Travel News Weekly - 2 december 09

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SOuThERN AFRiCA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

December 2 2009 I No. 2086

1582E

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INSIDE

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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rEporT

NEWS

fEaTurE E

LOSiNg reveNue FOr SA

my Bright ideA

trAve A L mONey & iNS Ave NSurANCe

Agents lose out to overseas

Taking blogging to the next level

End of traveller’s cheques?

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Page 9

Page 12

Low fares to mPm with LCC 1time natalia thoMson

A

LMOST a year after Mozambique announced plans to ease its strict aviation policy, low-cost carrier 1time has announced it will be launching five flights a week between Johannesburg and Maputo in early 2010. Heavily regulated skies in Mozambique have had a detrimental effect on the country’s tourism industry. According to research firm Commark Trust, the high ticket prices on the JohannesburgMaputo route, when compared with those on the JNB-DUR

route (the same distance), were due to a policy that protected the Mozambique national carrier, LAM. With the entry of a low-cost carrier on the route, prices are going to be “considerably lower” than those currently being charged on the route, says Desmond O’Connor, commercial manager. “We expect our airfares will make it far more affordable for people to fly between South Africa and Mozambique, as 1time becomes the first lowfare airline to operate this route.” This is also the third

regional destination in Africa that 1time has been granted in the last two years, after Zanzibar and Livingstone. Travel agents have largely welcomed the news saying the competition will certainly improve pricing. “Any competition on these routes is great for our clients. Flights within Africa are generally expensive and with the extra competition, the prices tend to stabilise at an affordable level which encourages passengers to fly rather than drive,” says Janet Naylor, owner Travel Today in Nelspruit. n

LOC to look into inflated domestic airfares Melody Brandon THE 2010 World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) should be dishing out red cards to airlines for introducing overinflated fares during the soccer event next year, which could see local travellers battling to fly domestically. “It is not in the spirit of the World Cup to increase prices. One of the big pluses behind staging the World Cup in South Africa was because it was cost effective and flights reasonably priced,” said Local Organising Committee

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ce, Danny Jordaan, who has undertaken to investigate the high prices. Agents are up in arms over inflated prices, with more bracing themselves for mayhem when it comes to booking flights. “Airlines will easily lose business this way, but I guess supply and demand is the model they are going for,” said one agent who wished to remain anonymous. Lindsay Thomas from Pentravel Pavilion in Durban believes travellers will pay whatever the going rate is if they don’t have an option.

Linda De Bruin, manager at Sure Travelmania in Cape Town said she was glad the LOC was investigating overinflated prices. “There are a number of international flights that do not leave from Cape Town. In addition to finding flights for our regular corporates, we have a number of clients wanting to go overseas during that period. Some of the domestic add-ons to OR Tambo International have been freed, but it is still very concerning,” she said. Most of the agents TNW spoke to said they were

have travelBuck$, will travel… Join the rush to collect TravelBuck$ and soon you will be rushing to the airport on your next exciting holiday. Earn TravelBuck$ on all your Thompsons Holidays, Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations and Contiki Holidays bookings until Jan 31 and redeem them against a range of exciting holidays around the world. Pictured here, flying through the airport, are Vincent Dikotla and Chantel Arjoon from Thompsons Holidays. See ad on page 13 Photo: Tijana Huysamen waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the qualifying teams on December 4, in the hope airlines would publish their allocations and pricing. 1time marketing manager, Anya Potgieter, said agents could expect a 25% to 30% increase on standard ticket prices. “We do not want to blow our prices out of the water and chase away our

current clients. There will be an increase, but we are not milking the Soccer World Cup,” she said. heidi Brauer, executive manager group marketing at Comair, said the decision had been taken to make some limited inventory available for fans and businessmen who needed to confirm seats in advance. To page 16


NEWS

Foreign carriers in local skies in 2010? Staff

reporter

F

OREIGN carriers may ‘loan’ their aircraft and crew to local carriers during the 2010 World Cup to alleviate demand on domestic routes. Anwar Abdul Gany, chief director civil aviation at the DOT, says talks are under way between local and foreign airlines for the latter to wetlease aircraft and crew to domestic airlines, which would then operate the flights on the domestic carrier’s operating code for the duration of the World Cup.

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A further plan would be to allow foreign carriers to operate on domestic routes to achieve additional capacity, although Anwar says this is not favoured by the DoT because it would place the foreign carriers in competition with the local airlines. Gabriel Leupold, Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines md Southern and Eastern Africa, says once the official draw takes place on December 4 to determine which teams play against each other, authorities will roll out a plan that will reveal which city pairs require

extra flights. “SAA has already officially approached both Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and Swiss regarding our willingness to deploy our aircraft while they stand idle at both OR Tambo and Cape Town International. As soon as details become known, we will be investigating the logistics and costs of implementing such a plan.” Similarly, British Airways spokesperson, Stephen Forbes, says that the airline is working with its counterpart in SA, BA Comair, to assess the need. ■

Family travel is tops – Stats SA Jeanette Phillips

“Curses!... How long does it take Igor to go out and bring back a simple little brain, anyway?”

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

Published by Lugan Investments (Pty) Ltd trading as Now Media Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: tnw@nowmedia.co.za Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

EDITORIAL Editor: Natalia Thomson nataliat@nowmedia.co.za Sub­-Editor: Ann Braun annb@nowmedia.co.za Cape Town Editor: Hilka Birns hilkab@nowmedia.co.za Journalists: Jeanette Phillips jeanettep@nowmedia.co.za Natasha Tippel natashat@nowmedia.co.za Melody Brandon melodyb@nowmedia.co.za Photo Journalist: Tijana Huysamen tijanah@nowmedia.co.za Founding Editors: John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) ADVERTISING Sales Manager Kate Nathan Advertising Coordinator: Natalie Walker PRODUCTION Design Head: Brendon Bester

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Subscriptions: Subs tvlsubs@nowmedia.co.za Annual Subscription: RSA R460,00 Foreign R700,00 SADC R525,00 (Subscription includes up to 10 copies for your staff at the delivery point)

Economy class: JNB – Brussels ZAR2953 JNB – Dusseldorf ZAR2893

VISITS to friends and family are the main reason South African travellers take local trips. This is according to the preliminary results announced by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on its Domestic Tourism Survey (DTS) conducted in August last year. The results show that 23,8% of respondents said visiting friends and family was the main purpose of

daytime trips, while 44,2% of respondents indicated the same reason for overnight trips. According to the results, 9,2% of respondents indicated leisure as the purpose for day trips and 12% for overnight trips. Only 4,6% of respondents indicated that they took day trips for business purposes and 2,8% of respondents indicated the same for overnight stays. The results further showed

that over the survey reference period – February to July 2008 – the most day and overnight trips were taken in July, with the least in February. Over the reference period, 8 278 respondents indicated that their most recent trip consisted of a day trip in South Africa, 11 564 respondents said their most recent trip was an overnight stay in South Africa and 1 024 respondents’ most recent trip was outside South Africa. ■

Letter to the Editor

Revenue lost to South Africa!
 I have been in travel for quite a few years and know that paying for airfares between countries is linked to a country’s forex rulings and that the local market has special fares only available in that country of origin – in my case for South Africans flying out of South Africa. I have a corporate client who flies to Brazil regularly in business class. Of late – the last two trips – his contacts in Brazil have been quoting fares US$1 000 (R7 430) less than my fares.

JNB – London ZAR3462 JNB – Cairo ZAR4952

How can that be? Every time I book his flight, business class is closed in discounted classes and only available in full paying C class – a very high fare level! You can waitlist for J class and if it gets confirmed, it would drop the basic fare by thousands, but obviously still not enough. I also dropped my professional fee to make the quote look more competitive and to not lose this booking and revenue to Brazil.

Business class: JNB – Brussels ZAR17653 JNB – Dusseldorf ZAR17593

My fare was R47 696 (US$6 421) and Brazil could do the same flights for US$5 380 inclusive. So that’s over US$1 000 difference and the availability has not changed on those flights. They no doubt have Z class available to book but it is closed in our system for our local market. How can we in SA lose revenue to overseas countries so easily? Brigitte Straeuli Independent Travel Consultant ■

JNB – London ZAR18821 JNB – Cairo ZAR18592

For more specials on all routes and information, call Afriqiyah South Africa on (011) 722-0227 or email: Reservations8U.JNB@aviareps.com. *Conditions apply, rates are per person TAXES INCLUDED!

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QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS


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NEWS From the Bench Benchmark’s Advocate Louis Nel advises the industry to be wary of overseas travel directories…

Ireland goes around the world! Tourism Ireland is celebrating the country’s entry into the Round the World Clipper Yacht Race. Pictured here at one of the events held in South Africa are (from left) Club Travel md Wally Gaynor and Roger Cresswell, Tourism Ireland Cape sales representative with Development Promotions md Jane Davidson

Delayed pax can seek flat-rate compensation Staff

reporter

P

ASSENGERS departing from the European Union, whose flights are delayed by three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time, may now be entitled to flat-rate compensation from an airline, unless the delay is caused by “extraordinary circumstances”. The EU Court of Justice this month ruled that passengers

would be entitled to a flat-rate compensation of between €250 (R2 806) and €600 (R6 734) in the event of a delay. Previously only passengers whose flights had been cancelled could seek flat-rate compensation from the airline. The court ruled that passengers who are affected by a delay sustain similar damage, consisting of a loss of time, and thus are in a comparable situation. Passengers on a flight

cancelled at short notice have a right to compensation even when they are re-routed by the airline on another flight, if they lose three hours or more in relation to the duration originally planned. It said there was no justification for treating passengers any differently whose flight was delayed when they reached their final destination three hours or more after the scheduled arrival time. ■

Overseas travel directories have appeared on the scene once again: Those I’ve had exposure to include: ‘The Hotel Guide’ and ‘The Tourist Directory’, both published by Nova Channel (Switzerland) and ‘The Exhibitors Directory for Fairs & Exhibitions’ (a.k.a. ‘Fair guide’ – ‘sic!) published by Construct Data Verlag (Austria). Do not sign anything until you’ve read it and warn all your staff. It is promoted quite innocuously as a purported update of your information, but once you’ve signed it, the fine print ties you into inextricable knots and you are exposed and contractually bound to dig deep into your pocket. The approach I have taken with all these publications and the lawyers (overseas) that they’ve instructed is that there is no bonding contract based on a combination of the following (depending on the facts of each case): ● There has been misrepresentation, whether intentional or otherwise ● The ‘photograph’ or material mentioned was never supplied by the client and/or did not appear in the publication ● The document is poorly drafted and a poorly drafted contract will be interpreted against the drafting party i.e. the publisher (the ‘contra

Louis Nel proforentem’ rule) ● It cannot be argued that the affixing of an unauthorised signature or even payment of one instalment validates an otherwise non-binding contract ● The argument that the person signing, by implication accepted and is deemed to have read the terms and conditions, including the reference to the cooling-off period is to allude to the so-called risk of the signatory (i.e. that the caveat subscriptor principle applies). This principle has recently been revisited by the South African courts. Their attitude is that it will not apply where particularly onerous provisions are hidden in small print So far, ‘touch wood’, we’ve had no ‘comebacks’! ■

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Tops with Beachcomber Beachcomber recognised its top travel agents this month at a top consultant lunch in Sandton. Walking away with first place was Exotic Vacations’ Heidi Strydom, while Sharon Johnstone from Beachtag and Travel Counsellors’ Charmaine Higgins received second and third places respectively. This is the third time the only ITC in the group, Charmaine, featured in the top three with over a million rands in sales over the period assessed. Beachcomber’s top group consultant for 2009 was Marion Schoeman from XL Embassy Travel, Tours and Conferences. The awards are based on support given to Beachcomber Tours from all individual travel consultants based in the South Africa and Africa region. Pictured here celebrating their performance are (from left) Sharon, Charmaine, Colleen Yeoman (who accepted the award on Marion’s behalf) and Heidi

*

Travelinfo,s Odilia da Mata selects the top specials from Travelinfo

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● Singapore Airlines.. Clients who fly in SQ’s A380 Suites from London, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Tokyo until March 15 will receive a complimentary one-night stay at Raffles Hotel, Singapore. Includes return limousine transfers, breakfast and more. Bookings must be made on A380 Suites ‘R’ RBD/Fare by March 15 and travel must be by March 31. ● Sure Tours – German traditional Christmas markets from R6 800 per person sharing. The rate includes two nights in Nuremberg, two nights in Rothenburg and two nights in Munich, breakfast and a first-class rail pass. Valid November 27 to December 23. Excludes flights. ● Travel Vision is offering ‘USA Winter Warmer’ accommodation specials. Accommodation is from US$28 (R210) per room per night in San Diego including breakfast. Valid from December 1 to May 31. Accommodation in other cities also available. Rates for Canada also available. ● Whitestar Cruise & Travel – book and pay in full for any 2010 Viking River Cruise departure before December 15 and receive two for one special offer rates. Cruising the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Elbe, Seine, Rhone, Volga, Svir, Neva and Dnieper.

