Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* Southern African Tourism Update has announced that BA is introducing two A380 aircraft on its London – Johannesburg route from February (three times a week), and six times a week from March, with discounts of about 40%.
* Golf tourism will be an important part of the sports tourism strategy that is currently in development by the Department of Tourism, said its Deputy Minister Tokozile Xasa a recent seminar exploring the potential of the South African golf tourism market. South Africa has a great golf product offering, but lack of awareness and access are the major obstacles to growing the market. Interesting golf tourism statistics were shared at the seminar:
• ‘There are 54 million golfers worldwide
• 25% of these say they will go on a golf holiday in the next 12 months
• Golfers on average spend 120% more per day than the general average
• Golf tourism bounces back from economic shocks quicker than any other tourism market’
* Wine production and marketing must heed two long term trends affecting the industry: the tremendous growth in consumption of wine in China and India, and climate change, says the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
* France and Australia have the most Syrah vines planted in the world, and in France it is the third largest vine variety, after Merlot and Grenache, reports Decanter. Languedoc-Roussillon is the main Syrah growing region in France.
* The Inn on the Square is offering a Wine&Dine dinner, with Chef Henry Jonker’s five courses paired with Nederburg wines, on Wednesday 31 July, at a cost of R225 (via Communication Services Africa media release)
* Beerhouse on Long is opening in Cape Town in the first week of August, with 16 beers on tap and 99 bottled beers from around the world. It’s a House had closed down in De Waterkant.
* Three of the four specialty brandies in the Van Ryn’s Collection Reserve range have won Gold Outstanding medals (for their 12, 15, and 20 year olds) at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in London. The 1o year old brandy earned Gold. A minimum of 90 points out of 100 is required for a Gold medal. The IWSC Worldwide Best Brandy for 2013 went to Asbach Private Brand 8 Jahre Gereift from Germany. Van Ryn’s is a former winner of the title. South Africa dominated the 2013 gold outstanding brandy IWSC roll of honour, with Van Ryn’s featuring more prominently than any other brand, followed by Oude Meester. (via De Kock Communications)
* Surprising is the warning to travel agents to not book their clients on Silversea Cruiselines, for the discovery that the staff hide dirty pots and pans, and raw food under staff beds, when the USA health inspectors come around!
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter:@WhaleCottage
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