TCB stakeholder report

Europe: Tourism Corporation Bonaire stakeholders report

Index

Newsletter travel trade & Consumers

Contact met Stakeholders

Consumer media

Social Media / Online marketing:

E-training

01

Market insight

Current market situation

• Good news is that as of July 1 the borders of Bonaire has been opened for travellers from Europe of the following countries: The Netherlands, Belgium Luxembourg & Germany.
• We have been speaking to a majority of the tour operators in the market. The feedback we received is that at the moment they see 'very light' increase in the bookings. Majority of the bookings are ticket-only and not packages.
• Several conversations have been done with KLM, Corendon and TUI TUI Nederland, TUI Fly, ABC Travel, BON Travel and others.
• Feedback recieved from several tour operators in the market that the interest at this time is relatively slow. Consumers will stay at home or will travel domestic. Not having a clear anwser on procedures, protocols and definite opening date is affecting the business. Also consumers are afraid of new Covid19 outbreak will take place during holiday. How do I travel to home then? There is a need for more and definite information. Good news is there is a crowd still interested to travel to the Dutch Caribbean this summer. We will try to catch them with the fishing tools we have.
• Both TUI NL & Corendon are offering free PCR testing for their clients. This is a major step as the PCR tests were a stumbling block for consumers.

02

Activities

2nd of June meeting Heleen Bruggeman, plaza resort

Spoke with Heleen Bruggeman the new dutch representative of Van der Valk Plaza resort on several developments in the market. Als gave an update on which actions have been done and what is still in the pipeline for 2020.

Every week meeting Manfred lahey, TUI NL

Spoke with Manfred Lahey of TUI NL/TUIFly, Manager Long Haul on their requirements to fly back to Bonaire also elaborated on the numbers and capacity of the flight at the moment.

4th of June CHTA Panel presentation

Being a panel member and Presentation given for Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association members. Was about post Covid19 marketing opportunities in the Benelux market. Also mentioned Bonaire Blue Destination in this presentation as an example in the region. .

8th of june 2020, Corendon Netherlands, Madelon van Klinken

Meeting with Madelon van Klinken on the planning of future marketing actions for Bonaire. Also elaborated in this meeting on the plans from Corendon en the statistics year to date for the destination. Recap of this conversation has been shared.

Several times in June 2020, DiveXperience event

spoke with Patrick van Brienen on the future organization of DiveXperience on organizing an online Dive event for Bonaire. During this brainstorm session, we discussed the format and also what requirements would be necessary to organize this event.

9th of June, airlift update

Did research on the current status of the airlift situation of both KLM & TUI Fly. Figured out the capacity, route and frequency of the flight.

11th of June, e-mail blast opening Bonaire on the 1st of July

Created an e-mail campaign based on the received information of TCB informing tour operators 800+. All key partners and representatives in the market were informed that Bonaire will open for toursism on the 1st of July 2020.

11th of June, press release send out to media database

Press release has been send out towards our media database on the opening of Bonaire on the 1st of July 2020.

12th of June 2020, appeared in the newsletter of Travelution

Article on the opening was part of the Travelution newsletter that went out to their entire database of travel trade professionals approx. 7000+

16th of June 2020, Ving

Spoke with Mari Sandrup of VING about the market development in the Scandinavian market. Gave update of the current status in Bonaire in regards to Covid19, opening of tourism and the airlift from The Netherlands to Bonaire.

17th update Madelon van Klinken, Corendon

Spoke with Corendon about the current situation and on marketing actions and strategies to be implemented the coming period ahead. Also received a recap from their side.

18th of June , Tauchen magazine

Spoke with Tauchen magazine on future collaboration as part of our marketing budget. The proposal from them will be send for our review and input.

several times June, Marjolein Kesselaar, KLM

spoke with Marjolein Kesselaar on the marketing plan for Bonaire and discussed with her which strategies for Bonaire post-COVID. The proposal recieved for reviewal.

18th of June, Jeroen van vilsteren, Riksja Travel

Spoke with Jeroen van Vilsteren of Risksja Travel. As Bonaire is one of the first destinations long-haul to open up. We are actively convincing 'new' operators to include into their portfolio.

22th June Untamed Travelling

In contact with the product department of Untamed traveling for Bonaire and gave information of the destination as they will be offering it in their portfolio.

23rd of June, Advertisement Corendon

Advertisement with Corendon for newspaper advertisements.

25th of June, Derchlien vrolijk

Spoke with Derchlien Vrolijk to catch up and discussed the activities to be done the coming period ahead as part of the marketingbudget.

25th of June, Mediahuis / Telegraaf

Spoke with Martijn van Vuure of the mediahuis to promote Bonaire with a 1/1 advertisement in the leading newspaper of The Netherlands. Proposal to be sent.

25th of June, FD Groep, James Ford

Spoke with James Ford of the FD Media groep for cooperation with Bonaire in their newspaper 'Financieel Dagblad'. Has a high-end and affluent target audience.

26TH of June UPDATE BON TRAVEL

Had a meeting with owner Frank Bijsterbosch about Bonaire business. Most of their clients rebooked their summer 2020 holiday to Bonaire to summer 2021 summer.

03

Exposure

• Exposure in the newsletter of Duiken on the magroves of Bonaire.
• Exposure in the Divingworld newsletter as 1st ranked popular destination.
• In the Travelutions 'Nieuwsovericht' e-mailblast.
• Published on leading trade media Travmagazine with pr on the opening of Bonaire the 1st of July.
• Corendon article mentioning Bonaire to be published in the newspaper
• E-mail campaign towards the key partners in the Dutch market on the opening of Bonaire.
• KLM social media campaign promoting Bonaire: Zon, zee en strand, kom tot rust!
• Exposure TravelPro about opening in Bonaire, 1st of July 2020
• Exposure DuikeninBeeldtv, 'Bonaire gaat weer 'open'

thank you!