Issue 6 (Nov/Dec) 2011

CONTENTS Issue 6 of 2011 (Nov/Dec)

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PUBLISHER Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 891, Umhlanga Rocks, 4320 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Company Reg.No.: 2006/015252/07 Website: www.tourismtattler.co.za MANAGING EDITOR Des Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 947 2554 Cell: +27 (0)82 374 7260 Fax: +27 (0)86 651 8080 E-mail: editor@tourismtattler.co.za Skype: tourismtattler EDITOR Marjorie Dean Tel: +27 (0)11 886 9996 Fax: +27 (0)11 886 7557 E-mail: communications@satsa.co.za Skype: satsa-comms ADVERTISING MANAGER Bev Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 947 2554 Fax: +27 (0)86 656 3860 Cell: +27 (0)71 224 9971 E-mail: bev@tourismtattler.co.za Skype: bevtourismtattler SUBSCRIPTIONS Email: subscriptions@tourismtattler.co.za Skype: subscribetourismtattler DESIGN & PRODUCTION Michelle Bode Tel: +44 1873 812131 / Cell: +44 7783 985762 E-mail: michelle.bode@gmail.com Skype: michellerobynbode PRINTING Pinetown Printers Tel: +27 (0)31 701 8019 MAILING Lithotech Africa Mail Tel: +27 (0)31 208 6132

Official Trade Journal of: The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) PO Box 900, Ferndale, 2160 Tel: +2786 127 2872 Fax: +2711 886 755 Webite: www.satsa.com The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) PO Box 7381, Half Way House, 1685 Tel: +2711 315 2420/1 Fax: +2711 315 2422 Webite: www.retosa.co.za

Win a week-end for 2

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LETTERS / EDITORIAL Letters to the Editor From the Editor’s Desk / Cover Story Message from the RETOSA Chairman Message from the SATSA President COMPETITIONS Win 2 nights at Elephant Lake Hotel ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES Legend Golf & Safari Resort SATIB comes of age ATTRACTIONS Maropeng - the bones of our ancestors BUSINESS & FINANCE Market Intelligence Report & TBI EVENTS Tourism Month & Domestic Tourism TT&H Conference postponed Kimberley goes skateboard-crazy GLOBAL TOURISM Protecting the Female Traveller Rugby World Cup economic impact Hotel investors inflate property prices HOSPITALITY Turn your guesthouse into an events location Ground-breaking hotel ID scheme Eco product for hotel ‘Greening’ Putting lifestyle into guest houses

RETOSA country profiles 22 23

The $29pn budget hotel room The state of SA’s hotel market LEGAL & LEGISLATION Direct Marketing & the CPA MARKETING Baby Boomers Feeling The Pinch Meet the new SKI set Branding - the power of ritual Understanding the French market Understanding the green traveller

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PROCUREMENT

Leveraging the marketing budget

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REGIONAL TOURISM

RETOSA country profiles

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & CONSERVATION

Wilderness Safaris goes Solar Minister launches minimum standards Game breeding for eco-tourism Kenya - Land use change objections Year in the Wild UNWTO Affiliate RISK The CPA and Insurance SAFETY & SECURITY TSI faces closure TRADE NEWS Snippets

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CONTRIBUTORS Adv. Louis Nel Anita Mendiratta Deon Binneman Dave Jack Diana Appleyard Dr. Peter Tarlow

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ADVERTISERS

Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Gaye de Villiers Julian Freimond Marjorie Dean Nadja Brandt

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Mercedes Commercial Vehicles Brochure Management SATIB Insurance Brokers Savage, Jooste & Adams Attorneys BnB SURE SATIB Insurance Brokers

ADVERTISE IN THE TOURISM TATTLER Reach over 19 450 subscribers in the southern Africa tourism trade. Published alternate monthly (6 issues per year) in Jan/Feb, Mar/April, May/Jun, July/Aug, Sept/Oct and Nov/Dec. Back issues available for download 365 days a year at www.tourismtattler.co.za Contact our National Sales Director Beverley Langkilde on +27 (0)32 947 2554 / +27 (0)71 224 9971 / bev@tourismtattler.co.za Disclaimer The Tourism Tattler is published by Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd and is the official trade journal of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA). The Tourism Tattler digital e-zine, is distributed free of charge to bona fide tourism stakeholders. Letters to the Editor are assumed intended for publication in whole or part and may therefore be used for such purpose. The information provided and opinions expressed in this publication are provided in good faith and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd, SATSA, its staff and its production suppliers. Advice provided herein should not be soley relied upon as each set of circumstances may differ. Professional advice should be sought in each instance. Neither Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd, SATSA, its staff and its production suppliers can be held legally liable in any way for damages of any kind whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from any facts or information provided or omitted in these pages or from any statements made or withheld or from supplied photographs or graphic images reproduced by the publication.

6/2011

THE TOURISM TATTLER IS A RESPONSIBLE READ

Please enjoy your copy of Tourism Tattler secure in the knowledge that it is produced responsibly. The Tattler is printed on Sappi Triple Green paper, which is wood-free, chlorine-free and acid-free. Even the litho printing inks are environmentally friendly as they are soya based and water soluble, so in fact we’re pretty ‘green’ there too.

SATSA /RETOSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, It is sad to think that travelling from point A to B, particularly over medium to long distances, will take longer if South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Sibusiso Ndebele has his way in reducing the speed limit from 120 km/h to 100 km/h as he recently suggested.

Certainly, it will reduce fuel consumption and emissions, which is a good thing, but will it really have the desired effect of decreasing the number of accidents and deaths on our roads? Perhaps, but unfortunately, the government is clutching at straws as it grapples with a problem that has plagued our citizens and tourists for too long now, killing almost 14 000 people a year, and the main reason for this is not the 120 km/h speed limit, but rather poor performance in the area of traffic and vehicle management on our roads.

Lawlessness on our roads is the major cause of accidents, from breaking current speed limits to un-roadworthy vehicles, driving under the influence of alcohol and unlicensed drivers and vehicles.

The reality is that rules and laws are only as good as their enforcement and we have a low propensity for enforcing regulation across many fronts, probably more so in the traffic department. Clearly, metros and municipalities will be chomping at the bit to reduce the speed limits and set up more camera traps, a great source of revenue, which is so commonly practised and indeed, abused, by road authorities that it has become criminal and scandalous.

This greedy approach to earning revenue, rather than tackling the problems, needs some serious attention.

So here’s a six-point plan Mr Minister: • Jack up the RTMC and get an effective team in place to

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have this department do what it was set up to do some five years ago – you still have an Acting CEO in place following numerous management changes over the past few years and a very slow start since inception under Minister Jeff Radebe’s watch; • Erect highly visible cameras – painted bright orange – in high accident zones, with significant warning signs, like the process is supposed to be carried out; • Get most of your officers out on the road, doing what they ought to be doing – becoming effective in taking unruly and law-breaking drivers, along with un-roadworthy and unlicensed cars and drivers off the roads FULL STOP. You can’t do this by hiding in the bushes, behind bus stops and bridges. According to the RTMC report of March 2011, we have over 400 000 un-roadworthy vehicles on our roads and that probably represents only those they have counted – what about those they missed?; • Take corruption in the vehicle licensing and testing environment seriously. You know this is a critical problem; • Do not fear the backlash of the taxi brigade. This only worsens the problem as these members of our roaduser community are now leading many other motorists to follow in their tracks down emergency lanes, jumping lights and driving like a bunch of lawless thugs. Your authorities also know that this is happening, but fail to act decisively, barring the odd occasion of visibility; • Address the shocking state of our traffic lights, road signage and road conditions.

Get this right and you can be assured that road carnage will decrease significantly, and then, if need be, the decision to tackle speed limit reduction can be considered, if at all.

Wayne Duvenage Chief Executive - Avis Rent a Car

CONGRATULATIONS to Wayne Duvenage who wins a copy of the book ‘Man–eaters, eaters, Mambas and Marula Madness’ with the complements of Livingstones Supply Co Suppliers of the Finest Products to the Hospitality Industry.

For more information visit their website at www.livingstonessupplyco.co.za

The winning letter published in the Tourism Tattler Issue 1 (Jan/Feb) 2012 edition will receive a pair of Dietz Monarch lanterns.

Letters should be sent before 25 November 2011 to editor@tourismtattler.co.za

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SATSA / RETOSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

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EDITORIAL

From the Editor’s Desk As I write, I am looking forward to a visit to family in the USA. And one of the things I’m doing as a tourist is looking carefully at the money I can allocate to spend there. From my point of view, the view is not nearly as good as it was a couple of weeks ago, as the rand has devalued against the dollar from under R7 to more than R8. However from the point of view of the inbound tourism industry, this drop in the value of the rand can be viewed as good news, as it means our overseas visitors pay less in their currency for whatever they buy in this country.

I’m sure we all remember the heady days some years ago now when the rand dropped very far, when everyone in tourism said ‘But South Africa is sooo cheap!’ The tourism stats went up and the good times rolled.

Our prices went up – and stayed up!

But we are not going back there, by any means. The gold price may have stalled, the rand will find lower levels of value, and, according to economists, is likely to stay there for a while for a whole shedload of reasons that ordinary mortals can do nothing about, but this time round it is different. While we in Southern Africa have our own economic problems to deal with, around the globe many countries are grappling with debt crises that leave one gasping when one looks at the numbers.

The credit party is definitely over, and the aftermath is serious financial hangover pain, whatever happens to currencies.

That translates into a whole new view on life – reckless spending is no longer admired, and old fashioned virtues such as thrift are slowly coming back into fashion. Travel spend is part of that trend. People are looking above all for value for the money they spend. And they

are looking at why they want to travel. The sun/sand and cheap booze charter crowd will probably never change, but the kind of people who make the long trip to Southern Africa are now much more aware that they may only be able to afford this once. So they are looking to cram in as much of the South African experience as possible. The experience they want is different for each one. It can be open spaces, wildlife, adventure, culture, shopping, sport, fine dining and wine, voluntary work – as many experiences as there are individuals.

But what they want is intensity of experience, something to warm the soul when it’s back behind a desk/kitchen sink/laptop or wherever, in the increasingly grey pressured world we all have to live in. As a destination, we are fortunate that our ‘world in one country’ can offer a rich variety of experiences; that our people of many cultures are warm and welcoming by nature; and that our weather overall, is among the finest on the planet, and our landscapes, in all their variety, are awesome.

What can spoil things for us is not looking after what we have; not pricing correctly for what the market is willing and can afford to pay; not looking after the local market and above all, having government at local and national level that ties our industry up in red tape and the shackles of incompetent administration.

At SATSA, we spearhead efforts to improve all of this, but we can’t do it alone. To foster a great tourism industry when luck rolls the dice our way will take hard work by all of us – together! We have to seize this chance – it won’t come again.

SATSA wishes you all a great Holiday Season.

Marjorie

Cover Story Our cover for this edition features intrepid writer and photographer, Scott Ramsey admiring the Wolfberg Arch and Crags, a sandstone sculpture landmark in the Cederberg (3) mountains and nature reserve located near Clanwilliam, approximately 300 km north of Cape Town, South Africa.

During an epic journey that started on 12 June 2011 and will end on 30 June 2012, Scott will have visited 31 of South Africa’s most special natural areas and interviewed the people who make conservation possible, including the rangers, scientists, communities, ecologists and managers. He’ll also be taking plenty of photographs of the wildlife, land- and seascapes in the hope of inspiring people to visit these areas responsibly, and to become advocates for their continued conservation.

“If someone can see for themselves how special a wild place can be – whether it’s lying underneath blazing stars in the Kgalagadi, or walking through fields of millions of Namaqua daisies, or walking with Zulu rangers among rhino in Imfolozi, or discovering millennia-old rock art in the Drakensberg or Cederberg, or standing atop Mapungubwe Hill on the Limpopo River, or jumping off waterfalls in Mkambati on the Wild Coast…if they can see for themselves, then these places have a better

chance of being conserved, and the local communities can enjoy their benefits” says Scott.

Scott’s journey, aptly titled ‘Year in the Wild South Africa’ can be followed on his website and social media pages. During this edition’s months of November and December, his journey will cover the Karoo (13) and the Garden Route (15).

The Tattler will feature a selection of Scott’s photography in the next edition (Issue 1 – Jan/Feb 2012). Read more on page 42.

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SATSA / RETOSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

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EDITORIAL

Message from RETOSA The Southern Africa region is renown for its diversity, wilderness, climate and stunning array of culture, heritage, landscape and scenery. These attractions provide discerning tourists from all over the world with a wide array of experiences to indulge in, from game viewing to culture tours and adventure activities. However, Sports Tourism remains one of the trump cards for the region, rivalling some of the regions’ best known tourism attractions because of the wide array of activities on offer.

The number of sporting activities included in the All Africa Games in Mozambique reinforces this fact.

Globally Sports Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry.

With the region’s proven capability of hosting the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 All Africa games and the significant infrastructure that has been created to host these events, it makes sense for the Region to start pursuing sports and events tourism as a viable route to grow tourism arrivals and receipts while enhancing its global visibility. These events were a major boost for Southern Africa’s global reputation and visibility.

