GEORGE NEWS - In February this year a delegation from George Tourism, together with their portfolio councillor Iona Kritzinger, was sent to India to market George and Wilderness as a destination for the Indian market. Although many Indian travellers were already arriving at George Airport, many were just landing and going on to neighbouring towns. Promoting the destination of George & Wilderness could entice them to stay longer.

George and Wilderness are already seeing the positive impact of the show. At the World Travel Market earlier this month, negotiations that started in India between the George tourism manager and inbound operator Sanchit Ahuja of Africa Incoming, were concluded with Monica Rhylander of Oubaai Hotel, to bring a guaranteed 1 000 new room nights to George over the next 12 months, on a B&B rate - with the first group arriving at the end of May. 

This should produce 2 000 bed nights, of which 100% will also have lunch and do at least one activity in Wilderness (very much part of George).

Those 2 000 people will likely enjoy dinner in George on the nights that they stay here; and arrangements are being made to also secure another activity for them in the George area on the day of their departure.

George Tourism manager Joan Shaw said, "If we continue to promote in this market, these numbers will bring millions of rand into George over the next 12 months. Most of this business comes in the traditional off-season, offering us a unique opportunity to combat seasonality, and keep hospitality staff employed through the winter months. 

SA Tourism India is forecasting that they can produce 100 000 visitors per year from India in the next three years, and the Garden Route is high on every itinerary. One of the major attractions in our area had more than 30 000 Indian visitors every year for the past three years, and as we continue to market George and Wilderness, numbers will increase. 

If SAA resumes their direct flights between Johannesburg and Mumbai, as promised in a recent speech by President Ramaphosa at recent India Independence Day celebrations, these numbers will grow even more. 

"Many George hotels already have offers and rates in place to cater for the Indian market, and we will see more and more products benefitting from these numbers in future."

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