CEO of Tourvest Inbound Operations, Martin Wiest, has responded to Angama Co-Founder and CFO, Steve Mitchell’s column in which he highlights (amongst others) that the assertion that a supplier simply just “owns the physical and tangible product” is a “glaring understatement”.

Wiest’s letter follows:

“Thank you so much for your most comprehensive response to my opinion piece, which has also broadened my knowledge, so thank you.

You might know that Tourvest is an integrated tourism business involved in both distribution and product ownership and, as such, the facts described in your letter deeply resonate with me.

Whilst we currently ‘only’ own a tour operator in Kenya (Sense of Africa) we are also involved in lodges in Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and have an understanding of the community and environmental responsibility a product owner has, however by no means did I intend to discount the multifaceted responsibilities to a mere brick-and-mortar ownership; apologies if it came across as such.

I agree with your conclusion in terms of a collaborative effort between product and distribution, however want to add that soft topics – regarding matters of the heart – have to work in tandem with heartless commercials in order to succeed.

Upwards and onwards and hope to meet you in your part of the world sometime soon.”