Hugo Uys | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* New draft legislation calls for zero alcohol consumption before driving, with input sought by 27 February. Alcohol in medicines and fruit could lead to wrongful arrests.

* SAA has announced that its direct flights between Johannesburg and Mumbai in India will come to an end on 1 April. It will fly to Abu Dhabi, from where passengers will fly with Etihad or Jet Airways to Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Madras in India on a codeshare basis. This route cut, combined with the one to Beijing, will help reduce costs for SAA. Ironic is that SA Tourism as well as local tourism players is in India at the moment, on a marketing trip for our country!

* Horror of horrors is the report that the Glen Country Club sports grounds is up for sale Continue reading →

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* SA Tourism is taking 60 local product suppliers on a road show through India, being one of the top 5 source countries for our tourism industry. Cape Town Tourism and Wesgro are representing our local tourism industry. In the first eight months of last year more than 76000 tourists arrived in South Africa from India.

* A new Fossil Trail has been launched in the Karoo National Park, a joint venture between SA National Parks and the University of the Witwatersrand. The trail demonstrates how nature formed the geology of the area. Entrance is free.

* Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is kickstarting its ‘From BBQ to Braai’ national tour of ten events in the USA in New Orleans, using a traditional South African barbeque to help Americans understand our country’s culture via food, wine, and music. South African chef Hugo Uys and multi-media artist Xander Ferreira will create a cultural American/South African mix, with a ‘bottle of wine and a boerewores (sic) roll‘! Proceeds will go to a charity.

* Bouchard Finlayson is one of the wine estates participating in the inaugural Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir Celebration, to be held on 31 January and 1 February. Winemaker Peter Finlayson, who brought Pinot Noir to our country, will host a talk and tasting of 30 years Continue reading →