THE pilot phase of a new
SA-focused booking tool
and tourism data hub,
Jurni, has launched. “The tool
is expected to level the playing
field for tourism players in
South Africa by empowering all
tourism businesses, including
smaller and rural-based
SMMEs, to access customers
through a digital platform,”
said ceo, Nomvuselelo
Songelwa.
“There are over 30 000
hospitality providers in SA.
Only 20% of these businesses
have a professional digital
presence that makes them
visible to travellers. Jurni
allows tourism players in the
market to have a professional
digital preference and access
the global market.”
As of December 4, the
booking tool is live and
bookable for visitors. During
the pilot phase, Jurni will
prioritise accommodation
establishments. Its roadmap
also includes other travel and
tourism products.
A process of activating the
property will include a rigorous
quality assurance, driven by
the Tourism Grading Council
of South Africa (TGCSA).
Product owners will be able to
administer, manage and run
their businesses in the digital
space, accessing the market
through their websites and
any channels digitally enabled
by Jurni.
“The booking tool is also
a backbone enabling the
online booking capability
for domestic marketing
campaigns driven by SAT,”
said Nomvuselelo.
A visitor app and information
portal are currently under
development.
The data generated through
the booking tool will be
consolidated with existing
data sources into the Jurni
Data Hub, giving tourism
businesses improved insights
to inform business strategies
and decision making.
Jurni is the official
rebranding of the National
Tourism Visitor Information
System (NTVIS), an initiative
created and launched by
Amadeus, South Africa’s
National Department of
Tourism, the Thebe Tourism
Group and representatives of
private-sector stakeholders
in the travel and tourism
industry.
urni – a new booking tool
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