South African Airways Partners Nigerian Tour Operators to Boost Inbound Tourism
South African Airways (SAA) has announced its intention to deepen collaboration with Nigerian tour operators in a strategic effort to promote inbound tourism into Nigeria through its Johannesburg–Lagos route.
This development was unveiled during a Tour Consultants Product Training workshop hosted by the airline at the Movenpick Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The exclusive engagement brought together leading figures in the Nigerian travel and destination marketing industry to spotlight SAA’s expanding network, its holiday packages, and the Voyager loyalty programme.
In her remarks, SAA’s Country Manager in Nigeria, Mrs Kemi Leke-Bamtefa, stated that the airline remains committed to its mission as a pan-African network carrier, offering reliable connections for both passengers and cargo into South Africa and beyond.
She highlighted that SAA’s route network now includes key African cities such as Harare, Lusaka, Windhoek, Dar es Salaam, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi, alongside long-haul destinations like São Paulo and Perth.
“SAA prides itself as an African Network carrier, connecting passengers and cargo into South Africa and points beyond Johannesburg. Our network keeps expanding,” Leke-Bamtefa noted. “We are now actively exploring ways to promote inbound tourism into Nigeria via our Johannesburg–Lagos route. To this end, we are engaging with the Nigerian Association of Tour Operators (NATOP) and plan to host destination marketing events on various SAA routes to showcase Nigeria’s rich tourism offerings.”
The move signals a strategic shift for the South African flag carrier as it turns its attention not only to outbound travel but also to inbound tourism — spotlighting Nigeria’s cultural and natural treasures to global audiences.
Welcoming the initiative, NATOP President Mrs Bolaji Mustapha expressed optimism about the potential impact of the partnership.
“Nigeria is blessed with a number of beautiful tourism sites and destinations with rich history and culture. Initiatives such as this would go a long way to offer visitors a chance to explore and enjoy them,” she said.
She further stressed the importance of promoting Nigeria’s leisure and cultural tourism calendar. “From the Calabar Festival to Dirty December and other year-round events, we have exciting opportunities that can be packaged and marketed to global tourists,” she added.
Currently, South African Airways operates four weekly flights from Lagos to Johannesburg on Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, offering seamless onward connections to destinations across Africa and other continents.
The collaboration between SAA and NATOP is expected to enhance Nigeria’s visibility as a prime African destination, support tourism operators, and foster deeper regional connectivity through aviation and travel partnerships.
