Cape tourism agencies showcase small hospitality business owners at Indaba 2010

In the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, foreseeing the demand for tourism offerings increase, Cape Town tourism officials have been working in partnership with hospitality SMME members to prepare them for their “World Cup Peak Season.”

Assistance with product differentiation, brand building, and marketing helps these businesses optimize their exposure at a national and international level, while Cape Town Tourism also offers short courses, such as the Intermediate Business Management course, to further support and educate members.

This year, at the biggest hospitality marketing platform in the country – Indaba 2010 – Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited took a select group of small and medium enterprises to showcase their unique offerings, including:

African Gill Can Do Tours is a small Cape Town-based company offering tours that extend throughout South Africa and the African continent.

AKT Tourism specialises in tours around the Western Cape, transport and transfers to and from the airport, as well as assistance with self-catering accommodation bookings.

Camissa Tourism and Marketing specializes in township offerings – mainly township, gospel, and diski (soccer) tours. They also work closely with township service providers and facilitate marketing initiatives.

Drive Buddi Transfers and Tours focuses on accommodation, tours, and transfers for hassle-free corporate travel, leaving the traveler to concentrate on work.

At Hippo Homestead B&B, visitors can experience South African culture and music, cuisine, and wines in a homey environment. Hippo Homestead B&B also offers a personalized shuttle service and arranges tailored trips on request.

Makwasa Tours provides travelers with stylish and comfortable tour services while on route through the wilderness, rural regions, and townships.

Oemies Tours specializes in the historical and social values of the Cape Flats, incorporating the Islamic and Cape Malay culture. The tour includes areas characteristic of the Cape Malay culture – the Cape Flats, Bo-Kaap, and District Six.

And lastly, Somoho Tours offers airport transfers and shuttle services with tour packages including Peninsula, Cape Point, Winelands, Hermanus whales, or specialist tours such as golf or shark cave diving.

“We had a fabulous response on the companies we took to INDABA this year,” said Cape Town Tourism CEO, Mariette du-Toit Helmbold, “They all offer distinctly South African tours – tailored for different tastes – and they offer services that are highly personalized and absolutely world class. Indaba was the perfect platform to give these smaller guys a real chance at benefitting from the World Cup and to show everyone the diversity that Cape Town has to offer!”