Hosted by Mozambique, the 2011 All Africa Games offered unrivalled sport tourism experiences with over twenty-four sporting codes. The event attracted an impressive number of tourists including about 5000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across Africa as well as international journalists to Mozambique and the Southern Africa region. The RETOSA visitor information centre at the Games provided visitors with an opportunity

to sample some of our region’s flagship attractions and experience the ultimate African Dream. This was another life-long opportunity to sustaining the legacy of the 2010 World Cup and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

In an effort to maximise this opportunity, RETOSA collaborated with the Mozambique Ministry of Tourism to host an exhibition that demonstrated Member States’ support for the Games. Similar to the tourism promotion programme held during the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola in 2010 and the Inaugural Sports and Tourism Trade Exchange (Confex) held in Cape Town, the main exhibition programme focused on tourism highlights including the scenic beauty, cultural experiences and a diverse range of attractions that the region has on offer; from the mist enshrouded Victoria Falls, the deep silence among the ochre dunes of the Namib, the first glimpse of a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat and a host of pleasurable sightseeing spots to the wonder of snow-capped mountains, rugged coastlines and unspoilt wilderness.

Once again, the All Africa Games showcased Southern Africa’s world-class standard of sport facilities, services and attractions. This will, obviously, enrich the positioning of Southern Africa as a capable host of international events.

Together, let’s sustain the legacy left behind by this event by inviting the world to come and share the warm abundance of life that Southern Africa offers as a single but multifaceted destination. Experience Southern Africa

Kwakye Donker Marketing & Communications Director

About RETOSA The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) body responsible for the development of tourism through marketing and promotion of sustainable regional tourism in SADC member countries. The organisation works closely with member states, institutions and societies to ascertain their interests and priorities, to help identify potential counterparts and to promote tourism growth and development by marketing the region as a multi–faceted but single destination.

For more information visit http://www.retosa.co.za/ 06

SATSA / RETOSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

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EDITORIAL

The President’s Message How time flies – it’s hard to believe that

proven that the tsi has made and continues to make a meaningful

2012 is a mere two months away. This

contribution to crime reduction and victim support improvement as

year has certainly been a tough one

the article on page 44 indicates. It is now time for both the private

and according to the experts (read the

and public sectors of tourism in South Africa to take ownership of

market intelligence report and business

this initiative.

index on page 13), 2012 is expected to

SATSA’ s CEO, Michael Tatalias has done a sterling job over this

be no different. But economies and markets have always been a roller

past year. Lobbying Government on various legislations to be

coaster affair with cyclicle peaks and valleys, so while the industry may

promulgated, such as the current Tourism Bill (NTSS), the Transport

be in a trough at the moment, those tourism service suppliers who

Bill and the Access to Information Bill that threatens to gag the media.

are able to adjust their business model and weather the storm will be

In addition, Michael has represented SATSA members interests in the

ideally placed to take advantage of the upturn.

Air Access debate and by speaking at various forums including the

As an association, SATSA has had to adjust its operations accordingly.

recent TURSAB delegation from Turkey.

Down sizing and trimming expenses is never an easy process but is a

Most notable however is Michael’s recent facilitation in securing the

business imperative if one is to ensure the survival of the organisation

TAFI (Travel Agent Federation of India) Convention 2012 for Durban,

into the future. While SATSA’s primary function is to provide overseas

which is scheduled to take place at the Elengeni Hotel in November

outbound operators with testimony as to our members’ credibility in

2012. This was a hotly contested pitch with Canada, Tuscany, Istanbul

the local market, this is by no means the only function that our staff

and Sri Lanka having bid for the event.

are involved in.

The Tourism Safety Initiative (tsi) is a case in point. SATSA initiated the tsi ahead of the 2012 World Cup to ensure that our inbound tourists

Yours in Tourism,

experience an incident free tour during their visit to South Africa. This

Craig Drysdale

objective has been accomplished, albeit at our members expense and

SATSA President / CEO – Springbok Atllas Transport

to the benefit of non-members and the country at large. We have

Operations, South Africa & Namibia

About SATSA SATSA has been the Hallmark of Quality Tourism in Southern Africa for more than 40 years.

Our Vision is to be the most recognised and sought after endorsement of good business practice in the Southern Africa Tourism Industry.

Our Purpose is to provide domestic and international tourism buyers with quality advice and reliable information on credible tourism partners in Southern Africa.

Our Aim is to help our members manage successful, profitable businesses that are part of a vibrant and sustainable inbound tourism industry.

We achieve this by focusing on: LOBBYING - We champion the interests of our members with Government to ensure South Africa has a legislative and fiscal framework that allows their businesses to grow and prosper.

PROFESSIONALISM - We promote best practice and encourage lifelong learning. We facilitate through mentoring of newcomers to the tourism industry, and other means, the provision of vocational and management training that will improve quality, encourage staff development and provide the prospect of a fulfilling and rewarding career path in inbound tourism. To ensure standards are maintained, SATSA members are required to update all their information every year.

NETWORKING - SATSA is a trans-national organisation, but provinces in South Africa have their own Chapters, with a Chair and Committee.

This allows members to be more involved in provincial matters at a local level. The chapter structure also enables SATSA to obtain detailed feedback from its members on issues affecting the tourism industry. Through our Chapter meetings and annual conference we

provide opportunities for our members to develop relationships with tourism suppliers, buyers and partners both abroad and in Southern Africa through a programme of business and social events.

SATSA has an Executive Committee (ExCo), elected by members, that is charged with making policy decisions concerning the running of the organisation. The National Office is managed on a day−to−day basis by an appointed CEO, COO and staff.

SATSA is committed to enhancing quality in tourism throughout Southern Africa and has signed an MoU with RETOSA to facilitate this objective.

SATSA is committed to transformation in the industry and has signed an MoU with the Tourism Empowerment Council of South Africa to this effect.

SATSA promotes Responsible Tourism SATSA is the only inbound non-government organisation whose members are bonded against involuntary liquidation of other members.

SATSA offers members a variety of benefits from an excellent provident fund, insurance and specialist legal advice, to arbitration in case of disputes.

SATSA looks after the interests of the private sector and private enterprise by lobbying government on behalf of its members - and others in the industry.

SATSA works with other tourism organisations to promote and run various national recognition programmes.

SATSA promotes education in tourism through its Annual Conference, its bi−weekly electronic newsletter SATSA RAP and its journal, The Tourism Tattler, which is available in both online and print versions.

For more information visit http://www.satsa.com 6/2011

SATSA / RETOSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

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COMPETITIONS

READER COMPETITIONS Win a weekend away for 2 people sharing at

Elephant Lake Hotel, St.Lucia

To enter this competition, which is valued at R5 460 simply ensure that you are opted-in to the Tourism Tattler mailing list by subscribing at http://www.tourismtattler.co.za/subscribe and answer the following question via e-mail: “In which World Heritage site is the Elephant Lake Hotel situated and what does the Zulu name mean in English?”

E-mail your answer with Elephant Lake Hotel Competition in the Subject field to editor@tourismtattler.co.za by 30 November 2011.

Remember to include your contact details. The first correct e-mail received will win the Prize, the Rules, Terms and Conditions of which can be viewed here http://www.tourismtattler.co.za/downloads/ competition/issue6_2011.pdf The Elephant Lake Hotel is situated on the banks of the St Lucia Estuary, right on the shores of one of the waterways that form part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – South Africa’s first World Heritage site. Meaning ‘miracle and wonder’ in Zulu, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park is aptly named. It is a protected natural wonderland consisting of interlinking eco-systems and breath-taking landscapes, featuring some of the highest coastal dunes in the world.

Guests staying at the Hotel can choose from 56 rooms on two different floors that lead onto sparkling clear swimming pools. The Hotel has an upper viewing deck off the restaurant which is also a popular venue

SATSA Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

Elephant Lake Safaris, a division of the Elephant Lake Group own and operate the Born Free Estuary Cruise boat on the St Lucia Estuary. Open air 4 x 4 safaris to the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the nearby Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve come tailor-made, with an experienced guide that will bring you up close and personal as well as a host of choices of tours to the nearby Veyane cultural village, to the quaint shops in the town of St Lucia or slightly more further afield to watch the crocodiles and birds. For those who love the ocean, there is deep sea fishing, kayaking, boat cruises or whales / turtles watching – depending on the time of year. The Elephant Lake Hotel can also pamper guests with spa packages and beauty treatment available on request.

For more information visit www.elephantlake.co.za or book through reception on +27 (0)35 590 1001.

White Shark Cave Dive Competition Winner Congratulations to Niel Els of Turnberry Hotel whose entry was the first correct email received for our Issue 5 ( Sep/Oct) 2011 competition.

Niel’s prize, valued at R17 000 included return flights to Cape Town with the compliments of British Airways / Comair, a White Shark Cage Dive with personalised DVD with the compliments of White Shark Projects and a two night stay with dinner and breakfasts at Schulphoek Seafront Guesthouse in Sandbaai, Hermanus.

Subscriptions Competition Winner Congratulations to Linda Voet-Nel of Divi-Divi Tours who has won a three night stay for two people sharing at Madikwe Hills Private Game Lodge valued at R30 195, with the compliments of Seasons in Africa, marketers of the finest Adventures, Hotels and Lodges. www.seasonsinafrica.com

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for sundowners and to view the game. Clients choosing to stay at the Elephant Lake Inn – situated a little further inland, in the town of St Lucia – will have a choice of 34 modern, air-conditioned, fully equipped rooms that all feature a private patio.

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ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES

Limpopo’s Legend Golf & Safari Resort recognised at World Travel Awards The world-class event saw global travel professionals acknowledge the uniqueness of the worldclass resort situated in the African bush which boasts a world first Signature Golf Course, a golf academy, a unique 10-hole Tribute golf course in addition to conference facilities, a Field of Legends sports complex, a wildlife and cultural centre and a host of other facilities and activities.

It’s another double for one of the world’s most exciting new leisure developments. Legend Golf and Safari Resort at the Big 5 Entabeni Safari Conservancy in the Waterberg area of Limpopo has been named Africa’s Leading Sports Resort and South Africa’s Leading Golf Resort at the prestigious World Travel Awards – for the second year running. The award ceremony was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Peet Cilliers, CEO of Legend Lodges, Hotels & Resorts, said: “As I said last year, it is a great honour that our vision and passion have been recognised by our peers in the global travel and tourism

industry. The resort is proving to be a great success and increasingly popular with tour operators, conference and event organisers and travellers from around the world. And we continue to strive to deliver a truly 21st century experience in the heart of the African bush”.

Legend Golf and Safari Resort, located on the 22,000 hectare, malaria-free Big 5 Entabeni game reserve, is also home to the Signature Course, designed by 18 of the world’s leading golfers, as well as the planet’s most extreme golf hole - the Extreme 19th.

It sprang to global prominence when more than three million people across the world experienced the longest and highest Par 3 on the globe thanks to a short video of former Open Champion Padraig Harrington in a playoff against French tour star Raphael Jacquelin.

Since then hundreds and hundreds of people have enjoyed the adrenaline rush of this unique golfing experience.

Hailed as the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’, the World Travel Awards is the most influential and comprehensive awards programme for the travel sector.

The resort boasts more than 200 luxury resort suites, with 50 more due for completion by the end of the year and a new clubhouse and new additional conference centre.

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ACHIEVEMENTS & ACCOLADES

SATIB Insurance Brokers come of age With 21 years in the tourism and insurance sectors, locally-based SATIB Insurance Brokers has truly come of age, having established themselves as one of Southern Africa’s leading tourism risk management companies.

Waterfront, Melrose Arch, Wilderness Safaris, De Beers, Growthpoint, Signature Life Hotels, Mala Mala, GWM and Decofurn.

From humble beginnings, SATIB Insurance Brokers now has nine regional branch offices throughout Africa, and is responsible for the insurance placement of assets cover of over R20 billion on an annual basis.

Founded in 1990 by Umhlanga-based Brian Courtenay, the company has seen enormous growth and diversification, while their core business and principals remain firmly in place.

Now falling under the umbrella of the Ivory Group, the business is still very much a family affair with Brian having largely handed over the reins to his sons Gavin and Anthony Courtenay.

While Brian still remains Chairman of the Ivory Group and a shareholder, Gavin is the Managing Director of SATIB Insurance Brokers and Anthony the CEO the Ivory Group. When Gavin and Anthony joined their father in 1996, after completing their respective studies, there were just six people, while their current staff complement is now 86.

“As a young boy I would accompany my late father, Peter, on business trips to the Kruger Park – he insured the infrastructure/shops in the Park. Twenty one years ago I decided to follow the family tradition and sold my insurance broking practice and specialised in the Wildlife and Tourism arena. My business was my passion and from humble beginnings (myself and a secretary) we’ve grown to branch offices in Southern Africa and offices in Africa!

In my journey over these 21 years I have clients that have become family friends and we all share a common passion for the environment and wildlife and preservation of our natural heritage,” said Brian Courtenay.

SATIB Insurance Brokers see it as their mission to provide specialist insurance broking and risk management services to their clients, underwriters and related industry associations in sub-Saharan Africa, thereby ensuring peace of mind in terms of risk transfer. They strive to lead the industry through constant innovation, service delivery and efficient claims settlement within these specialist business sectors, whist developing and promoting sustainable business practices within their areas of influence.

And, they are currently on target, with SATIB Insurance Brokers being responsible for the risk management of many huge players in the tourism and hospitality industry in Southern African. Some clients include the V&A

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Commenting on their relationship with SATIB Insurance Brokers over the years, Russel Friedman, Founding Partner of Wilderness Safaris had this to say, “SATIB have delivered a dedicated service and developed the right cover for our growing needs, they have treated us as a partner and not just another client they can obtain revenue from, and have understood the necessity for specialist insurance in the travel industry.”

