On the eve of the world’s leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin 2026, South African tourism leaders gathered at the South African Embassy for a high-level briefing and networking reception, signaling robust momentum in bilateral relations.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Makhotso Magdeline Sotyu, accompanied by South African Tourism’s Acting CEO Dr Shamilla Chettiar, Chief Convention Bureau Officer Corne Koch, Regional General Manager Europe Ian Utermohlen, and Acting Hub Head Central Europe Abby Jacobs, met with Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Andries Oosthuizen.
The Embassy, in proud partnership with South African Tourism, then hosted a vibrant reception for Sotyu’s delegation and around 100 South African exhibitors. In his welcome, Oosthuizen hailed tourism as the “ultimate peacekeeper” and spotlighted Germany as a premier outbound market, with over 290,000 German visitors to South Africa in 2025.
Markus Orth, Senior Vice President of the DRV German Travel Association, underscored ongoing collaboration with South African Tourism’s Central Europe team, emphasizing targeted campaigns, trade education, and sustained demand-building.In her keynote, Deputy Minister Sotyu described ITB as a crucial platform to transform global interest into economic gains. She highlighted Germany as a top European source market, with arrivals growing approximately 14% year-on-year to 2025, and called for deeper partnerships to boost visitor spending, extend stays, and harness tourism for inclusive growth and stronger South Africa-Germany ties.
Guests savored authentic South African cuisine prepared by Cape Town-trained chef Sibusiso Mntambo, complemented by offerings from Berlin’s literary venue “One More Chapter” BookBar.
