#Cape Town Tourism News

[annman]

Black tourists wanted
NASHIRA DAVIDS | 08 December, 2011 06:52

CAPE Town and the Western Cape are going black this holiday season - literally.

The tourist Mecca is trying to attract more "black professionals" and has signed up local celebrities, including Selimathunzi presenter Zizo Beda and radio host Phat Joe, as tourism ambassadors.

Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, said it was time to dispel the perception that the province and the city were not black-friendly.

Gilfellan said luring black tourists - which included coloureds and Indians - made good business sense.

"The Global Wealth Report, released in October, indicates that there are about 900000 people in this country who earn more than R30000 a month. That is the category of people who have the discretionary income to spend on luxuries," said Gilfellan.

"And very soon most of those will be black professionals. It makes business sense to focus on that growing, upper middle class who can afford to travel."

Gilfellan said that, during the past two years, when the Fifa Confederations and World Cup soccer competitions were taking place in this country, the focus had been on attracting international tourists. But now the focus was on the domestic market.

Gilfellan said 60% of the Western Cape's international tourist arrivals come from Europe and the USA - currently in the midst of an economic crisis.

"Obviously any crisis would have a significant impact on our tourism figures. Hence the renewed focus on domestic tourism to buffer us against this."

In addition to Beda and Phat Joe, Gilfellan said Idols judge and radio personality Unathi Msengana would be another ambassador.

He conceded that reports had been received from black local and international tourists about the way they were treated by people who worked in the Western Cape tourism industry.

"We often get complaints from black tourists that black waiters would treat them differently to white patrons. It might just be perceptions, but a perception is often fuelled by one or two real incidents and we must avoid that."

He said the problem was not so widespread that it would be necessary to embark on a "professional campaign".

When such incidents occurred, the organisation dealt with the business owner to prevent it from happening again.

James Shivambu, a 34-year-old engineer from Mpumalanga, and his wife, spent three days in Cape Town last week. The couple visited some of the most popular tourist sites.

"Cape Town was, simply put, a wow experience," said Shivambu.

[Mo Rush]

Except CTRU will soon be a thing of the past..

[Diggerdog]

Cape boutique hotel is best of the best
January 24 2012 at 04:00pm


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INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

Villa Zest in Green Point that was voted the trendiest hotel on the Website Trip advisor. Pic: Brandon van der Mescht

Cape Town’s boutique hotels came out on top in this year’s TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards Best Hotels with one, Villa Zest Boutique Hotel in Green Point, being voted the Trendiest Hotel in the World.

Protea Hotel Fire and Ice is number 11 on the list of Trendiest Hotels. Derwent House Boutique Hotel in Tamboerskloof and Blackheath Lodge in Sea Point are numbers 5 and 18 respectively on the list of the 25 Best Hotels in the World. Both properties plus 2inn1 Kensington in Oranjezicht also got the nod in the Best Service category.

“What a great achievement as these awards are given based on the experience of visitors and not by industry peers. What kept on coming up in users’ testimonials was the attention to detail, innovative design and the personalised service visitors received at each establishment. I want to congratulate the staff and management of these properties for their efforts. I would like to also thank them as the whole destination will be reaping the benefits of their contribution to tourism service excellence,” says Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism.

“These establishments’ world-class offering and service mean that Cape Town and the Western Cape remains among the top destinations in the international arena. Their prominence among the top hotels, chosen by TripAdvisor users, gives credence to Cape Town being named TripAdvisor’s Best Tourism Destination in 2011,” adds Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, destination marketing organisation for Cape Town and the Western Cape.

According to Michelle Cronje, General Manager of Villa Zest Boutique Hotel, the number of views of the property on TripAdvisor has shot up dramatically. “Where we would average between 40 and 50 views per day in the past, we have had more than 200 views since the awards were announced.” She ascribes their success to the fact that the hotel is themed (70s Bauhaus), well designed and they go out of their way to satisfy their customers. “Our motto is: ‘There’s nothing we can’t do’,” concludes Cronje.

List of awards secured by Cape Town hotels per category:

Top 25 Best Hotels in the World

5th: Derwent House Boutique Hotel

18th: Blackheath Lodge

Top 25 Trendiest Hotels in the World

1st: Villa Zest Boutique Hotel

11th: Protea Hotel Fire and Ice!


