Call for expressions of interest: Travel Mossel Bay!

MOSSEL BAY, 13 May 2014: Mossel Bay Tourism’s annual 3-day celebration of travel and tourism – now called ‘Travel Mossel Bay!’ – will take place on the 17th, 18th and 19th of October this year, and the company has called for expressions of interest from people, businesses and organisations who want to share in its success.

Exhibitors at last year’s festival. ‘Travel Mossel Bay’ will take place from the 17th to the 19th of October this year.

“Travel and tourism are fundamental to our economy, and Travel Mossel Bay! is an excellent platform for sharing, learning, and marketing the town as a destination within its context in the Garden Route and Klein Karoo – so our invitation goes out to everyone in the region,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm.
She said that the festival will take the same format as last year – a day of discussions, a day of exhibitions, and a day of travel and outings.

“We’re planning an exciting mini indaba for line staff in the tourism business for the first day of Travel Mossel Bay!: a networking event for waiters, junior managers, receptionists, and other front-line personnel who deal with guests all the time.

“The idea is to make each participant aware of the things that visitors can see and do in the region, and so prepare them for questions their guests might ask.
“It’s planned as a half-day event, with a motivational speaker, a presentation on Mossel Bay, a presentation on the region, a speed-marketing session (during which delegates will be asked to make two- or three-minute presentations about the products for which they work), and an informal boerie-braai for lunch.

“On Day 2, we plan to be back in the Maritime Museum of the Dias Museum Complex for a day of table-top exhibitions with additional lectures and presentations.
“And then on Day 3, we’re hoping to institute a new tradition of ‘Voorkamer Museums’ – when we’ll ask individuals, clubs, and businesses to open their voorkamers (front parlours) to the public in order to showcase their private collections of memorabilia, art, or natural phenomena like gemstones or plants.”
Ms. Holm said that discussions are under way to incorporate the Gardens of the Garden Route into the festival.

“We’re hoping that this will encourage satellite events at, say, the shopping malls or commercial nurseries, or in private gardens.
She said that Travel Mossel Bay! is envisaged as a festival for all.

“We want to encourage attractions like the golf courses to offer special festival rates – like Pinnacle Point did last year – and we’re actively looking for ways to include schoolchildren and the many volunteers, interns, and students who’ve become such an integral part of our tourism economy.”

If you’d like to take part as an exhibitor or speaker, if you’re intrigued by the idea of a Voorkamer Museum, or if you’d like to offer special tours or discounts during the festival period, please contact Marcia Holm (manager@visitmosselbay.co.za or 044 691 2202).

Details and a programme will be posted on www.bit.ly/TravMBY (the long link is www.visitmosselbay.co.za/festivals/travelmosselbay) as they become available.

• The Gremlin
www.thegremlin.co.za

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