Cross-border travel made easy with Turaco Executive Transport & Shuttle

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Eswatini’s Turaco Executive Transport & Shuttle is looking at ensuring that when one leaves their abode and reaches their destination, the process is smooth and seamless. This includes crossing the border and customs checks. In part two of our interview with Director Daniel Oti, we pick on from ensuring a smooth crossing process.

Eswatini Sunday (ESN): How do you plan to handle border crossings and customs procedures for passengers travelling between Eswatini and South Africa?

Daniel Oti (DO):

We have been very thorough and have not left any stone unchecked when starting this business. This is to ensure that our clients have a seamless experience when interacting with border crossings and customs procedures. We have had extensive briefings with both nations’ governmental bodies such as; the South African Department of Transport (DOT), the South African Ministry of Home Affairs, the Eswatini Ministries of Public Works and Transport, Home Affairs, and Foreign Affairs, (RTMC), (CIPC),

(SAPS), and (REPS) to ensure we are well versed with all of the laws, requirements and compliance procedures.

SADC member states generally provide for the free movement of people, goods, and services throughout the area. However, clients are solely responsible for their journey and their belongings. We have a quick checklist that our staff is briefed on to let our clients know:

1. Passport and Travel Documents – Make sure your passport is up to date and you have the necessary visas if you are from a country that requires a visa for your destination. Make a copy of your pertinent passport page(s) and keep it in a separate place from your passport just in case it is lost or stolen.

Itinerary - Make sure someone at home has your itinerary, including hotel contact information if you do not have an international phone plan. If you change plans, inform someone back home. Money - Use a money belt for your passport, backup credit card and additional money. DO NOT dig into that bad boy in public. Carry a card and one day’s worth of money in

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9. your wallet or purse. Money belts are useless if everyone knows you have them on.

Backpacks - Depending on where you are going, you should have a locking system for your backpack/luggage. Purse - Buy a purse with a cross-body strap. Purses are often a target.

Jewellery – We recommend packing jewellery in your luggage and do not advertise that you are unbelievably wealthy by comparison. Or to Leave the fancy watches and jewellery at home.

Travel Insurance: Invest in a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers medical emergencies, trip cancellations, and theft.

Respect local customs and rules: Dress modestly and adhere to each country’s local customs and security protocols such as ensuring you are not travelling with any unregistered or illegal substances or items.

Illegal

substances:

10.

Check what you are allowed to take through customs. Countries differ as to what they allow duty-free (like cigarettes, tobacco, wine, spirits, and perfume) and there also might be restrictions on fresh produce like meat, meat products, fruit, and vegetables. Minors: When travelling with a minor ensure that they have the correct border documentation that has been certified by the correct authorities.

ESN: What target market are you aiming to attract with your shuttle service, and what strategies are you using to reach them?

DO:

We are running a few marketing campaigns for example, we have a great Easter promotion that is currently available to all members of the public to win; Two free Bushfire tickets, an E2 000 cash prize and a Turaco voucher for a one-way trip. The competition ends on the 26th of April 2024. And all they have to do is Follow us on social media, namely Facebook and Instagram, like our post, tag 3 of their friends and share our

post with our hashtag #Turacoshuttleeastergiveaway, very simple. We plan on having more promotions like this shortly so people should keep an eye peeled. For now, our target market is clients that need a comfortable and reliable transportation service between the Eswatini and South Africa corridor. It ranges from business executives to families and students. We do not discriminate against our clients.

How do you envision the future growth and expansion of your shuttle business in the region?

DO:

ESN:

For now, it’s about doing the basics well, growth and expansion will follow. Our focus is to ensure our clients get a complete service. Our mission statement is as follows – Providing executive transportation for businesspeople, young professionals, families, and students who don’t want to compromise travelling in comfort, and linking the World to the SADC region and all that its tourism sectors have to offer.

ESN: How are you planning to stay updated on industry trends and regulations to ensure the success and compliance of your shuttle business?

DO:

The beauty of being a relative newcomer in the industry means that we have a fresh insight into what can still be done. And we can draw on the experience of what existing players in the various markets have accomplished. It’s a young industry, but we are excited about some of the technological advancements that are happening with transportation. Regarding compliance, as I mentioned above, we have established good relations with the regulatory bodies and authorities. We are also following industry news and updates in both countries and have joined several industry associations and organisations.

ESN: What feedback or testimonials have you received from customers who have used your shuttle service so far?

DO:

“Excellent service and it is spacious” is the testimonial that we have received quite often from our clients, we are also happy to note that a lot of our clients who have travelled with us have informed us that they will be booking future trips with Turaco. We have extensive experience with customer service, but we are open to re-learning and actively monitoring what our customers are saying online and offline. It is a part of our vision ‘to deliver exceptional service and adhere to ISO9001.’

SADC member states generally provide for the free movement of people, goods, and services throughout the area. However, clients are solely responsible for their journey and their

belongings.