Building a travel business from the ground up

Etienne Beukes’ cousin encouraged him to start a travel business due to his passion and love for travelling, especially as he did not have a fixed income after being retrenched.He heeded the advice and started Travel With Etienne – an online travel business which helps clients explore a variety of places while embracing tourism locally and internationally. The business creates group travel packages and custom packages for private clients as well as planning honeymoon and couple trips. Travel With Etienne is also a registered agent with MSC cruises. This allows him to book cruises for his clients. One of the most recent include a group who went on a boat cruise in Europe. Beukes said the travel business, while very stressful, is rewarding. The uniqueness of his business is rooted in group trips and tours. “You can book alone and get to travel with a bunch of strangers. At the end of the trip, all of us are friends,” he said. Clients can pay a deposit and then pay off their trip in instalments, helping them ease the financial burden of paying a large sum all at once.Beukes is responsible for the marketing, advertising and compiling of packages booked by clients. He interacts with clients who enquire about trips and packages.According to him, the tourism industry is no longer affordable for the average Namibian. “During the outbreak of Covid-19, lockdowns prohibited foreign tourists. The lodges and car rentals made it affordable for us with loads of specials. When it was affordable, the owners and booking agents were welcoming and helpful," he said.Beukes works independently, thus he motivates himself and manages the business' tasks alone. However, in the near future, he hopes to hire his first employee who can help with the tasks and carry the business with the same drive and passion he has. The business is currently finalising packages for 2024, releasing them and advertising to prospective clients, he revealed.

Building a travel business from the ground up

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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Building a travel business from the ground up

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-03

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