Why South Africa, why now
South Africa is a priority growth market for Indian outbound travel, and the numbers show clear headroom:
- 69,680 Indian tourists visited South Africa in 2025. India led the BRIC nations as a source market. (Source: Statistics South Africa)
- South Africa is targeting 1 lakh (100,000) Indian arrivals in 2026. (Source: South African Tourism, as reported by Travel And Tour World)
Closing that gap of roughly 30,000 travellers depends on how confident Indian agents are in selling the destination. That is the gap One Above’s FAM programme is built to address.
Designed like a product, not a holiday
Hotels experienced (stays):
- The Westin, Cape Town
- Pullman Cape Town City Centre
- Hyatt Regency, Cape Town
- Whalecoast Hotel, Hermanus
Additional site inspections:
- Taj Cape Town, including an eight-course dinner at Bombay Brasserie
- Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Hermanus
Signature experiences:
- Table Mountain cable car, Signal Hill, and a city tour through Bo-Kaap
- 90-minute sunset yacht cruise from the V&A Waterfront
- Day trip to Aquila for Game Drive
- Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope via the Flying Dutchman funicular
- Boulders Beach penguin colony
- Whale watching on the Hermanus coastline
Indian hospitality on international ground
The team catered to mixed dietary needs (vegetarian, non-vegetarian and eggetarian) across six Indian dining partners in Cape Town. They also coordinated staggered arrivals across three airlines so that no delegate waited without a transfer or refreshments.
Leadership on the ground
- Irshad Dadan, Founder & Managing Director (Global), One Above DMC joined the delegation in person for key days of the programme. He engaged directly with partners during site inspections and at the networking dinner.
- Snehal Kikani, South Africa Destination Expert, One Above DMC led the group on the ground through all six days, from the first airport arrival to the final departure transfer.
What our leadership said
“Demand for South Africa exists in India today. What holds it back is seller confidence. Agents who have stood in these hotels and walked these routes answer client questions from memory, and that is what converts enquiries into bookings. Our FAMs are built to create exactly that confidence.”
— Irshad Dadan, Founder & Managing Director (Global), One Above DMC
“Our partners didn’t just see South Africa, they tested it the way their clients will. Four hotel stays, six inspections and Indian dining at every stop mean they now know which property suits a 500+ pax incentive group and which suits a honeymoon / FIT.”
— Snehal Kikani, South Africa Destination Expert, One Above DMC
“We measure a FAM by what partners sell afterwards, not by the photos. First-hand product knowledge shortens quotation time, removes client doubt and lifts conversion. That is the real return on a trip like this.”
— Varun Sarda, Co-Founder, DMC Bazaar
What our travel partners Said
“Flawless planning gave us complete confidence to pitch FIT and MICE groups, with heartfelt thanks to Irshad, Aman, and Snehal for their exceptional warmth.”
— Avishkar Yerande, Founder, TRAVSACK
“Deep local knowledge and top-tier organisation turned sightseeing into an enriching journey, with gratitude to Irshad, Aman, and Snehal for being amazing hosts.”
— Devendra Kumar Dixit, Sr. Manager, Wanderon Travel
“Insightful hotel inspections and smooth coordination made this trip truly valuable, with special thanks to Aman, Irshad sir, and Snehal for their constant care.”
— Md Sharukh, Sales Consultant, Brightsun Travel
“First-hand experience of Cape Town’s top properties empowers us to recommend South Africa blindly, with deepest thanks to Irshad, Aman, Snehal, and Varun Sarda.”
— Naresh Lakhara, Director, Pritam Tours and Travel
What’s next
One Above DMC and DMC Bazaar will continue to expand their FAM calendar so that more Indian travel partners gain first-hand knowledge of the destinations they sell. Partners who want South Africa packages, group rates or MICE proposals can contact the One Above team.
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