Tourvest Retail Merchandising holds up in recession

Tourvest’s Retail Merchandising division is sustaining growth despite the decline in tourist numbers in South Africa.  Divisional chief executive Eric de Jager says that the company’s consistent success is due to its diverse portfolio of niche market operating units which cater for the varied shopping needs of local and international travellers.

This is an increase in growth for the fifth consecutive year, even though for the past six months, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has reported international passengers declining by 8.5% at OR Tambo International and 11.5% at Cape Town International.  Local domestic departures from ORT are down 14.5% over the same period.  

In preparation for 2010, the division is revamping its key stores and restaurants.  Currently, the division operates 57 African souvenir, craft and curio stores and 23 jewellery outlets located in high-traffic tourist hubs, including OR Tambo and Cape Town International airports, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Sandton City, Cape Point, Kirstenbosch and the Addo Elephant Park.  The division has eight destination restaurants in Cape Town and on the Garden Route.

The division’s duty free business, Tourvest Duty Free (TDF), performed strongly this past year, acquiring four new airline concessions on Air Mauritius, Precision Air, Arik Airlines and TAAG, the Angolan national carrier.  TDF currently trades on eight international airlines, including South African Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways.  The business packs and loads 50 000 mini-mobile retail outlets or trolleys each year, catering for 11.2 million customers.

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