South African Tourism has invited Ghanaian travellers and corporate organisations to look beyond the familiar and discover the full diversity of experiences that define the country, as part of efforts to deepen tourism and business links between Ghana and South Africa.
The call was made by Thekiso Rakolojane, West Africa Regional Manager of South African Tourism, during a corporate engagement hosted in partnership with Marriott International at the Accra Marriott Hotel.
Rakolojane said South Africa offers far more than its most well-known cities, noting that the destination is defined by the richness of its nine provinces and the stories of its more than 60 million citizens.
“South Africa is much more than Cape Town and Johannesburg,” he said. “Each of our nine provinces offers distinct landscapes, cultures and experiences, from wildlife and adventure to heritage, cuisine and creative industries.”
He encouraged Ghanaians to take advantage of the upcoming Easter holidays to explore the destination, extending an open invitation to travellers.
“South Africa awaits — come find your joy,” he said.
The engagement was officially opened by the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa to Ghana, Mpshiri Setlhare, who underscored the strategic importance of Ghana to South Africa’s tourism and economic diplomacy agenda.
She highlighted the strengthening of bilateral relations through the Binational Commission framework and pointed to the visa waiver introduced in November 2023 as a key driver of increased travel between the two countries.
“The numbers tell a powerful story,” she said. “From January to December 2024, visitor numbers from Ghana to South Africa grew by 149 percent compared with the previous year.”
Setlhare described the growth as evidence of what can be achieved when governments, tourism bodies and the private sector work together to remove barriers and promote intra-African travel.
Beyond leisure travel, the evening also positioned South Africa as a leading destination for meetings and business events.
Sakhile Ndlovu, National Convention Bureau Business Development Coordinator at South African Tourism, said the country is fully prepared to host conferences, incentives and major corporate events.
“South Africa is ready for meetings, conferences and business events,” he said, citing the country’s modern convention centres, extensive hospitality infrastructure and proven experience in hosting international gatherings.
Hospitality partnerships were also highlighted by Jeanette Moloto, Director of Global Sales for South and Sub-Saharan Africa at Marriott International, who spoke about the role of global hotel brands in supporting tourism growth and facilitating seamless travel experiences.
Adding a lifestyle and experiential dimension to the evening, Ghanaian entrepreneur Harold Awuah-Darko of Polistas Hospitality showcased the African Polistas Polo Experience, while celebrated South African chef Wandile Mabaso curated a four-course menu celebrating the culinary connections between Ghana and South Africa.
As the event concluded with networking among business leaders and tourism stakeholders, Rakolojane said continued collaboration would be key to sustaining the momentum in travel between the two countries.
“Tourism is about connection,” he said. “When Ghanaians travel to South Africa, they are engaging with another part of Africa — and discovering the joy that comes with it.”