Courtenay Generations SATIB Insurance Brokers celebrated by five generations of the Courtenay family – Gavin, holding his son Daniel, Anthony, and Brian, with Brian’s father Peter (who did contract work for SATIB in his retirement) seated.

The company was initially established as Wildlife Broking Services back in 1990, where founder Brian Courtenay moved from a general brokerage to focus specifically on the insurance requirements of the then developing wildlife industry. In 1992 SATIB was established to meet the growing demands of the tourism and hospitality industries. In 1996 Glenrand MIB, a JSE-listed financial services group, acquired a controlling interest in the company, but in 2004 a management buyout took place where shares were purchased back. The idea for establishing the Ivory Group was born in 2008, with the various divisions of SATIB being separated and new companies being formed. A major shift came in 2009 when Wildlife Financial Brokers changed its name to the Ivory Group, and UKbased specialist insurer Marketform acquired 15 per cent strategic investment in the holding company.

While SATIB Insurance Brokers continues to remain a specialist insurance broker, leveraging off their 21 years of experience in the Tourism and Leisure industry, their other areas of expertise have extended to include Commercial & Industrial, Life & Investment, Domestic and Wildlife.

Commenting on the exceptional growth that their company has enjoyed over the last 21

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years, Gavin Courtenay said, “It’s been an honour and a privilege to work in and serve a dynamic industry such as the tourism industry in Africa, with such amazing clients and colleagues over the years. To see SATIB Insurance Brokers grow and develop alongside our target tourism, hospitality and leisure industries has been very special. I look forward to our company continuing to add real value to clients and the industry for another 21 years.”

While still actively involved in SATIB Insurance Brokers and the Ivory Group, Brian Courtenay is now shifting his focus to establishing the SATIB Trust, which will embrace his passion for conservation and will be committed to protecting the environment. Over the years, SATIB Insurance Brokers have sponsored various conservation, community and environmental projects in Southern Africa, and a decision made by the shareholders of SATIB has seen the registration of a non-profit/charitable organisation (NPO). The SATIB Trust will enable their company to actively and legally pursue donor funding from local and international organisations for the benefit of conservation, environmental and community projects in Africa.

SATIB Insurance Broker’s South African offices are based in KwaZulu-Natal (Umhlanga, Durban - Head Office), Gauteng (Fourways, Johannesburg), Mpumalanga (Nelspruit), Eastern Cape (Grahamstown) and Western Cape (Century City, Cape Town); while their African Branch Offices are located in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. They also have Africa Correspondent Offices where SATIB Insurance Brokers has representative insurers in Angola, Comoros, DRC, Djibouti Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania and Uganda.

SATIB Insurance Brokers’ key personnel includes Gavin Courtenay (Managing Director, focusing on Business Development), Gavin George (Executive Director overseeing Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga), Dieter Prinsloo (Executive Director looking after the Western Cape & Eastern Cape), Julian Freimond (Executive Director concentrating on Wildlife), Andre du Toit (Operational Director overseeing Operational Management and KZN), William Croxton (Director responsible for SATIB Commercial & Industrial), Kevin Watson (NonExecutive Director) and Anthony Courtenay (Non-Executive Director).

SATIB Insurance Brokers’ head office is based in Somerset Park in Umhlanga Rocks and can be contacted on 0861 728 4248.

ATTRACTIONS

Back to Basics – Reading the bones of our ancestors Maropeng proudly introduces its latest walking tour ...

The bones of our human ancestors hold many stories about our voyage through evolution. Fossil records, documented in bones, provide clues to what prehistoric humans ate, how they moved and lived their lives and this wealth of information can often be obtained, surprisingly, from small and incomplete pieces of bone.

In an exciting move to take budding paleontologists and those who have always wanted to find out more, on a fascinating journey of discovery, Maropeng has teamed up with a dynamic and upcoming young scientist, Brendon Billings and is launching a series of new themed walking tours.

Billings, who is in the process of completing his MSc degree in the History of Science, with specific reference to primatology and the evolution of consciousness (Dissertation) from the University of Witwatersrand, is the Curator of all Collections housed within the School of Anatomical Sciences, Medical School, at the University of Witwatersrand. At just 29 years of age, Billings, is a passionate young man with a special interest in Physical Anthropology. He represents the new face of science and brings a refreshing new perspective and energy which will appeal to most.

“Bones are the fundamentals of human evolution because they’re the best preserved,” says Billings. “Bones provide clues and allow us to identify structural and behavioural traits, all of which make it possible for us to piece together elements of the story of human evolution.”

With academic interests in the fields of anatomical sciences, history, primatology and the evolution of consciousness, Billings is an exceptional guide to the world of palaeoanthropology and provides informative and thought-provoking insight into how bones are scientifically revealing: “Basically, without the bones we wouldn’t have any evolutionary story to tell.”

Back to Basics The first tour, entitled Back to Basics, highlighted ‘clues’ offered by the fossil records and the fascinating ‘detective work’ that is required to reconstruct the history of our species. Using a fun hands-on approach, Billings introduced visitors to the hominoid skeletal anatomy and the comparative techniques used to identify fossil remains. Through detailed exhibition style casts, participants were prompted to use their observation powers to help identify a fossil species and any other relevant information which could be gleaned from their remains.

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Through interaction with the material and with Billings’ assistance, the process of enquiry and discovery is demystified, providing an appreciation for the manner in which scientific reconstructions of fossil remains are derived and the wealth of information which can be obtained from often fragmentary and incomplete bony elements.

Sterkfontein Caves The talk was followed by a walk through the Sterkfontein cave site, by award-winning tour guide Reuben Tsime who has also had extensive training and been accredited by the Gauteng Tourism Authority. Reuben is an experienced tour guide, allowing the visitor to get an appreciation for the geological context within which fossils are uncovered and the other factors which have a bearing on their discovery.

The morning finished with a picnic style lunch overlooking the breathtaking Cradle of Humankind providing a poignant reminder of the landscape upon which the human evolutionary story has played out and the complex influence of humans, not only on the preservation of this World Heritage Site but also on the preservation of our environment as a whole.

The tour is ideally suited for those who want to delve deeper into the secrets of science: “This tour is really for the individual who’s quite keen to know about the science behind palaeoanthropology. It’s really a window into ideas, and the analysis that scientists do on the bones. You’ll get an idea as to how they develop their evolutionary conclusions from the study of bones.”, says Billings. It is geared towards adults only.

For costs and bookings, visit www.maropeng.co.za and click on shop. For more information call (014) 577 9000 or visit the website.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

SATSA Market Intelligence Report (MIR – September 2011) Welcome to the SATSA’s MIR for September 2011. Below we aim to provide you with market intelligence on the tourism industry.

Arrivals: The latest available data from Statistics South Africa shows that South Africa received 854 301overnight arrivals (excluding same day visitors) from overseas between January & May 2011, which was a 7.7 per cent increase over January to May 2010.

When assessing South Africa’s main overseas source markets we see that overnight arrivals from the UK declined by 3.1 per cent (to 184 899 overnight arrivals) between January and May 2011 over the same period in 2011, while overnight arrivals from Germany recorded 17.5 per cent growth (to 96 692 arrivals).

The USA also achieved growth (12.7 per cent to 104 156 arrivals) for the same period.

Overall total foreign arrivals were up 7.3 per cent to 3 396 960 with overnight arrivals from Africa being up 10.4 per cent to 2 532 962.

Hotel Stats: The lingering impact of the Soccer World Cup is clearly visible in the data from STR Global for July 2011. The data indicates that in July 2011, all hotels in South Africa achieved an average occupancy of 55.4 per cent which were down 0.8 per cent on July 2010. The average room rate (ARR) decreased by 33.7 per cent to R803 and the RevPar decreased by 34.2 per cent to R444.

During July 2011 five star hotels achieved an average occupancy of 48.2 per cent (down 6.3 per cent on July 2010), with four star hotels achieving 53.3 per cent (down 1.4 per cent) and three star hotels achieving 58.8 per cent (up 3 per cent).

ARR in July 2011 were down for all grades of hotels with five star hotels being down 45.9 per cent (to R1 467), four star hotels being down 29.4 per cent (to R786) and three star hotels being down 20.3 per cent (to R666).

RevPar were also down for all grades of hotels with five star hotels being down 49.3 per cent (to R707), four star hotels being down 30.4 per cent (to R419) and three star hotels being down 17.8 per cent (to R392).

For the period January to July 2011, the average occupancy of all hotels were down by 5.6 per cent (to 53.9 per cent), with ARR being down 18 per cent (to R847) and RevPar being down 22.6 per cent (to R456).

ACSA data: The data from ACSA for the January to August in 2011 indicate increases in passengers arriving on international, regional and domestic flights for all three major airports.

Jan & Aug 2011 Jan & Aug 2010

Passengers arriving on International Flights

Passengers arriving on Regional Flights

Passengers arriving on Domestic Flights

OR Tambo

2.6 per cent

8.9 per cent

5.5 per cent

Cape Town International 2.0 per cent

2.5 per cent

4.5 per cent

Durban International

N/A

8.3 per cent

8.7 per cent

What this means for my business: The increase in the arrivals data from Stats SA and the passenger arrival data from ACSA is encouraging. It should be kept in mind that these numbers refer to people and not bednights sold. Indications are that tourists have significantly reduced their length of stay and accordingly the number of bednight sold has reduced despite an increase in the number of tourists. Tourism enterprises are encouraged to offer added value in order to increase the length of stay of tourists.

Tourism Operators Remain Optimistic – South African Travel and Tourism operators remain somewhat optimistic of an improvement in business performance levels for the final quarter of 2011, in spite of prior performance expectations not having been met. However, 2012 performance is still not expected to reach normal performance levels. This is according to the results of the third quarter edition of the TBCSA FNB Tourism Business Index (‘TBI’).

For the third quarter of 2011, the TBI registered a performance index of 70.0 against a normal of 100. Although this lower actual performance is indicative of the current tough trading conditions, operators continue to expect an improvement in the performance going forward with the next quarter TBI forecasted at 84.9.

Chief Executive Officer for the TBCSA, Mmatšatši Marobe, says business does have a reason to remain cautiously optimistic.

“Looking at the latest results, there are facets of the sector which are seeing better prospects, for instance in this quarter conference businesses are reporting improved performance levels”.

Once again, other tourism businesses, such as tour operators, activities and attractions, travel agents

Tourism Business Index and FOREX operators indicated a higher performance level than the accommodation sector.

“There are always silver linings and opportunities in every phase of the economic cycle” says Gillian Saunders, Head of Advisory Services at Grant Thornton. “Announced hotel closures are transpiring into sales, where investor operators are able to buy assets at a good price. Other brands can expand their footprint, taking on distressed independent properties. This type of activity underlines the long-term potential and confidence in the industry despite the current poor trading performances” Pieter de Bruin, Head of Industry Sales at FNB states that “no one predicted a perfect storm to hit the World Economy and the tourism sector is particularly impacted by economic realities, as both leisure and business tourism have affected the way people travel. Every industry has its cycles and we should not always be nervous in down cycles. It is important to keep abreast of the developments in the sector by utilizing the Tourism Business Index as an information tool.

The TBI is an overall indicator of the “health” of businesses trading in the tourism sector and is an initiative of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), sponsored by First National Bank (FNB) and compiled by Grant Thornton. This is a business tool that can assist particularly independent and small businesses to understand their operating environment, while large businesses are able to us the index to interact with their various stakeholders.

The index is available for download on the TBCSA website www.tbcsa. travel or www.tbcsa.org.za. The next TBI report will be published in January 2012.

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EVENTS

Tourism Month highlights Domestic Tourism lecture by the Minister, which took place at the University of Free State Qwaqwa Campus – Phuthaditjhaba. The lecture was focused on establishing a partnership with the Tourism Academia as a way of taking tourism to the people through knowledge exchange forums such as public lectures. As for the Business Breakfast, it served as an engagement with tourism enterprises in the Free State by the Minister and MEC under the theme “Enhancing the global competitiveness of South Africa through culture, heritage and rural tourism product development.”

South Africa celebrated Tourism Month in September. It was during this time that South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk stressed the importance of domestic tourism due to the fact that it is central to the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.

D

omestic Tourism is the backbone of the country’s tourism industry and is a major focus during Tourism Month. Tourism is a key industry for the growth of the economy and in creating sustainable jobs. And it is during Tourism Month that this is emphasised through all available channels and by all stakeholders. It is during this month that emphasis is also placed on developing the skills of South Africans already working in the tourism industry and those wanting a career in tourism.

South African Tourism’s new Sho’t Left campaign, with its mantra of ‘there’s no such thing as a wrong turn’, is an example of a novel approach to growing domestic tourism. The campaign puts the tourism spotlight on all nine of our provinces and South African Tourism (SAT) and its partners are doing their utmost to market the attributes of the length and breadth of our destination.

In its most recent phase of its Sho’t Left domestic tourism campaign, SAT is using a number of local trendsetters to take the message of tourism deep into the heart of the emerging target market.

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The latest phase of the campaign profiles the hidden gems of our country that many people might have heard about, but have not visited and explored.

