I start this thread, for I see that sometimes information on the tourism indicators are sometimes put in the aviation thread and others in the economy thread, so from now on it will have its own thread.

SA tourism performing impressively: Van Schalkwyk
SA tourism is performing well in terms of arrivals and growth spend, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk says.
South African tourism is performing impressively well in terms of arrivals and growth spend, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Thursday.
Speaking at a media briefing at the headquarters of South African Tourism in Sandton, where he announced the figures for foreign direct spend generated by tourism last year, Schalkwyk said that in the context of an extremely challenging global environment South Africa's tourism sector continued to impress, especially in terms of arrivals growth and total foreign direct spend generated.
"Estimated 23.5% increase in foreign direct spend is especially encouraging," he said.
Minister Van Schalkwyk said he was encouraged by the industry's performance last year and remained optimistic that South Africa would achieve its target of 10 million arrivals in 2010.
"The South African industry continued to perform well in spite of pressures exerted by the global financial crisis that had seen growth in the global industry shrink to 1.3% last year. South Africa had recorded 5.5% arrivals growth over the period," said the Minister.
"I am especially encouraged by the fact that foreign direct spend in 2008 had grown by an estimated 23.5%, bringing the total revenue generated by tourism to more than R356 billion since 2003," he said.
A total of 9.592 million foreigners visited South Africa last year compared with 9.091 million in 2007.
The minister said that in terms of the Tourism Growth Strategy (TGS), South African Tourism's mandate was to grow the number of visitors to South Africa; to encourage visitors to stay for longer; to stimulate higher tourist spending.
To encourage tourism to the 'undervisited' provinces in order to spread revenue more widely; to ease seasonality patterns (that see high arrivals in summer and depressed arrivals in winter); and to transform the industry so that historically marginalised communities might enjoy the lucrative rewards of the industry.
In 2008, Gauteng and the Western Cape were the most popular provinces visited (enjoying 32.3% and 26.9% of visitor nights respectively). They also accounted for the bulk of expenditure on accommodation.
The third most popular province was KwaZulu-Natal with 10.7% of visitor nights. The most undervisited province in the country last year was the Northern Cape with 0.9 percent visitor nights.
Van Schalkwyk said that the industry had done exceptionally well in some TGS categories last year. However, seasonality, provincial spread and length of stay remained areas that required attention.
Although air arrivals had shown a steady improvement in seasonality since 2003, there had been a slight worsening in total seasonal spread last year.
South Africa is set to host numerous global events including the Indian Premier League, the ICC Champions Trophy, the British Lions Tour, the Confederations Cup and the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
"These events will help the industry weather the global economic storm and it gives us an opportunity to prove our global competitiveness. Our successful hosting of these events will also entrench South Africa both as a capable and a desirable leisure destination," the Minister said.

Knowing that Capetown is the major south african destination, it's strange to see that Gauteng has more "visitor nights" than CapeTown. That must be for they aren't really tourists, but business men .

^^ You're probably right. Gauteng has a lot of business travelers and well as "shoppertourism" from neighbouring countries, whilst Cape Town was probably mostly leisure travelers, and numerous conference attendees. Gauteng has more leisure travel usually from other African states, whilst Cape Town usually takes the bulk of the long-haul leisure tourism.

More people should go and visit the Northern Cape. I just love the vast landscapes over there and the sense of solitude you often get there. There's the desert, Augrabies Falls on the mighty Orange River and a gem of a national park around it, the often spectacular spring flower show in Namaqualand, laid back Kimberley with "the big hole" and a very intresting museum around it, nice and friendly towns like Upington and Springbok, the big cats in Kgalagadi and for the more adventurous with a 4x4: the breathtaking landscapes of the Richtersveld.

I like the whole of SA but this province might actually be my favourite.

^^ was supposed to have been going to Northern Cape with a friend in August to check out the Namaqualand flowers but I had too many plans for the year and all of a sudden I decided to go for Limpopo and Mpumalanga which I do not regret at all. The cost of going to CT in April and Namaqua in August was just gonna be too much for me.

But I will one day set my foot there.

New Board For CTRU

Western Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Garth Strachan has announced a new board for Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU).


The Board will continue to be chaired by leading hospitality expert and former chairman of Sun International, Peter Bacon. MEC Strachan said that the 13 appointees to the 15-member board of CTRU would take effect from April 23, 2009.

“The current board’s term expires on April 22 and in terms of the law, I had to appoint a new board by April 23,” he said. "The recent public process that included extensive advertising inviting nominations to the board of CTRU drew the cream of the crop in the tourism industry.”

The new board will be chaired by Peter Bacon with Bryan Slingers as the vice-chairperson.

Peter Bacon is the former CEO and chairperson of the board of Sun International. Bryan Slingers was chairperson of Ogilvy Cape and now chairs the Bester Burke Slingers group.

Other members of the board appointed by Strachan are:

* Esa Yacoob is a self-made successful black businessperson running several tourism businesses at the V&A Waterfront.

* Phillip Couvaras is the chairperson of Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa Cape (Fedhasa).

* Vernon Kirsten is the immediate past chair the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (Satsa) Western Cape.

* Tembi Kunene is the CEO of the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

* Deon Cloete is the general manager of the Airports Company of South Africa, (Acsa) Cape Town International Airport.

* Annemie Liebenberg is the marketing manager: tourism and customer service at the V&A Waterfront.

* Mangaliso Mdlalo is the chair of Business Western Cape.

* Labeeqah Schuurman heads the tourism division in the Provincial Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

* CTRU CEO Calvyn Gilfellan is also a member of the board.

Strachan also announced that SALGA had named its chairperson, councillor Stephen de Vries of the Eden District Municipality, and Councillor Chrissie Brink of the Cape Winelands District Municipality, as its representatives on the board.
The executive mayor of Cape Town may nominate the two remaining members. However, the mayor removed her representatives from the board when the City withdrew its funding from CTRU at the end of June 2008.

“The calibre of this board is a powerful endorsement by business as well as big and small tourism firms on the value of having a single international marketer of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a tourism destination,” said Strachan.

"The fact that organisations such as Fedhasa, Satsa, Acsa, the Tourism Grading Council, Business Western Cape affiliates and the V&A Waterfront nominated top individuals should be considered to be a vote of no-confidence in the stance taken by Mayor Helen Zille when she opted to withdraw City funding from CTRU and to go it alone,” Strachan added.

"Despite a massive R10-million plus increase in the funding to CTRU by the Provincial Government, we still do not have enough to fully exploit the once-in-a-generation marketing opportunity presented by the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We need all the funding available marshalled behind a single marketing plan for Cape Town and the Western Cape as a destination. We simply cannot afford the wasteful duplication of our international marketing efforts."

Strachan added that the term of the current two-year term of the board ends on April 22, 2009. The Auditor General indicated two years ago that public entities should not be left without boards.
Sector Tags: Tourism,

Been going to the Kgalagadi since 1989 as a child, going in September now again after a 4 years absence, will be my 14th time! Just the best place to relax, stand still, take-in nature/silence/life, rewind and recharge!
Taking my partner there for his first time, and also my first time driving there by myself and not with parents, so to explore more of the Northern Cape on the way there, Victoria-West, Britstown, Prieska, Upington, maybe detour through Augrabies or Kimberley on the way back...
My second most favourite province after the Western Cape ofcourse!

Tourism: Top honours for Mother City
April 23, 2009

By AUDREY D’ANGELO

Cape Town has been awarded top honours in the best entertainment category at the first international luxury travel exhibition in Switzerland this week. Exhibitors took part by invitation only and the award was given for the diverse experiences of the city, including tours, activities, restaurants, shopping, cultural offerings and world-class accommodation.- Audrey D'Angelo

Just saw another 'Its possible' South Africa tourism ad over here on pay tv. They are beautiful adverts, I teared up straight away.

Cant wait to get back.

I like the eNews adverts fo diverse South Africans, it's not tourism related but it touches me.

Here are some adverts of South Africa It's Possible. In youtube you can also see other South Africa Tourism Adverts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g_Ccwul8ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07ZSqKUJBX8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2rEb52pp1s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9ItQGNpP9I&feature=PlayList&p=FE6826567D664611&index=1

Earlier/preview coverage of Indaba. (last week)

2010 fever bolsters Tourism Indaba show

By Suren Naidoo
Despite the global economic downturn, Africa's biggest annual travel trade show, Indaba, is expecting nothing less than "achieving at least last year's record figures of more than 12 000 participating delegates" at this year's event in Durban.
This is the word from South African Tourism's chief marketing officer, Roshene Singh, before Indaba 2009 which opens at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre this weekend.
Singh said even in the wake of the negative impact of the international financial crisis on the global tourism industry, SA Tourism, as the custodian of Indaba, has set its sights firmly on 2010 and other major events in the country.
These include the current windfall of hosting the Indian Premier League, in addition to the coming British and Irish Lions Tour of South Africa, the 2009 Confederations Cup, the International Cricket Council's Champion's Trophy and the huge 2010 World Cup bonanza.
"Indaba 2009 (which runs to May 12) will have a distinct football and 2010 theme and Durban will resonate with the sound of vuvuzelas and cheering crowds.
"We are using this major platform of the continent's biggest travel trade show to show the world that we are ready for the World Cup and all the visitors that are set to descend on our beautiful and vibrant country.
"We are saying that it's time to come to South Africa and get ready to celebrate 2010 - to experience the passion and enthusiasm of our country's people during what is going to be a spectacular event never before held on the African continent," said Singh.
"Numerous 2010-related events and activities are planned during this year's five-day Indaba. The undoubted highlight will be SA Tourism's launch of its 2010 World Cup campaign that markets the event to the world and also ignites South Africans' passion for the game and their country. Indaba delegates will be the first to see the key advert for 2010 that will be flighted during Indaba's opening ceremony on May 9. This will then be flighted in South Africa and across the world in the run-up to 2010," she said.
"Key personnel of all the host cities for 2010 will be present at Indaba - together with leaders from the 2010 Local Organising Committee, Fifa and its partners such as Match, SA Tourism, provincial and local tourism agencies, and government.
"As hosts, Durban is in the great position of taking advantage of the event with, for example, a tour planned for journalists to the city's iconic new stadium.
"Among the other 2010-themed highlights will be a virtual soccer experience at the Durban ICC with a pitch where 2010 Fifa ambassadors will play 'action football' matches. Other 2010 host cities have also planned events and briefings on the upcoming Confederations Cup and World Cup," added Singh.
She said ahead of Indaba 2009, attendance numbers were looking very promising. "While the economic downturn is having an impact with some sectors of the tourism and hospitality industry showing declining attendance this year, the event and our industry in South Africa are being cushioned and bolstered by our hosting of a number of major events and naturally the 2010 World Cup.
"There is unprecedented interest in South Africa because of this, which is clear in the fact that we are seeing a more than 12 percent increase in the number of journalists (more than 400) attending Indaba this year.
"Of these attendees more than 120 confirmed media are coming from foreign countries. We also have secured more that 1 800 exhibitors," Singh said.

* This article was originally published on page 4 of Pretoria News on May 04, 2009
SOURCE: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20090504055626402C676226

Tourism bonanza hits Durban

By Suren Naidoo
Durban is in the midst of a tourism bonanza extending from the string of public holidays in April to the current Indian Premier League cricket tournament, the five-day Tourism Indaba and the upcoming Comrades Marathon and British & Irish Lions Tour of SA.
More than 13 000 delegates are expected for Indaba - Africa's biggest travel trade show - which will officially open tomorrow at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
Major hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments in the city are fully booked.
The IPL was forced not to schedule matches in Durban over the next week because of Indaba. Together, the two events have resulted in the city crawling with local and international tourists, including several sports and Bollywood stars.
Also clashing with Indaba again this year is the Super 14 match between the Sharks and the Sydney-based Waratahs. A capacity crowd is expected for the game at the Absa Stadium tomorrow.
Acting Durban Tourism boss Perry Moodley said the events would affect the city's economy significantly.
"The Southern African tourism and hospitality industry, together with destination marketing organisations such as Durban Tourism, Tourism KZN and SA Tourism, are going all-out this year at Indaba as our marketing for the 2010 Fifa World Cup goes into overdrive.
"More money is being pumped into Indaba this year than ever before. Our joint city/province stand along this year - dramatically modelled to resemble Durban's iconic new Moses Mabhida Stadium - is more than double what was spent on the stand last year.
"Exhibitors and industry buyers seem to be spending more, which is also reflected in the fact that we are set to host the most delegates ever for Indaba. This will include an unprecedented 600 journalists, more than 200 of the from overseas," he said.
"IPL organisers say their event will result in a R2-billion spin-off for South Africa and Durban is set to get a major share of that with the city hosting most of the matches (16). Durban and KZN are South Africa's leading domestic tourism destinations so, with all the holidays in April, Indaba, the Comrades later this month and the first Test of the big British & Irish Lions Tour kicking off in Durban in June, our local economic impact figure of R1-billion is conservative."
Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Gugu Mazibuko agreed, saying that while the holidays and long weekends in April might have negatively impacted on other businesses, they had been a boon for the tourism and hospitality industries.
“This might not necessarily have been reflected in increased hotel occupancies, but it was clear by the number of cars sporting GP and other provincial number plates in Durban that we had a lot of out-of-town visitors. Also, key tourist attractions like Suncoast, the Gateway shopping centre and uShaka Marine World were packed with locals and visitors over Easter and the other public holidays,” she added.
“Indaba gets bigger every year and, from the signs of things, this is set to be the biggest Indaba yet. It is fantastic for South Africa and is a clear statement about the excitement around 2010 and the potential of our industry,” said Gerhard Patzer, general manager of the Hilton hotel and chairman of Fedhasa East Coast.
Among the 2010 officials set to attend Indaba are Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 local organising committee, Horst Schmidt of FIFA and SA soccer icon Lucas Radebe.
“We are going to ignite the travel industry behind the 2010 World Cup and we can’t wait to get started,” Radebe said yesterday.

• This article was originally published on page 2 of The Mercury on May 08, 2009
SOURCE: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click...127859&set_id=

here's the South Africa 2010 TV Advert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMlKb1npzQ0

Cape Town Tourism unstoppable at INDABA 2009

Cape Town Tourism, the City of Cape Town’s dedicated agency for destination marketing, visitor and industry services, will be pulling out all the stops at the INDABA travel show held at the Durban International Convention and Exhibition Centre from the 9th to the 12th of May 2009.

The Cape Town and Western Cape Pavilion at INDABA is the dedicated area for showcasing tourism products within the province. Cape Town Tourism has combined forces with Cape Town Routes Unlimited in ensuring that their shared stand at the entrance to the pavilion is one that is representative of the vibrant lifestyle and colourful culture of the Cape.

This year also marks the addition of a dedicated Cape Town stand within the Pavilion. Cape Town Tourism is delighted at being able to use this space to highlight Cape Town’s status as proud Host City for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the lifestyle capital of Africa. The stand design incorporates a distinct soccer visual language mixed with iconic Cape Town imagery. The message is clear: Cape Town, Africa’s greatest city, is ready to welcome the world!

Thirty two individual tourism products, all members of Cape Town Tourism, will be exhibiting their unique offerings from the Cape Town stand. Fifteen of these products are emerging entrepreneurs who are financially supported in their attendance of the show, as well as in the creation of special marketing tools, by Cape Town Tourism in partnership with Cape Town Routes Unlimited.

A team from the City of Cape Town led by the Acting Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Grant Haskin, will be visiting this year’s INDABA with the message that we are ready to host the world in 2010.

“The glass roof of the Green Point Stadium is being assembled as we speak, and with less than 400 days to kick-off, Cape Town is counting the days to the Final Draw on 4 December this year,” said a confident Grant Haskin.

Indaba is recognized as one of the top four international travel and trade shows and Cape Town Tourism is using this widely attended platform to highlight Cape Town’s offering for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the myriad unique experiences within the city as well as Cape Town Tourism’s upgraded visitor services offering and dynamic use of technology in preparation for the influx of visitors expected for the games.

A variety of soccer related activities will be taking place on both the Cape Town and shared Cape Town and Western Cape stand. These include foozeball matches between exhibitors and delegates; soccer competitions; hundreds of prize giveaways; cocktail functions; photo opportunities with Zakumi, the official 2010 mascot; and the launch of Cape Town Tourism’s new dedicated 2010 “mini-website,” www.capetown.travel/2010.

Mansoor Mohamed, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the City of Cape Town, comments: “The City of Cape Town will use Indaba to position Cape Town as a globally competitive tourism and business destination. The focus of Indaba this year will be to showcase Cape Town’s readiness for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and to position Cape Town as an award winning tourism destination.”

Cape Town has been nominated to receive an award in the 16th Annual World Travel Awards, in the following category: Africa’s Leading Destination. Cape Town Tourism has received a nomination in the category: Africa’s Leading Marketing Campaign.

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the “Travel industry’s equivalent to the Oscar’s”, the World Travel Awards is the most comprehensive and most prestigious awards program in the global travel industry.

With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies in over 160 countries across the globe, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades a travel product or destination can receive. Nominations are based on the previous year’s voting and recommendations made by travel, tourism & hospitality industry professionals.

The World Travel Awards ceremony takes place at INDABA on Saturday 9 May.

“We are thrilled that Cape Town is in the running again for Best City in Africa and the Middle East,” says Mariëtte du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism. “For Cape Town Tourism to be nominated for Africa’s Leading Marketing Campaign (Living Cape Town, Loving Cape Town) is an incredible achievement after being appointed as the new marketing agency for Cape Town less than one year ago. We look forward to a very successful event and representing iconic Cape Town on a powerful and unified platform with all our partners in tourism.”

With regards to SA's tourist marketing strategy in the UK, I have 2 thoughts I'd like to share:
1) Having voted at the High Commission in London, I was deflated to see that the interior of the building ( A Herbert Baker designed classic ) has had no make over since the 60's.
The place was full of empty and dusty display cabinets, and the woodwork, brass railings and marble interior lacked any luster at all. Whats worse is that shopfront style side enterace on the corner of this well known landmark opposite busy tourist area of Trafalgar Square was completely dissused. The posters from the Alive With Possibility campagne have been there for a few years without change, and are faded beyond any appeal. Can the powers that be not see sense in at least having this area of the building modernised with a cool afro-contemporary theme and chocked full of varied and up to date pamphlets/brochures and bold evocative posters??? even better would be a small coffee shop area serving SA products ( Britons dig Rooibos) with copies of SA's fine glossy magazines and books!
2) there may be a few london cabs emblazoned with the SA flag, and a few promotional ads on 500 channell satelite ( thus hopelessly diluted by sheer content) but I cant help wondering if Billboards would not be a relativeley inexpensive and unmissable way to communicate to work weary and vitamin D defficient Britons that SA is an affordable and unmissable experience!

Cape Town Tourism unstoppable at INDABA 2009



Cape Town's presence at the Indaba was the complete opposite. A complete failure.

Cape Town's presence at the Indaba was the complete opposite. A complete failure.

Yeh! Where you there? Would have loved to chat.

The thing about CT when everyone talks about the city and marketing is that it sells itself. The tourism agency's are actually not that sharp cos they have a much easier job. Also they have had a lot of city/province conflict over the years. Hopefully that changes now with one party governing both!
SA Tourism does a lot for CT, eg - post Indaba they hosted a whole lot of media at the new soccer stadium. And when they host international media trips in SA its usually predominantly in CT and JHB. Even their ads largely promotes CT over SA's other stunning array of provinces. It's a real joke sometimes - eg - look at the Indaba site on the top strap the pic features the auditorium of the CTICC when Indaba take place in Durban.
DBN/KZN has had a lot of behind the scenes conflict with SA Tourism over these things. Last year at Indaba - the SA Tourism stand had about four billboard type structures - 2 of them featured the Cape - and none featured KZN and Tourism KZN (TKZN) where not happy. They (TKZN) now say they not gonna fight anymore and just focus on what they need to do. But ultimately they (TKZN) are restricted when if comes to international marketing - which falls on SA Tourism - cos as the line goes promote the country brand first and then the regions.
BUT - when will they realise that CT represents so little of what SA is about - its a little Europe - just like the tent at Indaba - all alone isolating themselves from the rest of the provincial stands in the ICC DEC.

