Petrol attendants offer a White River welcome

In December 10 petrol attendants from various filling stations in White River attend a tourism awareness and customer care training programme. An initiative by the White River Local Tourism Organisation (LTO), the ‘White River Welcome’ is designed to improve awareness of tourist attractions and tourist amenities in the area, in addition to brushing up on customer service skills.

Programme developer and trainer, Sam Bouwer, commented: “It’s important that we recognise that tourists come into contact with all types of businesses, not just tourism businesses such as tourist accommodation and attractions. Many tourists visit petrol stations and thus petrol attendants are part of the tourist experience”.

She continues: “Petrol attendants that have tourism knowledge are better placed to advise tourists which, in turn, encourages the tourists to visit our local attractions”.

The Programme was well-received by the petrol attendants, with many inspired to visit the attractions to learn more about them. The Programme will be offered again in the New Year for other interested petrol stations in the town.

And it was with thanks to sponsorship from The Winkler Hotel and Kruger Lowveld Tourism that the Programme was made available.

Simon Sutherland, Chairperson of the White River LTO Committee commented: “We are really pleased to have been able to develop and offer this programme. We have a number of other initiatives planned for the New Year, one of which is the White River PRIDE which will be launched in January”.

The White River LTO Committee is tasked with identifying and driving initiatives that will help position White River as an appealing tourist destination and place of residence. The Committee comprises members representing the diversity of the tourism sector in White River.  All Committee members are volunteers and passionate about White River.