The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has long been more than just a partner in the Africa Coastal Maritime & Marine Tourism movement — they’ve been a pillar of connectivity, enabling the mobility that tourism in South Africa depends on. Their consistent presence and support at this year’s event in Nelson Mandela Bay further cements their role as not just a transport body, but as a driver of economic and cultural exchange.
From bustling metropoles to the most remote coastal towns, the minibus taxi industry continues to be the heartbeat of South African mobility — facilitating not just commuter transport, but enabling access to leisure, work, and tourism experiences that form the backbone of domestic travel.
As part of the event’s broader mission to involve key players across all tourism touchpoints, SANTACO’s involvement has ensured that transportation — often the unsung hero of tourism logistics — receives the recognition it deserves as a key component of South Africa’s tourism value chain.
“When people talk about tourism, they talk about destinations, hotels, and experiences. But before you get to any of those, someone needs to take you there — and in South Africa, that someone is often a taxi operator,” said a SANTACO representative Eugene Mogomotsi Ngoetjana.
SANTACO’s leadership team, represented at the conference, has expressed strong interest in expanding their collaboration with tourism platforms and government to foster long-term growth, invest in tourist-friendly transport initiatives, and empower their members to participate in the tourism economy.
As the industry pivots toward sustainability, community inclusion, and accessibility, partnerships like the one between SANTACO and the Africa Coastal Marine Tourism platform are a blueprint for integrated progress — uniting mobility, empowerment, and economic development in one shared vision. For more information about Marine Tourism event go to https://marinetourism.co.za