I have more thoughts, but am not gonna mention them cos I know this might ruffle some ostrich feathers. So lets have a engaging debate first - before I mention more of my thoughts.

I agree with you, Quicksilver. It's come to the point where there are only really three places people know about in SA; Cape Town and Joburg (the latter, only because of crime) and Kruger, no other city or region exists in the mind of the foreign traveller.

I asked a few people when I was overseas if they knew about Durban, I got blank stares all round, yet the moment I mentioned CT, "oh wow, beautiful city, they have the mountain, don't they?" or Joburg, "Jesus, the crime is horrendous there, I hear!"

Eh well, there's obviously something very broken about Tourism SA's marketing strategy.

1. Cape Town tent had no sign up front
2. Tent was boring and empty-ish
3. It rained
4. Stands inside the tent were boring
5. People inside tent were boring

more on Indaba - this comment is also from a Capetonian nogal.


Travels with Akela

Thu 14 May 2009
Indaba 2009
Posted by capeinfo under Travels

I haven’t been a regular visitor to Indaba for several years so this year I saw it with new eyes. Yes, it’s grown and yes, most of the products are spell-binding. It’s a marketers’ dream because I doubt that any other destination in the world can offer as much variety… coupled to unsurpassed professionalism in so many cases.

SA Tourism have also matured and their side of the organisation has become very slick. (The only exception was, on responding to an invitation to interview CEO Didi Moyle, Monde Mateza never responded to my request.)

At the start of this blog I said that I’m a typical Capetonian who believes that the Western Cape is more blessed than almost anywhere else on earth. Well, I still believe that to a certain extent, but my travels have shown me people, products and places that really do excite me. More than ever, I realise that Southern Africa as a whole has the potential to beat all other regional destinations… if we just change some mindsets.

So, after three months away from home, it was with no lack of eagerness that I set off to find the Cape Town and Western Cape area at Indaba first. It took some effort because the organisers had signposted the direction incorrectly. And then, at the tail-end of the whole Indaba complex, I found an anonymous tent.


Cape Town & Western Cape's No-Name Brand

For South Africa’s leading city brand to be presented in this way was just not good enough; I was astounded. I was embarrassed as a Capetonian.

Was I being over-critical? I spoke to Cape Town Tourism’s Mariette du Toit-Helmbold and learned that the usual tent had been commandeered for Jacob Zuma’s coronation and their banner couldn’t be accommodated in the new tent. I greeted CTRU’s Dave Fransen (responsible for the Western Cape pavilion) several times but he seemed to make a point of avoiding me.

I spoke to Peter Bacon, CTRU’s chair, and he agreed that it was unacceptable and needed a serious rethink.

I spoke to Nils Heckscher, MD of Winchester Mansions Hotel and CTT board member, who always shoots from the cuff. He agreed it wasn’t as good as it should be and said that maybe the Province was resting on its laurels. He added that things will be different next year with the new alignment of provincial and city politics.

I spoke to Rema from Fedhasa Cape, based in the main ICC at Fedhasa Natal’s stand. She felt that the Western Cape area lacked its usual vibe and buzz: “and it reinforces the typical view of Cape Town… that we want to be apart from the rest.”

I bumped into an old friend, Di Campbell (now Dagh), as we looked at the CTT stand. “Is that Cape Town Tourism?” she asked incredulously, “I thought it was Cape Point Routes!” Great for Cape Point Routes, bad Cape Town branding.

Free State's position was centrestage and their external branding was excellent.

Mpmalanga's stand in the Durban Exhibition Centre displayed branding clarity. Stylish and classy, someone commented 'Yoh, these people know what they're doing. I want to go there!'

Cape Town Tourism's area... come on guys, you can do much better. Does this explain why Johannesburg won SA's Leading City Tourism Board award?

Vast empty spaces in the Western Cape tent just emphasized a feeling that it was not as well attended as other destinations.

CTRU will say they had a large banner at the one end of the tent (see right hand side). Yes, and it was a stunning photograph of an unusual view of Table Mountain. But to anyone not familiar with the mountain, it's almost meaningless. To use it for branding is just muddled thinking.

The promise of the Free State pavilion outside wasn’t carried through inside, where strong brands (like Clarens) fought with geo-political districts. And what on earth was the Limpopo Treasury doing with a stand at Indaba? Now that’s an example of misguided efforts (and budgets)!

While I am seeking out the best of the best in people and products during these Travels, what interests me most are destinations and destination brands, and it’s here that the SA tourism product doesn’t fare well at all.

World Travel Awards
A highlight at Indaba was the presentation for the World Travel Awards. We publish the list for Africa and South Africa in full.

Africa’s Leading…
Airline South African Airways
Airport Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Boutique Hotel Brand Mantis Collection
Budget/Low Cost Carrier 1time
Business Car Rental Co. Avis
Business Hotel Sandton Sun
Business Travel Agency Travel with Flair
Car Hire Europcar
Casino Resort The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa
City Tourist Board Johannesburg Tourism Company
Conference Centre International Convention Centre Durban, South Africa
Conference Hotel Kempinski Hotel Djibouti
Conservation Company Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Cruise Line Silversea Cruises
Destination Cape Town
Family Resort Sun City Resort, South Africa
Game Reserve Brand Mantis Collection
Golf Resort Fancourt Hotel & Country Club, South Africa
Green Hotel Nairobi Serena Hotel, Kenya
Hotel Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa
Hotel Brand Starwood Hotels
Luxury Hotel Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa
Luxury Lodge Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Luxury Train The Blue Train
Marketing Campaign South Africa Tourism, It’s Possible
Port Cape Town (Port)
Resort Sun City Resort, South Africa
Responsible Tourism Co. Nkwichi Lodge
Safari Lodge Shamwari Game Reserve
Spa Resort Fordoun Spa, Hotel & Restaurant, South Africa
Sports Resort Zimbali Lodge & Country Club - South Africa
Suite Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite, Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa
Tourism Dev. Project Legend Golf & Safari Resort
Tourist Board South Africa Tourism
Town House Hotel Shamwari Town House
Travel Agency Club Travel, South Africa
Travel Exhibition INDABA
Travel Management Co. Travel with Flair South Africa
Villa Queen Cleopatra Villa, Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
South Africa’s Leading…
Beach Hotel The Long Beach, Cape Town
Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa
Business Hotel Sandton Sun
Game Reserve Brand Mantis Collection
Golf Resort Fancourt Hotel & Country Club
Hotel Mount Nelson Hotel
Resort Sun City Resort
Spa Resort Fordoun Spa, Hotel & Restaurant
Travel Management Co. Travel with Flair
Villa Ellerman Villa

For some, Indaba is a chance to get out of the office and party; for some it’s a rare opportunity for networking or checking out the opposition; and for some — like Horst Frehse and Rick Taylor who I repeatedly tried to say hello to — it’s a time to really work hard!

SOURCE: http://capeinfo.com/akela/?cat=10

The summer all year long vibe by Durban was hurt by the rain.
Holding thumbs we see a 2010 billboard in Cape Towns cbd before 11 June 2010...or maybe we'll just see more marketing strategies and flowcharts..

(cross post on the MM thread by diggerdog...)

Great ad for Durbs - Jonty for president -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB1yK...eature=channel

Here in oz they never have nice things to say about SA. What little they wrote on the elections was just plain nasty, as per usual.
But an interesting piece on tourism in the paper here - about how oz tourism is struggling.

BUT their big thing here is to say 'We are still doing better than such and such a country' - to take the sting out of the bad news.
A minister said 'most of our competitors are worse off...tourism in places like the UK, Canada and South Africa is down by 10-20%!'

Now - two things here -
This is the very first time I have heard them mention South Africa as the competition - for tourists or otherwise - so that is great news for us and and indication of our growing stature and market share...
AND what? Where did they pull that figure from? I think I can guess!

We are still performing brilliantly, and that looks set to continue with all our massive sporting events - so GO SA - eventually we will force them to print some good news!

Perhaps they should have backed up their egotistic claims with hard evidence in the form of statistics.

___________________________

:ohno:

SA Tourism wins international accolades




South African Tourism has been making waves in the international tourism industry, garnering the prestigious international award Tourist Board of the Year Award from European CEO Magazine and making the shortlist for the Tourist Board of the Year category in the TTG Travel Awards 2009.The tourism board was rewarded for its outstanding efforts in marketing South Africa as a destination. The criteria on which it was judged included innovation and originality; project management ability; competitive advantage maintained; market leadership and geographic spread; proof of development and continued progress; positive unsolicited media coverage; and high levels of transparency and good governance.

Other South African winners were Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), announced Convention Centre of the Year 2008; and Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU), that won Regional Tourism Bureau of the Year (2008).

Lebo Mokhesi, Country Manager for South African Tourism in the UK said of the TTG Travel Awards: “These awards are regarded as a universal benchmark of quality within the travel industry. Being short-listed is a tremendous achievement and South African Tourism is immensely proud of its work this year.”

“In 2008, we launched the Ubuntu Awards, a programme designed to encourage our travel partners to create innovative marketing initiatives for South Africa and we feel that this programme, together with our consumer facing activities, have made a real impact in this market.”

SA 'ignores African tourists'
2009/08/26

Pretoria - The number of foreign visitors (other than those from Africa) declined by almost 110 000 or 11.7% in the year to end-May.

According to Michael Tatalias, chief executive of the SA Tourism Services Association (Satsa), recreational tourism in the country has shrunk by some 40%.

"The leisure side is being killed off," he says.

Business travellers, visitors to friends and family and sports travellers keep the numbers up, but genuine holiday-makers from overseas are on the wane, Tatalias declares.

He notes that the tourism industry is not currently experiencing large-scale retrenchments because businesses are clinging to their core personnel with their eyes set on next year's World Cup soccer tournament.

"The real retrenchments will come after that." Nevertheless, fewer seasonal workers are being hired. Matsatsi Marobe, chief executive of the Tourism Business Council, says large tourist groups, which are very price-sensitive, have dried up and all that South Africa is now seeing are well-heeled individuals travelling alone.

Yet visitors from Africa increased by some 130 000 or 4.6% over the same period.

Tatalias and Marobe both say that the South African tourism industry is not capitalising on visitors from Africa.

According to Tatalias, Satsa has asked Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk to make funds available for research so that the industry can better understand this market's needs. "If we understand the market better we can package products for them," he points out.

Marobe claims that businesses exhibit prejudice towards travellers from Africa and this bias arises from South Africa's [Apartheid] history.

But, she continues, South African and international hotel groups do recognise Africa's potential and are making large investments.

She feels that tour operators need to change their attitudes and realise that money does not recognise skin colour.

She says the problem relates to the fact that transformation in the tourism industry is lagging, and tour operators are consequently turning a blind eye to the South African domestic market.

- Sake24.com

Kruger National Park is classified in 6th place.

Development, pollution, globalization, mass tourism—are the world's great places still...great? Traveler introduces a new way to see how well your destination is coping with the 21st century.

Norway's fjords, Tasmania, Vermont, and Tuscany look to be in relatively good shape. Not so for the Costa del Sol, Phuket, and Key West. In cases like Cape Cod, opinion is divided.

That's all according to an unusual new survey, whose results yield what Traveler believes to be the world's first Index of Destination Stewardship. Ever since travel began booming after World War II, development pressures, environmental problems, civil strife, cultural erosion, and, yes, mass tourism have increasingly challenged the integrity of destinations worldwide. "Unspoiled" is a description you hear less and less. Which great places have remained great by protecting themselves against these trends? Which have failed?

To find out, Traveler worked with the National Geographic's Sustainable Tourism Initiative and a graduate team from Leeds Metropolitan University in England to conduct a complex global survey of over 200 specialists in sustainable tourism and destination quality. We asked these experts to evaluate 115 of the world's best known places based on six criteria that pertain to cultural, environmental, and aesthetic integrity.
The scores that follow, based on a 1-to-100 scale, reflect the specialists' opinions. For each destination, symbols show which factors most influenced their judgments. No destination rated 90 or above ("unspoiled and likely to remain so"), but none fell into the "catastrophic" under-20 range, either. Destinations in the best shape face relatively few threats or, significantly, have learned how to handle them. Those at the low end have lost much, but could perhaps recover.

We expect that this index will generate a lot of discussion, even a few arguments. That's fine, if it gets everyone, especially policymakers, to think more about wise stewardship of the places we love. The future of travel depends on it.


The Good

Remote geography helps some high-scoring destinations stay unspoiled. Other places have learned how to cope with popularity.

It's no surprise that Norway's fjords, rated at 82, lead the top-scoring destinations, thanks to a combination of luck and wise stewardship. Geography dealt the Norwegian coastline a good hand when it comes to remaining unspoiled. Rugged terrain, cool, wet climate, difficult access, and a short tourist season keep development pressures comparatively low. (Note how other "cool-fjord coasts" in Chile and New Zealand also scored well.) It helps, too, to be in a sparsely populated country with one of the world's best environmental track records (although even here some experts took points off for excessive cruise-ship traffic and threats to native salmon).

More instructive perhaps is ever popular Tuscany, which managed a respectable 71 ("minor difficulties") despite its attractive climate, fabulous cultural attractions, and easy access—often a formula for dismaying overdevelopment. What's Tuscany's secret?

History helped: The Industrial Revolution chanced to skip over this Italian region, leaving intact its trademark landscape of hand-tended fields, vineyards, and olive groves, all draped over a softly muscled topography. Even so, subdivisions might have long ago ruined the painterly scenery had Tuscans not adopted some of the world's toughest land-use and building codes: In scenic zones, local regulations limit buildings to two stories, inhibit subdivision, and govern aesthetics, including which colors you can paint your house. Locals chafe under the rules but let them stand. Shouldn't people be allowed to build what they want on their own property, even if it's ugly? Answers Alessandro Marangoni, in the region's economic development office, "Then it hurts the value of my house."

Sensitivity to preserving sense of place extends even to such unobtrusive forms of tourism as farm stays. The government encourages agriturismo to help small farms stay in business, but wants authenticity: The farmer's tax breaks and low-interest loans disappear if the family lets its tourism business exceed its farm revenue. The current minister of tourism, Susanna Cenni, even frets about Chianti villages that have become too cutesy. She's seeking ways to revive authentic rural businesses in the area.

If only other destinations had such problems....

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South Africa: Kruger National Park

This is "Africa's Yellowstone—a beautiful, well-managed park, but dangerously overloaded" with eager nature lovers. Local communities need to have more share in the park's successes.

Here is a representative sampling of additional anonymous comments from the panelists. They are not necessarily the views of the National Geographic Society:

"This is Africa's equivalent to Yellowstone, a beautiful, well-managed, but dangerously over-loved park. The pressures on management to generate local income, protect the resource, integrate the employee base, and keep everyone safe and happy create a razor-thin tightrope that is being walked as well as could be realistically hoped for."

"Kruger continues to be a huge tourist draw card with a good infrastructure, but environmental sustainability is questionable. Invasive plants and poaching are big issues. Cultural tourism seems to be growing and is generally well handled."

"Kruger is a good example of trans-boundary conservation, but fails badly at integrating population with the surrounding community. More must be done seriously to benefit the local black African community."

"Wildlife is often more elusive here than in Botswana or Tanzania. Invasive species are a growing problem; even park staff are helping spread non-native plants."

"All in all, Kruger National Park remains a great wildlife tourism destination and is well managed despite the complex sociological pressures that the area faces as a sort of 'island' in a sea of growing human development. The opening of partnerships with neighboring communities and conservation partnerships that include trans-frontier conservation areas are counteracting the pressures."

i am planning to visit south africa in december/january period. i guess i will spend 10-14 days there. do u have some advices which places and activities are A MUST? any advice about how to organize my trip and which areas to see first and which last. if i was staying 30 days would be proper duration of the visit but i dont have that much time....thanks for advice :)

Good to see that once again South Africa kept the top spot and that no other country has more hotels in this list than South Africa.

Travel + Leisure mag World's Top 500 Hotels - 2010

Luxury and value can coexist, as Travel + Leisure learns in our ranking of the world’s best hotels.

From January 2010
By Sarah Kantrowitz

Who says staying at the world’s best hotels has to cost a fortune? Travel + Leisure has ranked the top 500 hotels on earth, and—surprise!—more than 50 of them cost $250 or less.
Ranking hotels is no small undertaking. Every year, we ask our readers to vote on the places they’ve stayed recently (to participate in this year’s survey—and enter for a chance to win a $10,000 trip—click here). Thousands of readers share their expert opinions on their favorite—and not so favorite—properties.
What did we discover in 2009? That in a year filled with challenges, our readers still love hotels that deliver unique experiences and stellar service—particularly if the price is right.

But what everyone wants to know is: which hotel took top honors as the best in the world? Last year’s overall winner, Singita Sabi Sand, in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, didn’t repeat its victory. Its replacement—also in South Africa—is truly a contender: it was the highest-scoring hotel in the history of our survey.

So when you’re planning your 2010 getaway and looking for that perfect hotel—the one that combines luxury, service, and location—this is the list to consult. You may even find your dream hotel at a great price. Read on for the top 50 winners.

