Shuttle, coach charter and motorhome companies brush up on technology and vehicles for the ease and comfort of the European trade. By Michelle Colman
Ashtons Tours, Safaris and Shuttles, a provider of affordable set-departure shuttles and on-demand private transfer services to the Kruger National Park, has launched an online facility for the convenience of the travel trade.
Comments CEO, Andrew Iles: “Ashtons’ core focus is to get international clients to their safari destinations as safely, comfortably and seamlessly as possible. In recognition of the fact that the availability and booking process is an integral part of our service offering, Ashtons has recently launched an online booking portal. This allows the international travel trade to check availability online and place real-time bookings for the daily Kruger shuttle between OR Tambo and seven Hoedspruit locations.
“Such improvements to our service offering make it easier for the local and international travel trade to create and deliver affordable Greater Kruger safari packages to their source markets. This applies to both tailor-made and off-the-shelf packages, especially for a package-oriented market like the UK, and it has already had a meaningful and positive impact on our European market.”
Although primarily operative through local tour operators, SA Coach Charters & Bus Rentals has launched the concept of an ‘extended transport desk’. According to MD, Fanie van Zyl, tour operators now have a one-stop management and fleet company that not only offers quality and reliable vehicles according to requirements, but also provides access to vehicles of associated partners, all of same quality and standards.
Further, charter vehicles are in the process of being equipped with WiFi and equipment charging facilities. “We are contemplating offering free refreshments on the first day of every journey as a token of welcome, subject to the approval of the tour operator, using our own branding on the still water bottles,” says Van Zyl.
Tim Bouwers, MD of Bobo Campers, reports that his attendance at Indaba this year not only afforded him the opportunity to present new mobile touring vehicles to overseas partners, but also gave him a feel for new trends and needs. Since then, the company has undertaken a number of changes due to demand.
These include the installation of USB charge points in units, and ordering all new motorhomes with cruise control. “Automatic gearboxes are standard on our 4x4 double cabs. Most customers these days drive automatics and they also ease the burden of driving on the other side of the road when coming to SA and Namibia,” says Bouwers.
Bobo Campers has also gone the route of fresh exterior colours to break the age-old white on motorhomes. Customers can hire GPS units on request, with a choice of Tomtom or Garmin systems.
