Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The United Nations World Tourism Association (UNWTO) World Tourism Barometer reflects that international tourism grew by 4 % in the period January – June 2015. However, tourism in Africa declined by 6% (sub-Saharan Africa declined by 4%). The growth rate of tourism in Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and Middle East was highest at 5% in the same period.
*. The National Finalists for the SA Wine Tasting Championships have Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* The City of Cape Town has cancelled its R234 million contract over a seven year period (entered into in 2011) with Lumen Technologies for the operation of the MyCiTi Bus control centre.
The contractor was responsible for tasks such as scheduling and monitoring the buses by GPS to check on their punctuality relative to the schedules, reports The New Age. The Cape Times reported today that Lumen Technologies denies that it has underperformed, and plans to sue the City if it does not reinstate the contract.
* A seminar on Tourism and Air Connectivity in Africa, together with the 56th Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Commission for Africa, is scheduled to take place in Luanda with tourism industry representatives in Africa from 28 – 30 April.
* The Youth Market is growing at 9% compared to the average tourism market growth of 2%. It is a valuable market segment, these travelers staying in an area for longer. On Facebook travel posts are in second place after relationship changes in number of posts, highlighting the importance of travel for young persons. In Cape Town backpackers are doing exceptionally well, followed by self-catering accommodation, and guest houses, Cape Town Tourism has found.
* Wines of South Africa (WOSA) is celebrating the 20th anniversary of our country’s democracy this year with an animated video, which refers to the Rainbow Nation to Continue reading →
Tourism, Food, and Wine news headlines
* TravelMedia.ie has been appointed to handle the marketing of our country for SA Tourism in Ireland, with the number of tourists from Ireland expected to increase. The marketing focus will be on our country’s music, art, fashion, adventure, and culinary travel.
* The USA Department of Agriculture predicts that our country’s vine harvest will decrease by 5%, to 1,42 million metric tons, and that production will decrease to 1,1 billion bottles this year. The export of wine is expected to decrease to 500 million litres. Last year was regarded as a record year for South African wine exports due to the good harvest and the depreciation of the Rand.
* The inaugural AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction, which was held at Delaire Graff yesterday, raised a phenomenal R8,9 million for three charities related to education. (via Twitter and Facebook) (NOTE 17/3: the Auction total has been officially revised to R7 million this morning)
* Receiving only 5% of the world’s 1 billion tourists, Africa needs to develop itself as a tourism brand, the Tourism and Culture Minister of the Seychelles has said. Minister Alain St.Ange called on African leaders to enhance Africa’s tourism awareness. ‘The African continent needs an African Brand. We need a brand that will promote our region in tourism trade fairs. We need a brand that will work hand in hand with United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the UNWTO body‘, he said. Africa must work with Africa, he added. South African Tourism Minister van Schalkwyk appeared to disagree, calling for each African country to do its own destination marketing. He did however call for easier visa application processing for travel within the continent.
* Hard Rock Café has returned to South Africa, and has opened in Johannesburg. Branches in Continue reading →