South African Tourism Think Tank 2025 in Pune brought senior corporate decision makers together to spotlight expanding MICE capabilities, improved connectivity, simplified visa processes and dedicated support for Indian corporate groups
South African Tourism continued its Corporate Think Tank 2025 series with Pune as the third city in the current India Corporate MICE outreach, deepening engagement with the country’s corporate travel and MICE community.
The Pune session was hosted at Blue Diamond, IHCL SeleQtions, and brought together senior business leaders and corporate travel decision makers for an evening of discussion and destination exploration.
Best platform for Corporate dialogue and market insights
The Corporate Think Tank serves as a focused engagement platform aimed at facilitating direct dialogue between South African Tourism and India’s corporate MICE and business sector. The Pune edition provided an opportunity to understand evolving expectations around meetings, incentives and international corporate travel, while positioning South Africa as a destination equipped to deliver efficient, experience-driven MICE programmes.
Discussions during the session highlighted South Africa’s strengths as a MICE destination offering scale, diversity and ease of planning. The destination’s ability to combine modern convention infrastructure with immersive leisure experiences was positioned as a key advantage for Indian corporates seeking impactful international events.
The forum also touched upon discussions around direct flight connectivity between India and South Africa, with South African Airways highlighted as a key enabler in facilitating smoother access for business and leisure travellers. In addition, delegates explored the dedicated MICE support programmes offered by South African Tourism, designed to assist corporate planners and incentive groups with end-to-end destination support.
Pune was identified as a high-potential market due to its growing presence of multinational corporations, technology companies, manufacturing hubs and a growing start-up ecosystem. With a well-established outbound corporate travel culture and rising demand for incentive and offsite programmes, the city represents a significant opportunity for South Africa’s business and leisure tourism growth.
Industry insights and facilitation updates
The session was led by Deepika Nair, Acting Trade Manager, South African Tourism, who outlined the destination’s continued focus on improving accessibility and easing travel planning for Indian corporates.
She spoke about quicker visa approvals in approximately five working days and facilitation measures such as the Trusted Tour Operators Scheme, noting that these initiatives have made planning corporate groups and incentive movements smoother, faster and more reliable. Designed to reduce complexity and improve predictability, the measures aim to give Indian companies greater confidence in selecting South Africa for meetings, incentives and conferences.
Commenting on the importance of the initiative, Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager for Asia, Australia and the Middle East, South African Tourism, said that the Corporate Think Tank platform enables meaningful engagement with India’s corporate leadership and supports long-term partnership building. He noted that Pune’s industrial strength and global business outlook make it an important contributor to South Africa’s corporate travel growth from India.
India’s accelerating economic growth and demographic advantage are reshaping the global MICE landscape. With 47 percent of the population in the economically active 15 to 54 age bracket, increasing corporate allocations for overseas events, expanding infrastructure and stronger international connectivity, India is steadily emerging as a significant force in outbound MICE travel. This trajectory is reinforced by one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets globally, powered by a young, skilled workforce, a rising middle class and growing disposable incomes. Against this backdrop, South Africa is positioning itself as a strategic and natural partner for Indian corporate travel.
South Africa’s long-standing appeal among Indian corporates lies in its ability to deliver business outcomes alongside immersive experiences. Over time, the destination has built a strong reputation for MICE travel by offering versatility and scale without compromising on experiential value. Corporate groups have access to more than 3,000 adventure-based activities designed for team engagement and incentive programmes, alongside world-renowned wildlife safaris in celebrated game reserves.
The destination’s geography further enhances its attractiveness, with scenic road journeys allowing multiple regions to be explored within a single itinerary. Dynamic cities, acclaimed winelands and coastal retreats add to the diversity, while dramatic natural landscapes are often located within short travel distances. Many of these experiences can be seamlessly integrated into itineraries of less than a week, aligning well with the time constraints of corporate groups. This balance of efficiency, value and experience has made South Africa a preferred choice for Indian companies seeking impactful incentive travel and business events.
Networking and Continued Engagement
The Pune Corporate Think Tank concluded with a networking dinner and cocktails, providing delegates with an informal setting to continue conversations, exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations.
With Pune marking the third city in the Corporate Think Tank 2025 series, South African Tourism continues to strengthen its engagement across key Indian markets, reinforcing its commitment to co-creating future-ready MICE and leisure programmes aligned with the evolving needs of India’s corporate sector.
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