Tag Archives: Marthinus van Schalkwyk

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 26 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism for the past 10 years, has fallen off the list of Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the latest Cabinet list presented by President Jacob Zuma this weekend.  Minister Derek Hanekom takes over as Minister of Tourism, with the same Deputy Minister.  Many new Departments have been created.

The full Cabinet list of 35 Ministers and 37 Deputy Ministers (some Departments have more than one Deputy) is as follows (source Daily Maverick):

The President is Mr Jacob Zuma

The Deputy President is Mr Cyril Ramaphosa.

MINISTERS

1. The Minister in the Presidency is Mr Jeff Radebe.

2. The Minister of Women in the Presidency is Ms Susan Shabangu.

3. The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services is Mr Michael Masutha.

4. The Minister of Public Service and Administration is Mr Collins Chabane.

5. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans is Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

6. The Minister of Home Affairs is Mr Malusi Gigaba.

7. The Minister of Environmental Affairs is Ms Edna Molewa.

8. The Minister of State Security is Mr David Mahlobo.

9. The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services is Dr Siyabonga Cwele. Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 23 May

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   South Africa welcomed close to 10 million international tourists in 2013, a 5% increase between 2012 and 2013.  The following paragraph from eTurboNews makes no sense at all, appearing to be copy and pasted directly from a SA Tourism media release: ‘The latest release from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) indicates that international foreign arrivals to South Africa reached its highest levels ever, namely 14,860,216 in 2013. This 10.5% increase in international foreign arrivals (over 13,451,565 in 2012) translated to 9.6 million international tourist arrivals. All international tourist arrivals combined increased by 4.7%, while the overseas tourist arrivals sub-category increased by 7.1%‘!  Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said: ‘South Africa’s tourism industry continues to show good growth and we remain confident in the ongoing performance and sustainability of the sector‘.  Visitors from Europe grew by 7%, especially from Germany (14% growth), France (10%), and Italy (10%).  The growth from the UK was a mere 1%, while the USA grew by 7%, and China by 15%, now our 4th largest source market. Tourist growth from Brazil was 6%, while that from Africa was 12%. The growth in Tourism’s contribution to the GDP was 3% in the past year. The Tourism industry accounted for 5% of the country’s employment.  The Minister announced the development of a ‘dashboard‘, enhancing our country’s collection of ‘insights and market intelligence’, which is to be launched in September.

*   SA Tourism has criticised the restricted visa issuing service by our embassies in India and China, Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 5/6 April

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*  Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said that tourism in South Africa is to undergo ‘revolutionary changes‘.   He spoke in New York at the Ubuntu Awards,  which recognises leisure and trade partners that work in the interest of  our country.

*   Consumer confidence remains low, at -6 index points on the FNB/BER Consumer Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2014, a slight improvement by one index point relative to the previous quarter, reports The New Age.  The Bureau for Economic Research index measures consumers’ expectations of the economy, their financial situation, and ability to buy durable goods.

*   A South African Chenin Blanc Planetbee has been launched in the UK, and is causing a buzz in supporting a good Continue reading →

WhaleTales Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines: 19 March

WhaleTalesTourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

*   SA Tourism may be feeling threatened by the World Travel Market Africa expo taking place in Cape Town a week before Indaba in May.  To date Indaba has been the dominant tourism expo in South Africa and on the African continent. Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk issued a statement, in support of Indaba (logical as it is organised by SA Tourism)!  In it he reflects that (the very negative) feedback about Indaba 2013 was heard and taken into account in planning Indaba 2014, scheduled for 10 – 12 May. Key is the increasing attendance of African countries at Indaba, 22 to date, with a total of 1242 buyers having booked to attend to date.  The Minister announced that a new bidding process will commence after Indaba 2014.

*   Bistrot Bizerca appears to be in liquidation.   The restaurant has been a Top 10 and Best Bistro restaurant in the past, but appears to have lost energy when it moved into Heritage Square over a year ago.  (Note: See Comments for response on behalf of Bizerca, not explaining its liquidation in 2012, when it moved to the new premises)

*   South Africa’s tourism growth is estimated to be 3,6%, below the global growth rate Continue reading →