In this episode of the Balancing Tourism podcast, host Ged explores the complexities and potential solutions in the tourism industry with Bronwen Auret, the Chief Quality Assurance Officer at South Africa Tourism. With over 20 years of experience in brand marketing, digital marketing, and business leadership,

Bronwen shares her insights into tackling seasonality, promoting sustainability, and the future of the tourism sector. She provides an in-depth look into her work in shaping the strategic direction for South Africa's tourism, addressing challenges such as airlift and aligning with global best practices.

The conversation also covers key highlights from the World Tourism Seasonality Summit in Bahrain, the critical role of partnerships, and the impact of global events on tourism.

Bronwen emphasizes the importance of collaboration among DMOs to manage not just seasonality but also sustainability, providing a call to action for the industry to work together to mitigate over tourism and its effects on the planet.

00:00 Welcome to the Balancing Tourism Podcast

00:12 Introducing Bronwyn Oray: Tourism Expert

00:28 Bronwyn's Role in South Africa Tourism

01:43 Challenges and Insights from the World Tourism Seasonality Summit

03:00 Addressing Seasonality and Airlift Issues

05:07 South Africa's Tourism Diversity and Opportunities

06:52 Perception and Cost Challenges in Tourism

10:13 Sustainability and the Future of Tourism

17:54 Genealogy Tourism and Influencer Impact

21:45 Collaborations and Partnerships in Tourism

30:53 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions