This month’s revelation that South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased by 3,2%, the largest decline the country has experienced since the international financial crisis ten years ago, had a significant impact on the market and, immediately, the rand weakened by 20 cents against the US dollar.

“For rand-weary South Africans planning to travel this year and next, the rate of exchange can possibly derail their travel plans,” says Teresa Richardson, Managing Director of The Travel Corporation in South Africa. “However, travel agents can suggest guided holidays to their clients, which offer even greater value for money in destinations such as Europe and Britain, where the exchange rate can easily cause D-I-Y independent holiday expenses to skyrocket.”

Adds Richardson: “Trafalgar is already seeing an increase in the number of enquiries for travel next year. We decided to launch pre-sale Europe and Britain offers now, on offer for a limited period only, to help agents and their clients save and lock down 2020 bookings now.”

Clients can book a 2020 guided holiday at current 2019 pricing (and note that Trafalgar’s 2019 pricing was decided in 2018, meaning even more value) and avoid inflation rate increases and market changes that could cause the cost of their 2020 holiday to be much higher.

“If the price of the holiday goes up, clients don’t need to worry, as they’ve already paid. If the price goes down, we’ll reimburse the difference,” adds Richardson.

“Coupled with Trafalgar’s rand guarantee, which fixes the rand price of the holiday no matter what the rand does, it provides the agent with peace of mind. They won’t be hassled with paperwork and need to re-quote while ensuring their customer doesn’t need to pay more for their holiday if the exchange rate fluctuates.”

Travellers also benefit from securing their seat on the trips they want, especially those which traditionally sell-out quickly each year.

“Trafalgar is opening up sales for 2020 Europe and Britain trips earlier this year than we have done before, allowing clients who book early to save and to avoid disappointment by locking down the trip and dates of their choice,” Richardson concludes.

In addition to the Europe & Britain pre-sale offer, Trafalgar is promoting deals for last-minute 2019 holidays with a September on Sale special providing up to 15% off selected European itineraries.

The guided holiday package includes 13 nights hotel accommodation, breakfasts daily, 11 dinners, two lunches, travel by luxury air-conditioned coach, an expert travel director, hotel service charges and tips, unique insider experiences and airport transfers. Visits to Istanbul, Bursa, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia, Ankara and other key attractions are included.

“As the world leader in guided travel specialising in personalised, immersive experiences, we are incredibly excited to launch the very first Trafalgar trip for the Muslim community,” says Teresa Richardson, managing director of The Travel Corporation in South Africa.

“Considering the large Muslim communities in South Africa, it is important that we are now able to offer specialist tours meeting these traveller’s faith-based needs and interests. Turkey has long been a bestseller for Trafalgar in South Africa,” adds Richardson. “This specialist itinerary will give Muslim travellers the opportunity to delve deeper into Turkey’s authentic Ottoman culture and discover the Islamic heritage of this wonderfully diverse and interesting country.”

Muslim-friendly and Halal guided tours

Rudewaan Arendse, non-executive director of Cullinan Holdings and owner of Tayyib Travel says: “Globally, most Muslim travellers and tourists are practising Muslims, whose main concerns while travelling are [access to] Halal food and prayer facilities.”

Muslim spend on travel was already valued at $177bn in 2017, and is forecast to grow to $274bn by 2023, according to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2018/19.

Guided holidays to Spain and Italy are currently in the pipeline with departures planned for 2019. 

“What makes Trafalgar unique is that every element of our trips are designed to allow our guests to discover real joy, ease and connections when they travel. This inaugural itinerary is completely personalised to offer these connections and more. We are confident that the Muslim traveller will delight in the personalised experiences that are featured, and enjoy discovering Turkey with complete peace of mind that all the essentials are taken care of,” concludes Richardson.

“As an example, with the current volatility of our currency, 2019 presents a continued lack of clarity for both businesses and consumers,” says Teresa Richardson, Managing Director of The Travel Corporation in South Africa. “Despite this, our research and booking trends indicate a strong start to 2019 is on the horizon with customers still looking for meaningful, memorable travel experiences.”

