Graaff-Reinet Tourism explores opportunities
Sonia Wahl
The City of Cape Town recently played host to Africa Travel Week 2024, an important event on the tourism calendar. Kim von Behr Imrie (Graaff-Reinet) and Carla Smit (Nieu-Bethesda) represented the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Tourism Office (LTO). They were privileged to have been invited by the Sarah Baartman District Municipality to share a stand with them and participate in this event held from 10 to 12 April.
Africa Travel Week 2024 served as a platform for sharing insights, showcasing products and services, and cultivating connections among tourism stakeholders. Throughout the week, numerous shows, conferences and award ceremonies took place, offering valuable networking opportunities. One highlight of the event was the Speed Networking session, where both Von Behr Imrie and Smit had the opportunity to engage with prospective buyers interested in exploring the Karoo region. During these five-minute interactions, they emphasised their focus on European buyers. "We had great interest from buyers, which underscores the untapped potential of the Karoo as a travel destination," said Von Behr Imrie. They will be pooling contacts and will be following up with interested parties, including Impala Tours, Let's Go Travel, Paradise Travel and others, starting in May.
The networking efforts undertaken at Africa Travel Week are expected to yield dividends in the coming years, says Von
Behr Imrie. "By maintaining a focused approach and nurturing relationships with buyers, we anticipate significant benefits for Graaff-Reinet, Nieu-Bethesda and the wider area," she added. She says that she learned a great deal from Sarah Baartman District Municipality and felt privileged to represent one of the “7 Wonders” being the seven municipalities within the district municipality. "We are grateful to have learned from the best and will definitely be going next year," says Von Behr Imrie. She also extended an invitation to the public to attend the upcoming annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for 29 April. While the venue is yet to be finalised, she encouraged the community to mark their calendars for this important event.