South African Tourism recently coordinated nine simultaneous famils with 90 Australasian travel trade and media for its inaugural Mega Lekker Escape series of fam trips, culminating with a two-day training event at Sun City Resort.
South African Tourism embarked on the massive undertaking to address knowledge gaps in the wake of the pandemic with many advisors new to the industry.
“Lekker” meaning “good or enjoyable” aptly summed up South African Tourism’s mega fam with each trip led by an ANZ wholesaler: Above & Beyond Holidays, Adventure Destinations, Adventure World, MW Tours, The Africa Safari Co., This is Africa, Viva Expeditions and World Journeys.
Each group was equipped with a team name, emblazoned on t-shirts, and the mission to capture their journey in the most creative way to share with other groups at the training event and win prizes.
The fams focused on different regions and included major tourist attractions plus small-, medium- and micro-business enterprises (SMMEs) and community and conservation experiences.
Mega lekker experiences in South Africa
Delegates also embarked on safaris in the Big 5 Pilanesberg Game Reserve, competed in an ‘amazing race’ throughout Sun City and enjoyed pampering prizes in The Palace of the Lost City’s Royal Spa, while wholesalers and South African operators had one-on-one meetings.
The two-day training event with 130 delegates plus South African property operators was held in a boma (a traditional African outdoor gathering place) and included the award presentation and a trivia night, hosted by stand-up comedian Bongani Dube.
The Rhinos, led by Adventure Destinations, were the mission winners with their video focused on the opportunity to give back through tourism.
Their highlights included rhino notching, a conservation initiative to protect the species, and a Soweto tuk-tuk tour with a driver who participated in the 1976 Soweto student uprising.
South African Tourism CEO Nombulelo Guliwe said: “We know the best way for anyone to truly appreciate how exceptional South Africa is, is to experience it.”
“Through this initiative, we sought to equip travel agents with the firsthand experience of the destination that is so critical to building the confidence to sell it, while also hosting media to drive consumer demand for the products the trade experienced.”
Find out about agent self-famil trips with South African Tourism here.
For more info, head to southafrica.net