Richardson says at times of uncertainty, travellers will look to travel with trusted companies with excellent reviews and a 97% independent traveller satisfaction rating.

A recent research study conducted by Trafalgar revealed that people’s stated ambition is to live “The Good Life” – defined in the study as being able to relax, enjoy time without stress; connect with loved ones and remember what’s important; to be surprised, to learn something new and experience something different.

The research indicated how travel strongly influences people’s ability to live “The Good Life”, with 93% of respondents saying ‘good travel’ gives them the distance from everyday life to stop, switch off and reflect.

“Good travel happens when we don’t have to worry about the logistics, stress of missing out and making sure everything is taken care of. It allows us to relax and gain perspective on what’s important. When we spend time with local people, doing authentic things, we learn something about ourselves.

“As we move into 2019, we see that people will travel, because having this kind of restorative experience during uncertain times is more important than ever,” says Richardson.
Ultimately the study revealed that living “The Good Life” is about happiness, wellness and doing something new and having experiences, not collecting things.

As the category leader in immersive travel experiences, only with Trafalgar can guests enjoy exclusive inclusions like Be My Guest, where guests discover the heart of a destination from those that know it best – the locals themselves. The first brand to champion this type of true local experiences 10 years ago, dining with an Italian Count in his villa, exploring a Norwegian farmhouse once held by kings and exploring the 17th Century French homestead of one of President Kennedy’s advisors are just a few of the 103 exclusive Be My Guest experiences in store. Other inclusions like hands-on cooking lessons with local chefs in Paris and Florence, and dining after-hours in the Vatican are just a taste of what’s in store on Trafalgar’s unmatchable itineraries.

Giving back is also a key part of Trafalgar itineraries through more than 80 JoinTrafalgar initiatives that positively impact as they travel. Guests will discover how Trafalgar makes a difference through supporting World Heritage Listed Sites on 63% of itineraries, visiting female artisans at social enterprises like Iraq Al Amir Women’s Cooperative in Jordan, learning from a fourth-generation Umbrian weaver or experiencing centuries old farming traditions with nuns at a Convent in Austria to name but a few.

“Coupled with the fantastic value-for-money, travellers will also enjoy 10% off their 2019 holidays to Europe and Britain until 31 January 2019. Along with our rand guarantee, which fixes the rand price of your holiday, no matter what the rand does, there’s never been a better time to get the very best holiday and make travel count in 2019,” concludes Richardson.

Book a Trafalgar guided holiday before 31 January 2019 to qualify for savings of up to ten percent on selected 2019 Europe and Britain departures.

“The digital age has fueled the perception that customers will enjoy the best prices if they wait until the last minute to book. This simply isn’t the case with Trafalgar,” says Teresa Richardson, Managing Director of The Travel Corporation in South Africa.

“The time to take advantage of our best prices for 2019 travel is now, using our Early Payment deals,” she says. “

“Trafalgar also offers a rand guarantee, which fixes the rand price of your holiday, so no matter what the rand does, you’ll have peace of mind that you won’t pay more for your holiday,” Richardson explains.”This is of incredible value to South African passengers travelling on the Rand.”

Trafalgar’s recent study into what constitutes ‘Good Travel’ revealed that consumers are looking for ease, joy and real connections, with 70% of respondents also saying they preferred trips where they could enjoy new experiences over those where they see all the sights, one of the top trends of 2019.

As the category leader in immersive travel experiences, only with Trafalgar can guests enjoy exclusive inclusions like Be My Guest, where guests discover the heart of a destination from those that know it best – the locals themselves.

The first brand to champion this type of true local experiences 10 years ago, dining with an Italian Count in his villa, exploring a Norwegian farmhouse once held by kings and exploring the 17th Century French homestead of one of President Kennedy’s advisors are just a few of the 103 exclusive Be My Guest experiences in store. Other inclusions like hands-on cooking lessons with local chefs in Paris and Florence, and dining after-hours in the Vatican are just a taste of what’s in store on Trafalgar’s unmatchable itineraries.

