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Cape Town, South Africa Photograph: (Tobias Reich_Unsplash)
Learn SA 2025–26 Begins
South African Tourism announced the 2025–26 edition of its ‘Learn South Africa’ (Learn SA) training programme, aimed at increasing engagement with the Indian travel trade. The initiative continues to support the tourism board’s objective of strengthening arrivals from India, with a specific focus on expanding its presence in tier-two markets. Travel partners will receive updated insights, destination knowledge and tools to support business growth.
The workshop series will begin in Surat on November 28, 2025. It will continue in Pune on December 12, 2025, resume in the new year with a session in Kolkata on January 16, 2026, and conclude in Lucknow on March 6, 2026. Through these sessions, South African Tourism aims to build collaboration with travel trade professionals, address on-ground challenges and support partners in meeting the increasing demand for travel to South Africa for leisure and MICE.
India remains one of the key markets for South African Tourism, supported by rising traveller spending and growing interest in long-haul destinations. The tourism board continues to invest in regional outreach, with programmes such as Learn SA helping to highlight the country's tourism offerings and contribute to long-term growth in travel between India and South Africa.
Regional General Manager for Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, Gcobani Mancotywa, said, “We are delighted to launch the 11th edition of ‘Learn South Africa’ in India, a testament to our deepening commitment to this dynamic market. Strengthening our connection with Indian travellers remains a key priority for South African Tourism, and broadening our presence into newer regions is essential to this mission. This edition will take us to Surat, Pune, Kolkata, and Lucknow, where we aim to equip our travel trade partners with refreshed insights and robust destination knowledge. By showcasing South Africa’s rich experiences that extend far beyond the well-known gateways of Cape Town and Johannesburg, we hope to empower our partners to design distinctive, enriching itineraries and inspire Indian travellers to discover the country’s many vibrant and lesser-explored provinces.”
The workshops will include sessions on regions beyond the traditional gateways of Johannesburg and Cape Town, highlighting provinces such as Mpumalanga, Free State and Limpopo. The programme aims to support travel partners in designing new itineraries that reflect the interests of travellers seeking varied landscapes and experiences.
The 11th edition of Learn SA is expected to train more than three hundred partners across the four cities. As the third central activation of the year, the initiative aligns with other engagements, including the Corporate Think Tank, OTM Roadshow and the Annual India Roadshow 2025.