The UNWTO theme for this year was ‘Tourism, linking cultures’.

South Africans want to experience different cultures when they visit different places. In 2007, nine per cent of domestic travellers sought cultural activities whilst travelling.

In 2008 and 2009 the per centage of domestic travellers that sought cultural activities was 17 and 19 per cent, respectively.

The month of September proved to be busy with South Africa having celebrated World Tourism day in Clarens in the Free State Province on 27 September. UNWTO had deemed 27 September as World Tourism Day and the national tourism industry adopted this theme for the entire month of September. Included in the programme for World Tourism Day was the hosting of the Business Breakfast and Public

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The target The mandate as stated by the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS), launched in March 2011, is to grow tourist arrivals to South Africa, increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy and create jobs. The target has been set to grow domestic tourism from 30.9 million in 2009 to 54 million annual trips by 2020 and significantly increase its contribution to the country’s GDP “... but getting the revenue and the tourism numbers we need – and to sustain and grow our industry - will take a collective effort. It will require synergy from tourism bodies at national, provincial and local level and the critical support of the entire tourism industry and our thousands of world-class tourism products in making our world-class destination viable, competitive and even more attractive to local and international travellers. We must not lose sight of the fact that ours remains a world-class destination and we must continue to be positive in harvesting its tourism potential,” Minister van Schalkwyk added.

As a supplementary tool to enhance the NTSS and to ensure that the sector reaches its targets, a Domestic Tourism Strategy has been drafted to further ensure the development of a diversity of products with an appeal to all market segments. The final draft Domestic Tourism Strategy is due for approval early next year.

EVENTS

Travel Tourism and Hospitality conference postponed The TT&H conference published in the Tattler Issue 5 (Sep/Oct) edition, which was scheduled to take place from 23 to 25 October 2011, has been postponed to next year, writes Marjorie Dean.

It is envisioned that the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Conference Southern Africa will take place in September 2012 and will form part of a bigger initiative to get the private sector more involved in celebrating Tourism Month.

members can address industry-specific issues as well as the challenges facing the entire industry.

SATSA CEO, Michael Tatalias, emphasised that the planning process for the conference will still continue.

“This postponement does not mean that our preparations for the conference have come to a halt. During 2012 we will be working to ensure that we develop a compelling and relevant program for the event. And we will ensure top quality speakers.”

“Central to our decision to postpone the conference is the current strained economic conditions under which businesses are operating, said Mmatšatši Marobe, CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).“ We do not want this event to be another industry ‘talk shop’, but a platform where delegates can walk away from with a strong sense of confidence about the future of the sector. We shall use the additional time afforded to us by this postponement to try and get more associations on board, to make this conference more reflective of the broader travel and tourism industry,” Marobe added.

The 2012 Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Conference Southern Africa will be hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) in collaboration with five of its member associations. They are the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA), the Association of South African Travel Agents (Asata), the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa), the National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA), and the Southern African Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (Savrala). The unique joint event aims to combine the annual conferences of the TBCSA’s member associations into a single platform where

It was felt by all the associations that the current environment was not conducive for the industry to host an event of this nature.

“The reality is that right now our members are more concerned about keeping their businesses afloat and, as associations, it is important that we re-focus our resources where they are most needed,” she said.

Tourism Tattler will keep you abreast of new developments as they happen, so look out for our 2012 Conference Updates.

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EVENTS

Kimberley goes skateboard-crazy and celebrates hugely successful Maloof Money Cup Sports-mad South Africa is accustomed to major international events, but the country’s successful foray into extreme pro skateboarding in the Northern Cape diamond city of Kimberley has trumped all expectations.

Kimberley was a proud – and extremely successful – host of the skateboarding world championships, the Maloof Money Cup, an event that with its gravity-defying high-speed manoeuvres and street-skating tricks left the city delirious with excitement and completely skate-crazy.

Tens of thousands of newly-converted young and old skateboarding fans thronged the city’s high-tech skate park, many of them having travelled from as far afield as Pretoria and Cape Town for the event. Hotels were sold out all weekend, camp sites were overflowing and city authorities relaxed alcohol laws to allow for all restaurants and bars to stay open throughout the three days of competition, as skateboard fever hit Kimberley. A concert featuring Grammy-award winner Lil Jon and some of South Africa’s top acts such as HHP, Gang of Instrumentals and Kabelo Mabalane added to the carnival atmosphere.

And the pro skaters were equally enthusiastic and complimentary about their time in Kimberley.

“This is my first time in South Africa and I’ve had such a great time,” said Gagnon, known affectionately as “PLG” in skating circles. “The people out here are so supportive to vert skating and skateboarding in general.

It’s amazing that Maloof is leaving a perfect vert ramp for the kids to learn on. I’m looking forward to coming back out here in the years to come and hopefully have more time to just hang out and see more of this incredible country,” Gagnon added.

Hazel Jenkins, premier of the Northern Cape Province, described the event as a resounding success.

“By hosting this prestigious event, we did not only focus attention on the province as a supreme adventure sports destination, but it was also a great nation-building exercise. This event has really galvanised the people of the Northern Cape to come together and show the world what we can offer. We are extremely proud of what we achieved and I want to thank everyone who helped make this such an inspirational event. To all the competitors, thank you for giving us three days of pure adrenaline and the best skateboarding action this country has ever seen. Thank you to all our visitors over the past couple of weeks and we hope that we’ve provided lasting memories and that you return to our beautiful province soon,” said Jenkins.

The event’s creator Joe Maloof, owner of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the famous Palms Hotel and Casino Resort in Las Vegas, rated the competition venue – which he will now leave as a legacy to Kimberley’s young skaters – as the ‘best skate park in the world’.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. The fans were absolutely incredible. The people here in South Africa, and Kimberley welcomed us with open arms and we’ve had the time of our lives. This is an incredible country and we are excited for the future of skateboarding here and I’m confident we’ll see a champion from South Africa emerge very soon,” an ecstatic Maloof said after his experiment of bringing the event outside US borders for the first time paid off handsomely in the Northern Cape.

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South African Tourism was one of the main sponsors of the event and praised the Northern Cape Government for attracting the event to the province and also for staging it so spectacularly well.

“The Maloof Money Cup was clearly a huge success and has brought considerable global exposure from a completely new market to the Northern Cape. The skaters and the Maloof family leave South Africa delighted with their experience, excited to be returning for the next two years and as influential ambassadors for our destination. We would like to congratulate the Northern Cape authorities for the hard work that went into staging the event and commend them on the great success of the Maloof Money Cup,” said Roshene Singh, South African Tourism’s Chief Marketing Officer.

GLOBAL TOURISM

Protecting the Female Traveller

Since the inception of modern tourism women have played a significant role in the development of the world’s largest composite industry, says Dr Peter Tarlow, author of the Tourism Tidbits newsletter from the USA. harassment’ then do everything possible to avoid single travel. Even in highly sensitised countries women should use extra precautions.

- Know your security strengths and weaknesses. Never begin to think of any form of security without first doing a clear analysis. Go through your locale and develop lists of what might be a special danger to female guests. While many women are good at spotting danger, it is not their responsibility to know each and every danger spot; instead it is the host community or business that needs to pay extra attention to female security needs.

- Educate your staff and then educate some more! Your security is only as good as the people who work not only in security but on the front lines. Take the time to speak with all front line personnel about women’s security issues. Make sure they are sensitive to the special needs of women travelling alone and know how to give good and correct advice.

- Use social networks. Seek out networks that serve the travelling woman. Many of these networks can provide up to the minute advice.

A quick search of the web provides a wealth of information regarding women’s travel networks.

When educating your staff and/or yourself about women’s travel safety consider some of the following points:

In many nations around the world women hold cabinet level positions in tourism and head their nation’s tourism industry. Women not only play a significant role in the tourism and travel industry but as more and more women have entered into the work-force, women have an important segment of the travelling public. The term ‘single woman traveller’ does not refer to a woman’s marital status but rather to the fact that she is travelling alone, be that trip for reasons of pleasure or business. Because women are now such an important part of the tourism and travel industry, they demand and receive specific travel amenities. Successful travel and tourism businesses, for example, take into account specific female security needs. Here are some ideas to consider for improving the security of your tourism entity or community for the ‘single’ female traveller.

* At hotels, whenever possible help female guests to avoid ground-floor rooms. These are the rooms to which it is easiest for a potential attacker to gain access. Instead seek the third or fourth floor, and in sight of the elevator. * Always carry a flashlight. It is amazing how a flashlight may scare off a potential assailant. * If you car breaks down do not stay in it alone. You are safer on foot than locked in a car that cannot move. If you are in a car you have become a virtual prisoner of someone coming along. Being outside on foot is not pleasant but does allow for mobility * A woman should never walk alone on poorly lit paths, close to bushes or in places where you cannot be seen, this rule of security is as valid in the day as it is in the night. * Remember that while all women may be subjected to rape drugs, this is especially true of any woman travelling in a country that is not her own.

Be careful whom you drink with, what you drink and into whose vehicle you enter. * Make sure that someone knows who you are, and where you are, and never forget that there are those who see a single woman as a prime candidate for sexual assault. * When travelling abroad, even for purposes of business, dress according to the dictates of the host culture. While it is not fair to victimise a woman due to the way she may choose to dress, the fact is that in some cultures a woman is blamed for being assaulted simply due to the dress code that she chooses to follow. * Watch your purse/bag at all times. Purse-snatchers and other crimes of distraction artists often seek out single women travellers and assume that women are easier targets then are men. Often purse-snatchers prefer crowded areas. Always stay alert in places like bus stations and during street celebrations, where you are likely to be jostled - thieves use these circumstances to grab purses, handbags and briefcases from women travellers. * If someone does snatch your purse, let it go. If it is not a matter of life or death, then you are probably better off simply losing the item. If it is a matter of life and death, scream, run and hit the attacker where it will hurt the most.

- Fair game?

The world is not always fair to women. Although blatantly sexist and unfair in many parts of the world, a woman travelling by herself is considered to be ‘fair game.’ The first rule of thumb then is to know the culture to which you are travelling. If the culture tolerates ‘sexual

The bottom line: while all travellers need to practice safe and secure travel habits and no matter who the person is there is always risk, single women travellers have a higher rate of possibly becoming victims. To avoid this problem always use an extra dose of common sense.

The tourism industry is proud of the fact that as one of the world’s newest industries, women have played a profound role in tourism success. One only needs to attend almost any tourism or travel industry conference to note quickly that women not only form a significant proportion of those in attendance, but also often are in the majority. Women hold top CEO positions throughout the industry to the point that no one in the travel and tourism industry gives a second thought to a person’s gender. In the world of travel agencies, the great majority are women and at least in the United States women are often not merely travel agents but also the agencies’ owners.

That is not to say that women have not been exploited in such roles as sexual professionals. Furthermore, women in at least some of the developing world often do not have the same gender-bias free opportunities as they do in the more developed nations. Gender equality, however is not equally distributed. Thus, while in some countries women have not moved beyond menial tasks in other nations such as Guatemala, Belize, and Tanzania women have made significant progress and are on par with their sisters in the more developed world.

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GLOBAL TOURISM

Rugby World Cup 2011 drives US$1.67bn into global sports economy: MasterCard Research Rugby World Cup 2011 could generate US$1.67 billion (NZ$2 billion) for the global sports economy with overseas visitors to New Zealand generating US$654 million (NZ$782.5 million), according to new research commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide.

New Zealand’s narrow 8-7 win over France to clinch the World Rugby Cup title will be old news by the time you read this article, but the pre-event statistics do highlight the economic impact that England can expect when the they host the event in 2015. Ed. MasterCard’s research – the Economic Impact on Global Rugby Part IV: Rugby World Cup 2011 – finds that sport associated economic activity may be worth up to US$11.7 billion (NZ$14 billion) to the New Zealand economy by the end of the decade.

The research is the fourth installment in a series commissioned by MasterCard Worldwide and undertaken by the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS) at Coventry University, following economic impact reports on the 2010 Six Nations and Tri Nations Rugby Tournaments and a report on Rugby’s Emerging Markets in April. The latest installment examines the value of RWC 2011 by looking at the short-term commerce flow through international fans spending in bars, clubs, shops, hotels, bookmakers and inside host stadia, along with spending by sponsors and organisations on marketing in the cities around matches. It also examines the longer-term economic impacts on New Zealand’s economy and the legacy of the Tournament as a whole.

Delivering the report to media and guests at a briefing in Auckland, CIBS Researcher Dave Arthur said the Tournament would stand out from its predecessors.

“This Tournament will be like no other: it will attract stronger than ever interest across the world, which will in turn boost commercial interest in and activity around the event,” he said.

The report finds that by the end of the decade, consumer expenditure in the New Zealand sports economy may be worth up to US$1 billion (NZ$1.2 billion). Increased tourism, civic sponsorship and business development resulting from the Tournament is estimated to be US$1.21 billion (NZ$1.44 billion), while the number of people working in sport-related occupations could rise to between 52,000 and 58,000 by the end of the decade, according to the report. Other factors likely to enhance shortterm and long-term economic activity include the later time scheduling for RWC 2011 matches and the ongoing development of Rugby in emerging market countries such as Romania, which has seen a 222 per cent increase of Rugby participation since Rugby World Cup 2003, and Russia, who will be competing in their first Rugby World Cup. Rugby World Cup’s enhanced brand value The Tournament will attract stronger than ever interest across the world due to the increased strength of the Rugby World Cup brand and the significance of it returning to its spiritual home – Rugby World Cup 2011 will be the first time the Tournament has returned to the same host nation and the same Final venue since 1987.

