Free media training at tourism office

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Graaff-Reinet Tourism has recently offered free social media training that focused on the tourism industry.

Danie Boneschans, an educationist and entrepreneur, concentrated on the skills needed to use online platforms to promote your business.

The project was funded by the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and was aimed at empowering businesses with small marketing budgets. "We would like to include as broad a group of people as possible to be able to benefit from this project," says Nanja Smith, secretary of Graaff-Reinet Tourism.

"The first session was directed at people like me, who are quite frankly bewildered by the concept of social media and online marketing and simply needed to be pointed in the right direction."

The first workshop was conducted on 25 July and according to Smith, it was well attended. Due to interrupted internet service, the live stream didn't run smoothly and Smith says it is therefore better to attend these sessions in person. Boneschans also compiled a feedback survey to see where he needs to go for the next session, and participants will be updated on that as soon as the data is available.

The second and third workshops were held on 7 August. "We wanted to spare those who live far away the cost and time of travelling, so both sessions were held on the same day," Smith says.

The second workshop was entirely devoted to Canva, and the third focused on online booking systems, ChatGPT and QR codes. These sessions were an hour long with time afterwards for individual questions.

An additional workshop for staff of the tourism office was conducted on Google Forms in the afternoon.

The next workshop is being planned. It will be an online workshop and information regarding this will be shared as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact Smith on 079 542 9379 if you have questions about upcoming workshops.

Lorraine Melliar (Zalig Restaurant), Twiti Graham (Meerkat Cottage), Alpha Graaff from Nieu Bethesda and Marina Rbudge from Graaff-Reinet. Photo: Neco Bokwe