#1 Bushmans Kloof/Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat (98.67)
Cedar Mountains Wilderness Area, South Africa
Full-service hideaway with a wellness focus and access to original Bushman art sites, 3 hours from Cape Town.
Stats: 13 rooms; 3 suites; 3 restaurants; 1 bar.
Rooms to book: Deluxes in the 1843 Manor House for historic atmosphere and private terraces.
Insider tip: Explore the ancient Bushman rock paintings with the staff archaeologist.
Cost: Doubles from $715, all-inclusive
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#4 Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (97.50)
Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
13 butler-serviced suites built into the hillside; an uprooted tree serves as the property’s bar.
Stats: 13 suites; 1 restaurant; 1 bar.
Rooms to book: No. 3 is set between the lodge pool and the water hole.
Insider tip: Arrange for a private dinner in the wine cellar.
Cost: Doubles from $2,200, all-inclusive
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#6 Singita Sabi Sand (Ebony Lodge and Boulders Lodge) (95.52)
Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
Pair of stunning lodges—Boulders is rustic; Ebony, distinctly African colonial–style—along the Sand River.
Stats: 30 suites; 3 restaurants; 3 bars.
Rooms to book: At Boulders, secluded No. 7 has a cathedral ceiling; No. 1 has the best river views.
Insider tip: Book a guided visit to a local Shangaan village, led by a former Singita staff member.
Cost: Doubles from $2,980, all-inclusive.
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#15 NEW Twelve Apostles Hotel (93.91)
Cape Town
Cape Dutch–style hotel tucked between the mountains and sea, a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Stats: 55 rooms; 15 suites; 2 restaurants; 1 bar.
Rooms to book: All rooms here are clean-lined and face mountains and/or sea—but Superior sea-facing rooms have a roomy split-level layout, with lounge areas a few steps down from the bedrooms.
Insider tip: Book a lime–and–ginger-salt scrub at the top-notch spa.
Cost: From $490, including breakfast.
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#24 NEW Lion Sands Private Game Reserve (93.28)
Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
Two lodges and a family camp. All 30 rooms have fireplaces and plunge pools that overlook the Sabie River.
Stats: 20 rooms; 10 suites; 3 restaurants; 3 bars.
Rooms to book: Ivory Lodge’s striking glass-walled villas.
Insider tip: Spend a night in the romantic, open-air Chalkley Treehouse.
Cost: Doubles from $1,760, all-inclusive
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#25 NEW Royal Malewane (93.15)
Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
A refined 20-room bush camp on the western edge of Kruger offers a roster of throwback activities, such as hot air balloon rides and safaris on horseback.
Stats: 10 suites; 1 restaurant; 1 bar.
Rooms to book: Royal and Malewane suites are perfect for two couples—and come with a private chef and masseuse.
Insider tip: Book a full-body Sefako treatment at the intimate Waters Spa.
Cost: Doubles from $2,620, all-inclusive.
http://static1.travelandleisure.com/images/amexpub/0010/2366/200912-50hotels-royal-malewane-ss.jpg

#27 NEW Shamwari Game Reserve (93.00)
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Seven lodges on a conservation-conscious Big Five preserve that’s home to dozens of big cats.
Stats: 54 rooms; 7 restaurants; 7 bars.
Rooms to book: Premiere tents at Bayethe Lodge have fireplaces, plunge pools, and hammocks.
Insider tip: Visit one of the preserve’s two big-cat sanctuaries.
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#29 Singita Kruger National Park (92.86)
South Africa
Two raised lodges with interiors by up-and-coming African designers—the spot for fashion-conscious travelers.
Stats: 21 suites; 2 restaurants; 2 bars.
Rooms to book: Tranquil, riverside Sweni Lodge cabins.
Insider tip: The on-site boutique stocks work by leading African artists.
Cost: Doubles from $2,980, all-inclusive.
http://static0.travelandleisure.com/images/amexpub/0010/2258/200912-50hotels-singita-kruger-ss.jpg

#30 NEW Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa (92.86)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Gated estate best known for its indoor-outdoor spa (which offers massage-based “sound therapy” treatments), in tony Sandhurst.
Stats: 24 suites; 1 restaurant; 3 bars.
Insider tip: Experience the excellent spa’s signature treatment, which incorporates gongs, bells, cymbals, and singing bowls.
Cost: Doubles from $870, including breakfast.
http://static1.travelandleisure.com/images/amexpub/0010/2348/200912-50hotels-saxon-ss.jpg

#34 Londolozi Private Game Reserve (92.68)
Kruger National Park Area, South Africa
Five family-run lodges on 42,000 wilderness acres known for leopard sightings.
Stats: 29 suites and chalets; 5 restaurants; 5 bars.
Rooms to book: Secluded Tree Camp bungalows have stylish interiors and meditation decks.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the yoga classes held at the main camp.
Cost: Doubles from $2,040, all-inclusive.
http://static2.travelandleisure.com/images/amexpub/0010/2411/200912-50hotels-londolozi-ss.jpg

Other hotels that had a high classification :
Cape Grace (90.90), Cape Town
Le Quartier Français (90.79), Franschhoek
MalaMala Game Reserve (90.00), MalaMala Game Reserve
Mount Nelson Hotel (88.25), Cape Town
The Westcliff (87.82), Johannesburg
Table Bay Hotel (87.33), Cape Town
Phinda Private Game Reserve (86.67), Phinda
Bush Lodge at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve (86.61), Sabi Sands
Ngala Tented Safari Camp (86.43), Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays (84.85), Cape Town
Michelangelo Hotel (83.59), Johannesburg

I'd also like to see a hotel from Durban in this list, in the upcoming years, since also the hotels on this list are from Capetown, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park or Game Reserves.

Forbes World's Most Beautiful Cities

Since beauty is subjective, we surveyed city specialists from a range of fields, including urban planning, architecture and sustainable development. Respondents include Reynolds and Michael Kaufman, an architect at Chicago-based architectural firm Goettsch Partners, as well as Raymond Levitt, director of the construction program in civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, Tony McGuirk, an urban designer, architect and chairman of BDP in London, J. Hugh O'Donnell of urban engineering firm MMM International, and Ken Drucker, New York design director of architectural firm HOK.

Cambridge, England
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Tight streets, a famous university and glimpses of parks, commons and courtyards dominate Cambridge, England. North of London, the city is accentuated by the River Cam and buildings both new and old, such as historic King's College Chapel and Cambridge University's modern Centre for Mathematical Sciences.

Tokyo, Japan
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Larger cities are often just as beautiful. Tokyo, home to 50-story high-rises and traditional villas, is a favorite of Amanda Reynolds, member of the U.K.'s Urban Design Group, a collaborative body of architects, landscape architects and urban planners. But it's not just Tokyo's architecture that typifies its beauty. The city has a sense of structure and order as people smile and bow to each other, yet it explodes with energy as the narrow streets come to life with neon lighting after dark, she says.

Paris, France
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Paris earned repeated nods for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, its street life and its iconic structures such as the Grand Palais, as well as its contrast to English architecture, which promotes individuality and eccentricity. (Paris' aesthetic qualities were largely influenced by the 19th century Haussmann plan that stylized building facades.)

Vancouver, Canada
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But while Paris is hailed for its man-made design and structures, Vancouver is noted for its natural beauty. In this coastal city open air is abundant--from the green west-end campus of the University of British Columbia to the enormous Stanley Park just outside downtown. In addition, both the snowcapped Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean provide a beautiful backdrop, and the city's diverse cultures and foods offer a resounding finishing touch.

Cape Town, South Africa
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Open space also makes Cape Town special, says Levitt. Renowned English sea navigator Sir Francis Drake once referred to Cape Town as the fairest cape in the world. The city houses the Kirstenbosch botanical garden, and the top of Table Mountain offers a breathtaking view of the city from roughly 3,500 feet above sea level. Levitt, an environmental engineer, praises the city's minimal ecological footprint, a result of its "manageable size."

Sydney, Australia
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Sydney is also praised for its natural beauty--chiefly its deep-water harbor that is visible from much of the hilly inner city. And while Sydney rarely gets cold and dreary, its beauty truly pops when its flowers bloom.

"Sydney is at its most beautiful in October/November when the millions of Jacaranda trees now lining huge numbers of the city streets … burst into purple flower and transform even the most banal of outer suburban distributor roads," says Reynolds.

Florence, Italy
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Italian cities Florence and Venice also make the list. Florence offers a sense of architectural history with its gothic style Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore and the Uffizi Gallery, and the city is easy to walk, which allows tourists to take in the beauty by foot. Florence is also the home of spacious piazzas that are filled with cafés and are surrounded by beautiful buildings, such as Palazzo Vecchio that borders Piazza della Signoria. "You couldn't go anywhere else in the world and find a place with such brilliant piazzas," McGuirk says.

Venice, Italy
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Venice, a city on water, is rich with history (it was once a republic) and is often referred to as the adult Disneyland. Venice's "ancient and elaborate buildings seem comfortable in their varying degrees of decay--fading colors and complex stonework around doors and windows opening off the canals and medieval footpaths just add to the mystery of a seductive place," says Reynolds.

San Francisco and Chicago, USA
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A slew of American cities also earned recognition. San Francisco was praised for its bridges, hills, cable cars and the natural beauty created by its surrounding water, while Chicago earned points for its recent greening of public space, such as the development of Millennium Park and the planting of myriad flowers.
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New York, USA
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New York City's architectural beauty--Manhattan's stunning skyline, historic buildings contrasted by modern structures such as midtown's Bank of America ( BAC - news - people ) Tower--also cannot be ignored. Some, such as Levitt, even praised the Big Apple for its atmosphere. While he admits that 20 years ago he would not have listed New York, Levitt says a drop in crime has enabled people to get out and experience the city's wonderful street life.

London, England
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Finally, London could not be passed over. If Paris is structured beauty, London is the exact opposite--a "beautiful patchwork quilt" says McGuirk. Because the city developed over hundreds of years, it has no overall structure and its resulting architectural form is "very jagged and varied," something McGuirk finds very appealing.

Such attributes may set a city apart from others, but during a recession they might not be enough to spark the interest of belt-tightening travelers, especially amid stiff competition for tourism dollars. A survey by global market-research firm Euromonitor, published last summer, forecast that this year overall travel and tourism, in 2008 a $944 billion industry, according to the World Tourism Organization, would grow, but at lower-than-normal levels.

Not sure if this has been posted before, but according to latest offical stats by the STR Global Hotel Review (outlined on page 5 of the Mercury's Network Supplement of March 10, 2010), Durban's hotel sector outperformed all other SA cities in terms of occupancy for December 2009. In this respect, Durban had overall 72.8% hotel occupancy in December 2009 vs Cape Town (68%) and Joburg (50.2%). Even more significantly, compared to a year earlier, Durbs showed an occupancy increase of 16.8%, this despite more hotels becoming operational in the city between 2008-2009.

In terms of overall stats for the year 2009, because of the global recession, there was a revenue decline globally and locally, and all SA cities were hit (SA experienced overall fall of 9.8% in revpar). However, Durban also came out tops here, having experienced the smallest percentage decline (7.2%) for rand revpar vs CT (9.3%) and JHB (10.7%). [Revpar is revenue per available hotel room].

This reinforces the confidence and healthy appetite the hotel industry currently has for Durban.

^^ ya saw that - I'll ask Quicksilver for the story... but it's not all as rosy as its seems...
City bureaucracy seems to be a big factor in hindering hotel development... This seem to be the first time a developer as actually criticized the city on this... very informative article below...

Red tape, lack of funds hinder tourism
March 17 2010 at 04:52PM

By Suren Naidoo

Despite KwaZulu-Natal's immense beauty and development potential as an international tourism destination, negative perceptions as a result of anti-development sentiment, government bureaucracy, land issues, legal disputes and a lack of financing are holding the province back in attracting investment in major hotel and tourism development.

That's one of the main arguments to come out of the first Standard Bank Mercury Business Breakfast discussion of 2010 in Durban recently. The debate was moderated by KZN development economist Prof Jeff McCarthy and included several tourism and hospitality industry leaders.

McCarthy highlighted that Durban reported a better December festive season compared to the previous year, with higher hotel occupancy rates, despite the tourism industry reportedly being down some 10 percent nationally last year.

Local businessman Ruben Bhagwandeen of Warwick Properties said he had ambitious plans to develop a more than R600 million five-star Sheraton Hotel as part of a 65 000 square metres mixed-use development at the Pavilion site near the Durban beachfront. But, city bureaucracy stifled the project together with constraints around getting financing for specialised assets such as a major hotel.

"The city got consultants Grant Thornton and identified 20 potential hotel sites for development across the city, but now some six years later none of them has been developed. Bureaucracy in the city is a huge problem, just ask the guys from India's Taj Hotel group, who were looking at Durban first but their plans never came together.

"It is an uphill battle to get financing for major five-star hotel developments, but the red tape from government puts a hotel project at further risk. Even projects on private land are difficult to get off the ground," Bhagwandeen said.

McCarthy said considering the huge capital expenditure required for major hotel projects, questions around sustainability and income streams were key in such projects.

"Financing seems to be a key issue here and unless you're an investor with deep pockets it will be tough to get funding for such projects. It must be asked if other models and public-private partnerships in getting hotel projects off the ground need to be looked into.

"Furthermore, what is the average period of return on investment on major hotel projects?" he asked.

Property expert Neels Brink - who's the project director of the Durban Point Waterfront Development - said getting funding for major world-class five-star hotel developments had been a big issue, particularly in KZN and Durban.

"You would need something like R500m of cash upfront and not many developers have that kind of money... Also, you don't get returns straight away; it is something like five years before you start seeing a real return on investment," he said.

"Due to these issues - many hotel developments in Durban have looked at other models, such as packaging hotel rooms for sale or sectional-title hotels. But this is not a local trend - it is the evolving nature of the hotel industry internationally," Brink said.

McCarthy, however, said the Karkloof Spa and Boutique Lodge in the KZN Midlands seemed to be one of the highly successful top-end developments in the province.

Jonathan and Caren Lithgow, the owners of the Karkloof Spa, said more than R230m was invested in the property, which includes a 38-room lodge within a nature reserve.

"We used our own funds and finance from German investors for the project. However, it's more of a trophy business and comes from a passion to get into tourism. We knew we would only see a break-even point in five years in terms of our investment," he said.

Brink said Karkloof and other projects such as Thanda Private Game Reserve were wonderful for the province, but questioned their return on investment.

"You can only get projects like this off the ground if you have deep pockets and it's a pet project out of a passion. Thanda became a reality because of Swedish funding and commitment from the investors.

Tourism KZN chief Executive Ndabo Khoza said institutional investors needed to be aggressive in investing in major tourism projects.

"If private sector financiers are not coming in then we need to look at government agencies like Ithala and the Industrial Development Corporation. They need to come in and play a role in driving tourism competitiveness by investing in large, internationally branded hotel infrastructure projects that, once built, will spur further investment and confidence in the industry," he said.

"Right now we have a market for beach resorts in KZN... International tour operators and charter tours want to bring tourists into KZN for the beach experience, but we don't have a single minimum 300-room all inclusive beach resort in the province. It is time for development institutions like the IDC and Ithala to come in," Khoza said.

Lisa Reeves, of Standard Bank, said hotel projects were capital intensive and thus banks generally did not take an aggressive view in lending to this arena.

"While the recent recession has also had an impact, banks generally have a conservative view when it comes to investing in major hotel projects. This is because of the fact that break-even for the investment usually comes only after year five," she said.

"At Standard Bank we look at the individual client when it comes to financing, their background and how much they are putting into the project. We are investing in the tourism industry, but mainly in smaller boutique style developments," Reeves said.

Participants in the discussion questioned whether it was time for banks to have a more strategic alignment with government's tourism objectives for the country, considering the sector's increasing contribution to economic growth.

But in addition to funding and state bureaucracy, Khoza said anti-development sentiment, land issues and legal disputes were contributing to negative perceptions about major tourism projects getting off the ground in KZN.

"Too many projects in KZN were being held back by legal disputes, land issues or because of opposition to them. Nearly every major project from the Durban Point, to the Film Studio, Zimbali and the new airport has faced these hurdles. This is not a good statement to investors.

"Also, the whole way the eMacambini project was handled has done irreparable damage in terms of investor perceptions about tourism development," he said.

Philip Sithole, the acting head of Durban Tourism, said while most of the focus was on the key development nodes in the city and Umhlanga, the townships should not be forgotten.

"We should also be looking at developing tourism infrastructure in townships and township tourism. Some of our townships have a rich history like the Inanda Heritage Route and the Gandhi Settlement in Phoenix," he said.

This article was originally published on page 3 of The Mercury Network on March 17, 2010
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=2937&art_id=vn20100317164255931C985485&singlepage=1

cross post from the Durban Thread... the biggest cruise tourism industry development in South African history... some 3000 passengers were in the city - from Gateway, to Ushaka, to Phezulu Game Park

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/QueenMaryinDurban.jpg

Queen Mary 2 arrived in Durban for the first time yesterday... I got this from my mates at the Daily News, which used this stunning pic on page 1!
It was a fantastic sight and in all the paper's - as it is one of the largest cruise liner's in the world... It held the biggest title up until 4 or so years ago...
I was a the Durban Point seeing it off last night and it was an unbelievable vibe - with literally thousands of people on large parts of the harbour's new north pier and at PYC, RNYC, Wilsons Wharf, and Ushaka Beach...
Durban was the QM2's first port of call on her maiden voyage to South Africa. She is enroute to Cape Town

Most popular tourist searches in SA revealed
30 March, 2010

Google Search reveals which tourist sites in South Africa are most popular with international visitors

With the 2010 FIFA World Cup around the corner, people around the world are using the internet to decide on which tourist sites they will be visiting while in South Africa.

Google’s Zeitgeist tool shows reveals that the countries that are demonstrating the most interest in visiting South African sites are the same countries buying the most tickets for the World Cup.
The lists below give an overview of what tourist sites proved most popular amoung Internet users, and where these users mostly came from:

Most globally popular tourist sites in South Africa in 2010


Kruger National Park
The Garden Route
Wild Coast
Robben Island
Cape Peninsula
Blyde River Canyon
Cape Winelands
Durban Beachfront
Mandela House
Apartheid Museum

Top countries searching for ‘South Africa tourism’ in the past year


India
United Kingdom
United States
Germany
Zimbabwe

Top World Cup ticket buying countries (according to the Local Organising Committee)


United States
United Kingdom
Germany
Australia
Brazil

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/internet/11945.html

Oh! Africa!!!!!!

cross-post from SA threads

Giant arch turns Durban stadium into tourist trap

2010 WORLD CUP: World Cup fans will see Durban stadium arch as bonus attraction

By Robert Millward
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/Durban2010WCStadiumInside.jpg
DURBAN, South Africa (AP) - Fans going to Durban's spectacular new football stadium will get a view no other World Cup spectator has had before.
A gigantic Y-shaped arch which spans the length of the Moses Mabhida Stadium has steps and a cable car ride that will take visitors 106 meters (350 feet) above the field with a panoramic view of the city and its beaches.
If they take the car ride rather than the 520 steps, fans can stand on a walkway high above the stadium and, although they can see little of the field, the view is breathtaking, if not a little scary.
Months before the World Cup arrives in Durban on June 13, the arch is being put to use as a tourist attraction and is likely to be a money maker long after the tournament finishes on July 11 as organizers aim to make up the $450 million cost of building the stadium.
It emerged in March that the city council in charge of Durban's new World Cup venue had been given 60 days to ensure that the cable car above the stadium is safe after an incident in which it became stuck, leaving its passengers stranded.
Safety inspectors visited the stadium following media reports and complaints about the stranded passengers.
The stadium sits alongside the 56,000-capacity Kings Park rugby stadium, which is the home to the Sharks rugby union team and regularly hosts national team games. It was strongly hoped that the Sharks would move next door to the new stadium but they have a 50-year lease on Kings Park and only a huge amount of money will persuade them to leave.
There have also been rumors that the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which has plenty of space for a running track, might be the venue if South Africa bids to host the first Olympics to be staged on the African continent. But that is unlikely to be before 2024 and local government officials are coy when asked about the prospects because the South African government first has to decide whether to mount an Olympic bid and where it should be.
Meanwhile, the three-tiered stadium seems certain to be one of the wonders of this year's World Cup.
Only about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) outside the city center, it is also a short walk from the ocean and organizers are building a complex and a walkway so that spectators can easily get to the complex from the beaches.
Once inside, fans will be able to see former World Cup winners Brazil and Germany, two-time runner-up Netherlands and current European champion Spain play at the 70,000-capacity stadium. The ground will also stage a second round match and a semifinal match.
Germany and Australia will play in the first match in Group D on June 13 and, three days later, Spain will face Switzerland in Group H. The Netherlands will take on Japan in Group E on June 19, and Nigeria will face South Korea in Group B three days later.
The stadium then has one of the highlights of the first round, Portugal vs. Brazil, on June 25 in Group G.

SOURCE:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-04-01-2081864952_x.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36134107/ns/travel-destinations/
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9EQBCKO

INDABA 2010 set to capitalise on World Cup buzz in Durban
09. APR, 2010
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4/zuidafrica/IndabaICCDurban2010.gif

INDABA 2010 in Durban is a month away and, with the World Cup kicking off in June, the southern African tourism industry is gearing up for the continent’s biggest annual travel tradeshow with more fervour than ever.

“It’s going to be a massive publicity event this year, effectively being the last major business and tourism showcase before the World Cup bonanza hits us a month later in June.

“Durban and the International Convention Centre (ICC) is going to be the epicentre of the hype around South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup,” said Ndabo Khoza, chief executive of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.

Wendy Tlou, SA Tourism’s global communications manager, said: “Yes, Indaba 2010 is definitely going to be big because of the event’s close proximity to the World Cup.

“Many of the World Cup LOC bigwigs will be in Durban, together with some of the leading tourism industry deal-makers and government leaders.

“There are some exciting things and big names expected but that is going to be under wraps for now.

“Exhibition space for the event is sold out, and we have even reduced our SA Tourism stand this year so that the 2010 host cities can take advantage of the event and get more profile.

