Robbie WEssels | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines

* A heavy-weight World Symposium to ‘Cultivating Sustainable and Peaceful Communities and Nations through Tourism, Culture and Sports will be held in Johannesburg from 16 – 19 February next year, and is in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, and Martin Luther King Jnr. It has been endorsed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and will be held at Emporers Palace. Keynote speakers include the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization Dr Taleb Rifai, Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism of the Seychelles Alain St. Ange, and various other heads of international tourism bodies. (received via e-mail)

* From October next year Turkish Airlines will offer direct flights between Cape Town and Istanbul. This will double the capacity between the two countries.

* Winemakers Paul Cluver and Bruce Jack have collaborated in a new cider called Cluver & Jack, made at Paul Cluver Winery Continue reading →

Tourism, Food, and Design news headlines

* A total of 10,6 million South Africans use WhatsApp, a free messaging service which was bought by Facebook last week. This represents close to half of all adults living in cities and towns. Facebook usage on mobile phones is at 9 million (45%), Mxit is at 25%, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) (21%), and Twitter 20%, according to a survey conducted last week.

* The Stellenbosch American Express Wine Routes will be participating at the tourism and travel show ITB in Berlin next month for the first time. (received via media release from Random Hat Communications)

* The ATKV-Oesfees will be held at Solms-Delta outside Franschhoek on 22 March, with headline acts including Karen Zoid, Theuns Jordaan, Robbie Wessels, and Loukmaan Adams. It is the 7th Oesfees on the wine estate, and 100 performers will participate, to celebrate the harvest in the Franschhoek valley with local music and dance. Last year more than 5000 music fans attended the Oesfees. Solms-Delta is dedicated to preserving and developing the musical heritage of the Cape, through its Music van de Caab project run by Adriaan Brand. Entrance costs R130 per adult. (received via media release from Paula Wilson Media Consulting)

* Food Routes has launched a new Culinary Sensibility Identities (CSI) tool, allowing restaurant goers to match their culinary personality with that of a compatible restaurant on the Food Routes Continue reading →