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NET#WORK NALEDI BBDO 8007700/01-BEEFEATER

NEWS

I’ve been bookmarked at newsagentlive.co.za.

Peter Long is seen here with Louis van Zyl (left) and Morne du Preez (right) Photo: Kim Cochrane

Tourvest shines at Amadeus awards Staff reporter

T

OURVEST Travel Services recently won two major awards at the annual Amadeus GTD Southern Africa client Top Awards evening in Johannesburg. This honour follows the multimillion-rand solutions deal between the two parties, which saw the customisation and implementation of the retail giant’s own businesses using fully integrated front to back office systems. The complete end-to-end solution has now been implemented and it went live across South Africa as of November 1. At the event, Amadeus GTD Southern Africa gm, Peter Long, honoured clients and their achievements for the year, elaborating that the function’s samurai theme was an appropriate way to demonstrate how well his team – and the trade – had survived the global economic downturn by “facing the enemy, conquering themselves and facing their greatest fears”. “Travel agents will survive anything,” he said. “We’ve seen it over the years. They don’t let anything get them down.” While 2008 had been a good year for Amadeus, so had 2009, despite the recession. “The entire SADC travel industry declined by an average of 15%, but Amadeus grew by 24%. The year also saw us overtaking our competitors in market share on the African continent and in the first quarter we held 54% of the market share in Africa. In addition, we acquired the business of the second largest TMC in subSaharan Africa and developed a custom-built platform and end-to-end solution for them to replace existing systems. We’re very proud of this achievement, as it is the first travelrelated project of this magnitude on the continent.” During the evening, Tourvest Travel Services was awarded the 2009 Partner in Technology and Innovation Award due to the way it planned and managed the project – understanding that a technology solution is about people as much

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as it is about technology – with the prestigious Mozart Award presented to Louis van Zyl, who heads up the IT division at Tourvest Travel Services and ensured the roll-out process went smoothly. “The Mozart Award acknowledges an individual who has believed in and promoted Amadeus consistently to the TMC and industry,” said Peter. In response, Morne du Preez, Tourvest Travel Services ceo, said he was surprised to receive the awards so soon and – like Amadeus – attributed the success of the project to the dedication of both companies’ teams. He said while Tourvest was the only company in SA to have implemented the extensive suite of Amadeus products integrated into a comprehensive system, the longterm partnership was not limited to SA, as American Express Travel Services was rolling out Amadeus Agency Manager in 20 countries in Europe. He added that the new platform was enabling Tourvest to offer greater benefits to clients as well as to market new products. Further 2009 award winners included: ● Top Producer – Sure Travel Samber (runners-up: Wings Corporate Travel Sandton and Trip Travel Windhoek) ● Best Growth – Amex Conway Travel with a 151% growth year on year (runners-up: Sure Ritz Travel and Griffin South Africa) ● Most Productive – Trip Travel ITC Roelene Dippenaar (runnersup: SATC Airwave Travel and Sure Travel Samber) with 389 bookings/ consultant (industry average is 125 bookings/consultant) Peter said online travel – led by travel agents – would reach a turning point in 2010: “We saw the growth of total travel online globally from 18% to 23% in 2009. Total travel booked online in SA during 2009 was 7% of the total bookings in SA and I believe this will double in 2010. Amadeus is strong in the online field, with most big online tools powered by Amadeus, including the top five sites locally and globally. Around 95% of online travel in SA is powered by Amadeus, so we’re well positioned going into 2010.” ■

Bookmark our brand new trade website for Beefeaters, Buckingham and the chance to win 2 economy return tickets to London & 3 nights accommodation, if you register before end December. Check out newsagentlive.co.za for news, product information, downloadable documents and images, plus essential ticketing and transfer details for your customers. Jolly good.

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NEWS Arik introduces A330 on JNB-LOS route Natalia Thomson

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RIK Air will introduce a new A330-200 on its daily JNB-Lagos service, replacing the longrange A340-500 aircraft that currently operates the route. The A340-500 aircraft will be rotated on Arik Air’s newest long-haul route – JFK to Lagos – which is due to

launch at end of this month. As a result of an unfortunate supplier delay, the A330 will not be ready for the immediate rotation, however Arik Air has secured a brandnew B737-800 to avoid any disruption to the service over the holiday period. Commenting on the A330, Rodger Whittle, Arik Air’s country manager for SA,

said: “Not only does the new aircraft contain all the worldclass features of the existing A340, but it is far more appropriate for this route. “Obviously we are disappointed that there will be a delay in the introduction of the A330, however the brand-new B737-800 that we are providing in the interim is the top of its class.” ■

Online Protea ‘no threat’ to trade Hilka Birns PROTEA Hotels says its newly revamped website and growing online bookings do not bode ill for its future relationship with the travel trade. The site has gone live and is punted by Protea as a “force to be reckoned with in Africa’s travel industry in the build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2020”. The hotel group said it had experienced a major trend shift in that online bookings had grown from 5% to 20% of all its reservations in the past four years.

However, Danny Bryer, director sales & marketing & revenue management, said this was “not negative for our future relationship with the travel retail trade” because simultaneously, Protea’s segments on Galileo SA had grown by 12% annually. He said Protea was committed to its strategic partnerships with the trade. He said the majority of Protea’s travel agent partners were involved in corporate travel. “Our reliance on TMCs in the corporate environment is critical.” He said SMMEs

would probably look at booking online with Protea because they could not afford TMCs. “All we’re doing is giving the customer a choice of how to make a booking.” Protea said the revamp was in response to feedback and online trends. “One of our business objectives through Proteahotels.com is to drive revenue to our hotels through destination marketing. We make sure that our online presence is aligned with the latest technologies, so we can achieve these objectives,” Danny said. ■

PillowTalk

A brief look at this week's hotel news

Cascades on the Promenade to open in CPT

THE Cascades Collection will open its third boutique hotel, Cascades on the Promenade, in February 2010. The new hotel, with a slightly edgy concept, will be located in the seaside suburb of Sea Point. Each of the eight de-luxe rooms will have a private balcony, Apple Mac computer, 102cm LED screens, mini bar, espresso machine, wireless Internet access and en-suite bathroom.