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Based on advanced ticket sales more than 95,000 international fans will have visited New Zealand for RWC 2011. Total ticket sales, which (including domestic sales) are expected to reach 1.35 million, and will generate revenue of US$224.5million (NZ$268.5 million) for Tournament organisers.

“For the Tournament to be contested in the sport’s spiritual home with the host nation ranked as number one in the world and among the strongest sport brands in the world, further enhances brand equity and the appeal of Rugby World Cup,” said Professor Simon Chadwick, Director of the Centre for the International Business of Sport (CIBS) at Coventry University.

“Rugby World Cup is one of the top global sports events in the world behind the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Not only will New Zealand be benefiting from its impact and legacy for years to come, but the broader global sports economy will welcome the boost that this Tournament delivers.”

The late scheduling of matches – many Pool games kick off at 8.30pm, while the semi-finals and Final kick off at 9pm – are likely to encourage more spending in and around the cities hosting matches as fans enjoy the local hospitality before games, the report says. An added ‘Sunday Bonus’ is predicted in the form of increased numbers of people travelling to Auckland for the Final. The report says the late scheduling will also offer a boost to broadcasters with a global audience of around 4 billion people expected to tune in to watch the Tournament.

IRB Chief Executive, Mike Miller said: “RWC is one of the world’s top three major sports events and the largest in the world this year. As the report underlines, it will drive significant economic activity around the globe and, in particular, in New Zealand, both during the Tournament and in the longer-term.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011 BY NUMBERS • US$224.5 million (NZ$268.5 million) ticket revenue based on sales of 1.35 million tickets • US$204.1 million (NZ$241.7 million) to be spent on accommodation during the Tournament • US$187.7 million (NZ$224.5 million) to be spent on food and beverage • 7.5 million litres of beer to be poured • 7.35 million pies and sausages to be consumed • 150,000 litres of sports drinks to be consumed • Total economic activity from visitors generated by RWC 2011 could amount to US$654 million; • Sport-related economic activity in New Zealand may be worth up to US$11.7 billion by the end of the decade “We have no doubt the Tournament will be spectacular and memorable.

It is being contested in a nation that loves Rugby and is ranked number one in the world and will be more competitive and unpredictable than ever. Alongside the more established Rugby nations, fans will be able to see emerging nations such as Russia, who will be playing in their first RWC, and Romania where participation has risen 222 per cent since 2003, adding to the appeal of the Tournament and inspiring further growth.”

GLOBAL TOURISM

Hotel Investors Inflate Property Prices Past Demand for Lodging Record prices being paid by investors for U.S. hotels may be outpacing gains in room rates and stays as the slow economic recovery damps a lodging revival, writes Nadja Brandt of Bloomberg.

Prices for lodging properties climbed to about $185,000 a room in the first quarter, according to research firm Real Capital Analytics Inc. Values had peaked at $153,000 per room in 2006, then plunged 37 per cent to a low two years ago.

This year’s jump is the result of a surge in luxury-hotel transactions and more purchases by real estate investment trusts, particularly in large cities. While lodging occupancies and rates are climbing, the gains aren’t enough to keep up with prices being paid for some full-service properties, said Rick Kleeman, managing partner at Wheelock Street Capital LLC, a real estate investment firm in Greenwich, Connecticut.

“Asset prices on average have led fundamentals,” said Kleeman, whose company bought the Courtyard San Diego Downtown and the Hyatt Westlake Plaza, both in California, this year. “Obviously you have fundamentals improving, but clearly the economy is not picking up as fast as we had hoped. It’s not the ’06 or ‘07 crazy market but, on average, the market has run ahead of itself.”

Occupancies in the top 25 U.S. markets climbed to 63 per cent in the first quarter from 60 per cent a year earlier, according to Smith Travel Research Inc. of Hendersonville, Tennessee. At hotels with the costliest rooms, stays rose to 67 per cent from 63 per cent.

The U.S. recovery is showing signs of slowing. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index has tumbled 5.9 per cent from an almost three- year high in April, and manufacturing, employment and housing are trailing economists’ estimates.

INCREASES SINCE LEHMAN In the 24 months following September 2008, when Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. failed, contributing to the U.S. recession, hotels fetched prices as much as 71 per cent higher than during the lodging industry’s peak, according to New York- based Real Capital.

The JW Marriott New Orleans sold in February of this year for $94.3 million, up from the $55 million price paid in January 2008. The Hilton Garden Inn Chelsea in New York City sold in September 2010 for $68.4 million, 24 per cent higher than its $55 million price in October 2007, Real Capital said. Values have gained even outside major cities. The Holiday Inn in Oak Hill, West Virginia, sold for $3.5 million in July 2010, up 40 per cent from when it last sold, in September 2007. “Pricing is pretty aggressive,” Barry Sternlicht, founder of real estate investor Starwood Property Trust Inc. (STWD), said in an interview at the New York University International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference in New York on June 6. “Even for generic hotels you get 20, 30 bids.”

‘WELL BELOW’ PEAKS Daily room rates averaged $94.05 last year, and revenue per available room, an industry measure of occupancy and rate, was $42.40, according to Real Capital. That’s ‘well below’ the 2008 peaks of $106.65 and $54.42, said Ben Thypin, an analyst at the firm. Hotel sales in the Americas are likely to jump as much as 25 per cent this year, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.’s hotel investment-services unit said on January 04. Values have been driven up chiefly by demand from REITs, which purchased $1.6 billion of hotels in the first quarter. That’s 44 per cent of those traded and five times the total of REIT purchases in all of 2007, the peak year for hotel sales, Real Capital said.

MONDRIAN LOS ANGELES REITs are focusing on full-service properties in large cities. This week, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (PEB) agreed to buy stakes in six New York boutique hotels for $152 million, and earlier this year bought the Mondrian Los Angeles for $137 million and the W Hotel in Boston for $89.5 million. Pebblebrook planned to spend $400 million to $600 million on hotels during the balance of 2011, Chief Executive Officer Jon Bortz said in April.

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. (SHO), the Aliso Viejo, California- based owner of 33 lodging properties across the U.S., in March agreed to buy a

majority stake in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel, valuing it at $475 million. The property, completed in December 2008, originally cost $350 million, according to its developer, Atlanta-based Portman Holdings LLC. Sunstone acquired the hotel at a valuation of 13.4 times 2010 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, “meaningfully below our corporate EBITDA multiple,” Sunstone President Kenneth Cruse said in an e-mail.

“Our valuation of the hotel is a function of its in-place cash flows, protected location, future growth potential and competitive supply trends – all of which are very attractive,” he said.

‘JUSTIFY A PRICE’ “If people are buying at par or a slight premium, they can justify a price with future growth,” said Charles Pinkham III, vice president of development at Portman. That reasoning has contributed to hotel capitalization rates, a measure of investment yield, falling to record lows of 4 per cent last year, according to Steve Rushmore, president and founder of HVS, a hospitality-consulting firm. He expects rates of 3 per cent to 5 per cent in the luxury tier, and 4 per cent to 7 per cent for upper-upscale properties, the segment one level below luxury.

“Pricing even at midscale hotels is pretty aggressive at a 6 per cent cap rate,” Sternlicht said during a panel discussion at the NYU hospitality conference. “Usually it’s more around 9 to 10 per cent.”

NEW YORK HOTELS In April, FelCor Lodging Trust Inc. (FCH) agreed to buy the Royalton and Morgans boutique hotels in New York City from Morgans Hotel Group Co. (MHGC) for $140 million, or about $500,000 per room. FelCor expects a minimum cap rate of 5 per cent at the hotels, said Stephen Schafer, a company spokesman. FelCor, based in Irving, Texas, looks for acquisitions that, “purchased at a substantial discount to replacement cost, will earn a 10 per cent cash yield within a short time,” he said in an e-mail. Some buyers say the prices being paid for hotels are justified as long as they’re below what it would cost to build the same property at the same location from the ground up.

“When you buy below physical replacement cost at a time nobody is building, it’s usually a good investment,” Jonathan Gray, co-head of real estate at Blackstone Group LP (BX), said at the New York conference.

Pebblebrook, based in Bethesda, Maryland, seeks properties priced at 20 per cent to 50 per cent below the cost of building new, CEO Bortz said in an April interview.

REPLACEMENT COSTS In some cases, hotel values have begun to creep ahead of even replacement costs, Mark Elliott, a partner at Atlanta-based brokerage Hodges Ward Elliott Inc., said at the NYU conference. That may be the first step toward a resumption of hotel construction. In such cities as New York, “hotels are routinely trading at $200,000 per key above what it would cost to replace them,” he said.

“Hotel demand is closely correlated with overall economic growth, so if you think you know what 2014 hotel demand is going to be, you’d have to know what 2014 GDP is going to be,” said Kleeman of Wheelock. “We are less certain we have that answer. One thing you can say for sure for hotels is things can change overnight.”

SOURCE: Nadja Brandt in Los Angeles at nbrandt@bloomberg.net 6/2011

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HOSPITALITY

How to turn your guesthouse into an events location 2010 came and went, leaving in its wake a range of businesses that sprang up to fill the needs the thousands of tourists brought with them. With these tourists back in their distant countries, many business owners have been left with a severely depleted market and resources they no longer have any use for, says GetSmarter.

Guesthouse owners have really taken a hit, as their establishments, set up specifically for 2010, can no longer bring in enough profit to keep afloat.

However, with a bit of clever tweaking, you can transform your business into one that will bring in the bucks again. Here are a few tips for turning your guesthouse into a venue for various events.

Work with what you have The good news is you already have a lot of what you need. You have the venue, you will most likely have retained some staff, and you have probably begun to develop some good contacts through running your guesthouse.

Work on the strengths of your location. If you’re situated in lush natural surroundings, perhaps place an emphasis on weddings or more elaborate events that will be enhanced by the environment. If your guesthouse is situated in the city, focus rather on hosting work functions or parties for

young adults. If you’re in a more suburban area, perhaps aim rather for birthday parties and rites of passage, bar mitzvahs, or engagement parties.

Work out what you’ll need Unfortunately, there will be a lot of work to do before your guesthouse will be able to function as an events venue. The first step is to figure out how the space will have to be reorganised to accommodate your new business.

You will most likely have a big dining or lounge area that could be converted into the central events location. Perhaps, if you opened a backpackers, you might already have a dancing area. You might consider doing some serious renovations, such as knocking down a few walls to make some space and cut down the number of individual rooms. Obviously you’ll need to get rid of / store a lot of furniture, such as beds and cupboards.

Hopefully you’ll have a kitted-out kitchen, which can function as a catering centre where the food can be prepared or held and waiters can work from, if you hire a catering service.

You’d do well to hire an interior designer to feel out the space and help you decide what can stay, and what needs to change.

Make plans Once you’ve prepared the space, you will need to develop a new business plan, and hire any staff you may need. Do some market research, start gathering contacts in the industry and get a loan from the back if you need to. This is a new venture, and even though you’ve started out with some of the necessary components, you’ll still needed to treat it like a fresh start.

The part-time University of Cape Town Guest House Management short course is presented online throughout South Africa. Contact Kerry on 021 447 7565 or visit www.getsmarter.co.za for more information about the course.

Ground-breaking hotel ID scheme Travel Technology Initiative (TTI) together with the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) are set to launch a revolutionary new hotel identification service.

Called TTIcodes, the service will offer unique hotel identifiers for every hotel used by tour operators, bedbanks, and other subscribers. Importantly, TTIcodes will be in the public domain, so allowing hotels to publicize their own unique TTIcodes. This will avoid the confusion that is currently rife in the industry as it struggles with hotel names that are misspelled, wrongly translated, or simply incorrect.

The problem and the solution With dynamic packaging being commonplace, tour operators and others struggle with the de-duplication of multiple electronic bed-bank feeds, not knowing, for example, whether the Grand Hotel or Hotel Grande are one of the same property. TTIcodes will address this. Initially, 200,000 hotels have been assigned a unique 8-digit TTIcode.

The service is being run by German company, GIATA. The basic offering will provide subscribers with hotels’ TTIcodes and basic address information. Other options include hotels’ geocodes, vital for showing a hotel’s location on online maps, and cross-referenced ID codes of 250+ distribution channels. Travel companies will be able to submit their own hotel databases for coding should their hotels not have TTIcodes already assigned.

TTI and ETOA members will benefit from heavily-discounted pricing, with the basic service starting at EUR202 per month.

Peter Dennis, Chairman of TTI, stated: “TTIcodes is nothing less

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than a revolution for the travel industry. As the service rolls out, it will completely address the de-duplication nightmare faced by every travel company that takes several bedbank feeds. At last, here is a solution that will provide categoric identification of each and every hotel. This will save travel companies an enormous amount of time and effort. I am delighted that TTI is able to play its part in helping the industry to become more efficient.”

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA, said: “We are happy to be part of this project. TTIcodes should make a real difference to consumers and so to our members, in a stroke, it removes a major area of confusion.”

TTIcodes is currently being tested by several beta customers. A full launch of the service is set for October 4.

