KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna had the opportunity to showcase some of its accommodation establishments and activities to a group of 14 tour operators and four media representatives from India.
Coordinated by SA Tourism’s Indian office in Mumbai, it included the Garden Route’s five tourism offices: Mossel Bay, George, Oudtshoorn, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.
The itinerary kicked off with a speed marketing session at Oubaai on Wednesday 13 September, at which 15 of Knysna & Partners’ (K&P) members had five minutes each to present their accommodation establishment or activity to the group.
On Saturday, the group enjoyed a full educational programme put together for them by K&P, starting at the Wild Oats Farmer’s Market in Sedgefield.
Unfortunately, rain put paid to their planned hike and bike in the forest and a whale watching excursion on Ocean Odyssey, but they were treated to a cruise and Indian buffet aboard the iconic John Benn by the Featherbed Co.
The group inspected four hotels: Conrad Pezula, the Turbine Boutique Hotel & Spa, The Lofts Boutique Hotel, and Protea Hotel Knysna Quays.
The Indian tourism representatives who got shown around Knysna and other parts recently as part of a marketing exercise for tourism on the Garden Route.
They then checked into Belvidere Manor for the night and departed for Plettenberg Bay on Sunday morning for the next leg of their tour.
K&P chair Elmay Bouwer said the visit was a "fantastic opportunity" to sell Knysna to some of the biggest and better known Indian outbound operators, including Cox & Kings, Thomas Cook and Ahura Travels.
“India is a growing market and we are very excited to be able to showcase our beautiful area to both the operators and the media, including Voyager's World, India's top travel trade magazine,” she said.
Tasneem Poonawala of Cox & Kings said that Knysna is the hidden gem of South Africa and that it has only been superficially touched upon until now. “It has something for everyone – from the adrenaline-pumping sports to soul-soothing beaches, a perfect destination,” she enthused.
“We will definitely try to curate itineraries in future that do full justice to this show-stopper destination.”
'We bring you the latest Knysna, Garden Route news'