“We’re expecting a huge contingent of media again this year with already more than 400 registered,” said Tlou. “Many international media already in the country at that time, setting up for the World Cup, will come down to Durban for Indaba. Because of high numbers, SA Tourism is moving the media centre at Indaba to another part of the ICC and making it six times bigger this year,” she said.

Tlou would not name the VIPs expected for Indaba, but industry insiders say it won’t be surprising to see President Jacob Zuma or Fifa president Sepp Blatter among the big names attending.

There have been moves to try to get the spectacular Indaba opening ceremony broadcast on SABC. The Coca-Cola World Cup Trophy Tour is expected to start touring South Africa soon and Indaba organisers want its arrival in Durban to coincide with the trade show.

Tlou said SA Tourism was expecting similar attendance to last year because of the downturn.

However, they were expecting better quality exhibitors and tourism industry buyers at Indaba this year.

Last year, Indaba attracted more than 12 000 delegates. This included stand and event organising personnel; local and international tourism industry players – such as tour operators, airlines and destination marketing organisations; and more than 600 industry and mainstream media.

Khoza agreed with Tlou, saying that even if Indaba 2010 did not break the record in terms of attendance figures, there was no question this year’s event would be the most important and high-profile show yet.

“Due to the profile of the World Cup and hype around hosting the event, we are expecting top-quality industry buyers and better value deals to come out of this year’s Indaba. But it’s not just about the World Cup…

“The industry needs to be looking beyond that and how South African tourism can leverage off the global exposure of the event to boost international tourist arrival for years to come,” he said.

Khoza said another major factor in increasing the Indaba experience in Durban this year was the opening of the new King Shaka International Airport in May.

“This is a big thing and Indaba delegates jetting into Durban will be among the first to get to experience our stunning new airport.

“Also, many international delegates will have the opportunity to travel on Emirates Airlines’ new international air route into Durban for Indaba this year via Dubai. It will be the first time in almost a decade that they will be able to fly straight into Durban for Indaba.”

Khoza urged the KZN tourism industry to pull out all the stops to ensure that this year’s Indaba would be the best yet. He said the local industry also needed to look at the broader potential benefits from the event and not just the economic spin-offs of hosting it.

“Indaba is more than the five or so days of hosting the event. It is an industry trade show and the Durban and KZN tourism industry needs to be more proactive in taking advantage of the opportunities and business deals that could come out of Indaba,” he said.

“When we talk about the success of Indaba, it’s not just about the economic benefits of hosting the event. It is about the deals and networks that are made at Indaba with ‘buyers’ or tour operators who develop the tour packages to bring more tourists into a region. KZN tourism firms and business people taking part in Indaba need to ensure they have full diaries during the event,” said Khoza.

“The sooner the local industry realises that Indaba is not about all the tourism industry bosses staying at Durban hotels during the event, the better.

“It’s about the thousands of tourists and ‘bed-nights’ these important tourism industry people can bring into Durban as a result of business deals from Indaba.”

Meanwhile, turning to the World Cup, Khoza said this year’s Indaba would also see some last-minute industry engagements.

“It will effectively be our last opportunity to market the World Cup to the people that will help bring the tourists to South Africa – the tourism industry operators.

“But perhaps most crucial will be the large contingent of media expected. The expectations are that Indaba will get the good news about the World Cup out there and help in positively profiling the country,” he said.

Source: http://www.travelwires.com/wp/2010/04/indaba-2010-set-to-capitalise-on-world-cup-buzz-in-durban/

Direct flights to India on the cards
May 05, 2010 Edition 2

Suren Naidoo

JUST days after the opening of King Shaka International Airport in Durban, it has emerged that Jet Airways, India's second-biggest airline, is considering introducing direct flights to Durban from Mumbai.

Naresh Goyal, the boss of privately owned Jet Airways, discussed the matter with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Zweli Mkhize on Friday. Dinesh Naidoo, marketing director of India's Serendipity Tours, also met Goyal.

Mkhize confirmed yesterday that talks were under way to secure a direct route between Mumbai and Durban. He emphasised that this was "a work in progress" and approval from aviation regulators was needed.

"Teams from the provincial government and Jet Airways will start working on this. Nothing has been finalised. We are serious about securing this route and want it to be finalised as soon as possible."

Full Story@ http://www.themercury.co.za/?fArticleId=5456915

The story was cut significantly due to space, but there will be a follow-up

world cup is holding,so exciting !

The Huffington Post

Shari Cohen

International development worker in the public health sector

Posted: June 15, 2010 11:35 AM

South Africa Rolls Out the Ubuntu in Abundance

I went on a rant the other day regarding the cost of the 2010 World Cup versus all the critical needs South Africa is facing and whether or not the most vulnerable of this country would gain anything from having the World Cup hosted in their country. At that time, I also had some very positive things to say about our hosts for the 2010 World Cup and I wanted to share that side of the coin as well, because it is equally important.

To say that I have been blown away at the hospitality South Africa has shown the rest of the world would be an understatement. I think back on recent Olympics and struggle to remember much reporting in the USA of athletes from other countries. I remember when a Togolese guy won a bronze medal in kayaking and NBC reported it and I thought to myself, "where are all the other fascinating stories like this one...like the Jamaican bobsledding team." In today's America, sadly, we have drifted so far towards being so US-centric that we only seem to root for the Americans.

Not so here in South Africa. I've been here since early May and each week I have become more and more impressed with the global embrace that South Africans have offered up to the world. On the way to the airport a couple of weeks ago, I heard a radio program that said each day they would focus on one country that would be coming to South Africa for the World Cup, and they would explore not only that sport's history in soccer, but also their politics, religion, and socio-cultural practices. On the television, I've seen numerous programs that focus on a particular country and it's history of soccer and how the history of that country is intertwined with their soccer history. I've seen programs on India, exploring why India enjoys soccer but hasn't really excelled at the global level... yet. And I've seen shows on soccer in Muslim countries. Maybe it's planned, maybe it's unplanned, maybe it's by chance, but it is happening. It's not just about South Africans showing off their varied and multifaceted culture to their global guests, it's also about using this opportunity to educate South Africa on the rest of Planet Earth's inhabitants.

As I moved through my work here in the provinces over the last six weeks, I had a pivotal meeting with the Board members of a rural NGO. They were explaining their guiding program philosophy of Ubuntu. No, not the Linux program. I'm talking about the traditional African philosophy of Ubuntu that essentially says, "No man is an island."

I found a better explanation from Wikipedia:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu further explained Ubuntu in 2008:

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality -- Ubuntu -- you are known for your generosity.


We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity.



To me, Ubuntu is the acceptance of others as parts of the sum total of each of us. And that is exactly what I have experienced during the lead up to, and the initial days of this World Cup. There is nary a South African citizen that I've met on the street, or in shops or restaurants or hotels, that hasn't gone out of their way to greet me and make me feel like I am home. And I don't mean that in the trivial, "Oh, aren't they nice, homey people here... " sort of way. I mean real, genuine interest and questions. People seriously want to know where I come from. What it's like where I live. How does it compare to where I am now. What do I think of South Africa. Oh yes, and what do I think of Bafana Bafana... The questions and conversations are in earnest. They are honest. And they are had with enthusiasm and a thirst to know more. South Africans are drinking deeply from the cup of humanity that has been brought to their doorstep. I would never imagine that an American World Cup or Olympics would ever be this welcoming to the rest of the world. And that saddens me for the state of my home country, but it also makes me feel the pride of the South African people.

I have been truly humbled on this trip. And while I have my gripes regarding development here, I cannot say one negative thing about how South Africa has handled its duties as host and hostess to the world. If I could say one thing to sum up being here during this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it would be that I've learned the value of Ubuntu, and that when found and offered in abundance, the world is indeed a better place to live in.

So, if South Africa accomplishes nothing more on the playing field, it will still have won as a host country. I am a cynic, no doubt about that. And yet I have to admit, I'm a little teary just writing this because I leave for home next weekend and I will be leaving a little piece of myself here in South Africa. I just hope I have learned enough to bring back a little piece of Ubuntu to my homeland, where perhaps with a little caring and a little water, it will take root as naturally as it does here, in the cradle of civilization. It's funny, many people in America still ask me, "are the people in Africa very primitive?" Yes, I know, amazing someone could ask that but they do. And when they do, I usually explain that living in a mud hut does not make one primitive, however, allowing kids to sell drugs to other kids and engage in drive-by killings -- isn't that primitive behavior? I think it is. When I think of Ubuntu and my recent experiences here, I think America has much to learn from Africa in general, in terms of living as a larger village; and as human beings who are all interconnected with each other, each of us having an affect on our brothers and sisters.

As the 2010 Cup slogan goes, "Feel it. It is here." Well, I have felt it, because I am here. Thank you South Africa, for giving me this unexpected gift. I am humbled.

SA sees tourism booming (http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/WorldCup/NationalNews/SA-sees-tourism-booming-20100627)
Cape Town - Halfway through the World Cup, tourism officials say football fans have already brought an economic windfall that looks set to keep rolling as a raft of big countries play in the second round.

Business is booming with foreign fans at bars and restaurants, which are also boosted by plenty of local support for big guns like England, Portugal and Brazil after hosts South Africa bowed out.

Cape Town's dockside V&A Waterfront shopping and entertainment complex has proved a magnet for fans ahead of every match at the nearby Green Point stadium, where Portugal plays Spain on Tuesday in a game sure to pack in fans of all stripes.

"On a daily basis it's more or less in the figure of 100 000 coming through with spikes on match day," said Waterfront spokesperson Annemie Liebenberg.

"These loyal supporters travel with their teams. It's absolutely fantastic to have the big guys still."

Good for business

South African Tourism head Thandiwe January-McLean admitted this week that the industry wanted the world's tourism giants to stay in the tournament.

"For us Germany and England and those countries are important because they have been core markets in which we have been working," she said.

"Seeing them qualify is, from a touristic point of view, in our interest, if truth be told."

Gillian Saunders of Grant Thornton consultancy said South Africa looked on track to earn about R8.8bn from tourism during the World Cup.

That's just a slice of the R93bn that the games are expected to have generated for the economy. Most of that amount was construction spending by government to build stadiums and overhaul the transport system over the last four years.

Less visitors

South Africa had to scale down its initially rosy expectations for 450 000 foreign visitors over the four weeks, lowering the number last month to 300 000.

But coming during the winter months that are normally low season for tourism, the football fans have given South Africa a second peak season with numbers that match its busy summer travel months.

The country spent about R100m on its World Cup marketing campaign, but January-McLean said the marketing benefits were invaluable from hosting one of the world's most-watched sporting events.

"From a touristic point of view this has been a fabulous opportunity, just given the exposure that South Africa has received all over the world."

Hotels are around 85% full in Johannesburg, the most convenient jumping-off point for most stadiums, according to SA Tourism.

Hotels booked

Cape Town says on average its hotels have been at 40% over the last two weeks, but accommodation closest to the stadium is booked solid and tour operators report a 20% jump in business against last June.

For normally quiet towns like the central city of Bloemfontein, where England and Germany face off on Sunday, bars, restaurants and hotels have seen swarms of visitors around games.

Even Port Elizabeth, one of the most distant host cities, has revelled in the flood of visitors.

"It was absolute chaos! From 10 past six until quarter to four this morning, we were upside down, inside out," said Sandy Nel, owner of News Cafe in Port Elizabeth, where England secured its second round entry on Wednesday.

The outlet saw a 200% turnover rise and sold 3 135 units of beer, said Nel.

"We sold the most beer we've ever sold in the nine years we've been in existence."

What a fantastic piece from Shari Cohen - it makes me humble and proud to be South African.

SOUTH AFRICA RECORDS MORE THAN 1.0 MILLION FOREIGN VISITORS IN JUNE
PRETORIA, July 2 (NNN-BUANEWS) -- South Africa was definitely the place to be during June 2010, with almost one million foreign nationals visiting the country in that time, according to the Home Affairs (Interior) Department.

The department Thursday reported that 944,535 foreign travellers entered the country from June 1 to 29, an increase of 24 per cent from the same period last year.

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Malusi Gigaba said the international visitors came mainly from neighbouring Lesotho, Zimbabwe. Mozambique, Swaziland and Botswana, followed by the United States, Britain, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands, Zambia and Malawi.

While these hundreds of thousands have entered the country hassle-free, 180 people were barred from entering South Africa. Airline liaison officers stationed at airports in Amsterdam, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Lagos, London, Mumbai and Nairobi had weeded out the 180 passengers.

The officers were deployed by the department to ensure that passengers without valid travel documents never made it to South Africa for the World Cup. Those turned away were found to have fraudulent permits, visas and stamps; gave contradictory reasons for wanting to visit the country; or had been placed on South Africa's Visa and Entry Stop List.

The department has a 24-hour Operational Centre and is monitoring the movements of travellers through its Movement Control System (MCS), the Advanced Passenger Processing (APP) system and deployment of the airline liaison officers.

"Through the MSC we were also able to facilitate the safe and secure movement of 24 serving and former Heads of State and Government," Gigaba said.

The same system also helped with the smooth departure of 23 national teams that are no longer participating in the tournament which began with 32 teams, including South Africa.

The MCS and APP would also benefit South Africans after the World Cup, the deputy minister said. "The systems we have put in place will remain to serve the broader interests of our country and as part of the legacy of the 2010 World Cup," he said.http://namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=125557

1 million tourists enter SA (http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/WorldCup/NationalNews/1-million-tourists-enter-SA-20100704)
Johannesburg - The number of foreign visitors entering South Africa during the FIFA World Cup period has now risen to one million, the home affairs department said on Sunday.

"This figure is expected to rise further as the World Cup enters the semi-finals and the final phases of the tournament," said spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa in a statement.

The Movement Control System (MCS), which was launched by Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and linked to Sars and law enforcement agencies, had enabled the country to monitor movements of persons entering the country, particularly during the period leading up to and during the various phases of the World Cup.

In that regard, the MCS recorded a total number of foreigners visiting the country from June 1 to July 1 as 1 020 321 compared to 819 495 for the same period in 2009. This represented an increase of 200 826 or 25%.

"During the same period South Africa's Advanced Passenger Processing System witnessed a total of 43 undesirables being prohibited from boarding airlines abroad to enter South Africa."

The home affairs airline liaison officers in various international airports abroad have denied entry into South Africa to 188 persons due to possession of fraudulent documents, including visas, permits, travel documents and stamps, as well as failure to meet immigration requirements.

Mamoepa said the MCS had further recorded Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Malalwi and Zambia as among the top visitors in the country during the period. They were followed by the United Kingdom, US, Germany, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

Meanwhile, the World Cup quarter final clash between Argentina and Germany drew a record 300 000 fans to Cape Town's inner city on Saturday, authorities said.

The Cape Town Stadium was filled to capacity with 64 100 spectators while 42 000 people passed through the fan area on the Grand Parade during the day, the city's communications department said.

Africa's national parks failing to conserve large mammals[b], study shows Populations of zebra, buffalo and lion have fallen by an average of 59% since 1970, according to research

guardian.co.uk, Monday 12 July 2010 17.31 BST Article history

Africa's extensive network of national parks is failing to stem the decline of large mammals, according to a new study that highlights biodiversity loss across the continent.

Populations of large mammals such as zebra, buffalo and lion have declined by an average of 59% since 1970, according to the research, which collated data from parks including popular tourist safari destinations such as the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti in Tanzania.

The study warns that urgent efforts are needed to better protect the animals and secure the future of the parks, which draw millions of tourists each year and provide much-needed income.

Ian Cragie, a conservation scientist at the University of Cambridge who led the study, said: "Although the results indicate that African national parks have generally failed to maintain their populations of large mammals, the situation outside the parks is undoubtedly worse. Many species like rhino are practically extinct outside national parks."

The team of scientists, including experts from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the United Nations environment programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, compiled population records of 69 key species, including lion, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra and buffalo, inside 78 protected areas across Africa from 1970 to 2005. More than half the records came from aerial surveys, the most accurate but also the most expensive way to monitor.

The results show an average decline of 59%, though the results varied significantly from region to region. Eleven parks in west Africa were the hardest hit, with a decline of 85%. Mammal species populations across 43 protected areas in east Africa fell by more than half, [b]while those in 35 reserves in southern Africa showed an increase of 25%. The scientists say they cannot break down the results to show the change in numbers in individual parks because of confidentiality agreements with data providers.

Publishing the results in the journal Biological Conservation, the scientists say: "Protected areas are the cornerstone of global conservation efforts but their performance in maintaining populations of their key species remains poorly documented. These results indicate that African protected areas have generally failed to mitigate human-induced threats to African large mammal populations, but they also show some successes."

The scientists say the severe decline in animal populations in west Africa is probably down to the lack of money and people needed to police the parks, high rates of habitat degradation and the growing bushmeat trade. Southern African parks are better funded and have more staff, which has contributed to their success.

Jonathan Baillie, the director of ZSL conservation programmes, said: "The results are far worse than we imagined, but the increasing population trends in southern Africa provide hope and demonstrate that protected areas can be very effective for conserving large mammals if properly resourced."

The scientists caution that the results do not indicate a blanket failure of the parks to protect the animals as intended. The study does not assess populations outside the parks. "One important implication of this is that while we say overall there have been large population declines inside protected areas, we are not able to say that protected areas are having no effect in mitigating the effects of human activities on biodiversity, because the rates of decline could be more extreme outside."

Animals such as wildebeest that migrate or have very large home ranges can spend significant time outside the protected areas, where they are known to be more vulnerable, the scientists add. This means the declines found in the study may reflect changes outside the protected areas as well as inside.

Despite the severe losses, the study showed that the rate of decline has slowed over time, which could indicate that management of the protected areas has improved in recent times.

Battle to save South Africa's 'sacred sites' from tourist chaletsBy Pumza Fihlani

BBC News, Thohoyandou

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48523000/jpg/_48523784_phiphidicropped.jpg
The Venda nation believe in the mystical powers of ancestral sacred sites

The Phiphidi Waterfalls are a majestic site hidden between thick trees and lush green vegetation in the far north of South Africa, near the border with Zimbabwe.

The falls are surrounded by large trees with roots that reach out over the water like arms raised in worship of the area considered sacred by the local Venda community.

But the area's natural beauty means it is also a prime site to attract holiday-makers - and their money - to the impoverished region.

Yellow front-loader bulldozers have started to excavate the soil, preparing it for builders to lay the foundation for Limpopo's first tourist complex which will include eight chalets, a bar and a restaurant at the head of the waterfall above the mountainous town of Thohoyandou.

“ The people who are destroying these sites will be punished by the ancestors... they will be cursed for generations”
Chief Phineus Nevhutanda

News of the destruction of the holy place caused outrage amongst elders of the Ramunangi clan, who are widely accepted as the custodians of the waterfall.

The Ramunangi, a group within the Venda ethnic group, led by Tshavhungwe Nemarude, an 84-year-old woman, recently petitioned the Limpopo High Court to halt construction.

Their request was granted but only until later in August when the case is set to resume.

Ms Nemarude has accused Chief Jerry Tshivhase, from a different Venda clan, of ignoring the rights of the Ramunangi people to "protect the site".

The Ramunangi say they were not consulted before the plans were drawn up and argue that building on sacred land is illegal.

"Surely there are other parts of Venda which can be developed which would actually benefit the local community and not harm it like disturbing the sacred sites will," says Samuel Ramutangwe, a community member.

Moses Netshipale, the lawyer acting for Chief Tshivhase and the construction firm, was unavailable for comment despite numerous attempts to reach him.

Women of power

The sites are particularly important for the one million Venda people, as most still worship their ancestors. Christianity is also practised, but on a much smaller scale.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48522000/jpg/_48522832_makhadziprepareforritual.jpg
Freshly prepared millet beer is offered to the ancestors during ceremonies to appease them

Different clans of the Venda have for centuries been tasked with performing certain rituals on behalf of the entire group. The Ramunangi are responsible for performing rain rituals and it is believed that only they can get the desired results from the gods.