Source: tti.org

HOSPITALITY

Eco Surface Protectant helps hospitality ‘Greening’ initiatives Many accommodation establishments place cards in their guest rooms that state; Save Our Planet: Every day, millions of gallons of water are used to wash towels that have only been used once. You make the choice: A towel on the rack means, ‘I will use again.’ A towel on the floor means, ‘Please replace’.

However, an increasing number of environmentally conscious tourists view such efforts as ‘greenwashing’ – a phrase that describes a hotel’s attempt to take ‘green credit’ for reducing their laundry bill rather than introducing more genuine reforms, in the laundry room and elsewhere.

One such reform could be to nano-coat towels and linen with nano-technology Ceracoat Ceramic surface protectant. Nano-technology, the science of manipulating matter at nanometer sizes (a millionth of a millimeter), modifies the typical characteristics of the raw material being manipulated with surprising results. In the case of an organical functionable Polysilane system, the active ingredient in Ceracoat, the nano-particles become highly hydrophobic (water repellent), ultra-violet stable and stain resistant.

The raw materials for functionable polysilane coatings are rich in natural content and are therefore environmentallyfriendly. Most sand on the earth is made up of silicon dioxide (quartz). Not only is there plenty of it but, because of its durability and chemical resistance, it is ideal for application in the hospitality industry. By reducing the requirement for cleaning agents or other chemical processing products, the functional properties of Ceracoat aid in protecting the environment.

Due to Ceracoat’s anti-adherence properties, treated fabrics need only be wiped or flushed with water to remove dirt and grime. This translates to enormous cost savings in cleaning and washing detergent expenditure, while also extending the durability and replacement frequency of treated

Agents Needed Ceracoat South Africa are looking for distribution agents throughout the Southern Africa (SADC) region. This is a fantastic opportunity to not only try out the efficacy of the product in your own hospitality environment but also to earn additional revenue.

items. The treated fabric becomes highly water repellent, anti bacterial, ultra-violet stable and stain resistant. In addition, the appearance, tactile feel, porosity (breathing) and colour of the fabric is not affected in any way.

As a result of its microscopic composition, Ceracoat has incredible coverage. Just 200ml of sprayed on application will waterproof about 10m2 of fabric and will remain active after 20 washes, even at 60ºC. The product can also be added to the fabric conditioner compartment of washing machines during the last programme cycle. Just 100ml is sufficient to waterproof 3kg of fabric. Thermal dying such as tumble-drying or ironing enhances the waterproofing properties.

From a cost point of view, nano-coating is more than selffunded through savings gained in detergent expenditure and in less frequent linen replacement costs, not to mention the added advantage of contributing towards your eco-friendly efforts.

Perhaps the time has come to reword those ‘Save our Planet’ cards with; All towels and linen in this hotel have been nano-treated. An eco-friendly coating that is anti bacterial and stain resistant and eliminates the need for cleaning with washing detergents, thus reducing our impact on the environment.

For more information contact: Ceracoat South Africa on 032 946 2554 / 082 374 7260 or e-mail des@ ceracoatsouthafrica.co.za or visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ceracoat-SouthAfrica/204796156231758 6/2011

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HOSPITALITY

Putting lifestyle into guest houses I consider myself fortunate in that in my spare time I ride a Harley Davidson, and it occurred to me recently that the Harley and the guesthouse have so much in common, says Dave Jack of BnB SURE. Why would anybody want to ride a Harley when there are so many other options? The Harley is expensive. It’s heavy.

It’s slow.

In 1980 when Harley Davidson was on the brink of bankruptcy, the newly appointed CEO sat down with his team and said “what can we do?”

They knew that they had to have a good product and that it had to be different, and so they came up with the idea that they would offer their riders an experience they couldn’t get from riding any other motorcycle They offered them a lifestyle.

30 years later that idea is still working and Harley Davidson in South Africa, despite the so-called recession, is struggling to keep up with the demand for bikes.

Lifestyle. That ‘home from home’ feeling. A very relaxed atmosphere.

Access to the owner (in most cases). You arrive as a guest and leave as a friend – the list goes on.

Guesthouses in these socalled ‘tough times’ have never been better placed to be running full.

We hear an ongoing shout of desperation: “Business people are not travelling any longer! They do everything by conference calling!”

Why then are all the local flights almost always full? Why then - if there is nobody to fill them - are new hotels popping up all over the place?

So what on earth does this have in common with guesthouses?

Hotels are cutting their rates to amounts that would seem to be lower than those offered by the average guesthouse. But those rates in most cases exclude breakfast - which can range anywhere from R65 to around R125 per person. Add the cost of breakfast to the room cost and suddenly those ‘cheap’ rates aren’t that cheap after all.

THE GUEST HOUSE PRODUCT It isn’t price. So what can guesthouses offer the tourist (business or leisure – foreign or local) that other types of accommodation can’t?

B&Bs and guesthouses, either in local associations or individually, need to sit down and find an answer to the question “What can we do?” - and when they have that answer, focus on offering something that other forms of accommodation can’t.

Find that answer and suddenly price is no longer the main factor. Just as it isn’t with Harley Davidson.

Brought to you by BnB SURE - South Africa’s most comprehensive insurance policy for B&Bs and Guest Houses.

Launching the $29 a night budget hotel room in Africa Lonrho Plc’s wholly owned subsidiary, Lonrho Budget Hotels Ltd, has signed a 20 year master franchise agreement (‘MFA’) with easyHotel to open and operate an easyHotel network across Africa. The MFA provides Lonrho with the exclusive rights to the easyHotel brand in Africa and sets out an agreed opening schedule for fifty properties by 2016.

The opening schedule will focus on African destinations already served by easyJet, as well as other large cities across the continent, which have demonstrated significant domestic and international demand for clean, safe and consistent quality branded hotel accommodation.

“

W

e are delighted to have the exclusive rights to develop the easyHotel concept across Africa. The low-cost value hotel market is currently undeveloped on the continent yet is the fastest growing sector of African hotel market. Lonrho plans to open the first easyHotel in Africa in 2012 and intends to grow the chain to more than fifty hotels by 2016, taking the Lonrho easyHotel to the majority of the larger cities across the continent.”

The hotels will be branded ‘easyHotel.com’ and designated as ‘a Lonrho Hotel’ to build maximum market presence and credibility. The ‘easy’ brand, owned by Sir Stelios HajiIoannou, is one of the worlds most recognised and successful value for money brands.

easyHotel is a well established chain of budget hotels based in London with hotels spanning from as far north as Edinburgh and as far south as Dubai, focused on delivering high quality, international-standard bedrooms at an affordable price.

Typical easyHotel customers seek a modern, comfortable bedroom for the night, placing a higher priority on exceptional value rather than the peripheral services that make traditional hotels more expensive. easyHotel will be the first trans-continental hotel brand in Africa specifically designed to be accessible to many, not a select few. easyHotel’s unique low-cost business model permits the customer to enjoy an international standard bedroom at a highly competitive price.

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easyHotel has a sophisticated booking system to maximise customer discounts. Rates vary based on how far in advance the room is booked, personal requirements during a stay and other criteria. This system enables easyHotel to provide highly competitive accommodation rates starting as low as US$29 per night.

WHY AFRICA? Africa is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The African market is being stimulated by an increasing inflow of tourist and business visitors combined with an indigenous population of a billion people with a rapidly growing disposable income. (McKinsey forecastthat indigenous African consumer spending will be $1.6 trillion by 2020.)

Commenting on the MFA, David Lenigas, Executive Chairman of Lonrho said: “Lonrho is already a significant brand name across Africa. We believe that combining it with the ‘easy’ brand, which is well-known for highly successful budget operations; to create the Lonrho ‘easyHotel’ chain will satisfy the growing demand from consumers across the continent. Each LonrhoeasyHotel will provide quality, clean, safe, consistent, and branded hotel accommodation from as low as US$29 per night.

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, Chairman of easyGroup commented: “easyGroup is delighted to be working exclusively with Lonrho to develop the easyHotel network across Africa. We look forward to establishing easyHotel as the pre-eminent pan-African budget hotel chain. The economic development of the African market, supported by the significant number of foreign visitors, large scale urbanisation and the growing disposable income of the one billion people in the domestic market,clearly provides demand for a safe, value for money, budget hotel chain of consistent, predictable quality.”

HOSPITALITY

Current state of SA’s hotel market from a global perspective “South Africa has very few distressed hotel situations when compared with other parts of the world and for hotels which do get into trouble, solutions can invariably be found,” says Demes. “Simply measuring the RevPAR (revenue per available room) for the first six months of 2011 and comparing it to the same period in 2010 does not reflect the full picture, as the Soccer World Cup during June/July last year saw a substantial influx of visitors to South Africa and a related increased demand for accommodation. As a result, while RevPAR Avondrood, a 4-Star boutique guesthouse, well positioned a stone’s throw from for 1 January to 30 June 2011 reflected a decrease of the main road in sought after Franschhoek, in the Cape Winelands, was sold by 16.5 per cent (measured in SA Rand), occupancy levels Pam Golding Lodges & Guesthouses for close to the asking price of R7.9 million. reflected a much lower decrease of 6.4 per cent. And from an international perspective, South Africa’s July 2011 year to date He points out that one of the key issues facing the industry is ‘cost-push’ RevPAR of US$ 64.39 declined by 14.9 per cent compared to the same related inflation affecting utility and transportation costs. The sustained period last year, a figure that still compares favourably with the USA’s July abnormal increase in electricity costs, together with the substantial 2011 year to date RevPAR of US$61.33.” increase in water, gas and property rates cost present a significant challenge to hotel operators. “The fact is these costs have increased Compared to the rest of the world, and seen substantially above inflation rates while the current market dynamics against the backdrop of a somewhat volatile global are repressing room rates and the ability to yield pricing, while fuel price increases present a further ‘cost-push’ pressure on operating costs. As economy, South Africa’s hotel industry is doing a result, turnarounds are debilitated by these uncontrollable factors as relatively well, writes Gaye de Villiers following an well as the prevailing market dynamics which are driven by increased interview with Joop Demes, CEO of Pam Golding inventory and the discounting regime.

Hospitality, a member of the Pam Golding Property group.

Demes says when viewed in the context of the increased occupancy level during the World Cup, coupled with the full absorption of increased hotel room inventory – much of which came on line just prior to the World Cup – it reflects a marked move towards a bottoming-out of the recession and global contagion which has driven consistent decline over the past three years.

“If the effects of the World Cup period demand were factored out, then we would see levels which were flat or at least stable year on year, as the drop in occupancy is directly driven by the increased demand during this major event. The next six months will be the acid test for whether the hotel industry is stabilising and moving toward a recovery phase in 2012. Rates, however, are not expected to increase substantially as the inventory-driven competitive environment remains a challenge to effective yielding in the industry.”

He says to gain a clearer perspective, by examining room rates further, and once again taking into account the recessionary trading conditions in recent years, South Africa’s hotel occupancy has decreased from 70.2 per cent for the year ended December 2008 to the current level of 53.9 per cent – driven by the global contagion, the recent South African economic recession and substantially impacted by the accelerated increase in hotel room inventory over the past three years. “However, the average room rate has increased from R795 for the year ended December 2008 to the current level of R847. While the average room rate is lower this year than last year, this is due to the considerably higher rates achieved during the World Cup, as before June 2010 the decline was only a few per cent,” says Demes.

“Viewing the hotel market internationally, it should be borne in mind that traditional markets have reflected no growth in international tourist arrivals, and in most cases declined as a direct result of prevailing global economic conditions. Conversely, it is anticipated that the improvement in growth of global travel to South Africa will be substantially driven by the exploration of new markets, with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) relationship proving to be critical over the long term,” says Demes.

The local view “While we currently have too much inventory at the four and five star level in most cities in South Africa, there are a number of good joint venture opportunities available with existing hotels, as there is no doubt that in a competitive market, branding, together with global reach and sales and marketing, are very important factors. There are certainly a number of good opportunities in the budget or economy sector of the market in primary and secondary cities, and we also see an opportunity for a ‘budget boutique’ or a B&B type of hotel – a hotel room that is appealing and has all the ‘bells and whistles’ but is small in size and in its public areas. In other words, a large version of a business class seat, as opposed to the large rooms with large public areas which we have seen to date in Africa, mainly due to the fact that land has been relatively cheap.”

On a further positive note, Demes says South Africa continues to attract buyers for small hotels and guesthouses, with appealing lifestyle and value for money being key factors. Pam Golding Lodges and Guesthouses has sold nine small hotels and guesthouses since the start of this year, mainly to European buyers, with an average selling price of R12 million.

He adds: “Looking ahead, the South African hotel industry still faces a challenging period of between two to three years. While 2012 is expected at best to reflect a marginal recovery on the 2010/11 period, the level of inventory dilution is considerable and demand needs to improve substantially to pre-2009 levels for a reasonable impact in the absorption of increased inventory. The years 2013 and 2014 are expected to reflect marked improvement, albeit strongly dependent on the local and global economic circumstances.

“With a presence in gateway cities in South Africa, the international and regional hotel operators will find it much easier to expand in a number of southern and western African countries. There are many hotels in our neighbouring states that offer an opportunity which, with a good refurbishment, strong global brand and a sound hotel operator, have the potential to operate so much better,” concludes Demes.

For further information contact Joop Demes of Pam Golding Hospitality on 082 883 2231 or e-mail jdemes@goldinghotels.co.za.

