The well-travelled and ultra-wealthy are one of the emerging travel
segments from India.
A `one size fits all` approach won`t work when dealing with the Indian
market. Sue van Winsen reports on some of the different segments that
are interested in travelling to Southern Africa.
1. Adventure seekers
Indian travellers are increasingly interested in adventure activities,
such as zip-lining and bungee jumping, says Johan Groenewald, MD of
Royal African Discoveries. While this is driven, to a degree, by the
younger generation, he says groups are often multi-generational, with
children, parents and grandparents all travelling together. "This
means that it`s not unusual to find grannies in the group going
skydiving!"
These sentiments were echoed by SA Tourism Country Manager for India,
Hanneli Slabber, who at the recent launch of the `Learn South Africa`
programme, said that Indian women accounted for a large proportion of
business in SA`s adventure tourism sector, taking part in a wide range
of adrenalin-inducing activities such as shark diving and sky diving.
Top activities for this segment include anything with an experiential
spin – from safaris, to niche tours, such as cycling and wine-tasting
through the Cape Winelands or cooking lessons in the Bo-Kaap.
2. Glamorous under 25s
There is a growing market of travellers under the age of 25. Despite
their young age, these are usually not budget travellers, as the trip
is paid for by their parents. These travellers want to spend time in
the cities, and while they are adventurous they are not interested in
roughing it.
This may include couples looking for a romantic holiday but most are
singles travelling with friends, looking to have fun, freedom and a
relaxing time.
According to a SA Tourism report on the Indian market, travellers from
this segment want to be free and unrestricted whilst exploring a new
place and engaging in activities. "They relish meeting new people and
visiting popular pubs and clubs." Cape Town is particularly popular
with these young travellers, who are drawn to the shopping and nightlife.
Popular experiences include exploring major attractions, such as Table
Mountain and Cape Point, taking part in adventure-related activities,
having fun at trendy nightspots, relaxing on the beach or going to
spas and shopping for the latest designer brands.
3. The new professionals
The rapid growth of India`s economy has resulted in many
`middle-class` Indians being able to afford international travel, some
for the first time. While more traditional aspirational destinations
are likely to be their first choice, including the US, UK and the rest
of Europe, the

affordability of South Africa may also be a drawcard,
as this segment tends to be quite price sensitive, especially with
fluctuations in the Indian rupee.
According to a report by the Market Intelligence Group of the European
Travel Commission, there is a strong distinction between
upper-middle-class travellers who are often travelling on a tight
budget and the extremely affluent segment, for whom luxury travel is a
prerequisite. "Working in modern high-tech industries (IT,
pharmaceuticals, mechanical engineering, etc.) they make short or
extended trips abroad. They may be travelling alone or with colleagues
but also may be taking the opportunity to bring their partners or
families to explore the wide world," says the report.
4. The well-travelled and ultra-wealthy
The Merrill Lynch/Cap Gemini World Health Report in 2013 estimated
that 111 000 Indians have a nett worth (excluding their primary
residence) of more than US$1 million, while Credit Suisse reckons that
2.4 million Indians have assets of more than US$100 000. While the
ultra-wealthy account for only a small percentage of Indian
travellers, they are obviously likely to spend far more than any of
the other segments while on holiday.
The Market Intelligence Report states that India`s millionaires
"travel aboard frequently and extensively, often with their families,
and often accompanied by staff (domestic assistants, personal
assistants, drivers, etc.) and demand an extremely high level of
service". As travel becomes more accessible and commonplace, it is
becoming less of a status symbol, but still has a certain amount of
`brag factor` attached to it. This market will really look to push the
boundaries in terms of high-end experiences that fit in with their
personal sense of identity and achievement.
This market is also likely to have very high expectations in terms of
the standard of service delivered by those encountered during their
trip. "In India, they live luxurious and pampered lives: labour is so
cheap that most have several servants, including a nanny, cook and
driver. When abroad, they therefore expect high standards of service
from porters, waiters and hotel staff," says the report.
Activities generally need to suit the whole family and options would
include exploring the country`s natural attractions and game reserves,
visiting historic sites and learning about local cultures, adventure
activities such as scuba diving, dining out and shopping for designer
brands. V.1061

One of the highlighted topics: Critical Skills Visa.

