Mexico-based hop-on hop-off operator Bamba Experience is preparing for major expansion with Australia firmly within its sights.
October will see Bamba, until now focused on Latin America, launch South East Asian and North American programs.
At the same time, a new website and three new brochures featuring Australian dollar pricing will be released locally, founder Paul Sarfati told Travel Today.
The new ventures signal a concerted push into the Australian market. This year to date, it has recorded 500 bookings from Australia accounting for 13% of overall sales. It had 667 bookings from Australia in 2011, 50% of which were through the trade and the remainder made direct with Bamba.
“We are working to develop our ties with the trade,” Sarfati said.
The company has appointed Vanessa Wallace-Kaplan as its Australian marketing manager and hopes to add to existing local relationships with Flight Centre, Student Flights and STA Travel.
Sarfati is also hopeful the new South East Asian product will prove popular with Australians due to the proximity and easy air access, although he is cautious in his expectations.
“South East Asia is already very easy for Australians to travel to,” he said. “So a lot of people just travel their on their own.”
Meanwhile, Bamba is also preparing to launch its first South American overland tours using the truck operations firm which formerly worked with Kumuka. The first itineraries will depart in January to coincide with the Rio carnival.
Sarfati reported more than 100% growth in revenue each year since the firm launched in 2005.