Giving back is also a key part of Trafalgar itineraries through more than 80 JoinTrafalgar initiatives that positively impact as they travel. Guests will discover how Trafalgar makes a difference, through supporting World Heritage Listed Sites on 63% of itineraries, learning from a fourth-generation Umbrian weaver, or experiencing centuries old farming traditions with nuns at a Convent in Austria, to name but a few. Add to this all the travel logistics sorted for all the possible travel ease for guests, resulting in simply the best travel experience in the guided travel category.

Like a line of dominoes falling, however, the way is being paved for increased travel to the continent, as countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia and even our own nearby Namibia, open their visa regimes and airlines launch routes connecting Africa to international hubs.

In the tourism space, it’s never been a more exciting time for Africa. And, when a global travel brand like Trafalgar announces it will be launching an inaugural Africa programme for the first time in its 72-year existence, you know the continent, and its travel potential, are finally being taken seriously.

One of 29 global brands that comprise The Travel Corporation, Trafalgar has for decades promised guests an extraordinary way to discover the world – from Europe to Australia, Canada to Asia. And now, it’s set its sights on Africa, crafting 10 itineraries in nine countries aimed at connecting travellers with the continent’s natural landscapes and indigenous cultures through a range of “only with Trafalgar” experiences that will showcase Africa in a way that only Africans can understand.

The interest and investment in Africa, and its tourism growth is fitting since The Travel Corporation is owned and operated by none other than the Tollman family, who have their roots in South Africa and remain passionate about and devoted to the continent.

Although today the Tollman family are spread across the world, what is so powerful is their desire to see how they can assist the continent. Whether through the re-development of the iconic Oyster Box hotel in Umhlanga, which King Goodwill Zwelethini said at the opening he hoped would reinvigorate tourism to the town, to launching the Tollman Foundation for the Arts, which has seen 10 artists go on to huge fame.

In South Africa, the familiar brands of Pentravel, Thompsons Holidays, the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Springbok Atlas, among others, are owned by The Travel Corporation. Globally, such brands as Trafalgar, Costsaver, Contiki, Uniworld, U by Uniworld, Busabout, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold form part of the stable of travel experiences.

For a global brand like Trafalgar to turn its eyes to Africa bodes well for the continent and its tourism growth. “There’s an enormous positive energy and excitement around us going to Africa,” says Trafalgar CEO Gavin Tollman.

“Until you go to Africa, you don’t really understand how it’s going to change you. It really is a destination that, unless you’ve been there, is just theoretical. The greatest excitement I have is for my passion, our Trafalgar guests, to be given an opportunity to experience this continent in a powerful way and with absolute ease.”

Trafalgar’s inaugural Africa programme has an overarching theme of connecting travellers with Africa’s people, experiences and places that the Tollmans love. It also shares the stories that reveal the diversity of the destination. “The Trafalgar difference lies not only in our expertise in defining the itineraries but also in the way we deliver them,” says Tollman.

Guests will uncover the stories behind the destination, from sharing coffee and vetkoek with a Damara family in Namibia to joining the De Waal family at their Stellenbosch winery for a traditional Cape lunch, wine tasting and insights into their family history.

“I want our guests to hear the story of how the Tollmans came to own The Oyster Box and the role it played in the romance between a young Stanley and Bea, who proclaimed over dinner that they would one day own the hotel – decades later, that dream became a reality,” says Tollman.

Tourism for good

For the Tollmans, travel is an opportunity to change things for the better. “We endorse improvement, not ignorance, and strive to support tourism for good.”

This is reflected in the family’s commitment to increasing inbound tourism to the continent through Trafalgar’s new Africa programme, while protecting and preserving the continent’s habitats, cultural heritage sites and communities.

