Jovago.com expands to South Sudan

Jovago.com, the online hotel booking platform, has announced its expansion into South Sudan.

This comes at a time when the young country is looking into improving its telecommunication infrastructure through acquiring international fiber connection by the end of 2015. Almost alienated by years of war, this move aims at giving the country maximum exposure and online accessibility to the global tourism industry.

Speaking of the occasion, Estelle Verdier, MD, Jovago East and South Africa said, “We are very proud to support the development and exploration of South Sudan, making it easier for people to travel to South Sudan for business, visit family or discover touristic attractions” South Sudan is home to a large fraction of the Nile River and the enormous Sudd swamp region – popular for a luxuriant birdlife. The country also spots Africa’s largest national reserve – Boma National Park, and one of world’s greatest migration, which hold great potential given global visibility, strategic marketing and good infrastructure. Recent reports from World Tourism Organization indicate that wildlife watching represents 80% of total annual sales of trips in Africa, therefore exploiting such attractions in South Sudan will be a great boost to the country’s economy.

At about 20 per cent internet penetration, South Sudan’s e-Tourism still has many years of strong growth ahead, and with such interest in online booking platforms, hotels in the various tourist attractions can now count on online marketing to improve their accessibility. It’s also worthy of note that unlike the rest of the region, South Sudan has very few officially recognized agencies, which majorly curtails the efforts in industry development.

In conclusion, Verdier notes that the development and exposure of South Sudan’s tourism potential will not only be beneficial to the country, but the region as well, “with adventure tourism on the rise, tourists are more likely to cross borders in search of that adrenaline jungle than ever before” she quipped, citing The Nile as a great attraction to water sport enthusiasts. A 2012 study by Adventure Trade Travel Association (ATTA) revealed a 65 per cent growth in Adventure Tourism while placing it’s global worth at US $ 263 billion.

South Sudan is Africa’s youngest nation, having seceded from Sudan in a referendum held in January 2011. The country is home to the second largest mammal migration, Africa’s largest reserve, one of the world’s largest wetlands in the Al-Sudd region and straddles both White and Blue Nile, therefore making it a versatile destination for bird watching, safaris and water adventure. Conservationists have quoted South Sudan’s potential in presenting biggest migration of large mammals on earth.