Affordable Domestic Tourism Takes Centre Stage as a Driver of South Africa’s Economic Recovery

Travelstart and Absa Rewards partner for R100 domestic flight sale

Amid South Africa’s push for economic recovery, a critical ally emerges: the Travel & Tourism sector. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), this industry is slated to lead the charge, forecasting an  average annual growth rate of 7.6% over the next decade, which far outpaces the country’s overall economic growth rate of 1.8%.^[1]

Despite such promising forecasts, the tourism industry faces its fair share of challenges. Rising inflation and successive interest rate hikes have exacerbated a global cost-of-living crisis, while surging diesel prices pose a significant threat to the consistent operation of commercial fleets. Furthermore, the steep costs of diesel have hampered the ability of numerous small businesses to use diesel-powered generators as a means to cope with the ongoing energy crisis and persistent power outages.

While StatsSA reported a notable 46.5% year on year increase in foreign tourist arrivals to the country in June 2023, Stephan Ekbergh, CEO of leading online travel agency Travelstart says it is essential to remember that this growth comes from a very low point during the pandemic, and does not accurately portray the current state of SA tourism.

Despite these challenges, a beacon of hope shines through Travelstart’s unique partnership with Absa Rewards. The companies are rolling out a fantastic domestic flight deal to Absa Rewards members: exclusive access to one-way domestic flights within the LIFT flight network, at the incredibly low price of R100 for flights when using an Absa card.

Ekbergh says: “This offer is available from the 23rd to the 27th of October,  and members can book through the Absa Rewards portal. This limited-time deal opens the doors to substantial savings, especially during a period when airfares typically peak. But as inventory is limited, members are encouraged to book early to lock in their dates.”

The discounted R100 flights are valid for economy travel (excl. baggage) between 1 and 30 November 2023. They include popular domestic flights such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

Head of Absa Rewards, Rendani Mauda says: “Rewarding our customers for choosing Absa as their bank of choice is just one of the many value propositions we’ve designed specifically with our customers in mind, following the relaunch of Absa Rewards at the beginning of 2023.”

Mauda adds: “With this offer, our customers enjoy full value for money and savings that they can put towards other priorities in their day-to-day lives.”

Absa Rewards members can visit their website to book discounted flights, but they should act swiftly as seats are limited. Non-Absa Rewards members can sign up for the Absa Rewards program to take advantage of up to 30% real cash back, depending on your tier, when booking on their travel platform.