These rituals are only done by women, known as Makhadzi - women of power. Men can be present, but only women speak to the ancestors during ceremonies.

One of the main rituals performed at the Phiphidi waterfall is Thevhula, a rain ritual considered essential to ensuring a good harvest and rains.

The Venda community believe famine, strife and disease will befall them if the sites are destroyed.

Now a desperate race against time has begun, with the Ramunangi joining forces with a local organisation called Dzomo la Mupo (Voice of the Earth), which fights against the desecration of sacred sites.

They are trying to garner support from other community leaders to present a united front against Chief Tshivhase.

"All the several sacred sites in Venda are interlinked. If one site is disturbed, it will affect all the other sites here," says Mphatheleni Makaulule, founder of Dzomo la Mupo.

"The sites are our church and have been since recorded time," she says.

Ms Makaulule recently won a scholarship to study at a number of institutions in the United States, including Harvard University.

She says she is disappointed that her local leaders have no regard for the upset this development would cause - not only to their cultural practices but also the region's biodiversity.

The fertile foothills of the region's Southpansberg mountains are home to hundreds of birds, plants and animal species.

Venda's sacred sites include the degraded Lake Fundudzi, Thate Vonde Forest, Tshiendeulu Mountains and Nevhutanda Forest.

South Africa is legally obliged under the South African Heritage Resources Act and international law to protect biodiversity and community rights to sacred lands, cultural and spiritual practice and prior informed consent.

Tobacco prayer

Many of the plants found here are used by the community members for medicinal purposes.

The Ramunangi say they are not against economic development or tourism growth but that it should not happen on sacred land.

"Had we been consulted before the plans were put in place, we could have advised on suitable places to develop, we would not have been forced to go against the chief this way," says community leader Phanuel Mudau, 52.

Chiefs and kings are held in great regard by South Africa's traditional communities, especially the Venda. Dzomo la Mupo has been accused of great disrespect by starting a legal battle with a chief.

But the Ramunangi say the courts were their only hope.

"We have been trying for more than a year to meet with our leaders but our appointments with them always got cancelled," said Mr Mudau.

"We resorted to writing to them even but still our concerns fell of deaf ears."

Chief Phineus Nevhutanda, a custodian of the Nevhutanda Forest, said the fight to protect their sites may turn violent but believes the ancestors will shield them if this happens.

Before speaking to me, he sprinkles tobacco on the ground and says a short prayer, to inform the gods that he will be speaking on their behalf, he says.

"The people who are destroying these sites will be punished by the ancestors. It may not happen immediately but it will happen - they will be cursed for generations," the 68 year old says angrily.

'Defiled land'

Since the ruling, no-one has been allowed to enter the Phiphidi site, which was recently fenced off and turned into a park.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48529000/gif/_48529715_rubbishdump.gif
The Phiphidi sacred site has already been turned into a picnic area

A sign at the gate where three guards have been stationed states that visitors must pay 5 rand ($0.7; £0.4) to enter the site - another bone of contention between the Ramunangi and Chief Tshivhase.

Used condoms, beer bottles and cans are strewn throughout the forest leading to the waterfall.

The Ramunangi blame this "defilement" of the site on Chief Tshivhase.

"We believe he opened the site up to the local community for recreational activities, knowing fully well that the site should not be open to the public. He knows Venda tradition - I don't know why he is disrespecting the ways of our people like this," said one Makhadzi.

The Ramunangi are supposed to perform a summer ritual in September to welcome the new season and pray for a good harvest but there are concerns this may not be possible.

If not, they fear ill-fortune looms for the entire Venda people.

Mpumalanga Province in R400m ecotourism deal
04 Aug 2010

Intro
The MTPA announced a R400m eco tourism agreement with the Manyeleti Conservation Trust to further develop the 23000ha Manyeleti Game Reserve.

JULIUS BAUMANN
Transport and Tourism Editor

THE Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) yesterday announced a R400m eco tourism agreement with the Manyeleti Conservation Trust to further develop the 23000ha Manyeleti Game Reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park.

The agreement will see about R350m invested in developing seven lodges with a total 350 beds over the next two years. A further R21m would be spent by the MTPA to improve the reserve’s infrastructure, and R14m to set up a company to provide game drives for the lodges.

“We are very excited by this development as it is the first step towards achieving a R40bn investment in the province’s tourism sector by 2016,” MTPA CEO Charles Ndabeni said.

The reserve is owned by the Manyeleti Conservation Trust, representing land claim beneficiaries who hold the concession for the game reserve.

The MPTA would be responsible for conservation management, while a co-management committee would handle concessions, financial management, commercial development, marketing and infrastructure maintenance.

“The Manyeleti Game Reserve business model defines a new way of addressing the challenges of managing land claim settlements such as this one successfully,” Mr Ndabeni said.

Source: eProp (http://www.eprop.co.za/news/article.aspx?idArticle=12766)

World Travel Awards


Top Africa
Africa's Leading Airline South African Airways
Africa's Leading Airport O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Africa's Leading Apartment Hotel The Regent, South Africa
Africa's Leading Beach Destination Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Africa's Leading Beach Hotel Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Hurghada, Egypt
Africa's Leading Beach Resort Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa
Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel Brand Mantis Group
Africa's Leading Business Car Rental Company Avis
Africa's Leading Business Hotel Hilton Durban
Africa's Leading Business Travel Agency Travel with Flair
Africa's Leading Car Hire Europcar
Africa's Leading Casino Resort The Palazzo Montecasino, South Africa
Africa's Leading Conservation Company Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa's Leading Convention Hotel Sandton Sun, South Africa
Africa's Leading Cruise Line Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Africa's Leading Destination Cape Town
Africa's Leading Family Resort Sun City Resort, South Africa
Africa's Leading Game Reserve Brand Mantis Group
Africa's Leading Golf Resort The Palmeraie Golf Palace, Morocco
Africa's Leading Green Hotel The Phantom Forest Eco-reserve, South Africa
Africa's Leading Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Africa's Leading Hotel Group Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Africa's Leading Innovative Hospitality Company Signature Life Hotels
Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline 1time
Africa's Leading Luxury Hotel Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa
Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge Shambala Private Reserve, South Africa
Africa's Leading Luxury Train The Blue Train
Africa's Leading Luxury Villa Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre International Convention Centre Durban, South Africa
Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, South Africa
Africa's Leading Online Tour Operator 1time
Africa's Leading Port Durban (Port)
Africa's Leading Resort Sun City Resort, South Africa
Africa's Leading Responsible Tourism Company &Beyond
Africa's Leading River Cruise Company Sonesta Nile Cruises
Africa's Leading Safari Lodge Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Africa's Leading Spa Resort Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Africa's Leading Sports Resort Legend Golf & Safari Resort - South Africa
Africa's Leading Suite Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite, Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Africa's Leading Tourism Development Project Fairmont Zimbali
Africa's Leading Tourist Board South Africa Tourism
Africa's Leading Town House Hotel Shamwari Town House, South Africa
Africa's Leading Travel Agency Club Travel, South Africa
Africa's Leading Travel Exhibition INDABA
Africa's Leading Travel Management Company Travel with Flair South Africa
Africa's Leading Villa Queen Cleopatra Villa, Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Africa's Responsible Tourism Award &Beyond
Africa's Tourism Personality Of The Year Dr Aupindi Tobie Aupindi - MD Namibia Wildlife Resorts



Top South Africa
South Africa's Leading Beach Hotel The Plettenberg
South Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa
South Africa's Leading Business Hotel Sheraton Pretoria Hotel
South Africa's Leading Game Reserve Brand Mantis Group
South Africa's Leading Golf Resort Legend Golf & Safari Resort
South Africa's Leading Hotel The Saxon
South Africa's Leading Luxury Beach Hotel The Last Word Long Beach
South Africa's Leading Luxury Hotel La Residence
South Africa's Leading Luxury Tour Operator Giltedge Travel
South Africa's Leading Luxury Villa Thanda Private Game Reserve
South Africa's Leading Resort Sun City Resort
South Africa's Leading Safari Lodge Mala Mala Game Reserve
South Africa's Leading Spa Resort Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa
South Africa's Leading Travel Management Company Travel with Flair
South Africa's Leading Villa Ellerman Villa

Hotel Price Index 2010 Q2


Johannesburg in 14th, Cape Town in 19th.
http://www.hotel-price-index.com/images/chart-ch2b.gif

Don't know if this data is credible, for in Capetown the average price for a 2 star hotel is 140 dollars, and for a 3 star hotel 119 dollars; 4 stars 168 dollars; 5 stars 336 dollars.

I doubt that list very much. Scandinavian and japanese cities are of the most expensive cities in the world. yet CT and Joburg are more expensive?

eye opening but not suprising. hotels in south africa are expensive. it looks like this survey is based on 2010 Q2 pricing. these numbers will have been inflated by the premium pricing for the world cup. evidenced in cape town's year-on-year increase of 53%.

my personal experience is that the mix and standards in sa's hotel is a little top heavy. very few 1-2 * options and many hotels with comparably high standards in 3-5 star segments. so when all sectors are compared we dont have enough budget options to balance things out.

f*uck yeah, Cape Town is going down a dangerous path if it continues overpricing visitors.

----------------------------------------------------
Pricey Cape hotels on global list
Sep 14 2010 09:10

Reuters

Canberra - Cape Town has seen one of the biggest jumps in hotel prices in the world, according to a global survey that showed hotel rates rising for the first time in three years as the global economy picks up.

Hotel provider Hotels.com's bi-annual hotel price index, released on Tuesday, found that some of the greatest price rises happened in cities tied to major events.

This included price hikes in Cannes, France, which hosts the annual Cannes Film Festival, and on the Indonesian island of Bali, the setting for part of Julia Roberts' new movie Eat Pray Love.

Room rates in Bali surged 57%, the largest price rise for any destination.

The second-biggest rise was recorded in Cape Town, host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where room rates jumped 53% to average $180 a night.

Although average hotel room rates are at low levels seen six years ago, there are hints of a recovery.

"We're seeing travel bookings pick up around the world," Hotels.com spokesperson Victor Owens said in a statement.

Overall, prices rose about 2% in the second quarter of 2010 from a year ago, the first increase since the end of 2007, as business travellers and tourists started packing their bags again and heading out.

The index, now in its seventh year and based on a sample of about 91 500 properties in 15 750 locations, found second-quarter room rates rose 1% in Europe and the Caribbean, 3% in the Americas and stabilised in Asia.

Capri, Geneva and New York top the list for the most expensive hotel rooms.

Prices on the Italian island of Capri rose 7%, making it the most expensive destination for hotels and uprooting Monte Carlo from the top slot in 2009.

In Geneva, and Switzerland overall, average hotel room rates were up 8% to $254, while New York City was found to be the most expensive city for rooms in the United States, with prices up 14% from a year ago.

Rounding out the top 10 were Dubrovnik in Croatia, Venice, Rio de Janiero, Paris, Bali, London and Moscow.

Owens said a gradual return of business travel and an increase in domestic US travel fuelled the overall increases - but that the price rises were not universal.

"There are, of course, still deals to be had, especially in international destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Reykjavik which each saw a major drop in hotel prices during the first half of 2010," he said.

The average price of a hotel room in Abu Dhabi plummeted by 46%, and prices in Reykjavik, Iceland, fell on average by 18% following a volcanic eruption and subsequent ash cloud that disrupted air travel across northern Europe in April.

The price drop in Abu Dhabi was fuelled by an increase in the number of rooms as new hotels opened, and a fall in the number of corporate travellers due to the global economic crisis.

"This influential city of commerce was affected by the fall of international business travel, as was its larger neighbour, Dubai, which saw a 10% decrease," said Owens.

Prices in Moscow fell 8%, in Budapest they dropped 7% and prices slipped 6% in Copenhagen, Cancun, Athens, Taipei, and Dublin.

Stats on the massive increase in overseas tourist arrivals during the World Cup...

First World Cup arrival stats released
28 Tue, Sep 2010

Statistics South Africa has officially released its arrivals stats for June 2010, which encompass the first period of the 2010 World Cup hosted by the country.

During the period of the World Cup, many different agencies threw out figures as to how many foreigners had travelled into the country for the purpose of the World Cup, but the National Department of Tourism was careful to comment on these speculative figures and noted that it was better that the travel and tourism trade waited until the official stats were released.

Traditionally the low season for South Africa, overseas markets in particular were boosted immensely in June this year in comparison to last year. Total arrivals for the period from both land and air markets increased by 42,7% from 505 341 in 2009 to 721 311 in 2010. Of the total arrivals, overseas arrivals constituted 277 345 people in June 2010, a 118,6% increase on June 2009’s 126 857.
African markets did not swell as considerably as might have been expected, with only a moderate 11,9% increase. Although a double-digit growth for African markets, traditional African land markets such as Mozambique and Lesotho, who were pinned as definite for a visit over the tournament, did not increase by as much as their potential promised.

The most impressive numbers come from the Central and South American markets, which are reported by a large group of travel trade as the markets that have shown the most potential for the country. Overall, the Central and Southern American markets exploded with a 924,7% increase from 4 605 visitors in June 2009 to 47 188 visitors in 2010.
The country’s traditional European and North American markets also displayed impressive visitor numbers for the period and smaller, yet important, markets such as Spain and Portugal showed good numbers for the period.

The top overseas markets for June 2010 were as follows:

- USA, up 98,9% from 22 573 to 44 894
- UK, up 14,7% from 35 636 to 40 903
- Australia, up 155,1% from 6 313 to 16 106
- Germany, up 235% from 4 303 to 14 413
- Brazil, up 397,2% from 2 836 to 14 100
- Mexico, up 5 333,9% from 221 to 12 009
- France, up 847,9% from 1 208 to 11 451
- The Netherlands, up 163,8% from 4 079 to 10 760
- Portugal, up 332% from 1 756 to 7 584
- India, up 50% from 4 373 to 6 561
- China, up 238,5% from 1 936 to 6 553
- Canada, up 105,5% from 2 924 to 6 008
- Italy, up 73,6% from 3 370 to 5 851
- Spain, up 140,7% from 2 320 to 5 584
- Japan, up 276,4% from 1 539 to 5 793
The top African markets for June 2010 were as follows:

- Zimbabwe, up 15,9% from 92 47 to 107 177
- Lesotho, up 5,4% from 80 667 to 85 018
- Mozambique, up 8% from 77 175 to 83 317
- Swaziland, down 0,4% from 45 777 to 45 591
- Botswana, up 11,3 % from 31 650 to 35 224


Kate Els

SA tourism booming
Sep 28, 2010 12:38 PM | By Sapa

The number of people who visited South Africa in the past year has grown exponentially, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwk says.


“We have seen exponential growth in foreign arrivals to South Africa, culminating in more than 9.9 million foreign arrivals last year,” he said at a breakfast hosted by the Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP) in Durban.

Tourism's total direct and indirect contribution to the economy almost doubled from 4.9 percent in 1994 to 7.9 percent or R89.4 billion in 2009.

“As government, in close partnership with the industry, we have consistently been taking the necessary steps to ensure that we continue on this positive trajectory,” he said.

South Africa would use the success of the soccer World Cup as a springboard to reach new levels of growth.

“With the exceptionally successful hosting of the World Cup in South Africa, the tourism sector in South Africa is set to enter a new growth phase.”

The tourism sector had provided foreign visitors to the tournament an "extraordinary experience", and he was confident they would become "powerful ambassadors" for the country.

One of the problems facing the tourism industry however was that worldwide consumer spending had not recovered fully after the economic meltdown.

“We must be more innovative in our efforts to attract tourists. We must work even harder at marketing our destination in our traditional and very important emerging source markets.”

Van Schalkwk commended the TEP for facilitating tourism growth.

“Since its inception in July 2000, TEP has successfully facilitated transactions in excess of R4 billion.”

SA hotel ranked in top 10 luxury hotels

The five-star Hunter’s Country House in Plettenberg Bay, part of the Hunter Hotels Group, and a member of the Relais & Châteaux Association, has been ranked as one of the “Top 10 Luxury Hotels in Africa” by TripAdvisor, a travel review website, in its ninth Annual Traveller’s Choice Awards for this year.

The Traveller’s Choice Awards recognise hotels worldwide that consistently strive for outstanding service, great value and top quality. This year, 676 establishments received honours in various categories – Europeans’ favourite hotels, bargain, all inclusive, romance, B&Bs and inns, luxury relaxation and spa, trendiest, best service and more.

Ian Hunter, CEO of the Hunter Hotels Group, said: “Our ethos has always been to ensure that every guest, adult or child, has a truly unique experience during their time at any of our four properties and it is of utmost importance for us to deliver exceptional service while we create an environment for every staff member to grow and have their passion for hospitality nurtured. We’re extremely proud that we’ve been recognised for this and this makes a huge difference to one and all within the Hunter Hotels Group.”

Note strong tourist growth from India, Brazil, China as well...


Soccer fillip for 2010 tourism
25 minutes ago

Rise in business tourism lauded
Govt looks at flexible tourist visas
SA to go big on cruise tourism
Tourism scores R3.6bn World Cup boost


Johannesburg - Tourist arrivals to South Africa increased to more than eight million in 2010, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Tuesday.

"We are delighted with these strong growth figures, particularly as it comes so soon after a global economic recession," Van Schalkwyk said at a media briefing in parliament.

According to the figures, tourist arrivals rose to 8 073 552 compared with 7 011 865 in 2009.

The "particularly good growth" in tourist arrivals figures was boosted by the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Van Schalkwyk said.

"South Africa in fact recorded a peak in tourist arrivals in June and July 2010, which is traditionally our low season.

"From the results of our survey on arrivals during the World Cup, we know that more than 309 000 tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of the World Cup.

"The World Cup arrivals therefore represent about 4% of the total arrivals for 2010."

Van Schalkwyk said the legacy of the tournament was a major boost for the industry as it had "cemented a foundation for sustained investment and growth".

"Considerable work has already begun across the sector as we now look to maintain the momentum and interest in our valued, world class destination," he said.

Van Schalkwyk said, however, that the growth was not driven only by the World Cup, as the figures showed that tourist arrival performance in 2010 exceeded that of 2009 across all 12 months of the year.

Tourist arrivals from the Americas grew the fastest, followed by Asia and Australasia.

The UK, USA, Germany, the Netherlands and France remain the top five overseas source markets.

Notable countries where "considerable tourism" growth to South Africa was recorded in 2010 include India, China, Brazil and Nigeria.

Brics is paying off. But look at the growth figures from Mexico?!

Actually, Mexico attended the world cup in droves. It was cool to see - direct result of a developing nation with a new middle class able to travel.

SA outperforms 2010 global tourism market
Thursday, 03 March 2011


South Africa outperformed all other tourism markets in 2010 by 8 percent, which was not just as a result of hosting the World Cup football tournament.South Africa recorded a remarkable 15% increase in tourist arrivals to the country in 2010 – outperforming the global average by 8%. And while the Fifa World Cup in June and July played a role in the increase, tourist arrivals were buoyant all year round.

Last year saw just over eight million (8 073 552) tourist arrivals compared to slightly over seven million (7 011 865) in 2009, comparing well with international standards.

Figures from the UN World Tourism Organisation showed that global tourism arrivals were estimated to have grown by 6.7% in 2010. This meant that South Africa outperformed the global market by 8%.

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announcing the figures in Cape Town on Tuesday, said he had "no doubt of further growth this year".

"We are delighted with these strong growth figures, particularly as it comes so soon after a global economic recession," he said.

World Cup tourists, new markets

The Department of Tourism said 90% of the tourists who came for the World Cup had indicated that they would want to come to South Africa again, as the tournament had created a better image of the country.