Top 25 Best Service Hotels in the World

6th: 2Inn1 Kensington

8th: Blackheath Lodge

17th: Derwent House Boutique Hotel

[Diggerdog]

This has just been confirmed! We were 'provisional' up until now!

Table Mountain confirmed as natural wonder

By Table Mountain Cableway
3 May 2012

Table Mountain, an official New7Wonder of Nature, has the power to inspire greatness. Photo © Bruce Sutherland, City of Cape Town
Table Mountain's status as one of the New7Wonders of Nature has become official after an international audit confirmed the result of a global voting process.
The New7Wonders Foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, has confirmed that Table Mountain's "provisional" status, after international voting closed on November 11, 2011, has been changed to "official". The results followed three years of intense campaigning in a contest that drew more than 100 million votes from 220 countries worldwide.

Table Mountain is the fifth site to have its status confirmed, along with Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island and Puerto Princesa Underground River. The Amazon and Komodo Island remain on the provisional list.

Cape Town Mayor Patricia de Lille described the title as "a great accolade for a unique wonder of nature that belongs to all the people of Cape Town, South Africa, Africa and the world. The New Seven Wonders title has great long-term marketing value for Cape Town and South Africa. The wonder becomes part of school curricula, it becomes a 'must see' and 'bucket list' item for travellers and explorers".

Sabine Lehmann, chairperson of the Table Mountain official supporters' committee (OSC), said the official confirmation would provide a significant boost to the South African tourism industry.

"Visitor numbers to Table Mountain reached record numbers after the mountain was named on the provisional list of seven sites on November 11, 2011, and we expect the official confirmation to further boost visitor interest locally and abroad. This is already the case for the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the New7Wonder site in the Philippines," Lehmann said.

The Philippines island, home to the Puerto Princesa Underground River, used to have three flights a week and now has 22 flights a week, and the site previously attracted an average of 150 visitors a day, whereas now it has 2 000 visitors a day. "The Island is building a new international airport to cope with the influx of visitors," Lehmann said.

Lehmann expressed her gratitude to all those who had supported the Vote for Table Mountain campaign, including Nobel Peace Prize winners Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and former President FW de Klerk, the Springbok rugby team and countless daily fans.

"I am very grateful to the people of Cape Town, South Africa and the entire African content for making this wonderful news possible," said Lehmann.

Gary de Kock, regional general manager of SANParks, said: "We value that this award recognises SANParks' significant investment in the natural heritage of this beautiful mountain chain and that conservation adds value to the tourism economy."

Paddy Gordon, manager of the Table Mountain National Park, also welcomed the news: "It is an honour that Table Mountain is now linked to other new and exciting places and we hope that visitors from those places will now visit us in return, and bring new tourism markets with them."

Bernard Weber, Founder-President of New7Wonders, said it was of great significance that Table Mountain was chosen by voters globally to be the representative of Africa's unique natural heritage.

"Along with possessing a biodiversity that is exceptionally important, given its proximity to a major city, Table Mountain is notable for the historic role it played in helping Nelson Mandela cope with his long years of imprisonment," said Weber.

"Through the bars of his cell on Robben Island, the sight of the peak with its table cloth of cloud offered him hope of brighter days to come, and the statement issued by the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory on 8 November last year, supporting the call to vote for Table Mountain, was both an endorsement of the South African finalist and a tribute to its ability to inspire," said Weber.

The Table Mountain OSC will now plan the official inauguration ceremony. An impressive commemorative plaque will be officially presented by the New7Wonders Foundation to Table Mountain in October.

Contact the Table Mountain OSC on 021 424 0015 for further information.

Click here for seven reasons why Table Mountain is naturally wonderful and experience Table Mountain's New7Wonders of Nature journey.

[Lydon]

Cape Town's best summer in a decade
THURSDAY JUN 14, 2012

Cape Town's tourism industry had its "best summer season in 10 years" between January and March, 90 percent hotel occupancy rate.

Cape Town Tourism's quarterly report, for the period between January and March, shows an increase in travellers to the city, noting the period was "very positive".

The figures show a rise in arrivals at Cape Town International Airport.

There were just over 75 000 international arrivals in February, a 12 percent increase from last year.

The report also points to a 90 percent occupancy levels at accommodation, specifically along the Atlantic Seaboard and the City Bowl.