Says Tollman: “When travellers journey to other parts of the world, it’s an opportunity not only to engage with the locals, but also to help someone. Our guests have an opportunity to contribute directly to these initiatives through our visit.”

One such initiative guests will be exposed to the Kenya’s Shangilia Children’s Home, with each Trafalgar visit supporting the home’s efforts to transform the lives of the orphaned, abandoned and neglected children who have found sanctuary here. Another is the Himba Project in Namibia, where Trafalgar guests contribute directly to the trust which is used for food and other necessities for the community.

Trafalgar also actively supports tourism for good and has been committed to investing in local communities and safeguarding the environment of the destinations it visits, working in conjunction with its TreadRight foundation. It has forged a series of partnerships with sustainable projects in Africa such as the Wilderness Wildlife Trust in Botswana, The Cape Leopard Trust, Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Bushmans Kloof Rock Art in South Africa.

Tollman has high hopes for the initiative’s success, especially as the global brand launches its Africa programme in 2018, on the centenary of Madiba’s birthday. “When you look at it, somewhat poetically, it’s pretty extraordinary. I think this programme is going to be hugely successful because Africa is one of those places when you leave it, you understand the very reason we travel.

“It’s that excitement and energy we get having been there, and discovered it.”

With 10 hand-crafted trips to nine countries, Trafalgar’s new Africa programme is designed to connect travellers with the continent’s natural landscapes, indigenous cultures and historic cities through a range of “only with Trafalgar” experiences that will showcase Africa in a way that only Africans can understand.

Says Gavin Tollman, CEO of Trafalgar: “When we speak to travellers, Africa is always very high on their wish-list. It is my hope that by having an iconic brand like Trafalgar and the legacy of the Tollman family coming together as one, guests can experience this extraordinary continent in a powerful way and with absolute ease.

“From the moment guests go on holiday to the moment they leave, Trafalgar has taken care of absolutely everything. The Trafalgar difference lies not only in our expertise in defining the itineraries, but also in the way we deliver them.”

The collection reveals the people, places and experiences that Trafalgar has carefully curated across South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana and are aimed at revealing the diversity of the destinations, giving travellers the freedom to enjoy the good life with all the essentials taken care of.

“We looked at the destination itself and how we could connect people, from the experiences we have to the places we stay. I want our guests to hear the story of how the Tollmans came to own the Oyster Box and the role it played in the romance between a young Stanley and Bea, who proclaimed over dinner that they would one day own the hotel – decades later, that dream became a reality.”

Guests will uncover the stories behind the destination, from sharing coffee and vetkoek with a Damara family in Namibia to joining the De Waal family at their Stellenbosch winery for a traditional Cape lunch, wine tasting and insights into their family history.

Tourism for Tomorrow

Trafalgar actively supports tourism for good and has been committed to investing in local communities and safeguarding the environment of the destinations it visits, working in conjunction with its TreadRight foundation. It has forged a series of partnerships with sustainable projects in Africa such as the Wilderness Wildlife Trust in Botswana, The Cape Leopard Trust, Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Bushmans Kloof Rock Art in South Africa.

One such initiative guests will be exposed to the Kenya’s Shangilia Children’s Home, with each Trafalgar visit supporting the home’s efforts to transform the lives of the orphaned, abandoned and neglected children who have found sanctuary here. Another is the Hima Project in Namibia, where Trafalgar guests contribute directly to the trust which is used for food and other necessities for the community.

Says Tollman: “When travellers journey to other parts of the world, it’s an opportunity not only to engage with the locals, but also to help someone. Our guests have an opportunity to contribute directly to these initiatives through our visit.”

New in Trafalgar’s 2019 Africa programme are:

● African Safari Adventure
● Best of South Africa
● Namibia Explorer
● Victoria Falls Experience
● Botswana Delta Experience
● Essence of South Africa

“I’m really hoping that we give our travellers an opportunity to see Africa and finish their time there with absolute joy. Because Africa is one of those places, when you leave it, you understand the very reason we travel.”