"From the results of our survey on arrivals during the World Cup, we know that more than 309 000 tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of the World Cup," Van Schalkwyk said. "The World Cup arrivals therefore represent about four percent of the total arrivals for 2010."

He said the legacy of the World Cup was a major boost for the tourism industry and had cemented a foundation for sustained investment and growth in the industry.

"In terms of reaping the rewards of the World Cup, now is not the time to sit back," Van Schalkwyk said. "I would like to call on the entire industry to continue to build on this positive affirmation of our country and to aggressively entrench our core tourism markets and attract exciting emerging markets."

New markets such as Brazil, China and India played a big role in growing the industry in 2010, he said.

"In terms of growth from the regional markets, the Americas grew the fastest at 37.4% compared to 2009," he said. This was followed by Asia and Australasia at 34.6%, with long-haul markets showing an increase of 21%.

Solid base to build on

The UK, US, Germany, the Netherlands and France remained South Africa's top five overseas source markets. In emerging markets, notable growth came from Brazil with growth of 66.7%, China with an increase of 62.3%, India with 29.7% and Nigeria with 10%, albeit from relatively low bases.

"These figures provide a solid base on which we can build in term of our growth targets for emerging markets," Van Schalkwyk said. "From a tourism perspective, we stand to gain tremendously from our recent inclusion in the BRIC partnership, and we are aligning our planning and strategies accordingly."

Positive views of South Africa on the rise
Wednesday, 09 March 2011


Positive international views of South Africa have improved sharply over the last year, according to the annual BBC World Service Country Rating Poll of 16 major countries around the world.

Thanks in part to the successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, as well as the country's new membership of the "Brics" group of fast-growing emerging economies, the proportion of poll respondents positively rating South Africa's influence in the world rose from 35% to 42%.

This was the second-biggest rise among the countries surveyed, after Brazil's jump in positive international perceptions from 40% to 49%, lifting South Africa into ninth place in the overall order of popularity.

Of the 27 countries surveyed, 17 have positive views of South Africa, two have "lean negative" views, while eight are divided.
Germany was again the most positively viewed nation, with 62% of respondents rating its influence as positive (an increase of three points).

In response to the question, "Please tell me if you think each of the following countries is having a mainly positive or mainly negative influence in the world?", the 16 countries surveyed were ranked as follows: Germany, UK, Japan, Canada, France, US, Brazil, China, South Africa, India, South Korea, Russia, Israel, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran.

'Important emerging-market player'

"The growing credibility of middle powers is the story this year, especially Brazil and South Africa," GlobeScan chairman Doug Miller said in a statement on Monday, when the latest poll results were released.

Catherine Grant, head of economic policy at the South African Institute of International Affairs, told local newspaper Business Day that the poll "reaffirms South Africa's position as an important emerging-market player that can no longer be ignored".

Grant added that the results would give South Africa a boost ahead of its first meeting as a member of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and now South Africa) bloc in China in April.

The results are based on 28 619 in-home or telephone interviews conducted across 27 countries by international polling firm GlobeScan, together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (Pipa) at the University of Maryland.

Ups and downs

Respondents were asked to rate the influence in the world of 16 major nations plus the European Union.

Overall, 13 of the 16 nations rated posted increases in positive ratings. These include the USA (up by four points to 49% positive) and the UK (up five points to 58%, making it, for the first time, the second most positively rated country).

In marked contrast, the three most negatively viewed countries saw their ratings go from bad to worse, including Iran (59% negative, "up" three points), Pakistan (56% negative, "up" 5 points), and North Korea (55% negative, "up" 6 points).

Israel, for many years among the least positively viewed nations, bucked this trend, keeping its negative ratings at 49% and showing a slight lift in positive ratings, from 19% to 21%.

"While last year relatively dour views of nations were prevalent – perhaps reflecting the mood of the economic downturn – the mood now seems to be relatively upbeat," said Pipa director Steven Kull.

Who likes South Africa?

According to the survey, 42% of people globally have positive views of South Africa, a seven percentage point increase since 2010, while negative views of the country remained steady at 27%.

Of the 27 countries surveyed, 17 have positive views of South Africa, two have "lean negative" views, while eight are divided.

South Africa is particularly popular among its African counterparts, with positive views highest in Kenya (73%), Nigeria (67%) and Ghana (57%). In Egypt, positive views rose dramatically, by 26 points to 40%, while negative ratings fell by 14 points to 13%, making the overall view of SA shift from negative to positive.

In Brazil, views of South Africa shifted from being divided in 2010 to "leaning positive" in 2011 (42% vs 36%), the survey found, thanks to a seven-point drop in negative views. Views of SA were 48% positive in Mexico and 43% postive in Chile, but divided (23% versus 24%) in Peru.

"Views are getting warmer in North America, with significant improvements observed in South Africa's positive influence ratings in Canada (45%, up 9 points) and the US (50%, up 13 points)," the survey found.

South Korea's view of South Africa improved from divided to positive (54%, up 14 points), while favourable opinions tripled in Turkey (43%, up 30 points).

European opinions towards South Africa are mixed, according to the survey. Spain went from being negative to divided (35% positive, up 15 points), but the United Kingdom went from leaning positive to divided, with a 17-point increase in negative views (to 42%) outweighing a seven-point rise in positive views (to 43%).

While Italians were divided in 2010, 54% are now leaning favourable (up 14 points), while negative ratings have dropped nine points to 28%. Germany is the only country in Europe with overall negative views towards South Africa.

Australia's opinion remained divided in 2011, with positive and negative ratings of SA both up 13 points to 43%. In the Philippines, positive views have increased by 11 points, but opinion remains negative overall (35% positive versus 52% negative).

In China, views have shifted since 2010 following a 22-point rise in negative ratings (to 41% in 2011), and the Chinese public is now divided. In Indonesia, close to four out of 10 rate South Africa positively (38%, up 7 points), and opinion has shifted from divided to leaning positive.

"The least favourable countries towards South Africa are Japan, Pakistan, and Russia (16%, 17%, and 19% positive views respectively)," the survey found. "The public in these countries are divided, and all three have high proportions of people who did not state an opinion on this question."

London underground
http://i1044.photobucket.com/albums/b443/goliath01/DSC_0297.jpg

glad to see SA tourism have really altered the images they market to the world of SA drastically... sorry but the constant Table Mountain and animals approach is making things a bit stale

For who? You who lives in the country? Of course.

Certainly not for the millions upon millions of potential tourists who don't know much about the country. By that logic New York should omit the Statue of Liberty from all marketing material, and Paris the Eiffel tower :lol:

I agree that Table Mountain is a huge asset but the UK doesn't advertise in Paris using Big Ben. Similarly, I never saw an ad in the UK advertising the Statue of Liberty. I think it is fair to say that the majority of Londoners know about Table Mountain and SA Tourism would benefit by focussing on areas that they were not as familiar with.

Having said that, I know that SAT does use many more images and draw-cards in the London market, and sometimes it is important to solidify something in the mind of the consumer: that South Africa is the most gorgeous country on the planet :D

For who? You who lives in the country? Of course.

Certainly not for the millions upon millions of potential tourists who don't know much about the country. By that logic New York should omit the Statue of Liberty from all marketing material, and Paris the Eiffel tower :lol:

clearly you do not work in marketing.

France and the USA actually do not heavily feature the exact same feel and imagery in there communications for 20 years. Thats what SA Tourism has been doing since 1994 (Table Mountain and Kruger Park). They both realise that there markets are far more than just 2 attractions. And hence people know that as well. Foreignors only generally know about Kruger and Cape Town/Table Mountain because actually actually that is all they have ever been told about. How boring, how one dimensional, how lacking any forward thinking about showcasing the true diversity which is what actually makes this country a potentially huge tourism attracter.

For a destination to thrive new news is always need to be brought, just like any brand. Fresh ideas, fresh proposals. Constantly harping on about the exact same things makes a brand very stale, most especially in the tourism arena where there are 1000s of different travel options. And that is my problem with this. Destination tourism is about exciting your potential visitors. If they constantly only perceive South Africa to only offer them two things then they will question if it is really worth their while to hop on a plane for 12 or more hours to get here.

The worlds top destinations showcase a broad range of attractions, a broad range of options, they have strategies to attract different subsets of people which are looking for vastly diffferent things from a travel experience. We live in an age of choice. If you fail to actively showcase that, very few people are going to bother searching for it.

glad to see SA tourism have really altered the images they market to the world of SA drastically... sorry but the constant Table Mountain and animals approach is making things a bit stale

I agree to an extent. Though I respect that Icon's play a role in the imagery of destination marketing, sometimes the unexpected stuff, that internal tourists know of and love is worth expanding on international campains - for example, images of Knysna heads with the Outeniqua Tchoo Tchoo cruising across the lagoon, or a wounderous panorama of the Drakensburg. PErhaps a shot of the arid Richtersveldt or Cedarburg?

In fact, the Midlands meander and the Drakensburg in particular would be a wonderful image-drawcard for the activities holiday market in Europe - think Biking, walking, botany, ancient bushman paintings, bouldering, climbing, etc

Its our switzerland, and SA Tourism dont seem to be making use of it anything like Table Mountain or "savannah" style Safari pics

I don't know if anyone has noticed this yet, but Monday night was the finale for this season of The Bachelor in the US. The final two episodes were shot in Mpumalanga and Cape Town. The ladies stayed at The One & Only and it featured heavily. Cape Town looked fantastic. And the dude proposed to the chicky at Ernie Els' estate wherever that may be.

It's a huge coup for SA Tourism in the states in my opinion. I don't normally watch the show, but I heard about it from a number of friends all over the US.


Mar 15 2011 11:30am EDT
A Ticket to Love

South Africa’s tourism board hopes that Brad Womack’s romancing of Chantal O’Brien and his now-fiancée Emily Maynard in exotic locales such as the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town, among others, will lead Americans to fall in love with the faraway destination.

ABC’s The Bachelor featured a romantic date at a tree-house resort, a swimming with the sharks outing, and even a feel-good school visit complete with mini soccer tourney from team Bachelor starting on the February 28th episode and through the popular show's proposal finale.

Never one to miss out on tie-ins, ABC aired multiple ads for “South Africa, It’s Possible,” and the country’s website features an invitation to “experience South Africa as the Bachelor did,” with packages starting from $2,595 to $6,875 per person for the Ultimate Bachelor Luxury getaway. And the cross-promotion doesn’t stop there. Throughout the show, ABC used lower-third bugs (those pesky graphics that appear on the bottom of our TV screens) to tout Womack’s travel guide.

Read more: http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/executive-style/2011/03/15/south-africa-hopes-for-post-bachelor-tourism-bump#ixzz1GimegD9v



Here's a couple of links. I'd imagine it'll take a while for the show to get to SA, but it's available online. SAT is milking the exposure for all they've got.

http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor/travel-guide
http://www.facebook.com/visitsouthafrica
http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor/bachelor-sweepstakes

1f6Mh98e9RM

Shot for that - I didn't know - but its these things that are hitting home with the overseas markets after the world cup. Its great news.

Nice one GDA...

More Chinese tourists visiting SA

March 18 2011 at 07:17am
AFP

Tourism statistics for last year showed that the number of visitors from China rose by 63 percent and both Lim Wei-Peng, Singapore Airlines’ manager in Cape Town, and David Ryan, Cathay Pacific Airlines’ manager in South Africa, confirmed that large numbers had arrived on their flights, some in tour groups. Lim said there was growing affluence in China and people were travelling more. Ryan said he believed many of those arriving were tourists and the World Cup had probably encouraged this. But he thought most of them were on business or coming on contract work and many were bound for other countries in Africa.

Whatever the reason, let’s hope a big increase in Chinese passengers coming to Cape Town, or leaving from here if they originally arrived in Johannesburg, will cause Singapore Airlines to increase the number of non-stop flights from here in the holiday season and to retain some in the low season, when they now make a refuelling stop in Johannesburg.

SAA is expected to start its first direct service to the Chinese mainland soon, with flights between Johannesburg and Beijing, although no date has been announced yet. Fanie Zulu, its head of corporate affairs, tells me it had already decided to do so without any persuasion from the department of tourism. The department, which has certainly encouraged it to start the route, hopes it will follow that with a route to Shanghai as well. Lim and Ryan told me they didn’t see this new competition as a threat to their market share, because both their airlines offer flights to a number of destinations in China.

Large numbers of South Africans go to the Chinese mainland by way of Hong Kong on the daily flights from Johannesburg by Cathay and SAA. Ryan said Cathay offers seven flights a day from Hong Kong to Shanghai and its passengers can transfer to its local and regional subsidiary, Dragonair, which offers more. Both Cathay and Singapore offer flights from their home airports to a number of Chinese cities.

Meanwhile we can expect to see many more Chinese visitors – members of Singapore’s large Chinese community – in the city later this month.

Spotlight Singapore, an organisation that encourages both cultural and business contacts with other cities, has arranged a visit by performing artists and musicians, business people and students, that is due to start on March 16 and is expected to lead to a permanent connection. Spotlight Singapore has similar connections with other cities, including Hong Kong, Tokyo and Moscow. Its original intention in this country was a link with Johannesburg. But the organisers came on from there to Cape Town and felt more at home here because of the similarities between the cities. Both are ports and attractive tourism destinations.

They expect the link with Cape Town to result in some businesses being set up here and a lot of tourism from there in our low season, when it is particularly welcome, to escape the heat in Singapore at that time of year.

Since we are also hoping to attract more tourism from the United Arab Emirates at that time of year, also to escape the heat, Cape Town may at last succeed in eliminating its low season altogether.

Audrey.D’Angelo@inl.co.za - Weekend Argus

Watched the show on South Africa by Desmond Tutu last night (and last week), and really feels it's the best 'travel' show there can be for SA. He gives a very good balanced view on SA, combining every culture and history in each province, although probably now and then trying to fit in as much as possible in such a short show.
What is the chances of this show being exported and sold to foreign stations?
Even the intro itself is excellent to be an advert.

^^ was watcheing it as well and I share your sentiments. I like it, like it, like it.

Minister launches national tourism strategy
EDWARD WEST
Published: 2011/03/25 07:05:59 AM

TOURISM Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk yesterday launched a national tourism strategy, with the sector becoming the first to detail measures for its contribution to the New Growth Path.

The strategy aims to generate 255000 new jobs in the sector by 2020, providing a siz able contribution to the New Growth Path’s target of creating 5-million jobs in the next 10 years.

Tourism is one of six sectors identified in the growth plan.

Key aspects of the new strategy were better and more aggressive investment in marketing, particularly to emerging markets where middle classes were growing; getting more airlines to fly to SA more often; relaxation of visa controls and better quality control, such as with the launch this week of a new grading system, Mr Van Schalkwyk said at a function at the Albert Luthuli Museum at Groutville, north of Durban.

Southern African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) CEO Michael Tatalias said: "When times are tough ... we need a long-term vision for us to hold on to, and I think this gives it to us." The development of the strategy had been inclusive and Satsa had participated in it over "a number of years".

The strategy aims to bring more than 15-million international visitors to SA in 2020, from about 8-million last year and 6,7-million just before the 2009 global economic recession. As an indication of how fast the sector is growing locally, in 1994, SA attracted only 500000 international visitors and only about 300000 of those were tourists.

"In 1994, tourism was not even discussed as a sector that could create economic growth," said Mr van Schalkwyk.

The strategy would also focus on historical tourism — this was one of the reasons why the function was held at the museum — and business tourism. A National Convention Bureau operating under the auspices of SA Tourism would open in the next few months, he said.

The strategy was also aimed at convincing "millions of people that they can become tourists in their own country" because strong domestic tourism was a buffer against international shocks. Provinces needed to realise they were competing for the domestic market, Mr van Schalkwyk said.

The draft strategy was published in May last year, while the final document, in the making for more than 18 months, was approved by the Cabinet this month.

KwaZulu-Natal economic development and tourism affairs MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said global tourism was expected to grow 4,5% this year and generate 3-million new jobs, driven by growing middle classes in India and China. He said the strategy came at a time when SA was still basking in the afterglow of last year’s Soccer World Cup . Mr Mabuyakhulu said the province would do all it could to achieve the goals of the strategy.

Albertina Luthuli, daughter of former African National Congress president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Albert Luthuli, said that while the museum was well utilised by the local community, it should attract a broader domestic and international tourism market.

weste@bdfm.co.za


http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=138202

Interview with Ernie for UK Telegraph.

Ernie Els's South Africa: Ultratravel golf special

I grew up in Johannesburg in the 1970s, attending an all-white Afrikaans school where sporting prowess was defined by rugby.

It was a way of life back then: everyone grew up dreaming of being a Springbok. Everyone except me. I started playing golf with my grandfather when I was about eight, practising at the nearby courses of Germiston and Kempton Park , but I told few people. I enjoyed rugby and tennis and still do, but Gary Player was my hero, not rugby icons such as Dawie de Villiers . It was Player who paved the way for golfers like me to follow.

In many ways I am proud to be an Afrikaans-speaking South African, but for most of my sheltered childhood I didn’t know there were other people living in my country, too. From the age of 20, I began to travel – through golf – and to see South Africa in a completely different light. The black people in our country had a very tough time while white South Africans were looked upon as racists and cut off from much of the world – it wasn’t a great time in our history.

Which is why the Rugby World Cup of 1995 was so symbolic. I was there at the World Cup final and it was a huge moment when President Mandela – the nation’s first democratically elected president – came out on to the pitch wearing François Pienaar’s Springbok jersey. I am one of the lucky people who have met Nelson Mandela, got to know him and witnessed first-hand what a unifying effect sport can have.
I was also immensely proud of South Africa for staging so successfully the world’s biggest sporting event – the Fifa World Cup – last year. Although my schedule did not allow me to be part of it, the championship portrayed the country at its very best.

It is sporting events like this that have helped to show just how far my country has come in a short period of time.

Sport can be a catalyst for all kinds of change. Never in my wildest dreams, as I strode the fairways of Germiston as a young boy, did I think that 30 years later I would be standing here with 60 international titles to my name, including three major championships, and all the trappings of wealth that such success affords. I feel very privileged, too, to have been able to travel the world playing the game I love. The one big negative has been that it has left me with so little time to visit my beloved South Africa.

Before my children went to school, my wife Liezl and I used every chance to fly back from our new home in Florida, sometimes even for a few days. Now it takes a bit more planning. My son Ben was diagnosed with autism

a few years ago and his condition was the main reason for our decision to move to West Palm Beach , where we have been able to secure a more intensive therapy for him. Liezl and I are private people, but we are also very much in the public eye and this gives us a platform to help raise funds and awareness for autism.

We established our Els for Autism Foundation in 2009 and it is going from strength to strength. Years from now, people may remember me as a golfer and a major champion but I’d like to be remembered, too, as someone who took the issue of autism and achieved something with it.

As a child, I was fortunate that my parents took us on holidays all around South Africa, contributing to my sense of adventure – which I hope I have passed on to Ben and my daughter Samantha. All through South Africa’s turbulent history, what has never changed is how much South Africa offers the visitor.

Whether you are enjoying fine wine and good food, playing golf, exploring some of the world’s finest game parks or just watching the most unforgettable African sunset over the Kalahari Desert, be assured that a visit to my homeland will be a life-enriching experience.

There are so many places to see wildlife in South Africa, it’s a playground for anyone who likes the great outdoors. You can probably guess where you find the Kalahari lion, and you can spot all the big five in numerous game parks up and down the country.

Although I grew up in Johannesburg, I must admit Cape Town has become a fantastic city and boasts a unique position. Away from the cities, the winelands of Stellenbosch are an area of real natural beauty, with stunning mountains leading down to the coast and wonderful beaches, while the Hermanus area offers panoramic vistas and unmatched opportunities to see southern right whales, dolphins, seals, penguins and great white sharks.

