Cape Town to host last USTOA trade workshop

The final leg of the USTOA trade workshop will take place on 23 November 2009 at the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town.

Top tour operators from the USA, members of the US Tour Operators Association (USTOA), are currently in the country as part of the USTOA “Presidents Cup” golf tournament.  They will also participate in trade workshops, hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa and Cape Town Tourism, on how to sell Destination South Africa to the American tourist.

“The workshops are a key component of the USTOA tour and we are really excited that the CEOs have made time to link up with the local tourism private sector.  The recession has had a big impact on global tourism and it is valuable for us to get information about specific market like the US directly from the people who know it best”, says Mmatšatši Marobe, CEO of the TBCSA.

Delegates who attended the first workshop, held in Gauteng on 18 November, expressed how insightful they found the session. Sight-doing instead of just sight-seeing is set to become the new buzzword in tourism.   This stems from a new trend of tourists wanting to have more of the experience when visiting a place, interacting with the people instead of looking through a window.  The workshop is interactive and allows the panel to share their views on emerging trends in the American market.

The last USTOA visit in 2001, proved hugely beneficial for South Africa, not only in consolidating existing business, but also generating new opportunities.   The CEOs have already visited some of the country’s top golfing spots in Limpopo, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape.  The tour will end with a visit to the Western Cape on Monday.

To confirm your attendance for the Cape Town session, please contact Ms. Boitumelo Moleleki on (012) 654 7525 or send an e-mail to tumi@tbcsa.travel.