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LEGAL & LEGISLATION

FROM THE

EXISTING CLIENTS SECTION 11 (4) OF CPA READ WITH ANTICIPATED PROVISIONS OF THE PROTECTION OF PRIVATE INFORMATION ACT – I BELIEVE WORDING TO THE FOLLOWING EFFECT SHOULD SUFFICE:

With Advocate Louis Nel BENCHMARK ©

We are required in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (‘the CPA’) and regulations issued in terms thereof to obtain your express consent to receive future direct marketing from us.

CPA - What to do about direct marketing?

The Protection of Private Information Act (‘the PPI’)(soon to be enacted) requires of us to ascertain the nature of direct marketing you wish to receive from us.

As we all know by now the Consumer Protection Act (‘the CPA’) came into effect on April1st 2011. One of the areas that the CPA focuses on is privacy and more specifically ‘direct marketing’ – the latter is defined as ’approach(ing) a person, either in person or by mail or electronic communication, for the direct or indirect purpose of promoting or offering to supply, in the ordinary course of business, any goods or services to the person’ The CPA and the regulations appear to divide direct marketing into two categories (at this stage) – i.e. current clients and future/potential clients.

Regarding the former it (Regulation 4 (3)(g)) requires you to obtain the consent of all ‘existing clients’ after April 1st. That means existing clients where the direct marketer has proof that the existing client has after the commencement of these regulations, expressly consented to receiving direct marketing from the direct marketer.

The regulations (Regulation 4 (3)(g)) also require you not to approach any such future/potential clients in any manner on the assumption that their names appear in the register. A direct marketer must assume that a comprehensive pre-emptive block has been registered by a consumer, unless the administrator of the registry has in writing confirmed that a pre-emptive block has not been registered in respect of a particular name, identity number, fixed line telephone number, cellular telephone number, facsimile number, pager number, physical address, postal address, e-mail address, website uniform resource locator (URL) global positioning system co-ordinates or other identifier which the operator of the registry makes provision for submitted by the direct marketer for purposes of sub regulation (f).

You yourself as a direct marketer must (Regulation 4 (3)) do the following: (i) upon payment of a prescribed fee, if any, every direct marketer must register with the administrator of the registry as such, and must supply his, her or its postal and physical business address, telephone number, facsimile number, email address, and the name of a person who is responsible for any applications to be lodged under this regulation, and the telephone number, facsimile number, e-mail address of that responsible person. (j) every direct marketer must annually on the date of registration in writing confirm the details contemplated in sub regulation (i).

Please indicate below by ticking the appropriate box whether you wish to receive direct marketing from us and the nature of direct marketing you consent OR if you wish not to receive any direct marketing from us whatsoever, please tick the ‘NO MARKETING WHATSOEVER’ box:  ‘YES’ I WISH TO RECEIVE DIRECT MARKETING FROM …

THE NATURE OF DIRECT MARKETING I WISH TO RECEIVE IS THE FOLLOWING:  NEWSLETTERS  SPECIAL OFFERS  PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL  OTHER THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS I AM HAPPY FOR YOU TO USE ARE THE FOLLOWING:  E-MAIL  SMS  REGULAR MAIL  FACEBOOK  TELEFAX  TWITTER  ‘NO’ I DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE ANY MARKETING WHATSOEVER POTENTIAL CLIENTS SECTION 11 (4) OF CPA READ WITH ANTICIPATED PROVISIONS OF THE PROTECTION OF PRIVATE INFORMATION ACT – I BELIEVE WORDING TO THE FOLLOWING EFFECT SHOULD SUFFICE: We are required in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (‘the CPA’) and regulations issued in terms thereof to assume your name appears in the national register as a pre-emptive bock against any form of direct marketing. However as the register is not yet operational, we are approaching you BUT we offer you the opportunity to advise us to ‘desist from initiating any further communication’ The Protection of Private Information Act (‘the PPI’)(soon to be enacted) requires of us to ascertain the nature of direct marketing (if any) you wish to receive from us.

Please indicate below by ticking the appropriate box whether you wish to receive and if so the nature of direct marketing you consent OR if you wish not to receive any direct marketing from us whatsoever, please tick the ‘NO MARKETING WHATSOEVER’ box:  ‘YES’ I WISH TO RECEIVE DIRECT MARKETING FROM …

The problem is that neither registry is yet open and the DTI has only now gone out to tender for the managing thereof. There is a view that, when compared with the same ‘history’ overseas, it may take a couple of years before the registry is ‘up and running’! It means that until such time as the register for consumers has at least has been opened, the deeming provision above (‘... assume ... block ... registered by a consumer..’) cannot apply. The question is thus how do you deal with direct marketing approaches to consumers who are not ‘existing clients’?

I believe that if you meet the requirements of the CPA (section 11) you should be OK. So you must do the following: (4) A person authorising, directing or conducting any direct marketing(a) must implement appropriate procedures to facilitate the receipt of demands contemplated in subsection (2*); and (b) must not direct or permit any person associated with that activity to direct or deliver any communication for the purpose of direct marketing to a person who has made a demand contemplated in subsection (2*); * a person who has been approached for the purpose of direct marketing may demand during or within a reasonable time after that communication that the person responsible for initiating the communication desist from initiating any further communication.

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THE NATURE OF DIRECT MARKETING I WISH TO RECEIVE IS THE FOLLOWING:  NEWSLETTERS  SPECIAL OFFERS  PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL  OTHER THE COMMUNICATION CHANNELS I AM HAPPY FOR YOU TO USE ARE THE FOLLOWING:  E-MAIL  SMS  REGULAR  FACEBOOK  MAIL  TWITTER  TELEFAX  ‘NO’ I DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE ANY MARKETING WHATSOEVER For more information contact Adv. Louis Nel on 011 463 4556 or e-mail louis.nel@corporateoptions.co.za Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide a brief overview of legal matters pertaining to the travel, tourism and SMME industry and is not intended as legal advice. As every situation depends on its own facts and circumstances, professional advice should be sought in each instance. © Adv Louis Nel, BENCHMARK, SEPTEMBER 2011

Baby Boomers Feeling The Pinch Time to travel For some, it also means less time for travel.

Many baby boomers had thought that by the time they were in their 60s, they’d be able to kick back and travel at their leisure. This is why it’s so important now for companies to market to boomers in a new way.

The ‘golden years’ may not be so blissful after all. According to the Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com poll, “43 per cent of boomers polled said they were ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ worried about being able to pay for their medical costs, including long-term care. Almost the same number, 41 per cent, said losing their financial independence was a big concern.”

Realities such as a struggling economy, longer life spans and increasing health care costs are putting added stress on baby boomers, who are defined as those born between 1946 and 1964.

“I always say I am going to work until I’m in the ground,” said Ellie Krall of Manalapan, NJ, one of the boomers polled, to The AP. “I don’t see myself being able to fully retire like people were able to do years ago.”

Earlier this year at the American Express Luxury Summit in Park City, UT, Sam Sebastian, director of North American local and B2B markets for Google, stated that mobile and online technology are not just for the younger generations, but also for baby boomers.

“There is an ease of technology that has helped people get online,” he said, noting that boomers actually spend more time online per month than Gen-X. If you aren’t focused on the baby boomer segment with regard to travel, now is the time. “Boomers aren’t focused on deals as much,” Sebastian said.

“Our research points to the segment being focused on the quality of the experience. They still go to the top resorts, but maybe now for five days instead of seven.”

Of course, there are different kinds of boomers. “Boomers are not all created equal,” Olivia Mitchell, professor at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and executive director of the Pension Research Council, told The AP. “The youngest boomers – the people who were born in the 60s – face

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MARKETING more uncertainty about their pensions, their Social Security, their housing and their medical care.” Mitchell suggests that boomers stave off retirement as long as possible. “As long as you are still working then you’re not drawing down on your nest egg,” she said.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that “29.1 per cent of people aged 65 to 69 worked at least part-time last year. And almost 7 per cent of people aged 75 or older were employed in 2010.”

The AP-LifeGoesStrong.com poll was conducted from June 3-12 by Knowledge Networks of Palo Alto, CA, and involved online interviews with 1,416 adults, including 1,078 baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964.

The Boomer view Other information gleaned from the poll: Baby boomers are relatively optimistic they will live longer than their parents’ generation, with six in 10 (60 per cent) believing they will live at least a little longer. Only 12 per cent expect a shorter life span while 28 per cent believe it will be about the same.

Boomers are in less agreement, however, about whether their longer lives will be better than the previous generation: almost half (49 per cent) expect a better life than mom and dad, 25 per cent say it will be about the same, but just over a quarter (26 per cent) expect the quality of their lives will be worse.

SOURCE: Travel Mole USA/AP

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MARKETING

Meet the new SKI set The retirement years have always been seen as a twilight zone defined by financial caution and shrinking horizons. The emphasis used to be on home, garden and watching the pennies so a healthy legacy could be left for the children. But times are changing, writes Diana Appleyard.

Today’s pensioners are living much more active lifestyles – in which glamorous holidays around the world are far more likely to play a part than bridge nights and whist-drives. So common is this new generation of pensioner that it has even earned its own sobriquet: the ‘SKI set’, SKI an acronym for the fact that they are merrily Spending their Kids’ Inheritance.

Instead of staying close to home and preserving their hard-earned life savings for their offspring, SKIers are more likely to be sipping cocktails on the beach in Thailand or driving a camper van around Australia without a care in the world – while their children are struggling to make financial ends meet back in Britain as the economic crisis continues to bite. The contrast between the lifestyles of these two generations is stark, marked out on one side by parsimony and making-do, on the other by a self-indulgence regarded as just reward for a lifetime of hard work.

Bethan Davies would love to own her own home but, at the age of 31, she’s still renting. She can’t save for the £10,000 to £20,000 she needs as a deposit to buy a place of her own, and she says she wouldn’t dream of asking her parents for help. Which is just as well. Bethan’s parents – who own their four-bedroom semi-detached house in Cardiff outright after paying off their mortgage several years ago – are having a whale of a time spending their hard-earned money on travel, dining out and treating themselves.

Gwyneth and Gwynn Davies, both 64, are former teachers with healthy state-funded pension pots to finance their comfortable retirement. ‘I joke about the fact that they are spending my inheritance,’ says Bethan, an account manager who also lives in Cardiff. ‘But I totally understand they have worked long and hard to enjoy their retirement. Quite simply, they’re never at home. They’re always off on holiday – last year, for example, they took a four-month trip around the world. She smiles ruefully. While Bethan says she does not begrudge her parents having the time and money to kick up their heels and splash the cash, she does worry that her inheritance is dwindling fast. ‘I don’t feel I should be relying on my parents at my age, but I do feel sad that I don’t have my own home,’ she says. Bethan and her parents are a perfect illustration of how the gulf between pension-age baby boomers and their cash-strapped offspring has never been greater.

Gwyneth and Gwynn retired three years ago. They are typical of the SKI generation – well-off pensioners happy to spend their hard-earned life savings in style. In these times of financial hardship, the SKIers seem to be sitting pretty.

Pensioners spending power Many of today’s pensioners enjoy phenomenal spending power. The over60s in the UK have collective assets of a staggering £500 billion. Last year, pensioners spent around £240 billion on leisure – accounting for more than

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60 per cent of consumer spending. They spent £344 million on meals out, and £535 million on travel.

Bethan says: ‘I would really love to buy my own house, but I can’t save enough money from my salary for a deposit. As my parents jet off around the world, I can’t imagine ever being able to afford their lifestyle.’

They are probably the last British generation to have anything like a secure pension, and with 72 per cent of couples over the age of 60 having paid off their mortgage, they no longer face the enormous financial burdens of younger generations. They are also more likely to have saved harder for their retirement than their children, many of whom are now facing redundancy. These pensioners are also more energetic and healthier than ever before, having taken on board advice about eating the right foods and exercising. As a result, many are more likely to be found canoeing down the Zambezi than knitting.

Typical of these jet-set pensioners are Trish and Peter Thornton. Aged 65 and 64, they are both retired GPs living in Nottingham. They have two sons, Daniel and Justin, and four grandchildren. Trish says: ‘Since we retired at the age of 60, we have hardly been at home. Last year, we took our fourth trip to Australia and drove through the desert in a motor home. We love the desert and wild places, and as we both still have our health and vitality, we don’t see anything wrong in enjoying our freedom.’

The couple own their four-bedroom house, with a large garden, and have no mortgage. They also have substantial pensions built up during their working lives. Trish admits they have dipped into savings to fund their lavish trips, but says: ‘Why not? We have both worked long and hard, and the boys understand that it’s our money.

‘I think our generation of pensioners has a different attitude. While other generations might have saved for the next generation, we don’t see why we shouldn’t have the time of our lives during our retirement.’

The couple own a three-bedroom house in the south of France, and Peter has an Austin Healey sports car. Trish says: ‘We paid for the private education of both boys, and we worked full-time before we retired. Now this is ‘our’ time and we’re determined to make the most of it. We will leave the boys something, of course, but that isn’t our priority. In August we are going to South Africa, and we are going to drive up the coast from Cape Town. As long as we have our health, we’re going to enjoy our hard-earned money.’

Trish says her sons joke about their parents blowing their inheritance – but both have successful careers of their own, one as a surgeon, the other as an accountant.

Financing travel Then there are the growing number of pensioners dipping into the equity in their home to free up lump sums to finance their lifestyles. A major home equity release company, Just Retirement, has recorded a 50 per cent increase in equity release, with record sales in 2010.

