South Africa Tourism Launches Africa’s First Ever AI Travel Assistant
by Marsha Mowers
South African Tourism has launched a new AI tool called Siyanda.
South Africa Tourism has launched Siyanda, an AI travel assistant and the first of its kind in Africa which travel advisors can use to research the destination, craft tailored experiences and support clients.
Built on Matador’s award-winning GuideGeek platform, Siyanda delivers instant answers, personalized itineraries, real-time recommendations using data from South African Tourism and over 1,000 integrations.
“The name Siyanda is from Xhosa, one of South Africa’s 11 official languages, and means ‘We are growing. We are increasing,’” explained Darryl Erasmus, Chief Operations Officer at South African Tourism.
“Siyanda enables us to grow that connection by reaching travellers who are now using AI alongside traditional channels to research and book trips. We are incredibly proud of our New York-based team’s innovation and dedication to keeping South Africa top-of-mind for North American travellers seeking immersive, authentic experiences.”
The tourism board says Siyanda enhances, rather than replaces, traditional planning, giving advisors a smart, always-on partner to support their work and inspire their clients throughout the travel journey.
It is a tool for travel advisors looking to deepen their South Africa expertise and better serve their clients. Available 24/7, the AI assistant can instantly answer destination-specific questions, suggest tailored itineraries, and provide real-time insights on everything from wildlife experiences to local cuisine, empowering advisors to save time, personalize recommendations, and stay ahead of client expectations.
“South Africa is a very affordable destination for North American travellers,” Erasmus added. “Through chatting with Siyanda, potential visitors and the travel advisors assisting them, can build a dream itinerary that fits their budget and discover just how far their dollar can stretch—whether they’re diving with sharks, enjoying world-class wines in Cape Town, searching for lions on safari, or engaging with local communities.”
Siyanda can be found here https://www.southafrica.net/us/en/travel.