Garden Route Game Lodge completes refurb

GARDEN Route Game Lodge has completed the refurbishment of 16 bathrooms in the main lodge. The alterations included marble tops, new bath and shower, vanities and sanitaryware. Window blinds and full-length mirrors have been added.

Bantry Bay completes refurb

BANTRY Bay Luxury Suites in Cape Town has recently completed an interior refurbishment. Most of the suites have new décor and carpets and new LCD televisions and bar fridges have been installed. The reception area was also given a revamp. Phase two of the refurbishment is set to commence early next year with accent walls, wallpaper and mosaic splash backs added to bathrooms. Plans will also see the refurbishment of de-luxe rooms and the transformation of the upstairs Atlantic Café.

Huntingdon House opens after refurb

HUNTINGDON House on Satemwa Tea Estate in Malawi has opened following refurbishment. In May the Ulendo Travel Group announced that it had entered into a joint venture with Satemwa Tea Estate to refurbish both Huntingdon House and Chawani Bungalow and to open them as lodges for visitors to the estate. Huntingdon House now offers five suites, each individually decorated. Visitors can enjoy activities including horse riding, quad biking, mountain biking, guided walks, mountain picnics, tea and coffee tasting and local excursions. The activities planned for 2010 will include microlighting, clay pigeon shooting and health and beauty treatments.

Special Fares

Jo’burg - Windhoek return from ZAR990 * Extended to 31 Dec 09

New direct services from Johannesburg 5 flights a week Jo’burg - Accra return from ZAR2650 *

Jo’burg - Lusaka return from ZAR1240 * Companion fare ZAR1000 & ZAR1000 *

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Tell: 087 802 6754 E-mail: info@indonga.co.za Website: www.indonga.co.za 8 n Wednesday December 2 2009

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my bright idEa

Do you think out of the box and push the boundaries? TNW is looking for agents who go the extra mile to offer the best service and get their brand out there. Kevin takes blogging to the next level This week we kick off with Kevin Banks from Travel247.co.za’s ‘Bright Idea’… melody BraNdoN

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VID blogger Kevin Banks is not just a social media fundi. Kevin, a travel agent with Travel247, has used his hobby and passion for blogging to market his travel business to potential clients. Having worked within travel sector for over 15 years, Kevin started his social media campaign with a travel news blog, travelblog.co.za. He has now launched a website, www.travel-specials.co.za. “I love blogging. I have a personal blog, which is separate from travel, a travel blog and my recently launched website,” he explains. Kevin’s travel blog deals with news in the travel industry. Although he doesn’t travel every week, he does

cover news that travellers need to be aware of. He covers such topics as the rise and fall of fuel levies, as well as the volatility of the rand. He currently has 1 100 ‘followers’ who visit his blog regularly. His latest offering is a onestop-shop for clients who are looking for tour operator specials. “The travel industry has many outlets and options available for the consumer and we hope to create a central point on the web where clients can go to find the best deal.” Kevin creates a catalogue for clients to window-shop before they decide to make a booking. “Clients need to know what is out there. It is difficult to stay abreast of everything going on the in the travel industry. “The site offers the client

Kevin Banks

the best possible options.” While some may raise their eyebrows at an agent promoting tour operator specials directly to the client, Kevin believes there is enough space in the industry for everyone. He also warns that agents need to get motivated and try new things. “There is a link on the site to Travel247, so the client does not have to go through the tour operator. If you have a website, blog or Twitter account, make sure you include it in your email signature. People will do business with you because of who you are.” As an ITC, these relationships are crucial. Going the extra mile is imperative when it come to retaining business, even if it means taking a call from a client at 10pm. “I think the pressures of being an ITC are

different from being an agent. If you work in an agency and annoy a client who walks in, you know that there will probably be more potential clients walking into the agency tomorrow. The reality is your fate is in your own hands. If you are passionate about what you do it will be a part of your life. My big day will come.”

Kevin’s top tips:

● Don’t be afraid of technology or of trying new things ● Give it a try, even if it doesn’t work out ● Believe in what you do If you have a bright idea and would like to feature it in TNW, email melodyb@nowmedia.co.za.

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Wednesday December 2 2009 n 9


!

s u o u mpt

Su

The bathroom in one of the luxurious suites

State-of-the-art villa living at the new Trou Aux Biches

Beachcomber’s new R900 million draw card David Marsh

S

PACIOUS and in tune with the latest resort trends, Beachcomber’s massive R900m redevelopment of its Trou aux Biches property is likely to attract an increasing number of South Africans when it opens next year in November after being closed for almost two years. The old hotel has been completely demolished and the expanded site includes the adjoining golf course. The new village-style resort is so extensive that it has involved redirecting the coastal road and moving and rebuilding the local police station and jail. When TNW visited the site recently, 27 of the villas had already been completed. Each will have its own butler, which is one of the reasons the hotel will have a complement of some 900 staff. The villas are sumptuous and with up to three bedrooms

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Who flies to Bangui? *via Cotonou

Telephone: (011) 616 0636

will appeal to the increasing number of holiday-makers who are seeking privacy but who want to enjoy the facilities of a resort. That they will be able to do here as, in addition to the normal water sports, the resort will feature six distinctively different restaurants. It will also have a tennis academy, sport and fitness centre and a spa with 20 cabins (which will probably be affiliated with Clarins). It will all be in an eco-friendly environment where recycling, waste management and solar power are cornerstones of the development. The resort will have over 100 swimming pools. With two kilometres of beach front facing the setting sun, the 329 units will be positioned price-wise similar to Beachcomber’s Paradis hotel, which is the group’s biggest earner when it comes to the South African market. ■

www.interair.co.za

Visit us on TravelInfo or find our schedule in Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Worldspan. TNW3546SD

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0861TURKISH

It’s definitely Dubai! Wendie White, director Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing South Africa (left) welcomes Talal Suwaidi, DTCM regional head: India, Middle East and Southern/Eastern Africa Overseas Promotion, Justice Madondo, Harvey World Travel Randburg consultant, and Carol Eedes, owner Alphabet Travel to the Definitely Dubai Workshop in Johannesburg recently. Nine exhibitors spent time with agents keeping them up to date with what Dubai has to offer Photo: Tijana Huysamen

TNW3627SD

10 n Wednesday December 2 2009

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS


Discover the regions of France and what it has to offer. Complete this online workshop and you could win an Edgars voucher valued at R2000.

