According to Bradley Brouwer, South African Tourism regional manager for Asia Pacific, with China now the fourth biggest source of foreign tourists to South Africa, domestic wineries should not underestimate their buying power,
"Research shows that China is set to become the biggest market in the world for wine after the US. With the preference still very much for imported wines, now is the time for more South African producers to start capitalising on the growth in travel and the interest in wine."
Brouwer, who has worked for South African Tourism in Asia since 2007 and currently has responsibility for the markets in China, Japan and Korea, was at Vergelegen in Helderberg to address guests attending the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards on 27 November 2013.
He said local wineries should capitalise more on the benefits flowing from growing Chinese affluence and interest in world travel by becoming more attuned to the needs of these tourists.
"The same holds for Japanese and Korean travellers, who are increasing in number to South Africa. Last year, Japanese travel to South Africa rose by 31% on 2011."
Currently, China is number 14 on the list of South Africa's wine export destinations. Japan is in 16th place. Sales to both are rising, with sales to China up 8% for the 12 months to September 2013 and to Japan by 31%.
He said that just because tourists were on a tight schedule and did not necessarily spend much time at each winery they visited, it did not mean they were not interested in purchasing wine and other memorabilia.
"Visitors from Mainland China, for example, will generally travel for 8-14 days. They come to South Africa for the scenic beauty, the culture, the history, the wildlife and, increasingly, for the wine and opportunity to play golf.
"They can accommodate no more than two wineries and they want to be hosted with efficiency and cultural respect. They want to taste, take pictures and buy wine; with the facilities readily available to courier their purchases back home. They are not interested in long narratives or being kept waiting. Visits to wineries generally lasted between 45-90 minutes."
He stressed the importance of gearing up for large groups. "In the first quarter of 2014, for example, we have a group of 5000 visitors to the Winelands within the space of a week. This is just the tip of the iceberg, if the potential is managed correctly."
Wineries could enhance their relationships with Asian visitors by providing take-away information in Mandarin for the Chinese and translating such information into Japanese and Korean for consumers from these markets. "Giving tourism offices information in these languages would also help them in raising the media profile of South Africa and its wineries."
Mainland China's interest in celebrities and icons had prompted SA Tourism to regularly host high-profile personalities on visits to South Africa, ensuring they visited iconic spots such as Table Mountain, Robben Island, Boulders Beach (to see the penguins) and the V&A Waterfront. "Local wineries have not yet acquired iconic status but, by raising their media profile, especially through social media, this is possible."
He urged wineries to focus not just on large-scale groups but also on the increasing number of Asian tourists coming as family units. "Most Chinese couples have one child. Provide activities for children and show them educational Av material so they can learn about South African wine. They are your future consumers."
He said the potential growth of the conferencing market was also significant. "Wineries may not be hosting the conferences but delegates will definitely be visiting wine farms as part of their itineraries."
Brouwer also urged wineries to acknowledge the customs of their visitors. "Never take a business card and put it in your pocket. Take it with both hands and do not put it away until your visitors have left. Avoid black, white or black and white packaging as these colours symbolise death, as does the number 4."
