Call for applications: WYSTC, Lisbon

The Department of Tourism, through the International Market Access Support Programme, invited eligible tourism enterprises to trade at the World Youth and Student Travel Conference in Lisbon, 24–27 September 2024.

What WYSTC is

WYSTC is a specialised international tourism trade and marketing platform for the global youth, student and educational tourism markets. It offers South African operators an opportunity to engage and trade with key international buyers of youth accommodation and travel packages, educational travel and exchange programmes, adventure and activity travel packages, and volunteer and internship travel programmes. Alongside pre-scheduled meetings with potential buyers, the event runs workshops and seminars on research, trends and innovation in the youth, student and educational travel market.

Who was supported

A limited number of enterprises specialising in youth accommodation, tour operation, travel agency, educational travel and exchange programmes, adventure travel and volunteer programmes were supported. Particular focus was placed on assisting small and medium-sized tourism enterprises with some experience in packaging, negotiating and selling relevant packages to international buyers.

What the programme covered

The Department paid return economy airfare, accommodation and exhibition costs directly to the relevant service providers, while other specified qualifying costs were reimbursed on claim after the event. Approved enterprises could qualify for:

• Return economy class airfare, paid directly to the service provider.
• Accommodation including breakfast, per person per night, linked to the duration of the exhibition and including the day before the show.
• Exhibition and participation costs, paid directly to the service provider.
• Ground transport in destination, reimbursed from the airport to the accommodation and back.