This diversity in tourism is more than matched by the range of golf on offer. I am biased, of course, but I have always felt there is something special about golf in South Africa. It’s not just the weather and the great African landscapes, but the fact that you can play golf all year round and on all types of course – from coastal links to parkland. And the game is also opening up. Most clubs used to be found on private estates but many are now open to the public and the sport is growing, with more than 500 courses across the country. Several players, including me, have foundations which promote the game among the less privileged. The current Open champion, Louis Oosthuizen , is the most famous graduate from my foundation at Fancourt , near George .

I have had some great experiences playing golf here, from the bright lights of Sun City and the mountain backdrop of Pearl Valley to the heart of the bush, with courses such as the new Legend resort in Limpopo Province and Leopard Creek in the Kruger National Park.

I have one hazy memory of floating down Crocodile River (which was so named for a reason) with Des Terblanche , a fellow tour professional I’ve know since high school who shares my love of nature and the wild, with a beer in hand after a tournament here. It was probably not the best idea, but my friend and fellow golfer Nick Price was perhaps right when he said, “Ernie is so laid-back he is almost horizontal”.

It has seemed a natural progression for me to move into golf design and I have taken my inspiration from Jack Nicklaus. My philosophy is to ensure golfers have to think carefully about their second shot because of good bunkering, slopes and angles. But you might be relieved to hear that it is important to give people a big fairway to play to. I also try to create attractive destinations that adhere to the principles of sustainable development and sound environmental practice.

My international courses range from Mission Hills Golf Club in China and the wonderfully named Whiskey Creek course in Maryland in the US to the Hoakalei Country Club in Hawaii and Anahita in Mauritius. However, it is the ones I have designed in South Africa that feel particularly special to me, none more so than Gardener Ross, which was built on the family farm near Pretoria where my grandfather grew up.

My other passion is wine. I got into the wine industry through friends who owned a vineyard in the Stellenbosch area, a great red wine region and perhaps the best place for visitors to get a taste of our fine wines. Stellenbosch is located 40 minutes from Cape Town, in the Western Cape, and is blessed with a Mediterranean climate and soils with oak leaf, clay and granite. These bring warm fruit flavours to the wine, while the cool Atlantic breezes extend the summer ripening period. I’ve learned a lot from the award-winning winemaker Louis Strydom about my favourite variety, Bordeaux.

There are many good South African wines – those from Waterford Estate , Rupert  & Rothschild and Schalk Burger & Sons appeal to my taste – and I am obviously partial to all of ours. They are so good, in fact, that if you crack open a bottle at the 19th hole under a big South African sky, that short putt you missed on the last will feel like a distant memory.


Africa Travel (020 7843 3586, africatravel.co.uk) arranges tailor-made travel to South Africa. A golfing break, staying four nights at The Palace of the Lost City in Sun City and three at Fancourt costs from £2,095 per person, with return flights and car hire.
Ernie Els offers wine and golf safaris to some of South Africa’s finest wine estates and golf courses, bookable through Africa Travel. Virgin Atlantic (0844 209 4700 , virgin-atlantic.com) flies direct from Heathrow to Johannesburg year-round and to Cape Town in winter. A return to Johannesburg in economy costs from £718, in premium economy from £1,240, and in first class from £3,342, with taxes.

Ernie Els's big five

Oubaai Golf Club

Oubaai in Herolds Bay is the first course I designed in South Africa – a traditional links layout set on the Western Cape, with nine holes out and nine back which can be a real test when the wind picks up. A lucky few may even spot a whale.
oubaai.co.za

DURBAN COUNTRY CLUB

Host to some 16 South African Opens, this is one of those very special courses that tests every club. A combination of lush vegetation, sweeping views of the ocean and massive undulations in the fairways (courtesy of the sand dunes on which it was built) make the Durban Country Club unique.
dcclub.co.za


LEOPARD CREEK COUNTRY CLUB

A wild drive takes on a new meaning at Leopard Creek in Malelane . Designed by Gary Player, it has water hazards that are home to hippos and crocodiles while antelope, buffalo, wild boar and elephant amble alongside several holes.
leopardcreek.co.za

HANS MERENSKY

Designed by Robert Grimsdell , this is another course that brings you closer to nature. Bordered by the Kruger Park, it winds through the Valley of the Elephants with the bushveld as a backdrop to holes.
hansmerensky.com

FANCOURT

Designed by Gary Player, this award-winning course is located in George , fast becoming one of South Africa’s best golfing destinations. Played out beneath the imposing Outeniqua Mountains , this contoured layout, inspired by Scotland’s famous links courses, was once an old airfield.
fancourt.co.za

SA Tourism themes INDABA 2011, “Playing Globally, Winning Locally”
April 13, 2011
Travel Press Releases

Celebrating a record year of tourism growth and unpacking the new goals set for the tourism industry will be the focus of INDABA 2011, which is being hosted again by South African Tourism this year at Durban’s Albert Luthuli Convention Centre from 6-11 May 2011.

Preparations are well underway for Africa’s biggest travel and tourism trade show – which spans 27 000 square metres – with more than 13 000 visitors, 1 300 exhibitors, over 170 international hosted buyers and hundreds of local and international media expected this year at INDABA.

With the theme of “Playing Globally, Winning Locally” INDABA 2011 will pay tribute to the role played by the South African tourism industry in achieving 15.1% growth and an all-time high of over 8 million tourists in 2010. South African Tourism and its stakeholders will use INDABA to highlight issues such as the phenomenal growth and opportunities in emerging markets in Asia and the Americas, while keeping the focus on the country’s core tourism markets. It will also place the emphasis on a renewed drive to stimulate domestic tourism and encourage South Africans to explore their own country.

Through events such as the Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (ETEYA) on 6 May, the eagerly-anticipated INDABA Opening Ceremony on 7 May and the Global Media Face Off (to be moderated again this year by CNN’s Richard Quest) and Welcome Awards on 8 May, INDABA 2011 will also start to address the 2020 goals set out by the National Department of Tourism in the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS).

“When the tourism industry met at INDABA last year it was amidst great excitement, anticipation and intense global scrutiny shortly before our country’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The event’s phenomenal success enhanced worldwide positivity and awareness of our destination and contributed to a record-breaking year for the South African tourism industry. At INDABA 2011 we will pay tribute to the role played by the entire tourism industry in helping to showcase our country in such a positive light, while looking at the factors and trends that led to South Africa outperforming the global rate of tourism growth by over eight percent last year and the opportunities which have emanated as a result. We will also use INDABA 2011 to look at the 2020 targets set for the industry by the National Tourism Sector Strategy,” said Ms Thandiwe January-McLean, Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism.

Ms January-McLean stressed, however, that INDABA remained Africa’s foremost travel trade show and will be an unparalleled business and networking opportunity for Southern Africa’s foremost product offerings, as well as a wide array of international buyers and tourism industry stakeholders.

“INDABA remains the highlight of the South African Tourism calendar and every year we strive to keep it fresh and innovative as we work with our partners to continue to grow the tourism industry and emphasise our country as a world-class tourism destination. We will also use INDABA to debut some of our exciting new campaigns and marketing work in our core and emerging tourism markets, as well as our new global creative direction,” added Ms January-McLean.

New innovations at INDABA 2011 this year will include a multi-touch table surface allowing multiple users to view and engage with South African destination information, video content and social media platforms, a dedicated INDABA TV channel, as well as exciting new networking platforms, seminars and briefings.

Indaba 2011 takes place from 7-10 May at the Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC). For more information, including media and visitor registration, please visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za


http://www.travelwires.com/wp/2011/04/sa-tourism-themes-indaba-2011/

Cape Town unveiled as world's best destination

Related Quotes


Press Release Source: TripAdvisor On Tuesday May 3, 2011, 4:00 am EDT
LONDON, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel site*, today unveils the winners of its 2011 Travellers' Choice Destination Awards, honouring the top destinations in the UK, Europe and the world. Unlike any other awards, TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice awards are based on the experiences of millions of travellers from around the world.

It's good news for London as the capital prepares for the 2012 Olympics - travellers from across the globe have crowned it the UK's best destination. The English capital also placed well in the World and European categories - coming eighth and third respectively - but was nevertheless beaten by European rivals Paris and Rome.
Edinburgh and Bath placed second and third respectively in the UK category, while Cape Town took the top spot overall, followed by Sydney and Peru's Machu Picchu. Paris and Rome were winner and runner up in the European category.

"These awards honour the world's best destinations as decided by those judges that really matter - travellers themselves," commented Emma O'Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "Tourism is vital to the UK economy so it's encouraging to see London and Edinburgh both highly recognised as Europe's best destinations."
London shines in Olympic lead up

With just 14 months to go, the capital appears on course for a successful London 2012. News of London being voted the UK's number one, Europe's third and the world's eighth best destination according to millions of travellers is sure to be welcomed.
"This is especially meaningful as so much time and effort has gone into preparing the city for London 2012 and hopefully we'll sneak ahead of Paris and Rome before the games kick off," continued TripAdvisor's Emma O'Boyle.



Top marks for Cape Town


South Africa's tourism hot spot, Cape Town, has won the accolade of world's best destination, followed by Sydney and Machu Picchu in Peru.



"Cape Town is clearly the destination to beat," commented Emma O'Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson. "With beautiful scenery, great wine and gorgeous weather, it's easy to see why Cape Town, which also played host to last year's World Cup, has topped this year's list."

These were the top world destinations:

1. Cape Town

2. Sydney

3. Machu Picchu, Peru

4. Paris

5. Rio de Janeiro

6. New York City

7. Rome

8. London

9. Barcelona

10.Hong Kong

For the complete 2011 Travellers' Choice Destinations list, go to: http://www.tripadvisor.uk/TCDestinations (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/SIG=11d2br9c9/**http%3A//www.tripadvisor.uk/TCDestinations) (please note this link will not be live until Tuesday 2nd May)



Notes to Editors



TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Destination award winners were determined based on travellers' favourite and most visited destinations, as pinned on travel maps found on TripAdvisor and on TripAdvisor's Facebook app "Cities I've Visited".


About TripAdvisor



TripAdvisor(R) is the world's largest travel site, enabling travellers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features (including Flights search, TripAdvisor Mobile and TripAdvisor Trip Friends) with seamless links to booking tools.



TripAdvisor(R) Media Group, operated by TripAdvisor LLC, attracts more than 50 million unique monthly visitors* across 18 popular travel brands**. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 40 million unique monthly visitors***, 20 million members, and over 45 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 29 countries worldwide****, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also operates TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor's millions of monthly visitors. The division includes Business Listings, which allows hoteliers to connect directly to millions of researching travellers, and Vacation Rentals, which helps property managers and individual home owners list their properties and showcase hotel alternatives.

^^ Wow!!! That's insane! Well done to us, again. :colgate:

Top 10 Destinations in Africa

1 Cape Town, South Africa (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g312659-Cape_Town_Western_Cape-Vacations.html)

2 Abu Simbel, Egypt (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g297540-Abu_Simbel-Vacations.html)

3 Marrakech, Morocco (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293734-Marrakech-Vacations.html)


4 Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293761-Victoria_Falls-Vacations.html)

5 Cairo, Egypt (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294201-Cairo-Vacations.html)

6 Luxor, Egypt (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294205-Luxor_Nile_River_Valley-Vacations.html)

7 Seychelles (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293738-Seychelles-Vacations.html)

8 Mombasa, Kenya (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g294210-Mombasa-Vacations.html)


9 Essaouira, Morocco (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298349-Essaouira-Vacations.html)

10 Chefchaouen, Morocco (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g304013-Chefchaouen-Vacations.html)

Other:

21 Durban, South Africa (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g312595-Durban_KwaZulu_Natal-Vacations.html)

SA Tourism tasked with local market

State tells SA Tourism to boost domestic travellers at Durban tourism Indaba 2011 in order to create New Growth Path jobs

NICKY SMITH and EDWARD WEST
Published: 2011/05/09 06:35:44 AM

DURBAN — The Department of Tourism is demanding that SA Tourism, the agency charged with promoting South Africa as a destination, come up with a plan to boost domestic tourism after years of focusing on international tourists.

"There is too much emphasis on international tourism; there is a need to stimulate the domestic market," the department’s director-general, Kingsley Makhubela, said in a panel discussion at the Indaba 2011 tourism exhibition in Durban. South African Tourism has a budget of about R800m this year, about 80% of which will be spent on promoting SA to visitors.

Promoting the country to the domestic market and the rest of Africa will take about R54m, South African Tourism CEO Thandiwe January-McLean said.

Mr Makhubela said the domestic tourist market was the country’s "bread and butter".

The domestic market could be relied on by the industry when financial and economic factors became unfavourable in the international market.

"South African Tourism must start to develop key targets to manage our domestic market," Mr Makhubela said.

Under the national tourism sector strategy announced this year, the government’s aim is to increase foreign tourist arrivals to SA from 7-million in 2009 to 15- million by 2020, tourism’s total contribution to the economy from R189bn in 2009 to R499bn by 2020, the number of domestic tourists from 14,6-million in 2009 to 18-million by 2020, and to create 225000 new jobs by 2020.

Speaking at a conference on hotel investment, on the fringes of the Indaba, Rhodes University commerce faculty professor Matthew Lester challenged tourism operators for not selling innovative packages as was done in other countries.

While Prof Lester did not advocate big discounting, examples of innovative packages that had stimulated tourism elsewhere included free accommodation for gamblers at some hotels in Las Vegas, US, and free "booze and food" attached to some holiday packages in Mauritius.

"Every hotel I walk into (in SA) occupancy is very low. I can tell you, in the Eastern Cape, where I come from, it is carnage. Where are the packages to attract loyal customers?"

Prof Lester said the biggest challenge for tourism was getting visitors to SA for the first time as it was a long-haul destination and costs were high.

He said that while there were enough financial incentives from the government to attract investment for new facilities and for training, a sport and tourism-related incentive should be considered to make it cheaper to get to SA.

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal CEO Ndabo Khoza said if one analysed tourism brochures in the province from 2005 and now, there was no difference, indicating a lack of innovation in designing inclusive packages of new experiences.

Wayne Troughton, a consultant at HTI Consulting, said spending patterns had changed in the business market for hotel accommodation since the recession as many firms had decided staff could no longer stay in four- or five-star hotels for business purposes, and should rather book into two- or three-star hotels.


http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=142099

Compiled by the Government Communication and Information System
Date: 08 May 2011
Title: Market Destination South Africa, says MEC
--------------------

By Kemantha Govender

Durban - The message that "Destination South Africa" must come first on the international platform has been applauded by key drivers in the tourism sector.

This message courtesy of MEC for Economic and Tourism development in KwaZulu-Natal, Mike Mabuyakhulu, was delivered at the Indaba Breakfast held at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday.

"We need to have alignment on both a provincial and national level... All public entities must use one brand," said Mabuyakhulu, who was talking about branding and marketing South Africa.

The MEC said instead of marketing specific areas in South Africa internationally, it's more important that emphasis is placed on what the country can offer, without losing the essence of all nine provinces.

Apart, from putting the "collective interest" of the country first, it is also important to market South Africa for its other valuable aspects.

CEO of Tourism KZN, Ndabo Khoza, said the country's other areas like golf, weddings and honeymoons, avi (bird viewing), religious, railway and cruise tourism must be included in the South African packages.

He said the country has amazing beaches but this hardly features in marketing campaigns, and called for the expansion of this programme.

Stefano Vigoriti, Operations Director at MSC Starlight Cruises said cruise tourism is the fastest growing area worldwide and figures in South African reflect this trend. Over the past six months, 100 000 passengers boarded the Sinfonia, one of the MSC cruise ships.

Khoza said marketing budgets must be utilised on targeting activities that people enjoy doing. Research in South Africa has shown that nightlife, shopping, natural attractions, beaches featured high on the list.

Mabuyakhulu added that the growth of Indaba shouldn't only benefit South Africa but the rest of the continent. Ministers from other African countries were also present at the breakfast.

The MEC also joked that KwaZulu-Natal must now become the home of the Indaba. Last year, Durban won the bid to host the event for the next five years. -BuaNews


http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/11/11050812251001

Ultratravel 100: the favourite destination
Lisa Grainger analyses the attributes that led South Africa to win the ULTRA for the best holiday destination in 2011.


South Africa may be on the other side of the world from Britain, an 11-hour flight away at the southern tip of the African continent – and it may not be quite as enticingly cheap for Britons as it was (the pound now buys just 11 rand, and hotel prices are a good deal higher than they were before the Football World Cup).

But the Rainbow Nation has still been voted by readers as their favourite destination – and for good reason. The country has landscapes of breathtaking beauty: raw, diverse and in the main unspoilt.

Along the coasts, some of the world's largest sand dunes roll in from seas teeming with marine life (it is off KwaZulu Natal's beaches that flocks of birds gather for their annual feast during the great sardine run, and whales migrate to give birth in sheltered coves).

Mountain ranges thick with ancient trees are crisscrossed with waterfalls and rivers made for swimming. Game reserves as big as Wales – all baobabs, rolling grasslands and kopjies indented with rock caves decorated with ancient San art – protect the Plant Five, the Little Five and the Big Five. It's not unknown to see lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino in one day, alongside leopard orchids, buffalo weavers, elephant grass and rhino beetles.

And the country is not just for nature-lovers, either. From the winelands in the south to the deserts bordering Namibia, there is plenty of variety to keep most holidaymakers happy: child-friendly museums, cutting-edge hotels and 17th-century Cape Dutch b&b homesteads, gourmet restaurants, game lodges housing local art, and diversions ranging from shark diving and bungee-jumping to African herbal spas.

Best thing of all? It is all reassuringly familiar, despite being on a different continent. The people of South Africa not only speak the same language as we do (in addition to 10 others) and drive on the same side of the road, but, after years of isolation during the era of apartheid, relish overseas visitors. In this relatively new tourist destination, even the passport officers welcome new arrivals with a smile.

As a finalist for this award, South Africa had plenty of competition: Dubai, with its five-star hotels; the Maldives, with its idyllic island life; Australia, with its open bush, wine and fine tucker; and Italy, with its historical and cultural allure. Having won, the Rainbow Nation should dust off its vuvuzelas. In spite of its troubles, it is now among the winners of an Ultra – an achievement that really is worth trumpeting about.

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Tourism bigger than ever: Minister
48 minutes ago

Sapa

Cape Town - Tourism is poised to play a greater role than ever before in the lives of South Africans in terms of its economic contribution and job creation potential, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said on Thursday.

"Our destination is currently well positioned and our collaborative efforts before and during the (2010 Fifa) World Cup have paid off," he told the National Council of Provinces during debate on his budget vote.

International tourism arrivals for 2010 registered a year-on-year growth of 15.1%, with more than 8 million foreign tourist arrivals.

"I am pleased to be able to announce today that South Africa in 2011 has continued on its very positive growth trajectory in terms of foreign tourist arrivals.

"We were confident that South Africa would not experience a post-World Cup dip in tourist arrivals after our hosting of the event.

"We indeed recorded growth in every month of 2010, including after the World Cup," he said.

The latest figures showed that foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa grew by 9.3% in January 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.

There was positive growth from every single region, although slower growth from Europe showed that markets were certainly still under pressure from tough economic conditions.

Overall, foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa grew by 1.1% from Europe, 10.6% from North America, 19.1% from Central and South America, 29.5% from Australasia, 29.4% from Asia, 13.2% from the Middle East and 10.8% from Africa.

"It is important that we now work harder than ever to capitalise on the 'top of mind' awareness that the World Cup has generated for the country," Van Schalkwyk said.

One important tool for doing this would be the rigorous and disciplined pursuit of the targets in the national tourism sector strategy (NTSS).

The strategy rests on three pillars: driving the tourism economy; enhancing visitor experiences; and ensuring sustainability and good governance in the industry.

