Traveling tribe triumphs for tourism
30 May 2012
As the tourism body of the city, NMBT is looking for unique stories of tourism service beyond the call of duty and tourism experiences that highlight how people have gone the extra mile in making Nelson Mandela Bay a better and brighter destination for tourists.
“The attitude embodied can be anything from a helpful waiter who made your day and a local who stopped to help with directions to a doorman picking up a wallet for a hotel-guest or a tour guide giving an exceptional tour of the townships. Anyone is welcome to share their stories and experiences. We want to show off our tourism gems, not only the places – but the people,” said NMBT chief executive, Mandlakazi Skefile.
Any person or organization can nominate candidates for the award, as long as they are send it in before the 20th of each month. Each month a winner will be selected that will get mention in the monthly newsletter and are in the running for the title, announced at the final NMBT annual general meeting.
This month’s nominee is the Traveling Tribe! It aims to stimulate family travel to and in Nelson Mandela Bay by promoting the city as the perfect base from which to explore the Eastern Cape and South Africa.
The Tribe is the brain-child of Theunis and Zuko Pienaar and is run in partnership with Kingfisher FM.
“Well, you can’t really call it our brain-child’, said Theunis. “I’m a gypsy. Zuko is a hippy. Since we’ve been together we’ve loved traveling. All we’ve done now is to start sharing this love with the world. They say, if you enjoy your job, you will be successful. We’ve brought what we enjoy into our work and it is such a pleasure.”
The Traveling Tribe was challenged by Kingfisher FM to do thirty weekend trips and two 10-day trips between February & November 2012. Each trip is an opportunity to promote Nelson Mandela Bay.
Every trip is preceded by on-air radio interviews on Kingfisher FM, complemented by social media, followed by an on-air radio review and a week-long radio competition, as well as a blog-post which includes a beautiful article, pictures, a video-clip of the Tribe’s experience and links to the relevant tourism-products.
“We want to make people hungry,” said Zuko Pienaar, ‘mother of the tribe’. “Hungry to travel. Hungry to be together and experience together as a family. Hungry to discover the Eastern Cape, especially, and South Africa as well, for the stunning destination it is, easily accessible from Nelson Mandela Bay.”
“The competition-component of our Traveling Tribe-promotion is vital” said Theunis. “It enables us to give sponsors extended exposure. It increases interest in our travels. Listeners and blog-subscribers are always keen to see what we’re up too, aware that they might just be fortunate enough to enjoy exactly the same experience.”
The penetration and reach of the Traveling Tribe is evident from the rapid growth of its blog. A short four months after its launch, the blog already has over 3000 subscribers who regularly enjoy sharing in the Tribe’s travels.
“I think, being able to show families that it is not only possible, but even fun, to travel with your family is a good thing,’ said Zuko. “Our Tribe has three children younger than twelve and recently welcomed a new-born baby into our fold. Lots of people are commenting on how inspired they are just by seeing us travel as a family.”
Kingfisher FM has supported them from the outset. “When Theunis and Zuko presented the concept to us, we knew it was going to be a hit,” said Xandre van der Berg, Kingfisher FM’s product and talent manager. “The combination of this big, wonderfully weird family with beautiful destinations, fun and adventurous activities, brought to the market through multi-platform exposure seems to be irresistible.”
The Traveling Tribe hopes to eventually invite leaders and influencers along on their trips, not only introducing them to the tourism opportunities within Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape, but also getting them excited about promoting the area.
“It’s important that we dream” added Zuko. “Our dreams take us into the future. We dream many things for The Traveling Tribe. Mostly we dream that it would make a positive contribution to tourism in and from Nelson Mandela Bay, into the Eastern Cape and that it would remind families that time is our most precious commodity, that we should spend it on each other, making memories, sharing experiences.”
Send all ‘walking the extra tourism mile’ nominations to Reuann Smith at membership@nmbt.co.za or phone 041 582 2575 each month by the 20th latest.
Read the Travelling Tribe's blog on: http://travelingtribe.wordpress.com. A promotional video introducing The Tribe is here: http://travelingtribe.wordpress.com/meet-the-tribe
Please wait!