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TNW5073


Travel Money and

Difficult financial times have made travellers far savvier when buying forex and travel insurance. Sue Lewitton finds out more about the latest trends...

The end of the traveller’s cheque is near

F

OREX experts around the country are all reporting the same trend – cash passports are making traveller’s cheques redundant. Cash passports work like prepaid debit cards, allowing travellers to buy currency and then use the card as a debit card at a point of sale or to draw currency at ATMs. Craig MacFarlane, head of retail operations for Bidvest Bank, says its World Currency Card is particularly popular as it allows travellers to peg

their exchange rate in these uncertain times. “This is much more cost effective than using credit cards overseas, and ATM fees are a fraction of what a traveller would pay to use a credit card at an ATM to draw cash,” he adds. Another useful feature of the World Currency Card is that travellers receive an SMS transaction confirmation and balance confirmation after every card transaction. “This really helps travellers to keep

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Top forex tips

a close watch on their money and their budget,” says Craig. Blacky Komani, sales and marketing director for American Express Foreign Exchange, has also noticed a major increase in demand for cash passport cards. “Cash passports are accepted at most merchants and are Visabacked,” says Blacky. “They also offer better protection against fraud in that they are issued with a PIN number and have a daily withdrawal limit.”

The latest travel insurance trends

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● Travellers should avoid using credit cards overseas. It means that they will have no control over the exchange rate when transactions are billed back to them ● Take small US dollar bills into Africa or third-world countries as they’re handy for tips or buying snacks and drinks when the traveller doesn’t want to be stuck with lots of change ● Forex can be bought 60 days before travel. Travellers can buy half of their travel money at 60 days and the other half closer to travel in order to minimise the impact of exchange rate fluctuations. ● Travellers should take a mix of foreign exchange mediums including cash, cash passports and credit cards. Cash is particularly helpful upon arrival when there has been no time to withdraw money from an ATM.

Did you know? The South African Reserve Bank has increased the travel allowance from R500 000 to R750 000. What this means is that individuals can take up to R1,5m out of the country without any restrictions. This money can be in the form of travel allowance or gifts.

TIC md, George Novis, let TNW in on some of the latest travel insurance trends… ● More travellers are buying travel insurance than prior to the recession to ensure they are adequately protected from any eventuality that could cause them exposure to financial loss. ● Fewer people are relying on the ‘free’ travel insurance they may receive along with a package and are buying additional stand-alone insurance. ● There is a strain on agents’ revenue from other sources due to the overall impact of the recession. Therefore, more travel consultants are selling and focusing on travel insurance than before to gain additional revenue that travel insurance sales can provide.

TIC md, George Novis ● Consumers are more aware of their legal rights and are being more selective and discretionary.

TNW3735SD

Comprehensive Travel Insurance

TNW4943

Helpline: 0860 100 491 website: www.aigtravel.co.za email: travel@dnanet.co.za We’ve got you covered

12 n Wednesday December 2 2009

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS


Tips for travel in Africa Complete rebrand for AIG SA AIG South Africa has rebranded to Chartis South Africa, with immediate effect. Also, from November 23, the company will market its travel insurance products under the brand Travel Guard. Travel Guard products are underwritten by the worldwide property casualty and general insurance operations of Chartis Inc. As a result of the changes, all electronic documentation on the company’s online application system, called Travel Africa, will reflect the new company and travel

TRAVELLING into Africa can be tricky business, especially when it comes to travel money considerations. Credit card use is often not an option and the availability of ATMs is not always certain. Asata has compiled the following useful list of information on credit card acceptance and availability of ATMs for travellers venturing into Africa: Country Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Cape Verde Chad Comoros Congo (Brazzaville) DRC Equatorial Guinea Egypt Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Bissau Guinea Conakry Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) Kenya Liberia Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritius Niger Nigeria Réunion Rwanda Sao Tome Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Tanzania Togo Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe

department name with new logos. Sales and marketing collateral will be updated and replaced in the next year. Until new marketing collateral is distributed, old stock will be valid and can still be used. AIG branded documentation need not be replaced until your travel marketer has physically removed old stock and provided you with new stock. All current contact numbers and email addresses will remain active via a re-routing system.

Travelex moves into Africa TRAVELEX Retail is expanding into Africa with the opening of three retail branches in the next six months. Branches will be opening in Botswana, Zambia and Mauritius. Andrew Stainforth, Travelex Retail Foreign Exchange regional manager for Gauteng and Africa, says the expansion

is due to demand from corporates travelling into Africa. In other news, Travelex Retail has launched Western Union, a quick money transfer service. This is now available at all 40 branches in South Africa and will be extended into the African branches at a later stage.

Acceptance Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, full Yes, limited No Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes limited No No Limited Yes, limited No Yes, full Yes, limited Yes, limited Unsure Yes, full Unsure Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, full Unsure Yes, limited Yes, full Yes, limited Unknown Yes, limited Yes, full Yes, limited Yes, limited Limited Yes, limited Yes, limited Yes, limited

POS 582 126 2601 137 No 96 176 Unsure

ATMs 304 111 284 60 No 57 92 12

182 No No

10 No No

180 No Unsure 16 16 Unsure 7492 Unsure 593 3 24 9320 Unsure 813 Unsure 108 N/A 1104 1026 Unsure 248 26 322 710 Unsure

39 No Unsure 14 14 Unsure 1186 Unsure 46 72 7 333 Unsure 1996 Unsure 22 N/A 202 26 Unsure 180 12 260 172 238

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Wednesday December 2 2009 n 13


NEWS

Get involved with Love to Africa Hilka Birns

C

ombining travel with charitable work has become known as “voluntourism”, a concept that lets tourists engage with local communities while providing a much-needed service. Now Cape Town-based nonprofit organisation, Heart, has captured a niche by developing half-day volunteer programmes. Known as ‘Love to Africa’, it develops and markets voluntourism experiences for local and international tourists through tour operators, hotels and B&Bs. It also caters for the corporate, group and incentive markets by facilitating team-building activities for companies within

disadvantaged communities, explains representative, Candice May, who joined Love to Africa recently after many years with Flight Centre, says: “Love to Africa looks at business solutions that have a social responsibility impact. Often people who do township tours feel they are not involved enough. Love to Africa allows them to work on an upliftment package where they help empower people to run their own businesses or begin a community upliftment project.” A morning programme costs R385pp and includes return transfers from city centre/ Waterfront/Sea Point hotels. Corporates can become sponsors of the foodtent programme, which involves

erecting greenhouses and planting vegetables at a school, crèche or orphanage they already support, or at one of the beneficiaries on the Love to Africa list. Candice says participants have the satisfaction of “giving back” and understanding issues facing the less fortunate. Corporates derive increased company pride, better staff morale and long-term engagement opportunities with beneficiaries. And communities benefit from free or subsidised resources, new income streams, volunteers for major tasks and improved understanding between business and volunteer sectors. ■

