Plett Tourism welcomes tour operators 

FAMtrip at Robberg Beach
Published: October 18th, 2021

Plett Tourism welcomes tour operators from across the globe to Plettenberg Bay

The Plett Tourism Association, in conjunction with Wesgro (the official Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency for the Western Cape) and SATSA (Southern African Tourism Services Association) and their Garden Route members, recently hosted a group of 10 tour operators in Plettenberg Bay.

The SATSA Plett representative, Nicole Turner of The Plettenberg Hotel, put together an exciting Plett itinerary for eight luxury tour operators and representatives from Wesgro with assistance from SATSA members and the Plett Tourism Association.

On the first day of the tour, all SATSA Garden Route members were invited to participate in a round-robin session to introduce their tourism products and services to 32 tour operators and travel professionals at Fancourt Hotel in George. The larger group was then split up into smaller travel groups, who were each sent to a different town along the Garden Route.

“Tour operators play a crucial role in the success of the tourism industry, and we are very excited to have had the opportunity to present and host these operators along the Garden Route and in Plett. Tourists count on tour operators to turn their dream holidays into realities. It’s important that we give them a first-hand experience on what to expect as they will be selling our beautiful town globally,” says Patty Butterworth, CEO Plett Tourism.

Wine tasting at Kay & Monty Vineyards
Wine tasting at Kay & Monty Vineyards

The eight luxury tour operators that were sent to Plettenberg Bay stayed in town for four nights. Their primary markets include the United States, South America, France, Sweden, Israel, Denmark, Poland, and the Netherlands. The end-of-tour dinner was hosted in fine style by The Plettenberg Hotel. Plett Tourism assisted with local wines from Bitou, Kay & Monty, and Newstead Vineyards.

“The theme for this year’s Megafam Trip in Plettenberg Bay was EAT, PLAY, LOVE.  We thought it would be wonderful to theme our tour with a play on the bestselling book and movie, with the narrative – ‘you have read the book, watched the movie, now come live the experience in the Garden Route,’ said Nicole Turner, Garden Route SATSA representative.

The Plett itinerary included a site inspection, craft beer tasting, and lunch at Barrington’s Brewery & Restaurant followed by an afternoon learning about Plett’s historical and popular sightseeing opportunities and outdoor art sculptures. This was followed with site inspections at The Old Rectory and Ocean Blue Adventures, a visit to the Robberg 5 Blue Flag beach, and ending with a splendid dinner and whisky-smoking experience at Lairds Lodge Country Estate.

The final day of the tour entailed a series of interesting and festive experiences at Sugarbakers Villa, the Plett White House Theatre and Nguni Restaurant, Mungo Retail At Old Nick’s Village, Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre, Birds of Eden, lunch at Monkeyland Restaurant, wine tastings at Kay and Monty and Newstead Lund Family Vineyards,  site inspections at Plett Villas, Africanyon, and finished off with that delicious dinner at the iconic Plettenberg Hotel.