SINGAPORE – Travel companies have seen higher demand for Africa tours from Singaporeans in the past year.
Numbers have not waned despite the new, deadlier strain of the mpox virus – which originated in the East African Democratic Republic of Congo in September 2023 – being declared a public health concern by the World Health Organisation in August.
Mr Jeremiah Wong, assistant director of marketing communications at tour agency Chan Brothers Travel, says mpox has not significantly impacted its bookings for Africa tours.
He notes a growth of more than five times in South Africa tour bookings to date, compared with 2023.
“While a few travellers have inquired about safety concerns related to mpox and inquiries have also moderated as the Victoria Falls high-water season and the great migration peak season in 2024 come to an end, we have not had any cancellations,” he adds.
One of the highlights of Africa travel is the great migration season, in which millions of wildebeest move across the plains of Kenya and Tanzania in search of fresh pastures and water. The peak viewing season is from July to September.
Tours to these countries in East Africa by Chan Brothers Travel have had a 15 per cent growth in July to September in 2024, compared with the same period in 2023.
The company also said that Victoria Falls – located on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe, and regarded as the world’s largest waterfall – is the most popular attraction on the continent among its customers.
At luxury tour operator Scott Dunn, inquiries for Africa travel have doubled since 2023, and trip bookings have gone up by 28 per cent.
“The safety, security and well-being of our guests remain our absolute priority, and we always defer to prevailing government guidelines and advisories,” says Ms Gwen Ho, Africa travel specialist and team lead at Scott Dunn.
Parent company The Travel Corporation (TTC), which owns brands such as Trafalgar and Contiki, offers tours of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Africa tour bookings with Trafalgar have increased by 10 per cent compared with 2023. And bookings on Contiki – the company’s youth-focused travel booking platform for travellers aged 18 to 35 – have increased by 30 per cent compared with 2023.
Asia chief executive of TTC Nicholas Lim says: “For Singaporean travellers, there is a deep fascination with Africa’s unique offerings, especially its incredible safaris and untamed natural wonders. Travellers increasingly recognise that with the right precautions in place, they can explore these wonders safely.”