THE ancient Tea Horse
Road in southwest
China, the world’s
longest trade route, is
emerging as a favourite MICE
destination following the
opening of five-star resorts
and increased air access.
Alexis Bekker, head of
sales and marketing for
South Africa and Africa of
LUX* Resorts & Hotels,
says mainland China and
tourist attractions like the
Great Wall have always been
popular with MICE travellers.
Since the opening last year
of LUX* Lijiang and LUX*
Benzilan – both in the Tea
Horse Road district – she
has seen MICE travellers
increasingly choosing this
destination for incentive
travel.
She says corporates
realise that traditional
incentive travel destinations
such as Victoria Falls,
Mozambique, Mauritius
and Madagascar that are
quick and easy to access
have lost their appeal for
some corporate companies
as everyone has “been
there, done that”. She says
increased air access to the
main cities on Air China,
Singapore Airlines and SAA
has made travel quicker and
easier.
Furthermore, Alexis says
Tea Horse Road provides
elements of adventure and
surprise. “It is perfect for
travellers who want to see,
do and learn more because
it is rich with ancient
Chinese culture and history.
What’s more, it can be
combined with other main
cities to provide travellers
with an experience of old
and new China.”
Taryn Agliotti, consulting
director of Sure Travel
24-7, says a culturefocused
incentive trip to
Tea Horse Road may not
be for everyone, but if
agents present the idea
to the right clients, there
is big commission-earning
potential. LUX* Resorts
and Hotels offers nett rates
for MICE travel (meaning
agents can decide their own
mark-up), while Air China
offers agents 1% and 1,01%
commission on international
and domestic flights
respectively.
Some agents, like
Princess Majiki, owner
of Khuseleka Travel &
Shuttles, says although not
impossible, it can be tricky
to sell an incentive trip to a
destination like Tea Horse
Road without having visited
yourself. Other agents,
like Salma Mansuri, travel
consultant of A2Z Travel
Services, say they’d sell
Tea Horse Road as long as
the hotels they book have
sterling reviews, as quality
accommodation is important
to MICE travellers.
Popular new choice for incentive travel
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