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14 n Wednesday December 2 2009

AirHeads CX: economy pax can secure better leg-room

CATHAY Pacific now offers passengers the option to secure seats with extra leg-room in economy class by paying an additonal charge. These seats could previously be reserved only by passengers such as Marco Polo Club members of a certain level and those in the highest booking classes. Effective December 1, Cathay Pacific passengers will be able to secure an extra-leg-room seat on long-haul flights by paying US$100 (R751) per sector. Passengers will also be able to pay for these seats by redeeming 20 000 Asia Miles. From January 1, 2010, the option will be available on flights to mainland China and regional destinations for US$25 (R188) or 5 000 Asia Miles. Members of Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club loyalty programme, will continue to enjoy the service free of charge. The seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. The extra-leg-room seats have significantly more space than other seats in the economy-class cabins. For most flights, there are between two and four of these seats available. Initially the seats will be available for booking through the airline’s reservations hotline or when checking in at airport or in-town check-in counters. From next year passengers will be able to secure the seats through the airline’s website.

EY launches new in-flight entertainment system

ETIHAD Airways’ new in-flight entertainment system launches this month. The new Panasonic eX2 system’s features will include an iPOD connector in every seat for playing and recharging iPODS. There is an additional RCA connection in first and business class, making it possible to connect other portable entertainment devices; an interactive interface in Arabic and English, and ‘Just for Kids’ interface for children under 12. The first of five new A330-300 aircraft to offer the system will arrive in December. The system will also be fitted to the new fleet of B777 aircraft scheduled for delivery from 2011. Additional features include 58cm personal wide-screen TV monitors in first class, 39cm in business and 27cm in economy; a selection of 85 movies, 114 TV shoes and a CD library of over 450 albums; a premium handset in first and business class; picture-in-picture feature; keyword search functionality; a first class option of using Etihad Room Service; a new ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature in business class; a games portal offering 60 games, including a selection of 3D games. Passengers will also be able to use the system to access a range of services and information, including a variety of interactive maps, and downward- and forward-facing cameras for viewing the passing landscape or the view from the front of the aircraft. In-seat telephones in all classes allow calls to be made from every seat to anywhere in the world at a charge of $6 (R45) per minute using a valid credit card – or to other seats on the aircraft. Noise-cancelling headsets are available in all travel classes.

Introducing

Nkhwazi Holidays Air Malawi’s In-House Tours & Packages To Malawi For More information contact: Felie or Bridget 011 390 1211 felie@airmalawi.com bridget@airmalawi.com TNW5058 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS


SpecialiZed Travel perSonnel

COMMUNITYNEWS

Births, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW's Jeanette Phillips, at jeanettep@nowmedia.co.za or (011) 327 4094.

our website is updated daily! visit www.specialized.co.za

eQUiTY QU QUiTY CONNeCTiONS cc

n The Hilton Sandton has appointed Hany Ahmed as the director of business development for the hotel. He will be responsible for the hotel’s business strategy and management of various departments including sales, marketing, revenue, events and reservations. He will design business strategy and participate in key management issues.

SENIOR RESERVATION CONSULTANT. SANDTON. Position available for experienced Senior Reservations Consultant at the Sandton Head Office of successful Game Lodge Group The Reservations Centre is staffed by four Reservations Consultants and one telesales agent. Reporting to the Company’s National Sales Manager, a minimum of 3 years Reservations experience desirable and knowledge of ERes an added advantage. A competitive salary, together with Medical Aid and Provident Fund benefits to the right candidate. The position is available immediately. Interested individuals should send their CV’s and contact details to andre@thornybush.co.za and contact will be made to successful applicants to arrange an interview.

TNW5071

To advertise on this page contact Natalie on 011 214 7330 or email

SALES/RESERVATIONS: INT/SENIOR • Opportunity to combine reservations and sales. IN-BOUND: GENERAL MANAGER • Lead great team of in-bound experts. SENIOR • Impress with sound Groups & Incentives know-how. SENIOR • French, Portuguese, German consultants needed. EVENTS: EVENTS CO-ORDINATOR • Impress with extensive Events planning experience.

nataliew@nowmedia.co.za

Call NadiNe (011) 803 0056 or e-mail equitycon@mweb.co.za for these and many others! TNW1997

Outbound Groups/Leisure FITs – Cape Town Based in the Southern Suburbs the successful candidate will handle sports, cultural and educational tours to overseas destinations. Will also be involved in handling leisure FIT bookings. An interesting position with lots of variety. Candidates must have previous groups experience as well as excellent overseas product knowledge. A mature candidate with the ability to build relationships is ideal. Amadeus is preferable but not essential, as well as Quicktrav. Kati Sales Executive wanting to relocate to Cpt!! A ‘hunter” who wants to relocate to Cpt is required by progressive travel agency. Must have a proven track record of having gone out and obtained new business. Does not have to have a retail travel background as the company is open minded and would look at candidates from a service industry or the greater travel, tourism and hospitality fields. It is the skill of being a true hunter that is key! R16000 to R18000 negotiable + commission + benefits + allowances & laptop. Kati

Incoming Operator

Dynamic, well established Cape Town Incentive Agency needs Outbound Account Manager

Sales Co-ordinator – N/Suburbs The job description incorporates co-ordinating, preparing and submitting tenders and proposals, working with the sales team of large, well-respected travel company. Emphasis will be on the ability to take bids from an early opportunity to the tender stage. Candidates must have previous experience in tender preparation. Excellent written & verbal communication skills are essential. R10000. Kati

● Needs active person fluent in English, French & Spanish with B.Cmm. degree and at least 3 years inbound experience. ● Must be computer literate.