"We aim to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa from 7 million in 2009 to 15 million by 2020, tourism's total contribution to the economy from R189bn in 2009 to R499bn by 2020 and to create 225 000 new jobs by 2020," he said.

To streamline and align its efforts more efficiently, the department has also undertaken a review of current tourism legislation.

"We intend to table a tourism bill in parliament before the end of the financial year and we look forward to constructive interaction with you as part of this process."

The department would also, in close partnership with provinces, develop a domestic tourism strategy to ensure that the enormous growth potential in the domestic market was unlocked.

"Through the NTSS we aim to increase the number of domestic tourists from 14.6 million in 2009 to 18 million by 2020," Van Schalkwyk said.

Good initiative and positive stuff from the US - but WOW from Asia!

Ubuntu Expo showcases South Africa
Tuesday, 23 August 2011

An increased demand for information by the global tourism industry, and a surge in international tourist arrivals, have sparked the launch of a forum for tourism agents and suppliers to network while learning more about South Africa's tourist destinations.

Launched barely two weeks ago, Ubuntu Expo, a multi-city trade show spearheaded by South African Tourism, has already visited the American cities of New York, Atlanta, Miami and Los Angeles, promoting South Africa as a prime tourist destination. It was launched at the Pierre Hotel in New York City to more than 150 travel agents and journalists, and over 20 South African suppliers. Plans have been put in place to host it annually.

The launch was attended by Johannesburg Executive Mayor Parks Tau and his portfolio head of finance, Geoff Makhubo, as well as a delegation from the City of Joburg. The consul-general of South Africa in New York, George Monyemangene, and Sthu Zungu, president of South African Tourism North America, were also in attendance.

Zungu said figures for international tourists to South Africa had surged because of competitive tourism packages and popular local trends. She said the expo focused on educating tourists about available and competitive tourism packages and destinations. It was designed to bring together the global industry, as building relationships was pivotal to growing tourism and for tourists to "fully comprehend our multi-dimensional destination". Ubuntu Expo was just one of many platforms South African Tourism was investing in to promote the country abroad, she said.

Recent figures for tourist arrivals from the US in South Africa reveal a 15.6% year-over-year growth since April. Trends have highlighted an increased interest in family and multi-generational travel to the country, as more suppliers had started to accommodate children.

According to Jabu Mabuza, chairperson of the South African Tourism board, from January to April this year, South Africa had 2,750,175 foreign tourist arrivals, up by 7.5% from the 2,558,715 recorded over the same period in 2010. He attributed the growth to the country's traditional markets and exciting investment markets.

Visitor numbers from Europe rose 4.5%, North America were up 16.8%, Asia increased 29.3%, India rose 51% and China were up 25.6%. Tourist arrivals from other African countries grew by 7.3%.

Zungu said the expo would reinforce South Africa as a preferred holiday destination by providing necessary resources to make travelling to the country possible. Eco-tourism was an emerging market, an important selling point for the country, and this would be used as leverage.

Interesting... Last night saw a commercial about South Africa, here in LA. It really made me think about visiting SA.

^^ what was it about?

Interesting... Last night saw a commercial about South Africa, here in LA. It really made me think about visiting SA.

Awesome! You think you can find it on youtube?

Breaking Travel News Interview: Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, minister of tourism, South Africa

South Africa showed solid signs of growth in 2011, with a significant 9.7per cent rise in international visitors for the first quarter.

It is hardly surprising that at last year’s prestigious World Travel Awards ceremony, South Africa bagged an award for the World’s Leading Travel Commercial, while South Africa Tourism was named Africa’s Leading Tourist Board and has been nominated once again this year.

New markets including India, China and Brazil are emerging, while traditional feeder markets hold steady – with loyal guests wanting to return again and again.

Mr Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, minister of tourism, in consultation with the National Department of Tourism (NDT) and South African Tourism (SAT), addresses the issue in an exclusive interview with Breaking Travel News and explains why he believes the future looks very bright for South Africa.

BTN: What impact has the shift in the global economy and the rise of emerging markets had on South African tourism?

MVS: The shift in the global economy and the rise of emerging markets has certainly had an impact on South African tourism. Our traditional feeder markets (UK, Germany, USA, France, Netherlands and Italy) are holding steady in difficult global conditions, while India, China, Brazil and African markets have emerged as markets with great tourism potential for South Africa.

By April 2011, arrivals from India were up more than 50 per cent on our 2010 figures, Chinese arrivals had grown 25.6 per cent and arrivals from Brazil had grown more than 38 percent. Democratic Republic of Congo arrivals had grown more than 21 percent and arrivals from the United Arab Emirates had grown almost 31 percent.

The most recent 2011 quarterly statistics released by Statistics South African show a 7.5 per cent overall year-on-year increase in all arrivals, with overseas arrivals growing 9.7 per cent.

BTN How important is it for destinations to get onboard e-marketing and social media? In what ways in South Africa making itself more accessible?

MVS: Social media has become the very oxygen of travel and tourism consumer behaviour. More than 80 percent of people, who buy a travel experience, investigate and research destinations online before making their purchase decisions.

People make decisions on where to go on holiday based on the recommendation of others. Social media conversations and engagement drive arrivals.Not only do they visit the websites of places they are thinking of visiting, but they also use the social media platforms to talk to each other about destinations to get personal recommendations from people like themselves on where to go; when to go; how to get there; how much it will cost and so on.

Destinations that are not part of this conversation (and that do not pay heed to consumer destination research habits online) are absent from the social media platforms at their peril… and at their cost.

With the role of E-Marketing assuming greater significance, we’re increasing our capacity in this area to continue to ensure South Africa is top of mind globally and easily accessible. On the sales side, we have joint agreements with the three biggest travel platforms – expedia, trip advisor and wayn.com.

BTN: On the heals of hosting the inaugural Sport & Events Tourism Exhibition (SETE), can you discuss the significance of sports tourism for the industry?

MVS: Globally sports event tourism is worth about US$600 billion a year.

South Africa is determined to grow its share of that market and to this end recently held the inaugural Sport And Events Tourism Exhibition (SETE) that is set to be the platform at which South African sports, events and tourism products and services take centre stage to facilitate strategic business links and focus on practical ways to enhance the bidding for, promotion and management of mega sports and recreation events in South Africa.


Johannesburg was one of the stars of the show during FIFA 2010

South Africa has an exemplary record of hosting major world sporting events. We have successfully hosted a Cricket World Cup, a Rugby World Cup and a Soccer World Cup. We have also hosted large events such as ICC Champions, T20 Cricket international events, the 2009 Confederations Cup… If we couple our experience in big event hosting and our infrastructure and capability with a solid strategy and strong collaboration between the local sports and tourism industries, which the inaugural SETE seeks to achieve, then there’s no reason South Africa can’t become a major player in global sports tourism.

BTN: Do you see a bright future for travel and tourism?

MVS: We believe the future looks very bright.

South Africa’s arrivals (a year after the World Cup) are good. By April year-on-year foreign (overseas) arrivals had grown 9.7 percent.
We have campaigns in our key markets and on the global platforms that deliver billions of consumers to us.

The destination’s profile has never been as high… especially after the phenomenal success of the 2010 World Cup. We have a nation of tourist-friendly people, and an industry that’s capable and skilled at delivering both world-class experiences and service. We have more than 110 Joint Marketing Agreements active in our key markets to make South Africa accessible to a world of consumers

Seven airlines have already (or will be) operating new flights into Cape Town. At this stage these equate to an additional 20 flights a week into South Africa, giving evidence of the strong confidence the international sector has in our destination.

BTN: What are the main challenges ahead for South African tourism?

MVS: South Africa is subject to similar challenges that destinations all over the world face. There is, in the wake of the World Cup, an oversupply of tourism infrastructure and accommodation. A recent survey found that South Africa has gained about 21 percent more hotel rooms than it had in 2007.

The world continues to hurt from the 2008/2009 recession and consumers are concentrating on getting back on their financial feet. This means keeping up with essential expenses, and sacrificing luxury buys like travel.

Airfare (pushed up by rising fuel costs) to South Africa is seen as costly… especially from the traditional markets. Airport taxes push the cost up further. We see this in modest arrivals growth from the traditional markets where travellers are now choosing short-haul holidays instead of trips over to long-haul destinations.

It’s also become far more expensive to run a tourism business. The costs, in fact, of operating a business have risen by an estimated 22 percent in the last three years. Rising costs are driven by the cost of electricity, water, municipal levies, labour and food prices. Businesses, understandably, struggle to remain viable when demand for their services wanes.
Buying more affordably is also a real factor in global travel behaviour. This is unsurprising given the economic conditions that the world is recovering from. And it accounts, at least to some measure, for diminishing support in some sectors of the local industry.

The issues come down to one thing: economic forces demanding a correction in the supply and demand structure of the industry.

BTN: What sets South Africa apart from any other destination?

MVS: South Africa’s natural beauty is rivalled, we believe, by no other destination on earth… from beach to wilderness to mountains, the scenery is spectacular.

Our safari offers are justifiably world famous. But South Africa offers more than beautiful vistas and the untamed Big Five. The destination offers warm, friendly welcoming people – a nation that welcomes tourists into their homes, villages and families.

South Africa also offers unsurpassed infrastructure in big, friendly cities with amazing nightlife, shopping and dining. South Africa has become one of the most desired holiday destinations in the world today… and we are working hard to ensure it maintains that status year after year.

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/focus/article/breaking-travel-news-interview-marthinus-van-schalkwyk-minister-of-tourism/

SA cleaned up at the regional World Travel Awards. Congrats to all the winners...

-------------------

SA flies high at African World Travel Awards

19 Sep 2011 13:28

At the official presentations of the World Travel Awards Africa, held at a gala ceremony on Friday 16 September 2011 in the Great Hall of Egypt at Soho Square, Sharm El Sheikh, the following winners were announced, with South Africa scooping many of the categories. The World Travel Awards are recognised by the Wall Street Journal as the 'Oscars of the travel industry'.

Africa's Leading...

Airline - South African Airways
Airport - OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Apartment Hotel - The Regent, South Africa
Attraction - The Pyramids
Beach Destination - Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Beach Hotel - Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Hurghada, Egypt
Beach Resort - Karafuu Hotel Beach Resort, Zanzibar
Boutique Hotel - Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Boutique Hotel Brand - Mantis Group, South Africa
Business Car Rental Company - Avis
Business Class Airline - Egypt Air
Business Hotel - Sandton Sun, South Africa
Business Travel Agency - Travel with Flair, South Africa
Car Hire - Europcar
Casino Resort - The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa
City Hotel - Kempinski Nile, Egypt
Conservation Company - Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Cruise Line - Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Destination - City of Cape Town, South Africa
Economy Airline - Kenya Airways
Entertainment Center - Soho Square Sharm El Sheikh
Family Resort - Sun City Resort, South Africa
Game Reserve Brand - Mantis Group, South Africa
Golf Resort - Jolie Ville Golf & Resort Sharm El Sheikh
Green Hotel - The Phantom Forest Eco-reserve, South Africa
Hotel - Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Hotel & Leisure Management Company - Savoy Group
Hotel Brand - Sun International, South Africa
Innovative Hospitality Company - Signature Life Hotels, South Africa
Low-Cost Airline - 1time South Africa
Luxury Hotel - Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa
Luxury Lodge - Shambala Private Reserve, South Africa
Luxury Resort - Four Seasons, Sharm el Sheikh
Luxury River Cruise - Zambezi Queen
Luxury Tour Operator - Abercrombie & Kent
Luxury Train - The Blue Train, South Africa
Luxury Travel Group - Molori Private Retreats
Luxury Villa - Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
Marketing Campaign - Egyptian Tourist Authority
Meetings & Conference Centre - International Convention Centre Durban, South Africa
Meetings & Conference Hotel - InterContinental Citystars Cairo, Egypt
Online Travel Company - Flightsite.co.za, South Africa
Port - Durban (Port), South Africa
Private Island Resort - Matemo Island Resort, Mozambique
Resort - Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Responsible Tourism Company - &Beyond
River Cruise Company - Sonesta Nile Cruises
Safari Lodge - Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
Spa Resort - Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Sports Resort - Legend Golf & Safari Resort - South Africa
Suite - Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite, Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
Tourism Development Project - Fairmont Zimbali, South Africa
Tourist Board - South Africa Tourism
Town House Hotel - Shamwari Town House, South Africa
Travel Agency - Club Travel, South Africa
Travel Management Company - Travel with Flair South Africa
Villa - Queen Cleopatra Villa, Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Africa's Responsible Tourism Award - &Beyond

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/166/64340.html

Good news for our cities. Collaboration between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in negotiating an agreement with SA Tourism to enhance the urban tourism brand and marketing of our cities.

With 70% of the world's tourist being urban travellers, this is a major leap forward.

It was a biatch getting it signed, but I didn't say that. Good to see our cities working together, even signing deals at 10pm! Even had support from Sutcliffe!

More good tourism news...

Britons to love SA

September 29th, 2011

South Africa may be making it's way back onto many a Britons holiday list as it has been ranked the sixth most cost-effective long-haul destination for British travellers, according to Post Office Travel Money's 2011 Long Haul Holiday Report on Tourism Update.

http://www2.postoffice.co.uk/sites/default/files/Long_Haul_Report_2011.pdf


In addition, SA costs have fallen 27% since last year's report was produced.

The Holiday Costs Barometer compares the cost of a basket of 10 items, including a bottle of beer, a cup of coffee, sun cream, and a three-course meal for two with wine, across 28 destinations. The total cost for the basket of goods in SA was just under £58 (R713)

South Africa fared particularly well in its pricing of the three-course meal, ranking in third place with only Sri Lanka and Mexico offering a cheaper meal.

The 10 most cost-effective long-haul destinations for UK travellers were:

1. Sri Lanka, Bentota
2. Thailand, Phuket
3. Vietnam, Hanoi
4. Mexico, Cancun
5. Malaysia, Penang
6. South Africa, Cape Town
7. Indonesia, Bali
8. Argentina, Buenos Aires
9. Dominican Republic, Punta Cana
10. Kenya, Mombasa

Good news for our cities. Collaboration between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in negotiating an agreement with SA Tourism to enhance the urban tourism brand and marketing of our cities.

With 70% of the world's tourist being urban travellers, this is a major leap forward.

It was a biatch getting it signed, but I didn't say that. Good to see our cities working together, even signing deals at 10pm! Even had support from Sutcliffe!

http://www.iol.co.za/logger/p.gif?a=1.1156282&d=/2.225/2.1460 Cities in joint tourism venture

October 13 2011 at 07:55am

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/nm-tourism2-1.1156281%21/image/1584990910.jpg_gen/derivatives/box_300/1584990910.jpg INLSA
Ian Macfarlane and Phillip Sithole are embarking on an ambitious joint campaign to market tourism in Durban, Joburg and Cape Town. Picture: terry Haywood

Suren Naidoo
suren.naidoo@inl.co.za
DURBAN Tourism is to ask eThekwini council to approve R8 million in funding for a landmark joint international tourism marketing initiative with Cape Town Tourism and Joburg Tourism.
Speaking at a presentation on the plans with local tourism industry professionals on Tuesday, Durban Tourism CEO Phillip Sithole said it was the first time such a project was being undertaken jointly by South Africa’s three biggest cities.
“We first mentioned a joint city marketing agreement between the three cities at Indaba in May… Now we want to finalise the agreement and our plans,” Sithole said.
“Each of the city tourism marketing authorities will be asking their city councils for R8m in funding for the initiative. We also will be asking SA Tourism to contribute R8m, which will make R32m.
“Joburg, Durban and Cape Town are South Africa’s economic and tourism hubs and the joint marketing agreement will see us collaborating to maximise tourism development and marketing.”
International tourism marketing expert Ian Macfarlane has been brought on board as a consultant on the project.
Macfarlane is the former marketing boss of Tourism Australia and CEO of Gold Coast Tourism.



He is credited with coming up with such acclaimed campaigns as “100 percent pure New Zealand” and India’s “Incredible India” and has worked on marketing for such cities as Sydney, Auckland and Abu Dhabi.
“Despite what World Tourism Organisation figures show about the growth of tourism, the industry is under pressure in many markets globally and South Africa is one of them,” Macfarlane said.



“The global financial crisis has seen the behaviour of consumers and tourists from the Western world move from mindless to mindful consumption. They are looking at destinations of intrinsic value, and cities are competing like never before.



“There are 149 cities in the world that are larger than Durban, so the city needs to punch above its weight internationally to lure more tourists.
“The fact of the matter is that, with all three major cities in South Africa, there is still a limited amount of knowledge about them globally. Working together will give the cities an advantage to share resources for marketing to the world.”



Macfarlane said SA Tourism’s marketing of the country was largely around the “Big Five” and its natural beauty. However, 78 percent of the world’s tourists were urban travellers.
“Our campaign through this three cities joint tourism marketing initiative aims to put South Africa’s three top urban hubs in the global spotlight.
“We have negotiated agreements with major channels such as National Geographic and Discovery, which will see a dedicated programme created for Durban, Cape Town and Joburg.



“This will be shown globally and promoted on the channel and sister broadcasters and publications as well as online.



“If we get the funding, it will be a structured three-year initiative that will cost R32m. We will be getting a lot more in real value than this from the campaign.



“It’s an unbelievable package that we have negotiated and an opportunity that should not be missed. I am optimistic the cities will secure the funds and hope SA Tourism will come on board.”

Tomorrow is the Cape Town Tourism AGM, which will see the launch of the new Brand Cape Town and the Global Marketing Campaign.

Watch it live here:
http://www.capetown.travel/agm2011/

Table Mountain is one of the new 7 Wonders of Nature!

Indian tourists to SA grow exponentially
January 31 2012 at 05:00am


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Audrey D’Angelo


The number of tourists from India to South Africa had grown exponentially in the past six years and was still climbing fast, Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said yesterday.

And South African Tourism (SAT), which identified India three years ago as one of the top 20 source markets for the industry, is intensifying its marketing efforts in the country, particularly since South Africa joined Brazil, Russia, India and China in the Brics bloc of emerging economies to boost trade and investment.

Van Schalkwyk is in Mumbai this week to promote South Africa as a tourist destination. He will fly to China via Hong Kong to meet the arrival of SAA’s first direct flight to the Chinese mainland in Beijing tomorrow.

Van Schalkwyk pointed out to trade partners in Mumbai that the number of Indian tourists arriving in South Africa had “steadily increased by more than 122 percent between 2005 and 2010”. About 67 039 Indian tourists arrived in South Africa between January and September last year – 29 percent more than the same period in 2010.

From January to December 2010, 71 587 Indian tourists visited South Africa – a 29.7 percent increase from 2009.

“India’s economic growth is expected to continue over the next 40 years and by 2050 India is expected to be among the top three global economies.”

Rising incomes, changing attitudes and a desire to travel abroad had increased the desire among Indians for outbound travel, he said.

SAT had focused its campaign in India on film, fashion, sport, food and wine. Air connectivity between the two countries was good, with SAA operating four flights a week. Jet Airways operated five, and there were daily connecting flights from eight Indian cities by Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways by way of their home airports.

The Travel Agents Federation of India convention, which lures an average of 1 000 delegates plus their companions, would be held in KwaZulu-Natal in November. This followed the formation of an alliance between the federation and the SA Tourism Services Association, the umbrella body representing the entire South African tourism industry.

“It will give the Indian travel fraternity great exposure to South Africa. We are also bidding to host the Travel Agents of India convention in 2013.”

SAT was intensifying its marketing efforts and investment in its Indian operations.

Van Schalkwyk said the organisation was in the process of training more than 1 000 Indian travel agents and tour operators this year in the skills and experience needed to sell South Africa as a destination.

SAT’s eighth annual Three Cities roadshow, which includes five Indian cities this year, would feature 62 South African tourism products.