Tag Archives: Destination

Tourism could be cruising if we had better port facilities!

May 15, 2011

Cruise tourism in Africa has a fantastic potential, but infrastructure constraints are restricting its development, speakers at the Seatrade African Cruise Forum said earlier this week, reports Business Report.

Poor infrastructure at ports, poor safety and security, high port fees, unclear berthing policies, political instability, few shore excursions, poor service, and distances between destinations were mentioned as deterrents to the development of cruise tourism on our continent.

MSC Cruises is the most frequent user of South African ports with its cruise liners, and has called on Transnet to build a dedicated cruise liner terminal in Durban. A poor port facility reflects badly on the destination as well as on the cruise company, they say. Cruise liner guests do not wish to get on board a liner if they have to wait, and that is what happens at some South African ports. Transnet is investigating the viability of a dedicated cruise liner terminal for Durban. If found to be feasible and financially viable, the terminal could be completed by July 2015, Transnet has stated. The industry wants a facility that can berth two boats simultaneously, and can accommodate 5000 passengers.

Piracy too is a deterrent to cruise liners supporting African ports, such as Tanzania, Kenya and the Seychelles. The cost of insurance if the Indian Ocean is included in a cruise itinerary appears to be prohibitive, as a result. Expensive South African port costs, said to be amongst the highest in the world, do not help this country’s tourism cause, and are another deterrent.

Cruise tourism is a vital injection to tourism income, and the authorities are encouraged to address the quality of the port facilities in Durban and Cape Town, to attract more cruise liners to our country, especially given the disposable income of the typical cruise liner tourist.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage

Tourism MEC Winde blasts Cape Town Tourism re restructure criticism

July 29, 2010

The Western Cape MEC of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism is unhappy that his well-meant attempts to create a unified Tourism strategy for Cape Town and the Western Cape is not receiving the industry support that he would like, and is particularly unhappy that Cape Town Tourism has publicly stated that it is unhappy with the MEC’s proposal. He has given the industry until 27 September to provide input into his proposal. Our comments about the proposed Tourism Strategy can be read here.

We publish the MEC’s full Media Statement below:

“MEDIA STATEMENT BY ALAN WINDE – MINISTER OF FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

Over the past week a number of articles and statements have appeared in the media regarding the desire of the tourism community and leadership of the Western Cape to create a shared, single solution for marketing of the City of Cape Town and the wider Province as a leading, compelling and highly competitive tourism destination on the global stage. In so doing we as a destination will unlock sustainable, equitable growth and development for all people of the province. Critical to this process is the passing of Resolutions for the creation of a new Provincial Tourism Marketing Model. These Resolutions have been shared, timeously and transparently, with the tourism community. Overt invitation has been extended for solicitation of inputs to the Resolutions, clearly reflecting the desire to ensure that this process takes into account collective points of view. Public expression of viewpoints on the vision for destination marketing and the process currently underway is invaluable as it demonstrates that the consultative processes put in place are in fact working. I note with concern, however, the public rejection by Cape Town Tourism’s Board of the proposals detailed in the draft Provincial Tourism Marketing Model. This declaration, and the impact it is having in dividing the tourism community, demonstrates the risks in putting premature statements of failure of process ahead of vision and trust in the process. It serves no purpose other than to arrest progress.
At the outset, let me confirm that the Resolutions put forward represent a document in the making, intended to inspire robust debate on the best way forward for tourism in the Western Cape. At this stage no assumptions or proposals are made for either the marketing strategy, nor the structures that will roll it out once these have been defined.
I would like to urge tourism industry players to engage with the document in a responsible manner. We, as leaders in the future of tourism for our province, should show respect for the process and act in a manner that honours the institution of democratic engagement.
Please submit constructive comments based on the content of the document to my office via taepartnership@pgwc.gov.za by 27 September 2010.
I re-emphasise that the end result of this process is a collectively defined way forward that will see us become a globally competitive tourism destination that brings social and economic benefits for our people, and ensures a positive experience for travellers to our province. By working together, â€˜Team Tourism’ can create a proud, lasting legacy that will endure well beyond our tenures. The traveller should always remain at the heart of our efforts.”

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Cape Town top incentive

October 8, 2009

Cape Town has been chosen as the top incentive destination in the world and is included in the UK Conferences and Incentives magazine 2009 Hot List.

Readers of the magazine had to vote for their favourite incentive destinations.

“It is clear that our excellent value for money, creative and growing incentive industry and the warm hospitality of our people contribute towards Cape Town as a long haul destination being a hot and attractive proposition to the UK incentive buyers” said Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited.

In December next year 500 incentive buyers will attend the Society of Incentive Travel Executives international conference in Cape Town, the first time that the conference will be held in Africa. It is estimated to generate R 6 million for the local economy.

Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Cape Town and Western Cape tourism bodies agree to work together

July 4, 2009

During a sport-intensive week and the death of Michael Jackson, a very important announcement by Cape Town Tourism, as well as a “Joint statement: City of Cape Town and Western Cape Provincial Government”, about the execution of a joint ‘Strategic Destination Marketing Plan’ by Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited, did not receive the attention it deserved from the tourism industry.

Designed to eliminate the duplication of marketing activity between the two tourism marketing bodies, a meeting was set up to focus on the growth of visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape, and to ensure that tourism withstands political changes.

Cape Town Tourism’s mandate to market Cape Town has been extended by another year, Cape Town Tourism’s Mariette du Toit-Helmbold announced in her statement.

The statement released by the City and the Province was the following:

Joint Statement: City of Cape Town and Western Cape Provincial Government

The City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape met on Monday, 22 June and agreed to jointly develop a sustainable solution to market Cape Town and the Western Cape as a globally competitive tourism destination. The discussions were hosted by the Western Cape Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Alan Winde and the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Development and Tourism, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

Also present at the meeting were the Chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers of Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) and Cape Town Tourism (CTT). Winde said: “The opportunity to find a lasting solution to manage tourism for destination Cape Town and the Western Cape has never been better. There is a need for all spheres of government to work together so that an environment can be created for business and residents to work in partnership with us. We have given the mandate to the officials to jointly develop a lasting solution for tourism marketing. It is important that the solution is able to withstand changes in political leadership and ensures no duplication.”

Ald Purchase added: “The Fifa 2010 World Cup is around the corner and we should not allow this opportunity to be missed. The City will, in the meantime, continue to use CTT to provide Destination Marketing and Visitor Services…”.

The timeframe for developing a sustainable model will be nine months and the key focus will be on how to best increase the number of visitors to Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Ald Purchase further said: “Both the City and Province agreed that it is important to be open minded about the outcome…Ultimately, we would like to see government provide an enabling environment for the tourism sector to grow and create more jobs in the economy. It is therefore important for the proposed solution to provide business and other key stakeholders with an opportunity to contribute resources and participate in the decision making”.

During the meeting both the City of Cape Town and the Provincial Government of the Western Cape agreed that the Constitution would provide the guiding foundation for the appropriate solution. Both parties also acknowledged that the proposed solution would inform possible legislative changes that are required for tourism to grow.