![[PR] PR_Ascott and Vimut Hospital_2024](https://www.traveldailynews.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PR-PR_Ascott-and-Vimut-Hospital_2024-400x265.jpg)
…
Thinking outside the box; running the marathon in the opposite direction and adapting to the ever changing landscape of the tourism industry will be the key to getting out of the current slump in visitor numbers to Cape Town and the Western Cape.
These are the sentiments that came out of the sixth CEOs Tourism Business Breakfast held at the Sante Hotel, Resort and Spa. The breakfast, which is a monthly event hosted by Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU), the Tourism Enterprise Partnership and other partners, seeks to bridge the gap between tourism entrepreneurs and established tourism businesses by providing a platform for these two groups to share knowledge and build relationships.
About 70 tourism entrepreneurs gathered at the venue this morning to learn more about how they can benefit from online marketing. Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of CTRU impressed upon attendees the importance of being flexible and tailoring packages for all types of tourists: “Does your product speak to your jetsetter niece; your small town cousin and your city-slicker mother? You need to be innovative, creative and above all else be willing to adapt and respond quickly to issues like the credit crunch, the expectations of tourists, new marketing and communication tools.”
Marisa van der Merwe, eMarketing Manager of CTRU echoed these sentiments: “Once we know what our customer’s expectations are, we need to communicate with them in a way that they are familiar with. People around the world are using online mediums more and more to search for information. You need to familiarise yourself with the online journey that they take in order to book their trips and ensure that you communicate with them via these mediums. Open a Facebook account, start tweeting, ask your clients to add reviews on TripAdvisor and update your LinkedIn profile.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