On domestic arrivals, the figure was 272 912. This is a 5.3 percent increase.

Cape Argus

Source: IOL Property

[briker]

an official natural wonder
image hosted on flickr

[Lydon]

Germans and Dutch top Cape Town visitors
2012-06-21 08:39

“Last year, arrivals from Germany to South Africa grew by 9.3% (235 774 arrivals) and by the end of February this year, arrivals were 7.8% up on February 2011”. This is the encouraging news from Cape Town Tourism’s representative in Germany, Barbara Zieme of Akomsa.

Zieme was speaking at a Cape Town Tourism market insights workshop, during which Cape Town Tourism’s Dutch representative, Anneli Bronkhorst of WW Tourism, also reported growing support for destination Cape Town - with tourist numbers from the Netherlands up by 4.3% year on year from January 2011 to January 2012.

Mariette Du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism said: “Germany and the Netherlands are extremely important and lucrative markets for Cape Town. We will continue to work with our industry partners as well as trade and media from that region to further strengthen these tourism ties. Just last week Cape Town Tourism hosted a group of 100 top travel agents from German Tour Operator, Gebeco, for a mega familiarisation (FAM) trip. I have been encouraged to witness the enthusiasm for Cape Town amongst these operators. The quality of tourism product in Cape Town is lauded by German operators, awareness levels of Cape Town are high and we are expecting further growth from this market in the near future.”

Germany has the world’s fourth strongest economy and also boasts the most stable European economy. Unlike many of its neighbours, Germany saw an improved economic outlook in the first quarter of 2012 as well as growth in industrial output, employment and per capita income.

A total of 1,2 million Dutch are expected to travel internationally in 2012. Techno-savvy and socially responsible visitors, the Dutch enthusiasm for Cape Town may be dampened by the high cost (1200 Euros on KLM) of the flight.

According to Zieme, German travellers are attracted to Cape Town’s natural beauty, wildlife, culture and urban tourism. Niche tourism such as wine and culinary tourism, adventure and extreme sports, culture and heritage, youth travel as well as GLBT tourism, all stand to benefit from a direct and tailored pitch to the German market.

Despite the German penchant for luxury, both the German and Dutch traveller are looking for good value on their travels. This does not mean “cheap” but these worldly travellers are experienced in determining value vs cost and will not return if they feel taken advantage of.

Read the full report on insights for the Dutch and German market and their relevance for Cape Town

Source: News24

[Lydon]

Not sure where else to put this...

Clifton eyesore to be turned into tourist attraction
TUESDAY SEP 11, 2012

The craggy stretch of boulders and caves overlooking the sea at Bantry Bay and Clifton is to be developed as a tourist attraction.



Opening the inaccessible area up to the public by developing footpaths has been on the cards for a number of years. But, says Beverley Schafer, councillor for Clifton, this is the first time a commitment towards that goal has been made.

The area is being used by squatters who work or beg in the Clifton and Camps Bay area. Because it is difficult to reach and includes many caves, it is also used as a hideout by criminals who engage in burglaries, smash-and-grabs and muggings in the area, says Silvino Nunes, of the city's Displaced People's Unit.

"The area has become polluted," said Bernard Schaefer, head of safety and security for the Camps Bay community.

"The human waste generated by people who live there flows into the ocean and can negatively impact on swimmers. The health and safety of people who live there is also compromised. The rocks get very slippery when it rains - we have lost two people in recent months due to falls. We hope that getting this area clean will be beneficial for all involved."

On Friday, city officials and Stephen Lamb, from a company called Touching the Earth Lightly, surveyed the area. Lamb was the project manager for SANParks during the building of the six-day Hoerikwaggo hiking trail - which goes over the mountains from Cape Town to Cape Point.

That project, said Lamb, created 350 jobs over three years.

He envisages a similar scenario for the 800 metres of steep and rugged terrain in Bantry Bay and Clifton.

"Low-impact environmental regeneration and job creation - these should be our two areas of focus," he said. "Like the Hoerikwaggo construction, this project will be low- tech and labour-intensive. There will not be a need for heavy machinery ... most of the money can directly go towards benefiting the unemployed people."

Schafer said: "It is important that we assess the needs of the people living here. We need to take a census... It is important we engage with them and bring them on board."

