Tourism Radio set to barrack the otherwise silent Zululand bush

Tourism Radio has announced their plans to break their barriers and expand their local service. Beginning in May, the South African branch of the company will be operating in Kwa-Zulu Natal as well as in the Western Cape.

Visitors to Kwa-Zulu Natal will then also have access to the local music, radio shows and area-specific information that visitors to the Western Cape have been enjoying for years.

Tourism Radio was established as the world’s first GPS-driven radio station in 2005. It was then purchased by an international venture capitalist a year later. Since then, the company has expanded from South Africa to places like Namibia, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland and Hawaii.

Mark Allewell, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Tourism Radio says, “The expansion into Zululand is something we’re very excited about. We’ve got offices all over the world but it has always been one of our goals to have Tourism Radio in every part of South Africa and this is the beginning of that.”

One of the shows that are broadcast on the station, ’20 Questions’, recently did a short interview with Mark where he talks about the expansion of the company, in what direction he is steering the company and even gives some advice for budding entrepreneurs. This interview was also uploaded to the popular online video service, YouTube.

Tourism Radio votes YES for Table Mountain

Earlier this month, Table Mountain officially became the South African nominee in the second phase of the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign. Tourism Radio has put their vote in for Table Mountain and lends their full support.

On the 31st of December 2008, Table Mountain (backed by the Table Mountain National Park), became the last South African nominee standing. Other SA nominations were unable to secure official support.

Chief Operations Officer and founder of Tourism Radio, Mark Allewell says:

“The Tourism Radio family could not be happier to have the chance to support Table Mountain and South Africa in the New7Wonders campaign. This is a wonderful opportunity for the world to see what our country has to offer and we can only hope that it will become one of the final seven to walk away with the title.”

Tourism Radio was founded at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain in 2005 as the world’s first GPS-driven radio station. The station acts as an on-board guide for self-drive tourists. In 2006, after being featured in a new inventions program on the Discovery Channel, Tourism Radio was bought by an international venture capitalist. Since then, the company has expanded from South Africa to Namibia, Spain, New Zealand and the American state of Hawaii.

Back home in South Africa, Tourism Radio is expanding their service to Kwa-Zulu Natal, scheduled to launch in May this year. Visitors to KZN will then also have access to local music, fun and informative radio shows and area-specific information. Tourism Radio does not only tell listeners about the area that they’re driving through, it also draws their attention to points of interest or landmarks as the car approaches them, a specialised system known as “intellipoints.”

“This expansion is something we’re very excited about. It has always been one of our goals to have Tourism Radio in every part of South Africa and this expansion up to KZN is just the beginning. We’re sure that visitors to Kwa-Zulu Natal will find our product just as useful and entertaining as those in the Western Cape have. And who knows? Maybe next year we’ll be voting for a natural wonder to come out of the KZN province!” said Chief Operations Officer Mark Allewell.

For more information or to cast your vote, visit the New7Wonders Foundation site.