bit more of a premium are the Greek Islands. Moss says, “The well-known islands such as Mykonos and Santorini are popular in the European summer months, although companies and individuals are realising there are tonnes of other Greek islands that are less commercialised and more cost-friendly. They are still quite pricey though.”

Alternatively, she says that cruises offer good value for money, as the meals, entertainment and on-board activities are all-inclusive. Johan Venter, founder and MD of Urban Ginga, agrees that cruising these

THE INFLUENCE OF PRAGMATISM

Destination choices are not only based on what the destination has to offer. Increasingly, other considerations are playing a role in the final decision.

Geoff Saner, founder and owner of Creative Incentives, says, “There is a trend to choose ‘visa-friendly’ destinations. Although incentive selections are made long in advance of the group travelling on their incentive trip, visa applications can only begin once winners’ names are known, which usually leaves only a few weeks to obtain a visa.”

With visa centres struggling to cope with Covid backlogs and the resurgence in travel, he says that it can easily take 6 to 12 weeks for a visa to be issued, if not longer. And of course, there is always the risk that an application could be declined.

David Sand, founder and CEO of Uwin Iwin, echoes this sentiment when he says, “The incentive destination selection criteria have been heavily influenced by flight, visa and services stability. Flight costs have seen a marked increase in the overall cost structure in the budget.

“Creative elements that turn a travel trip into an incentive experience require a really experienced team to create enhanced business results and site inspections are an absolute essential post-Covid. We have found that many hotels and venues are struggling to match pre-Covid service levels and extra attention to detailed selection within a destination is required.”

waters is a popular choice, as cruise liners make a strong comeback.

ISLAND ESCAPES

Echoing the appeal of the Mediterranean, tropical islands are also proving a popular choice with their dazzling white to the network all the time, plus it’s been well marketed through the pandemic. It’s an easy ‘go-to’ destination,” explains Moss.

Zanzibar, another beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, is also making a strong comeback. As well as being a quick threeand-a-half-hour flight from Johannesburg, Sand says it has good value-for-money group and leisure offerings.

Thailand, Singapore and Bali are also named as trending island destinations in 2022.

beaches and warm waters, not to mention welcoming hospitality.

Unsurprisingly, the almost unanimous number one choice in this category is Mauritius. “It is familiar, quick to get to, and all-inclusive resorts appeal to South African groups. There are more flights being added

OTHER TOP PICKS

“Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires are superb, with culture to explore and activities to enjoy. These two cities provide amazing experiences that even seasoned incentive achievers will enjoy,” says Geoff Saner, founder and owner of Creative Incentives.

He adds that nearby getaways make easy add-ons that can greatly enhance their itineraries. “For example, Bariloche in Patagonia is a two-hour fight from Buenos Aires. The town is nestled on the shores of a glacial lake that is almost 40 km long and offers a great few days of different experiences and wonderful cuisine.”

He adds that Dubai is also attracting renewed interest. “Although its dirhams are fairly kind to the rand, it is altogether expensive, as the group costings are all in US dollars. But with its ever-expanding array of things to do and things to see, Dubai and Abu Dhabi offer a really wide range of places, restaurants, activities, shows and surprises to experience.”

Los Cabos is another one of Moss’s top picks. She says, “Mexico made good tourism progress during the pandemic, as they had very few Covid restrictions. It is fairly good value for money, and there are gorgeous beaches, allinclusive resorts and lots to do tourism-wise.

Closer to home, Venter and Saner suggest Namibia. Saner elaborates on why this destination holds a lot of appeal when he says, “The thrills of the sights and sounds combining Swakopmund and the Namibian desert surroundings mustn’t be missed. Tented camps, lanterns, a desert moon and lanterns floating up into the night sky…”

One outlier on the list is Alaska, simply because it does not fit the trend of hot and sunny. Instead, it’s a land of glaciers, rugged mountains and vast nature reserves. Venter says it has become a popular destination for cruising, which is the perfect way to take in the immense and beautiful vistas of the region.

As Saner says, “Oh boy, there is so much to see and do. Let’s get back to it!”

Special Incentive Packages

Meet in South Africa, come to the source where it all started and take that knowledge and new thinking – connect, engage and take this to the rest of the world while bettering yourself in your field of expertise. We can make a difference and we believe that if you meet in South Africa, this difference will be even greater.”

Zinhle Nzama, Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer at SANCB