About a year ago I stopped drinking dry cappuccino because I could not sleep, drinking too many of them, and too late at night. I switched to tea, and tried various brands and variants. It was at Peppertree Café on Kloof Street that I fell in love with Dilmah Earl Grey tea for the first time, and I haven’t stopped drinking it. Last week an amazing Giftpack of 16 Dilmah Teas was delivered to my home, possibly because Dilmah and I have connected on Instagram.. Continue reading →
Tag Archives: Sri Lanka
Durban loses 2022 Commonwealth Games, blow for Africa!
It was announced by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) yesterday that Durban has lost the rights to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022, it was reported in Business Day. Continue reading →
UK market remains bleak for tourism to Cape Town!
At World Travel Market, held in London last week, survey information was released that has severe repercussions for the local tourism industry, in demonstrating how cash-strapped the UK market remains, and how few British are planning to travel. The UK is the largest source market for tourism to our country, if one disregards cross-border visitors from Africa.
A World Travel Market survey found that a holiday no longer is a necessity for the British, 38 % not having taken a holiday this year, and 59 % have only taken one holiday this year, reports Southern African Tourism Update. It is the cost of taxes (the UK Air Passenger Duty) which is a substantial deterrent to overseas travel, and further rises in the Duty are anticipated, the report says. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman of World Travel Market, said that British consumers used to travel regularly, locally and overseas, every year. “The global financial downturn has meant UK consumers have had to justify every penny they spend. This has had a real impact on the travel industry. However, many now have reduced their number of holidays or stopped going on holiday at all”, she said.
Even more disconcerting is the result of another World Travel market survey conducted amongst British residents that had already been on a holiday this year. Almost half said they had no interest in travelling to South Africa, while 42 % were reasonably interested, reports Southern African Tourism Update. Comparing interests in South Africa as a holiday destination relative to the other BRICS countries, our country’s tourism communication has not been seen by 70 % of the respondents polled in the UK. South Africa ranked third of the BRICS countries to visit ‘if money was no object‘, Brazil and China having a higher tourist interest. A threat to BRICS tourism could be the SLIMMA nations, the survey found, consisting of Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico and Argentina, with investment in infrastructure, natural beauty and high disposable income.
The UK market has represented as much as 40 – 50 % of Cape Town tourism business, and it will be sorely missed this summer. While more Germans are travelling this season, their increase is not making up the UK tourist loss.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter: @WhaleCottage
SA in New York Times top 31 destination list for 2010
South Africa is one of 31 destinations recommended for travel in 2010 by the New York Times on its site www.nytimes.com. The top five destinations are Sri Lanka, Patagonia Wine Country (San Patricio del Chavar), Seoul, Mysore in India, and Copenhagen.
“Waiting in the wings”, according to the article, as places to go to in 2010 are countries/cities which include Damascus, Antarctica, Leipzig, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Shanghai, Minorca, Costa Rica, Marrakesh, Bahia in Brazil, Kitzbuehl in Austria, Norway and South Africa.
South Africa made 22nd place on the list, and its selection is motivated by the Soccer World Cup taking place this year, and Cape Town is highlighted as the best city in the country. The full text motivating the selection of South Africa on the list follows:
“As host of the 2010 World Cup this summer, South Africa has gotten its game on with a flurry of new stadiums, new hotels and safari lodges. While soccer is being played across nine cities, much of the action off the field is taking place in Cape Town. Already known for its stunning beaches, mouthwatering cuisine and sophisticated night life, the city is welcoming high-end hotels, including the recently opened One & Only Cape Town and the forthcoming Taj Cape Town (www.tajhotels.com/capetown). Set to open this month, the Taj will have 166 rooms, many with views of Table Mountain. Also scheduled to open in Cape Town this year — but not in time for the World Cup — is the second branch of the nascent Missoni Hotels group (the first property opened in Edinburghlast year, with future outposts planned for Kuwait, Brazil and Oman). Between matches, there’s plenty of time to go on a safari. If money is no object, check out the Ulusaba (www.ulusaba.virgin.com), a private game reserve that’s part of Richard Branson‘s collection of luxury vacation properties. It has opened the new Cliff Lodge, with private swimming pools and spectacular views of the bush. Prices start at 13,800 South African rand (around $1,878 at 7.35 rand to the dollar) a night for two.”
The full article can be read here.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com