Tag Archives: Cape Town Station

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine new headlines: 6 November

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The 2014 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index shows Johannesburg as being the most popular ‘destination city in Africa’, the second time that the city has won the accolade two years running.  The city is expecting 4,3 million visitors this year, a 5% increase on last year, with an estimated expenditure of $3,2 billion.  Cape Town follows in second place, Durban in 3rd place, Cairo in 4th, and Casablanca in 5th place.  Cape Town is expected to receive 1,6 million international visitors this year, with a spend of $2,2 billion.

*   It is ironic that SA Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima could not attend World Travel Market (WTM) in London this week, to represent our country at the second largest travel and tourism exhibition in the world, because he did not have a valid visa for the UK!  

*   Cape Town will host the 2015 Responsible Tourism in Destination Conference, the City of Cape Town has announced, forming Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 15 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   The Ultimate Braai Master Season 3 is being filmed, with the announcement that two changes are taking place: the series of 15 episodes will be broadcast on e.tv for the first time, from 11 September onwards, and a third judge, Chef Petrus Mudetlela returning to South Africa from London, has been added.  Fifteen braai teams are vying for the prize package of R500000 in cash, a Renault Duster 4 x 4, two Big Green Eggs, and a holiday tour of India.

*   The impact of the European High Court’s decision on Wednesday to allow private individuals living in Europe to have outdated and inaccurate personal data removed from Google searches on request is unclear, potentially leading to the ‘whitewashing’ of profile information.

*   The USA has overtaken France as the country with the highest wine consumption, at 29 million hectolitre, closely followed by France, Italy, and Spain. Worldwide consumption declined by roughly 1% between 2012 and 2013, with consumption in the European countries and China declining too.  By contrast, consumption in South Africa, Argentina, and Brazil increased in the past year.  Despite the decline in volume, the value sold increased slightly to reach €26 billion, with 71% being still wine in bottles and 17% sparkling wine.

*   Regarded by many as the best chef in the world, Ferran Adrià closed down his number 1 World’s 50 Best Restaurants elBulli in Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 27 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Good news for long-haul travellers from the UK is the announcement by its government that from April 2015 the Air Passenger Duty will decrease, with the tax falling away on all flights with a destination less than 2000 miles from London, and the tax to be levied on destinations 2000+ miles from London will be at a lower rate. The UK has the highest departure tax ‘in the Western world‘, which has increased by 470% since 2007!  It also is the country with the second worst rated air tax and airport charges in the world!

*   Metrorail is to receive R233 million from the Transport Ministry to address its commuters complaints: too few trains, not frequent enough, not punctual, dirty, broken carriage windows, infrastructure problems at Cape Town station, lack of security, and no communication about delays, reports the Cape Times.   Upgrades to track infrastructure will also be addressed.

*   Lufthansa, Condor, TUIFly, and Air Berlin are cancelling flights and expecting delays due to public sector ground Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 20 February

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   A new (yellow) frame for Table Mountain has been erected at Bloubergstrand, to showcase Cape Town’s icon for tourists and locals wishing to get a perfect picture, and to tie in with Cape Town hosting the World Design Capital 2014.

*   In what many see as surprise news, Facebook will buy WhatsApp for $19 billion. WhatsApp has 450 million users, growing by 1 million a day.  It is attractive to Facebook in reaching a younger audience and to improve its mobile communication reach.

*   Constantia Fresh Fine Wine and Food Festival will be held this weekend.  On Saturday 22/2 wines from Constantia can be tasted as can be canapés prepared by Chefs Brad Ball from Steenberg’s Bistro Sixteen82, Bertus Basson from Overture, Edgar Osojnik from Buitenverwachting, and Peter Tempelhoff  from The McGrath Collection, all available at Buitenverwachting, from 15h00 – 20h00.  The cost is R400 and tickets can be booked via Webtickets. Tomorrow a themed tasting will be held by Jörg Pfützner, from 18h00 – 19h30, at R990 per person.  The Annual Constantia Fresh Dinner will be held tomorrow at Klein Constantia, and will be cooked by Chef Bertus Basson. Cost is R990.

*   The Cape Winemakers Guild has put together an amazing auction lot for the AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction, which will be held at Delaire Graff on 15 March.  The lot includes Continue reading →