Craig Drysdale, director of Sales and Marketing at ITT Inspirations Travel and Tours, has been in the tourism industry for nearly 30 years and has seen the unique camaraderie and support the industry provides. Through his experience, Craig has also become a mentor to many in the industry and is an advocate for the spirit of collaboration.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Craig’s experience was invaluable. He was able to help ITT relaunch and rebrand their logo and website, as well as adopt a hybrid solution of working from home and the office. Studies have shown that productivity and happiness increase by 30-40% with such an approach, and job descriptions are now including whether the job is remote, hybrid, or office-based. Craig has also embraced the concept of “less is more”, with businesses taking up less office space and reducing paper usage. He has found that his most productive time for emails is between 5 and 7 in the morning, and he still uses a “to do list” written on paper or in a book to remind him of his call to actions.
Domestic tourism was a saviour during the pandemic, and Craig has been involved in the National Department of Tourism’s tour operator incubation program, which has helped 44 SMEs survive the pandemic. The program has focused on compliance and business operations, as well as access to market linkages, mentorships and payrolls.
Craig believes that South Africa needs to reinvent itself and focus on new tourism products, true experiential experiences, and supporting small entrepreneurs in order to change its negative perception. He believes that the time for talking is over, and that obstacles to tourism must be tackled from the top down if South Africa is to hit its 2030 tourist numbers. Through his own experience and the camaraderie of the industry, Craig is advocating for the spirit of collaboration, support, and action to help South Africa’s tourism sector recover and thrive.
Craig can be reached on craig@itt.co.za, and the website for ITT is www.itt.co.za.
Don’t miss this episode with an industry insider who is advocating for collaboration, spirit, and action for the new era of South African tourism.
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