Mbombela, The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) is excited to be embarking on a familiarisation trip to the Kingdom of Eswatini and Mozambique as part of promoting the Triland route. The familiarisation trip will see the Tourism Agencies from the three countries host tour operators and media from 15 – 21 August 2022 with the aim of showcasing the different tourism offerings available in each country.
The Mpumalanga tourism team will be taking six local tour operators and four media who will be afforded an opportunity to interact with other tour operators and promote tourism packages that seek to promote Mpumalanga. The tour will start with a two-day visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, which will be hosted by the Eswatini Tourism Authority.
The tour will then proceed to Mozambique for another two days hosted by INATUR (Mozambique Tourism Authority) then followed by another two days in Mpumalanga.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the three tourism agencies to showcase their own tourism offerings which will afford the tour operators to package the Triland route for promotion in the three countries. Each country will get an opportunity to showcase its unique offerings that will attract tourists from the three countries to explore what is on offer”, said Mr Mduduzi Vilakazi.
This familiarisation trip forms part of some of the elements within the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed recently at the Africa’s Travel Indaba that was held in Durban. The Triland route is about enhancing regional tourism initiatives, collaborate and support exchange programmes with the aim of growing tourism.
The objectives of the Triland route are amongst others to position it as a world-class tourism, trade and investment destination; contribute to the integration of the region and their common economic development goals; contribute to employment creation and economic growth; enhance joint collaboration in the conservation and protection of biodiversity, as well as preserving cultural values, heritage and national pride.
“This is the first of more initiatives that will be implemented during the next two years. The Triland route aims to package the unique selling points of each country i.e wildlife, adventure and scenic beauty for Mpumalanga, royal tradition and culture of Eswatini and the sea and white sandy beaches in Mozambique”, explained Vilakazi.
This is an exciting period for Mpumalanga to be able to take part in the promotion of Triland route and expose our tour operators with an opportunity to package this route. This collaboration presents an opportunity for us to promote regional tourism and showcase the variety of products that will afford tourists an opportunity to experience what Mpumalanga has to offer.
