South Africa is stepping up efforts to restore Nigerian confidence in its travel and tourism market, with industry stakeholders from both countries moving to tackle concerns around safety, connectivity and long-standing perceptions.

The renewed push emerged from the South Africa Tourism Connect held on Wednesday, September 2, at Heritage Place, Ikoyi, Lagos, where tourism and aviation stakeholders met to strengthen the travel relationship between the two countries.

The meeting brought together representatives of the South Africa Tourism Board, South African Airways, the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) and the National Association of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP).

At the centre of the discussions was the need to rebuild trust among Nigerians who may have become hesitant about travelling to South Africa because of reports of crime and the treatment of foreign nationals.

Bobby Moroe, Acting High Commissioner and Consul-General of South Africa, sought to reassure Nigerian travellers that the country remains open and safe for legitimate visitors.

He said isolated incidents reported in the media and on social platforms should not be taken as a reflection of the entire country, stressing that the South African government condemns criminality regardless of nationality.

For South African tourism authorities, the Nigerian market remains too important to overlook.

Mohammed Kwajaffa of the South African Tourism Board said Nigeria remains one of the country’s major source markets, adding that the current effort is aimed at restoring confidence while introducing Nigerian travellers to experiences beyond South Africa’s traditional tourist destinations.

Air connectivity also featured prominently in the discussions, with South African Airways stressing the need for dependable flights and competitive fares to encourage more Nigerians to travel for business, leisure and family-related purposes.

Nigerian travel operators, however, believe restoring confidence will require more than promotional campaigns.

NANTA President Yinka Folami said historical and perception gaps between both countries must be properly addressed, while NATOP President Bolaji Mustapha called for stronger cooperation with the South African Tourism Board to market the country as a safe, diverse and affordable destination.

The Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce also linked tourism directly to commercial activity, arguing that Nigerians travelling to South Africa often combine leisure with business.

Stakeholders subsequently agreed to intensify joint marketing campaigns, improve access to information on safety and visa requirements, promote new tourism products and strengthen air connectivity between Nigeria and South Africa.

The initiative is ultimately aimed at rebuilding a travel corridor that both sides see as important not only to tourism, but also to wider trade and economic relations between the two African economic giants.

South Africa’s latest campaign therefore goes beyond attracting tourists; it represents a broader attempt to repair confidence, improve movement between both countries and reposition the Nigerian market as a key driver of its tourism industry.