Following skills required: ● Min 3 years exp in global incentives ● Extensive operational ability & global destination knowledge ● Excellent communication, costing & admin skills ● Good time & account management

Snr Corporate Cons – Durban Senior corporate consulting skills are required to join this highly regarded travel company, based in the Umhlanga area. Candidates must have very high service standards and a track record of dealing with top corporate companies. Amadeus is highly preferable plus Quicktrav. Commencement date is Jan or Feb 2010. R9000/R14000. Kati Intermediate Corporate Cons – Durban Join highly successful corporate travel company. Will deal exclusively with corporate accounts and be based in the Umhlanga area. Candidates must have previous experience in this field and ideally have Amadeus and Quicktrav. Commence Jan or Feb 2010. R6000/ R8000. Kati

Competitive Offer. Post CV to Advertiser, P.O. Box 4844, Dainfern Valley 2055.

Neg Salary and incentive scheme Fax your CV to Debbie on 021 – 421 0321

TNW5075

Junior Corporate Cons – Durban An experienced junior who has worked in corporate travel is required by top travel company. This is an opportunity to join top travel company where the scope to develop further is unlimited! Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years consulting experience. Amadeus is an advantage as well as Quicktrav. Position becomes available in Jan or Feb 2010. Based in the Umhlanga area. R4500/ R5800. Kati

Personnel with the personal touch

Opportunity to move into Wholesale Travel! Will liaise with travel agents handling quotes and reservations for numerous international products. Be part of a well established, solid wholesale company with excellent reputation. Our client would like the candidate to have a retail travel background; be well travelled and proficient on Amadeus. Based Jhb N/ Suburbs. Kati

FINANCIAL MANAGER/ISANDO

Highly negotiable pacakage offered by Market Leader lEISURE CONSUlTANT/ROSEBANK for your B.Comm/equivalent and ability to lead Excellent company requires department of 45 people!

your leisure expertise!!

NATIONAL SALES MANAGER/

INTERMEDIATE WHOlESAlE NORTHERN SUBURBS CONSUlTANT/ROSEBANK Hands on position with total responsibility for Market requiresand you to handle Key leader Account Managers Business reservations top of the Developmentfor Managers! range products!!

German Speaking – East Rand If you speak German and have any travel or tourism experience and enjoy dealing with tourists, we have an excellent opportunity for you! Computer literacy is essential. R8000. Kati

BRAND MANAGER/

GROUPS & RESERVATIONS NORTHERN SUBURBS

Car Rental Opportunity – E/Rand Outgoing, customer service driven person with an enthusiastic approach to their work is required by specialist car rental company. Must have previous travel or tourism experience and be computer literate. Additional training will be given. R7000/R8000. Kati

MANAGER/PARKTOWN Person strong in Marketing invited to join Experiencedleading person for magnificent Wholesaler!

5* Hotel - Opera experience essential!! SENIOR CONSULTANT/BOKSBURG

HOTEl RESERVATIONIST/PARKTOWN Join well established, friendly company and work Opera experience to work closer to essential home! for Upmarket Property!! CONTACT WENDY/KIM TEl: 011Contact 704 4909 FAx: 086 538 5889 Wendy/Kim E-MAIl: wtp@icon.co.za (011) 704 4909 or e-mail: wtp@icon.co.za TNW3413SD

lee botti & associates Tel: Tracey (011) 803 6606 rivonia@nowjobs.co.za

THIS WEEK’S TOP JObS JOHANNESbURG

JOHANNESbURG

GENERAL MANAGER - INbOUNd

SENIOR FIT’S EXPERT - NORTH

Opportunity to make your mark with this well est, successful incentive house! Varied functions await the hands-on Manager with a B.Comm marketing or similar qualif coupled with a proven track record within the inbound or incentives sector. Sales trips, marketing & managing small dept. Highly negotiable pkg!

CAPE TOWN FIT’S MANAGER REAdY TO TACKLE 2010!

Tel: Wayne (021) 418 1084 capetown@nowjobs.co.za

Tel: Jill (031) 201 8330 durban@nowjobs.co.za See our website for a further selection of exciting vacancies! www.leebotti.co.za

2010

QUICK READ FOR bUSIESt pEOplE

Superb opp to join the leaders of the pack! Open door management team, beautifully refurbished corporate offices, outstanding products & a top class service delivery motto comes with this package! Train, lead, control and motivate a diverse team of reservations consultants and team leaders. Min 5 yrs res b/ground. R25 000

dURbAN TOURS EXPERT! - dURbAN

Prominent tour operator seeks 2 experienced industry experts to join their busy, vibrant teams. Will suit customer-focused individuals with inbound wholesale experience. Handle group & FIT reservations, international fares, and utilise your 2-4 years leisure exp. R6,000 – R8,000 negotiable.

Do you thrive in a personalised, upmarket environment? Highly successful, professional inbound operator requires your excellent knowl of South and Southern Africa & creative flair to design enticing tailor-made packages for the international market. Impress these clients with your sound consulting skills & customer service excellence! R18 000 neg.

CAPE TOWN INbOUNd SALES MANAGER – Cbd

WOW inbound online tour operator with solid reputation in industry. You will have sales prowess and be the leader of your pack in driving, developing & leading tip top sales. Passion for Africa with super solid product knowledge is essential. Previous managerial exp is a must with having lead a team of sales agents to peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro! R25 000 plus!

dURbAN KEY ACCOUNTS! - UMHLANGA

Call on global corporate key accounts, and use your analytical + sales skills to review accounts with the purpose of increasing revenue growth. Superior presentation skills required with in-depth knowledge of Excel. Sustain existing business whilst also developing new business & build relationships with clients. Package neg.

