New travel agents body urges aggressive promotion of south Sudan

August 27, 2010 (RENK) – South Sudan needs to be aggressively promoted as a travel destination according to the newly formed association of south Sudan travel agents.

Gabriel Garang Majak, Executive Director of the South Sudan Society of Travel Agents (SSSTA), which was formed 27 July 2010, told Sudan Tribune from the regional capital Juba that south Sudan has a lot of untapped potential.

The organization plans to launch its website which would enhance communication between members and other stakeholders.

“As you understand today’s world communicates online, we will launch our website to ease communication between members and non members in travel related matters,” explained Majak.

He said the organization will establish a secretariat with a full time executive secretary that will be in charge of day to day activities acting as a liaison between the travel agents, government and local and international hospitality companies.

Majak said that the new body is planning to build a 200,000 Sudanese Pounds SDG (US$84,600) conference facility to be used by its members at affordable rates.

“We intend to have our own conference hall which is a source of income for the association’s welfare,” he said.

Majak, who is also managing director of South Sudan Air Connection, said the organization plans to introduce a training program in customer care services for travel agents staff members.

“The main objective of the training is to instill professionalism in the travel industry especially in dealing with customers,” he said adding that SSSTA plans to conduct massive travel promotion in all ten southern states.

“At the moment we have invited officials from south Sudanese people and travel agents to brainstorm priority areas for promotion,” he said.

“We have areas such as Maban, Melut, Manyo, Oriny, Nasir, Leer, Parieng and other remotes areas in greater Upper Nile region and other areas like Malual Kon, Akot, Yirol, Mapel, and Turalei in greater Bahr el Ghazal. The same applies to Maridi, Yambio, Nzara, Nagero, Kejikeji, Nimule, and Kapoata in Greater Equatoria as our main target at the moment.”

“As for regional connection, we have already started with Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Cairo and Kampala and we are sure that if they get promotion, more travelers will visit the areas,” he stressed.

He urged fellow travel agents to co-operate with the SSSTA leadership to enable the new organization to develop and to benefit the economy as a whole.

(ST)