Can you believe it? A whole year has flown by since we officially registered Destination Garden Route — and what a journey it’s been!
From the Cape Town Convention Centre to the Durban ICC, we’ve proudly represented Garden Route gems at WTM Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba, showcasing a diverse offering of tourism products: from boutique accommodations to adventure operators. These shows gave us the chance to connect with inbound and outbound tour operators, positioning ourselves as the go-to local experts for Garden Route travel.
We took the Garden Route message further — participating in workshops and speed marketing sessions in Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Cape Town, connecting with over 100 travel professionals at each event. These moments may be brief, but the real magic happens in the follow-ups, where relationships are built.
As proud members of Skål International Garden Route, we’ve grown our local tourism network, rekindled friendships, and met fantastic new partners – both locally and in Cape Town. And as new members of SATSA, we attended our first conference, gaining insight, sharing stories, and yes, networking some more.
We’ve explored the Garden Route with guests and media, guided trips through Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, and along Route 62. We’ve introduced the world to Chick, our not-so-camera-loving mascot (but keep an eye on our Instagram – she pops up occasionally!).
We’ve crafted itineraries, told stories, and showcased local legends who may not own big businesses — but offer real, authentic Garden Route experiences. This year has been about people, places, passion… and a lot of fun.
To our partners, clients, and followers: Thank you for being part of this ride. And if you’re new here, welcome — we’re thrilled to have you. Here’s to our first year, and to all the adventures ahead.
Update for the trade: Since our humble beginnings we have launched the Garden Route Collection as a separate platform for our many B2B contacts. This is where you will find factsheets, rack rates, and much more. Contact us for more info.
