Port Elizabeth will play host to a number of inbound tour operators when the South African Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and South African Tourism (SAT) in partnership with the Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency (ECPTA) host a Speed Marketing Workshop at The Boardwalk Hotel & Convention Centre on Thursday, 21 November. 15 National operators and a number of local tour operators, who focus on promoting packaged tours to South Africa, will be hosted to a day of 5-minute presentation slots as invited tourism products from around the Eastern Cape converge on the venue to promote the tourism potential of the Eastern Cape.
Vernon Wait, current chairperson of the Eastern Cape Chapter of SATSA, said “We are very excited to be hosting another Speed Marketing Workshop : it has been a while since we last hosted one of these in the city and province. We believe the timing is perfect as the industry is showing signs of improvement after the recession and the Eastern Cape’s diverse offerings at affordable rates, especially for family getaways, makes us a very appealing destination.”
Tourism products in the Eastern Cape believe that our province has not been sufficiently exposed to the operators in the industry and that there is need for improved knowledge of our offerings. At a recent presentation in the city Prof Ernie Heath reiterated what we as locals know, but which somehow does not seem to penetrate the market; “The Eastern Cape is one of the most richly endowed tourism destinations in terms of depth and mix of natural and cultural tourism resources, which is also in line with key future tourism market trends”, he told his audience.
The local organising committee have made a concerted effort to encourage a spread of products, with a large focus on activity-based tourism, from the greater Eastern Cape. This way we can encourage the traveller from the major centres to travel throughout our province and thereby spreading the tourism spend. Evening functions on Jester Cruise and a visit to the Bridge Street Brewery have been organised on Thursday for all the tour operators and those presenting products. This will be followed on Friday with site inspections to various hotels along the beachfront for the tour operators and the inner city tour of Route 67, with lunch at the Phoenix Hotel’s unique Stagedoor. Friday morning will also play host to a SATSA Eastern Cape Chapter meeting whereby products will be updated on SATSA activities and plans whilst further engaging with other tourism stakeholders. “It is anticipated that both operators and products will leave with a far greater knowledge of our province’s potential and offerings and we look forward to continuing conversations with them thereafter”, advised Wait.
The following will get the opportunity to do a 5 minute sales pitch starting from 10h00 on 21 November 2013:
- Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism: Jonker Fourie
- Sun International – The Boardwalk, Wild Coast & Fish River Sun: Donna Peo
- Sibuya Game Reserve & Lodge: Nick Fox
- Areena Riverside Resort: Ed Rathbone
- Kat Leisure Group: Thembi Mbeki Didiza
- Greater Addo: Yvonne van Tol
- Lion Roars Safaris & Lodges: Tricia Wood
- Mount Camdeboo: Cathy Braans (for Wendy Dold)
- Ikhayalam Lodge & Tours: Lester Barendse
- St Francis Links Golf Course: Jeff Clause
- Die Tuishuise & Victoria Manor: Lisa Ker
- Prana Lodge & Spa: Cathy Braans
- Lalibela Private Game Reserve: Vernon Wait
- EL Museum (& Nahoon Point Nature Reserve): Kevin Cole
- Cape St Francis Resort: Anita Lennox
- Inkwenkwezi Private Game Reserve: Keith Stanton
- Calabash Tours: Paul Miedema
- Elephant House: Clive Read
- Ezethu Tours: Sithembiso (Geoff) Foster
- Tsitsikamma Village Inn: Chris Sykes
- Camdeboo Adventures (& Graaff Reinet area): Chantelle Marais
- Steve Biko Centre: Sandile Zikalala
- Addo Elephant Back Safaris: Walter Gwarada
- Tsitsikamma area: Dewald Niemann
- SANParks (Frontier Parks): Maleshni Pather
- Kuzuko Lodge: Catharina de Lange
- Angler & Antelope Guest House (& Somerset East area): Alan Hobson
- Hinterveld Mohair Factory: Jackie Gant
- Stormsriver Adventures – Canopy & Forest Tours: Ashley Wentworth
- SAMREC (& Cape Receife Conservancy): Eddy Molekoa
- Criss Cross Adventures: Terri Pickels
- Hopewell Lodge: Antony Collett
- Woodall Addo Country House & Spa: James Miller
- Mantis Collection: Chantal Davidge
- Kariega Private Game Reserve: Murray Finlay
- Cata Community Tourism: Boniswa Tontsi
- Kragga Kamma Game Park: Terri Dunn
- Pro Dive SA: Michelle van Aardt
- The Historical Hogsback Inn: Mark Andersen
- Ganora Guest Farm (& Nieu Bethesda): Hester Steynberg
- Supertubes Guest House (& Jeffreys Bay area): Maresa Meyer
- Blunden Coach Tours: Nizam Kader
- Zuurberg Mountain Village: Clint Wild
- St Francis / Kouga / Baviaans area: Esti Stewart
- Castle Hill No 7 Museum (and Bay World): Grizel Hart
- Pembury Tours: Susan Pattison-Wait
- Wild Coast Holiday Association: William Ross
- Emfuleni Corridor Tourism (ECTOUR): Colleen Durant
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