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Secure travel booking tips

TourismRef: https://www.tourism.gov.za/Documents/Secure%20travel%20booking%20tips.pdf

Official source

Source domain: tourism.gov.za

Collected on 13 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document is a set of “Secure Travel Booking Tips” issued by South Africa’s Department of Tourism. It advises tourists to use legitimate travel service providers and outlines practical checks to reduce fraud risk, including using credit cards, verifying memberships/registration, scrutinising marketing materials, and avoiding unsolicited requests for personal or banking details. It also warns about common scam tactics (e.g., pressure for immediate payment, fake refund emails requesting banking details, and “won a vacation” offers) and recommends reporting suspected scams to the bank’s fraud department and the police. It includes a link to verify graded accommodation on tourismgrading.co.za and suggests checking whether agents are bonded or have pre-deposit protection.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

crime reporting serviceOngoing

Reporting travel scams to the police

If you believe you have been a victim of a travel booking scam, you should report the case to the police. This supports official investigation and helps prevent further fraud.

Who it is for: anyone who has experienced a travel booking scam
How to act on it: Report the incident to the local police authority.

Show the line this came from

If you suspect you've fallen victim to a travel scam, contact your bank's fraud department immediately and report the case to the police.

Facts

Reference

https://www.tourism.gov.za/Documents/Secure%20travel%20booking%20tips.pdf

Parties

ASATA membership or recognised travel agency

Key Takeaways

Document title: Secure Travel Booking Tips
Issuing body: Department of Tourism (South Africa)
Advice: use legitimate service providers when booking holidays or pilgrimages
Fraud risk indicators: deals too good to be true; unprofessional marketing; high-pressure sales
Payment advice: prefer credit card over EFT for booking protection
Membership check: look for ASATA membership or recognised travel agency brand; verify registration number on quotation
Do not respond to unsolicited emails requesting personal details
Accommodation advice: verify property existence and ownership before paying
If scammed: contact bank fraud department immediately and report to police
Written quotations: ensure you receive written (not telephonic) quotations and read terms and conditions
Booking confirmation: proactively check with airline or accommodation after booking
Avoid sharing banking details when making a booking
Graded accommodation verification link: https://www.tourismgrading.co.za/find-a-graded-establishment/search-for-graded-accommodation
Pre-deposit protection: ask whether the agent is bonded or has protection mechanisms
Department of Tourism (South Africa)
Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA)
tourismgrading.co.za
police
banks (bank fraud department)