One such person is Lucky Charlie, 36, who has been living in a cave close to Clifton for five years. Charlie survives by begging for change and finding food in Checkers' bins in Sea Point.

Cape Argus

Source: IOL Property

[Lydon]

Great tourist season for Cape Town
MONDAY JAN 07, 2013

With many figures still to be collated, the Western Cape tourism industry is cautiously optimistic that it fared well over the busy December season.

A survey conducted by Cape Town Tourism, in conjunction with Horwath HTL before the busy period, indicated an expected growth of 4 percent for the season.

Jeff Rosenberg, chairman of the hotels segment of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa) Cape, said he estimated growth of between five and 10 percent on 2011 revenue, with some areas such as the Waterfront, City Bowl and Sea Point faring better.

"It's been a generally good season. There has been a good mix, with overseas visitors from the traditional markets of the United Kingdom and Germany. Brazil, too, has continued to grow since the World Cup," he added.

What was also particularly pleasing was that the domestic market had performed well.

Table Mountain Cableway has had a record December, with nearly 120 000 people taking a ride to the top of the world-famous mountain.

Cableway chief executive officer Sabine Lehmann said they usually expected about 100 000 people in December, but with good weather on their side, they managed to ferry 119 000 people to the top of the mountain last month.

At this time of year, she added, the majority of visitors were South Africans making use of the special sunset prices. Boxing Day was one of their busiest, with 7 500 people visiting.

Cape Town Tourism spokeswoman Skye Grove said: "Cape Town Tourism predicted a similar to slightly better summer season than last year, with an increase of about 4 percent on arrivals. Feedback from tourism companies and Cape Town Tourism members indicate that December 2012 was similar in terms of international tourism activity to December 2011."

They did, however, see an increase in domestic tourists at their Visitor Information Centres, and at Cape Town attractions. But final figures would only be confirmed once they received the Airports Company of South Africa's arrival figures and completed their formal accommodation and attraction survey later this month.

Grove said the City Bowl and Atlantic Seaboard had been "exceptionally busy this December", with a "good dispersal of visitors in the metropole, along the Peninsula, to the Winelands and to towns outside Cape Town's borders".

"Rental vehicles were fully booked for the last two weeks of December, and the good weather has encouraged visitors to get out and about to explore Cape Town."

Wesgro chief executive Nils Flaatten said it appeared, anecdotally, to have been a good season.

"We spoke to some of the hotel groups in mid-December who indicated pretty high occupancy going into the first and second weeks of January, and bed and breakfasts looked good too, with occupancy of about 80 percent."

He said site visits to tourist centres in Gansbaai, Stanford, Hermanus and Kleinmond on December 19 and 20 had shown increased visitor numbers too.

"What they told us is that they were being inundated with requests for accommodation for the Christmas and New Year period at that late stage," he said.

Flaatten said that 2011 figures indicated that about 60 percent of tourists in the province were from the Western Cape.

He hoped the 2012 figures would show a "dilution", indicating more people visiting from provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Free State.

International visitors were from the top three markets, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands, but Hermanus had indicated increased numbers of visitors from India.

"There has been a growing number of visitors from India in the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas, and with them coming to Hermanus, it shows that they are really working the Garden Route area," he said.

Grove said February was the traditional international tourism peak.

"We are expecting an increase in arrivals from key source markets of the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands for February.

"A forward-looking survey that Cape Town Tourism (in conjunction with Horwath HTL) conducted with our members for February indicates an average expected occupancy rate of over 80 percent for accommodation establishments across the metropole."

Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)

Source: IOL Property

[Diggerdog]

Table Mountain's record-breaking season
2013-01-10 12:02

Johannesburg - Table Mountain's cableway had a record-breaking holiday season and tourism in Cape Town is reaping the benefits, according to a report on Thursday.

The Times reported that the cableway's ticket sales were 19,000 more than expected at 119,000 and preliminary figures indicate that the city had an increase in domestic tourism arrivals in December.

Cape Town Tourism spokeswoman told the newspaper that she believed that the iconic landmark's status as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature contributed to the increase in ticket sales.

"We will only be able to confirm final numbers once we receive Airports Company of SA arrival figures and complete our accommodation and attraction survey later this month," she told the newspaper.

Table Mountain was officially inaugurated as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in December.

[GregPz]

Here's the National Geographic video "A World in Two Cities" promoting Durbs and Cape Town.