- Key Insight: Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast track to working in South Afr...
- This matter relates to critical skills visa and its broader implications.
- Individuals are advised to seek professional guidance.

Is your profession on the Critical Skills List? This visa is your fast trac V.6139
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One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, became a victim of identity theft in 2012 when fraudulent transactions occurred, using her personal details.

-The Pretoria High Court found that the department of home affairs had violated constitutional rights without due process.
-Only half of Lawyers for Human Rights` test group has been unblocked, while 385 000 identities remain blocked nationwide.
-LHR appeals extension, urges affected people to seek help now.

Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) are intensifying pressure on the department of home affairs over the national ID-blocking crisis, accusing the state of acting too slowly to unblock qualifying individuals despite a landmark court ruling.

In January last year, the Pretoria High Court found that the department`s practice of blocking IDs without due process was unlawful and unconstitutional. One of the applicants, Phindile Mazibuko, a Swati citizen and South African permanent resident since 1998, fell victim to identity theft in 2012 when fraudsters used her personal details.

 V.6133
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6128
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6129
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A Washington state mother and her 6-year-old son have been released after spending more than three weeks in US immigration detention due to a brief trip to Canada and a small paperwork mistake, her attorney told CNN on Saturday.

Sarah Shaw, a New Zealand citizen who has lived legally in the US since she arrived in 2021, was detained at the Blaine, Washington, Customs and Border Protection checkpoint when returning home after dropping her two oldest children off at the Vancouver airport for a flight to visit their grandparents in New Zealand. Shaw, 33, chose the flight out of Vancouver because it was direct and she didn`t want her children to have to navigate a layover alone, her attorney Minda Thorward, told CNN.

 V.6130
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On 22 July 2025, the Gauteng High Court dismissed Sitrusrand Boerdery`s review of the Department of Employment and Labour`s refusal to issue a Working Conditions and Salary Benchmarking Certificate, an essential precondition for obtaining corporate visas under the Immigration Act.

Acting Judge Kekana AJ held that the Department`s decision was lawful, rational and procedurally fair. This judgment illustrates how businesses can - and must - structure their corporate visa applications to meet statutory requirements, and how legal practitioners should prepare robust review challenges when administrative authorities decline to recommend foreign-work permits.

 V.6131
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The United States could forfeit an estimated 9.4 billion dollars in visitor spending over the next three years following the introduction of a new 250 dollars `visa integrity fee,` according to industry groups, who warn the policy risks undermining tourism and costing thousands of jobs.
The United States’ decision to introduce a 250 dollars `visa integrity fee` on international visitors has triggered sharp criticism from the global tourism industry, with officials warning that the measure could deter millions of travellers and cost the U.S. economy billions.
The 250dollar `visa integrity fee,` part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, will take effect later this year. According to immigration law firm Envoy Global, it applies to all nonimmigrant visa holders which include students, tourists, temporary workers, and business visitors particularly from African countries. V.6132
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The Border Management Authority (BMA) has doubled its staff at Airports in South Africa , including immigration officers.

What does this mean for travelers? V.6127
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1. Right to Legal Representation•You have the right to consult with a legal representative.•Contact an immigration practitioner, legal aid clinic, or attorney urgently.•Do not sign any documents without understanding them fully. 2. Section 34 of the Immigration Act•You must be brought to court with 48 hours to confirm arrest but you can remain locked up very long as courts figure out what to do with you •If you`re found to be illegally in South Africa, you may be detained for up to 30 days (extendable by a magistrate) pending deportation.•BUT this cannot happen arbitrarily. You must be informed of your rights, and Home Affairs must follow due process.- becomes a nightmare , you could lose your job , business , place to stay V.6121
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Driving for Bolt, Uber, Mr D, or Checkers Sixty60?If you`re undocumented, you`re risking more than just your income.The Risks if You`re Not Legal: - Vehicle impoundment - Heavy fines - Arrest & deportation - Permanent bans from working in SA V.6122
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