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Photos: Christer Engström

The new charter route was inaugurated by South Africa’s ambassador in Stockholm, HE Mr. Sophonia Rapulane Makgetla, just before the 360 premiere passengers boarded the aircraft. The ambassador was very pleased with Ving’s investment in the South African route.

“Now you will become Sweden’s ambassadors to South Africa. And when you come home, you will become South Africa’s ambassadors here. This is how to create sustainable relationships and lasting tourism,” he told departing Swedes before cutting the blue and yellow ribbon at the gate.

Also on hand for this historic occasion were Sam Weihagen, CEO of Thomas Cook Northern Europe (which includes Ving); Tom Clausen, Managing Director of Ving’s affiliated airline, MyTravel Airways; and Kerstin Lindberg Göransson, Airport Director of Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.

Cape Town is one of Ving’s major new charter destinations this winter. There will be 10 departures in all during the period November 7 to March 12. High quality and a good price level, especially for food and wine, have contributed to a growing demand for holiday travel to South Africa in recent years, but there has been a shortage of simple air travel solutions from Sweden to South Africa. Cape Town was recently named the world’s best tourist city by British-based BBC television, and in 2010 the city will host the football World Cup.

According to Ving, sales of its 2007-2008 charter tours have gone well. At present, 60 per cent of these tours are booked, and Ving is hoping to offer them again next season. But first the company will have to see what its guests think. All of Ving’s passengers will fill out a questionnaire after their holiday, evaluating everything from the weather to their hotel, travel experiences and the Ving staff. The questionnaires will then provide a basis for planning the next season.

“It will be very exciting to see whether our charter passengers agree with us. South Africa is a fantastic tourist country, offering a hard-to-beat combination of everything from culinary and wine experiences to magnificent natural scenery, safaris and a contemporary history that has touched us all,” Mr Weihagen says.

In addition to South Africa, Ving is also starting charter tours to Kenya, with the first departure on November 14. “We believe in Africa. After Asia it is the fastest growing tourist region right now, and we see great potential. The continent is still relatively undiscovered and demand is growing every year,” Mr Weihagen says.

Brief facts about Ving’s Cape Town charter tour venture:

• Ving is the first Scandinavian travel operator to offer charter tours to Cape Town, South Africa.
• The charter series consists of 10 departures, each 360 seats, from November 7 to March 12. 
• Ving has six Scandinavian-speaking guides on site in Cape Town to serve its guests and lead most of its excursions and in-country tours.
• Flights depart from Stockholm-Arlanda, with a technical stopover/crew change in Cairo (Egypt). NOTE: No change of aircraft.
• Cape Town and vicinity offer impressive experiences such as Robben Island, Cape Point, Table Mountain, wine growing districts and the Garden Route, combined with beautiful beaches, a pleasant climate and an unparalleled culinary tradition and viniculture. These are some of the factors that persuaded Ving to dare invest in charter tours to Cape Town. 

Statistics on travel from Stockholm to South Africa during a recent one-year period:

• Most people travelled via London (60 per cent) and Frankfurt (22 per cent).
• Most people travelled during the period October to March.
• Nearly all of them stayed more than 6 nights.
• 75 per cent were travelling on holiday, 25 per cent on business.
• 38 per cent of passengers were aged 50-64, and 25 per cent were 35-49.