TNW2048 TNW2048

Please Take Note of Our New Telephone No.: 011 704 4909

Leisure Consultant a’la difference! Durban Utilise your leisure consulting skills in a different way! Deal with clients via the internet, creating tailor-made holidays. Ideal for a consultant who enjoys the creativity side but would like to move away from the shopping centre, direct public contact environment. Candidates must have strong written communication skills. Kati Sales Executive – Based Sandton Salary up to R18000 depending on experience plus commission. Up-market conferencing facility is looking for an experienced Sales Executive who has called on event companies, PCO’s or the hospitality industry. Must be a true hunter who is well connected and can call on clients, negotiate and secure business. The facilities are superb and can be sold with great confidence! Kati Reconciliations Clerk - Sandton Join highly successful and well reputed tourism company based in Sandton. Will be reconciling the financial aspects of complex and detailed conferences. This will incorporate analysing all bills received from suppliers and ensuring that invoices have been raised. Candidates must have strong Excel skills as well as some insight into Pastel. Kati Jnr Consultant – Eastern Suburbs Opportunity coming up for next year, with commencement date being 01 February. Your 1 year’s travel experience is required to join top leisure travel company. Candidates must enjoy interacting with the public and have a confident, outgoing personality. Kati Help Desk Consultant – N/Suburbs Take inbound calls and emails requesting assistance with online bookings and ticketing. Will also assist with training. Must be proficient on Galileo. R6000. Kati

Office Hrs (011) 884-9113 Website: www.specialized.co.za e-mail: kati@sgroup.co.za

TNW0714

Appointment

BEE Sales Manager – Jhb A senior position reporting to the CEO of top travel company. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and implementing the strategic plan for the acquisition of new business and the growth of existing business, aligned to the company’s strategy and targets. Proven leadership skills in heading up a national sales team is essential together with relevant qualifications. Candidates must have a proven track record of having met and exceeded targets. Highly negotiable package. Kati

Wednesday December 2 2009 n 15


TNW NEWS

Nigerian visa problems – it’s tit for tat Melody Brandon

D

ELAYS in the processing of Nigerian visas for South Africans and the recently imposed repatriation fee of R6 000 for first-time visitors is that government’s way of giving South Africa a taste of its own medicine – and the South African government says it is doing everything it can to sort out the problem. According to Sibongile Mabasa, a representative from the SA International Relations Department Nigeria Desk, so important is the issue of visa delays that SA deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe and Nigeria’s vice president Goodluck Jonathan met this month to address it. “Although I don’t know what the outcome of these talks was, I do not think it will be

sorted out before next year,” she said. Kgalema said an agreement between the two countires to ease immigration issues between their nationals would have to be deferred “to allow for the completion of an ongoing review of South African immigration laws.” While the two governments discuss the visa situation, South Africans still experience difficulties with Nigerian visas, say travel agents. “The message is clear – South Africans, we don’t want you!” says a frustrated Tony King from Sure Go Travel Grahamstown. “The most frustrating thing is trying to get hold of the consulate. We send queries via email and fax. No one replies to your faxes or emails and they don’t answer the

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phones,” says Bronwen Delamere from Sure Map Travel Durban. Anya Black from Heldervue Travel and Adventure, Cape Town, says: “I have a wealth of business clients who continually go to Nigeria. Just as I thought we had all

“I have been trying to ascertain what the exact requirements are and why they have to be imposed but no one can justify it.” the information on the letter correct – it took quite a few declined applications over the past few years to find the correct wording to get the Nigerian consulate to accept our letters of invitation – they spring this new rule of taking two weeks through Pretoria and a new complicated process for a ‘certificate of co-operation’ which needs to accompany every application.” Diana Games, manager of the SA-Nigeria Chamber of Business, has been trying in vain to obtain clear guidelines for South Africans applying for Nigerian visas. “Everyone at the Nigerian embassy is keeping their heads down. I have been trying to ascertain what the exact requirements are and why these requirements have

been imposed, but no one can justify it. They keep asking for more documentation but no one can explain why,” she said. Shaun Barlett, gm of MDS Visapak, said while guidelines from the Nigerian embassy were clear enough, the process itself was cumbersome. “We have found the Pretoria embassy to be better to deal with. If you are applying through the Johannesburg consulate, you will need to supply a certificate of incorporation from the company you are visiting in Nigeria.” He added that at the Pretoria embassy it took longer for the visa to be processed. Johannesburg was stricter but processing was faster. “You will wait for about two weeks through Pretoria. It should take one week through Johannesburg,” he said.

Nigerians battle too

Although South Africans battle to get Nigerian visas, Diana believes the attitude of both governments is counterproductive. “The South African embassy in Nigeria is under-resourced and cannot keep up. The queues go on for ages. It is a mess,” she explained. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, many Nigerians face “various degrees of humiliation” when applying for South African

visas at the South African High Commission in Lagos. The South African embassy is allegedly the only embassy in Nigeria that does not have an online system, which means applicants have to queue in the morning to secure an appointment. This can lead to applicants waiting all day in the hope of seeing the inside of the embassy, only to be turned away. One report described visa applicants’ success at obtaining a visa as “the survival of the fittest” with many applicants sustaining injuries as well as losing personal items such as cellphones and wallets in the mayhem to get to the front of the queue. Director-general of the SA International Relations Department, Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba said at a recent press conference that the SA government did not deliberately target Nigerians. Nor did the government have a policy that sought to limit the number of Nigerians entering or being involved in business in South Africa. He said something that needed to be addressed was to improve capacity in terms of resourcing the South African consulate in Lagos, because that was where some of the problems were being reported. “We are doing everything possible to attend to that,” said Ayanda. n

LOC to look into inflated domestic airfares n Yes 13% n No 39% n These sites are blocked at the office 48% “Facebook is such a fast growing social network it’s a good tool for business. At the moment I am on Facebook to socialise and use Plaxo for business.” Nadiema Omar, Travel Service “No, not professional at all, but it is a good tool to initially connect with people.” Clare Bugden, Travel Counsellors

To sponsor this poll contact Kate on 011 214 7334 or e-mail katen@nowmedia.co.za

From page 1 “Most of these seats have been snapped up. Once we have confirmation of when and where matches will be played we can plan our schedules for the period, work out where we need extra flights and services and prepare our offers according to the demand,” she said. Heidi said ticket pricing was far from finalised and following the December 4

announcement, airlines would be in a position to assess the demand and bed down their pricing strategies. “It’s likely the cheaper prices will be snapped up early on and finding prices higher than usual is a reality in a situation of such high local and international demand.” SAA has opened a small percentage of its seat availability during the World Cup for domestic, regional

and international travel. Vimla Maistry, SAA acting head group corporate affairs, said the airline would release remaining capacity in all markets after December 4. “The available seating open for booking currently is in the highest inventory classes. Once the match venue draw is complete and SAA is able to identify demand, lower fare classes will be made available.”

Full economy fares on SA domestic carriers, June 17 to June 25 Airline SAA BA-Comair Kulula Mango 1time JNB-CPT-JNB R7 232 R5 248 R4 000 Not available R4 958 JNB-DUR-JNB R4 450 R4 108 R2 400 Not available R2 398 Tell us: Do you think the LOC should investigate overinflated fares? Email melodyb@nowmedia.co.za. n

TNW3419SD

16 n Wednesday December 2 2009

QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS


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