MEDIA RELEASE: Immediate. 26 February 2007 (Mossel Bay Tourism) MOSSEL BAY TOURISM HOSTS MEDIA TOUR Mossel Bay Tourism this week hosted a tour of media professionals as part of its plan to increase the town’s profile in magazines and newspapers and on television. Journalists who attended included Jacques Maritz and Owen Middleton (both accredited members of the South African Freelance Association, SAFREA) and Lauren Copely, a well-known media personality with many years of experience as an editor and journalist. George-based Jurie Blignaut of SABC Television joined the group on Thursday to film an insert on the archeology of Mossel Bay. “This is the best way to build relationships with the media,” said Mr. Maritz, who also acts as a media consultant. “Visits like this allow us to renew old acquaintances, meet new people and learn about new developments in the industry. “And, from our side, we need this kind of input because we’re constantly on the look-out for new material.” “The idea was to show them some of our icon attractions,” said Louis Harris, director in charge of marketing for Mossel Bay Tourism, “and this informed the design of the 5-day itinerary.” The journalists were accompanied by Mossel Bay Tourism’s own media consultant, Martin Hatchuel, and were transported in a newly-launched manual transmission Land Rover Discovery 3 TDV6. The group rode elephants at Botlierskop, went to sea aboard the Seven Seas to photograph the departure of the cruise liner Spirit of Adventure, went to the Transnet Heritage Foundation’s Transport Museum in George and rode from there to Hartenbos aboard the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, spent some time at local attractions like the Diaz Museum complex and the Cape St Blaize Cave and had a jorl at the Garden Route Casino - and the Land Rover, of course, allowed them to experience off-road driving (in complete comfort) at Bonniedale. On the fourth and fifth days of their visit, they were given time to interview people and to experience individual attractions for their own, individual stories. Before they arrived, Mr. Maritz indicated that he was interested in writing articles about motoring, tourism and lifestyle, Mr. Middleton said he would look at sport, tourism and environmental issues and Ms. Copley said she was interested in incentive travel, interesting and unusual entrepreneurs and health and wellness. 

“Their individual interests reflect a wide cross-section of the things that Mossel Bay has to offer and we’re looking forward to seeing the results of this tour,” said Mr. Harris.

 

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MORE INFORMATION:Marcia Holm - Operations Manager, Mossel Bay Tourismadmin@visitmosselbay.co.za  |  Telephone: +27(0)44 691 2202  www.visitmosselbay.co.za PO Box 1556 Mossel Bay, 6500 Republic of South Africa 

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