Mauritius, tick. Seychelles, tick. Zanzibar, tick. So what's next for that client who's crazy about the islands of the Indian Ocean? Well, what about Reunion? Just 1800 South Africans visited the island in 2007, but the Comite du Tourisme de la Réunion has big plans to grow the number of arrivals.
"Our objective is to triple the arrivals of tourists within five years," says Stéphan Ulliac, the Reunion Tourist Board representative for South Africa.
"Air Austral is very actively looking at growing the SA market," says Greta Dubois, Management Consultant to Air Austral. The airline has appointed Lu Dowell Representations as their GSA in South Africa (as of 1 October) specifically to increase its commercial presence in the country. The airline also runs regular educational tours for agents.
"Load factors on the SA-Reunion route are very dependant on the seasons, as high and low seasons in both countries happen at the same time," says Ms Du Bois. "This means that in high season there is more demand than capacity and in low season we are only 60 percent full."
Getting to Reunion is about to become easier though.
"Air Austral is at the same time increasing its capacity with a scheduled second flight per week, says Ms Du Bois. The second flight will operate on Thursdays, starting on 26 October.
However, the island is still seen as an expensive destination compared to its Indian Ocean competitors. A four-hour flight from Johannesburg, Reunion is actually a far-flung administrative region of France, so cash-strapped South African visitors should prepare themselves to pay Euros. Visitors will also need a visa for French Overseas Departments.
"The perception that Reunion is expensive is not entirely fair," says Ms Du Bois. "The airfare is very acceptable and one can find a great array of hotels."
"The same goes for restaurants; from small Creole eating places to luxury French restaurants. Reunion has huge supermarkets, the roads are good, and there is no malaria. It is a first-world destination."
The "French atmosphere" is one of the island's main selling points, says Mr Ulliac, who is confident the "exotic European region in the midst of the Indian Ocean" will draw South African visitors.
Adventurous tourists in particular will be richly rewarded on this unspoilt island. The lack of world-class beaches has kept away the sun-seeking tourist hordes, and what it lacks at sea-level it more than makes up for with its dramatic mountain scenery. With towering volcanoes (the Piton de la Fournaise is one of the world's most active), lava cliffs and deep canyons Reunion is a paradise for adventure sports enthusiasts.
The island offers world-class surfing, trekking and canyoning, while the Creole food and culture along the coast offers an authentic taste of the Indian Ocean that's often hard to find on the more developed islands.
So next time a client wants the warm waters of the Indian Ocean without a resort full of Soufeffricans, ask them to say "Bonjour" to the Indian Ocean's best-kept secret. Vive La Reunion!
» This article originally appeared in Travel Industry Review, October 2008
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Or just a sign of commercialism heading south? Refuse to shop at Melissa's nowadays: overpriced and average