Under the terms of equity release, pensioners effectively sell off part of the equity in their home, which becomes repayable either on the sale of their home, or on their death.

The SKI generation A recent survey by insurance giant Aviva revealed the changing nature of life for many of Britain’s SKI generation. Just 20 years ago, most pensioners believed they would spend their retirement babysitting their grandchildren, gardening and reading. Top of the list of favoured activities today, however, are travelling, socialising, shopping, and taking up an adventurous sport.

Part of the ‘to do’ list for many pensioners includes attending a music festival – and even dating someone younger than themselves. Retirement, according to the survey, is now viewed as a significant second stage in life, and pensioners still have many ambitions and dreams they hope to fulfil.

Life is by no means over once you hit 65.

SOURCE: DAILY MAIL ONLINE.

Tourism branding  the hidden power of ritual

MARKETING

The priceless power of rituals in travel experiences must be taken into account in marketing says Anita Mendiratta, CNN Task Group.

Walking down the busy street in Hanoi, a day of meetings over and a quiet night in the hotel ahead, he slowed his pace to be able to take in the here and now. The distance between the office and hotel was too close for a taxi, and the streets too alive with that wonderful colour and chaos to simply rush past. He also wanted to make sure that he did not leave without fulfilling the one last thing he had on his personal ‘to do’ list. He had to find a local craft shop, he had to find a Buddha.

attraction, retention, and ambassadorship.

They also become an element of competitive differentiation.

For as long as he had been travelling to Asia, wherever he went, he would take home a Buddha statue. For one of his colleagues, it was cufflinks, that was the preferred collectable. For him it was Buddhas, which was interesting as he wasn’t even a formal follower of the faith. His apartment back home had become home to a collection of Buddhas – bronze, marble, wood, jade, sandstone, large and small, made of materials from all across Asia. Each piece not only brought an artistic richness to his home, it reminded him of where he had been, even if just for a few days, making that time and place more real, giving it personal meaning and connection.

It was his ritual, the one thing he did for himself while he was busy doing business for his company.

EMBEDDING RITUALS WITHIN THE EXPERIENCE Interestingly, rituals, while an investment in guest experience and brand identity, need not even cost a penny. Simple ceremonies, inspired moments of pause, and even stimulation of a sense, can be all that is required to embed a ritual in the mind and heart of the traveller.

RITUALS We all have them. We all perform them in one way or another, whether we actively recognize them or not. They are more than just habits - repetitive actions done instinctively and often subconsciously. Instead, rituals are moments that add heightened meaning and memory to what could otherwise be a series of seconds that pass unacknowledged. For travellers, people constantly on the move and constantly entering places of change, rituals provide an important rhythm to life in transit. They create a sense of control, of balance, or of connection to a time and place. However defined and however performed, rituals can be powerful influences on who we Rituals are are, where we are, and what becomes anticipated, important to us.

undertaken with care, and celebrated with a simple private smile when complete. They are a part of who we are. And often, they add to the definition of how we live our lives.

A ritual may be as simple as waiting until on the plane, glass of champagne in hand, before leaving an “out of country on business” voicemail on one’s mobile phone to let callers know to text or email instead of leaving a voice message. The ritual may simply be ensuring both feet are flat on the floor of the plane during descent. It may be placing one’s personal reading by the bedside table as soon as entering a new hotel room so that a feeling of this is my place can be created. Or it may be collecting artefacts of a certain theme while travelling.

Rituals encourage us to pause, be still, mark the moment, and embed the memory. Importantly, they allow us to connect with a time and place, especially when the ritual is performed not just by us, but on us.

RITUALS IN TOURISM Travel and tourism, while an industry reliant on essential hardware – buildings, hotel rooms and facilities, convention centres, airports, aircraft – has become increasingly dependent on the software for customer

Rituals embedded in the travel experience offer brands – airlines, hotels, attractions – the ability to make a meaningful, personal connection with travellers.

Examples of such simple yet impactful rituals include: - Six Senses Sanctuary in Phuket: inviting guests to make a wish and strike a massive, hanging Asian Gong on both arrival and departure from the island, feeling the deep sound and vibrations of the gong as they set the tone for the guest’s wellness visit, and its enduring impact.

- Air Tahiti Nui: during flights to Tahiti, the airline distributes tiny white Tiare flower buds, the island nation’s national flower, seeding the scent in the minds and memories of travellers, offering a fragrant embrace of ‘welcome’ to first-time visitors and ‘welcome home’ to those returning… and creating an aromatic connection to Tahiti and her islands wherever in the world that traveller encounters that scent in the future.

- Doubletree Hotels: since the 1980s, Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies have become a signature part of guest check-in, given to guests warm and deliciously gooey. Offered in more than 200 hotels and resorts worldwide, at present 30,000 cookies are given to guests every day of the week - more than 10,950,000 every year.

CREATE YOUR OWN RITUAL When seen as an investment, the value of rituals is priceless.

Importantly, each and every destination, property, and attraction in the world has the ability to create a single, signature ritual that can act as a powerful part of the brand’s DNA and delivery. Taking the time and care to identify the right ritual, based on the: - brand proposition; - local culture and conscience; - uniqueness and appropriateness; - guest (motivation for visitation and mindset during the visit, not just demo/geo/psycho make-up); - situation during the visitor experience; and - desired impact is, also, an investment in the business.

That investment, however, must be maintained for it to be embedded and owned by the brand. Removing the ritual, or simply missing one occasion, can make the traveller feel something is wrong, something is missing, or worst – someone is cost cutting.

Whatever the act, whatever the item, rituals make lasting connections to places visited, for work or for play. It is not about the product, the price, or the performance – it is about the spirit of the moment and its enduring meaning.

SOURCE: ETN / CNN

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MARKETING

The

French

Long Haul Leisure Market

Facts & Figures

In the last issue of the Tattler we looked at the German market. In this issue we look at France, with editor Marjorie Dean.

French tourists to South Africa have good air access, with Air France using the A380 on the route to Johannesburg, and using the superjumbo Boeing 777 on thrice-weekly flights to Cape Town from November 2011 for the high season. Air France says its research shows strong and growing demand from French people to travel to the Western Cape. The French, primarily urban people, feel comfortable in our most “European” city of Cape Town. SAA also operates from Paris, and Lufthansa is trying hard for some French market share on the South African routes.

Published research figures and statistics suggest that Frenchspeaking people make up about 10 per cent of South Africa’s international tourists. The 215 000 French-speaking tourists who arrived in our country in 2010 included visitors from France, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium as well as expatriates. This made France a very important European market, and represented the highest growth in a European market in the last quarter of 2010 at 13 per cent.

Our challenge as an industry is to persuade more of our French tourists to see the rest of South Africa, and to convince the French that South Africa is a value destination that meets their travel requirements.

Despite the current economic meltdown in the European Union, some countries are keeping their economic heads above the water.

One of these is France, and this should come as no surprise, as the French have long been known as a frugal nation. It is interesting to note that Petit Futé, the primary publishing house internationally of tourist guides in French, is currently in this country, preparing both a guide to Cape Town and the Cape, and also one with wider focus on Southern Africa. They are offering special deals to introduce South African tourism companies to the French market (see below for contact details).

FRENCH TOURISTS IN GENERAL

FRENCH TOURISTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

France and Canada are among the top-ten outbound and longhaul travel markets in the world (USA, UK, Canada, Germany, China, Japan, France). 70% of the French population go on holidays.

France itself is the fifth biggest long-haul market for South Africa, in terms of the number of arrivals.

Trips are undertaken by families/couples/friends.

Age groups: 15-64 years old.

Trips of over 7 days.

44% of French tourists browse the internet before making a holiday choice.

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Graph source: © SA Tourism: Marketing South Africa in France Second Edition 2007.

However, French frugality means that they are keenly price sensitive, and among French people who would like to visit South Africa, but have not done so, rising costs, and particularly the cost of air travel to get here (including of course high airport taxes from ACSA) is given as a primary reason.

France has a population of just over 60 million. Some 61 per cent live in or around Paris, and another 48 per cent in cities of 100 000 or more. The French are also one of the most affluent nations in the world, with a GDP that is seventh in the world, an annual per capita income of US$ 22.7310 , and a fair proportion, (18,5 million people) that travel overseas annually. The number who travel grows only slowly, but this is off a high base. However, the percentage of the French tourism market taking holidays in South Africa had declined slightly over the past few years, but appears to be increasing again. Working French people have generous leave. They get four weeks paid leave annually, plus 13 public holidays. French people do not have a lot of flexibility over their holiday dates, and so tend to book fairly well in advance. They are the 5th biggest long haul market in the world. Trips to South

• All age groups. 50% are 35-64.

• 81% are high income earners (>R20 000 /month).

• 19% are tour groups, 56% family/friends. 25% lone travelers.

• 64% holidays. 26% business.

MARKETING

Africa are currently averaging 14 days, and French tourists were worth R720 711 128 to the South African economy in 2005, the last year for which figures were quoted.

Although France made an ignominious and early exit from the Soccer World Cup, despite this soccer fans , and now rugby and other sports fans, are getting to know just how welcome they are, and what a fun experience South Africa can be.

What do the French want? – In short to experience other cultures.

This is one of their top travel priorities. Another major desire is to see beautiful landscapes and “nature”, which includes such activities as safaris. They appreciate good infrastructure, and more of them than ever are venturing into much more independent holidays, such as self-drives. They make separate booking for flights, accommodation, car hire, and coach travel. Their prepaid spend works out to R29 000, and while in South Africa they spend R10 300.

Where do most French people travel overseas on holiday? Central and South America and the Far East are very popular destinations, with Mexico and Thailand having become very popular. In Africa, Kenya and Senegal top the list.

In France, despite the rapid and continuing rise of Internet use, travel agents are still very important. In recent years in France as in most countries there has been considerable consolidation within the travel industry at all levels.

The top package holiday company in France is Club Med, some 16 per cent of French tourists travel with them, and while they do not operate in this country, it is possibly worth looking at the culture of this highly successful holiday company, to see what “makes it tick” and whether we can adapt some of its best concepts to our own products.

One interesting result of research is that while not total “beach bunnies”, French travellers enjoy a bit of sea, sand and sun, especially over the European winter. But they do not think of South Africa in this context, except for Cape Town.

Surely, with our wonderful coastline and great holiday resorts around the coast, there is opportunity to tap into this market?

Just three companies dominate sales of South Africa into the French channel – African Eagle, Akilanga and Go Tours, who facilitate 90 per cent of bookings.

If you would like to find out more, SATourism has produced an excellent little book on the subject: Marketing South Africa in France 2005 edition.

This is also available online at: www.wowinteractive.co.za/Portals/0/ docs/Tourism Market Reports/ FranceTourismResearch.pdf For more information you can contact SA Tourism’office in France at : satourism@afriquedusudtourisme.fr

The French, especially younger people, are highly adventurous, and South Africa, again, has plenty to offer in this area, that may not be as well known in this market as it should be. Older French people, and France has an ageing population, have great interest in history, and follow up things like the Anglo-Boer War, in which France as country played quite an interesting role.

To contact Petit Futé, and find out more about the special deals they are offering to South African companies to be included in their brand-new guides to Western Cape and Southern Africa, please contact: chataigneau@petitfute.com, or call Alisson Chaitagneau at 0815312521.

WHAT DO THEY DO? Spend: 34% make separate bookings for flights, accommodation, car-hire and food. 84% pay accommodation, 16% stay with friends/family.

What: Nightlife, visiting natural attractions (21%), watching wildlife (20%), cultural & historical heritage (17%), beach, theme-park, business, social, adventure sports.

When: February, March, August, October, November.

Average length of stay: 13 - 14 days.

68% are first-time visitors.

Average number of provinces visited: 2.96 Graph source: © SA Tourism: Marketing South Africa in France Second Edition 2007.

Prepaid spent: R23 000. Spend in SA: R10 300.

Where: Western Cape is the most widely visited South African province by French leisure travelers.

In a survey undertaken, around 33% say they are likely to visit SA in the future. This equates to around 2.6 million French travelers.

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MARKETING

What makes the green traveller tick?

“These days, nobody can ‘go green’ simply because it is the right thing to do – even though it is. Every company and organisation around the world is operating with higher budget scrutiny, and demonstrating a return on investment (ROI) has become an important consideration for travel decisions,” says Thomas Roth, President of US CMIGreen Community Marketing Inc.

The environmentally-aware traveller represents one of the fastest growing niche markets in the tourism, travel and leisure sectors today and this discerning market is set to become one of the key income generators in global tourism over the next decade. For the southern African travel industry, this global trend presents an opportunity for sustainable growth, but this will require tourism professionals to understand the profile of the ‘green’ traveller and how to meet their expectations as a service, establishment or destination.

to establish consistent standards for sustainable travel. In fact, this study has found that consumers are often confused and sceptical about green travel claims, and this in turn undermines many marketing initiatives. Marketers, sustainable programme designers and other stakeholders at travel and hospitality companies need to understand the green travel spectrum in order to know where their customers fall in it, and what motivates them.

Roth is a contributor to the international CMI Green Traveller Study which surveyed the purchasing habits, travel behaviour, environmental commitment, expectations and motivations of 1,736 self-defined, eco-conscious travellers to produce the report.

Tomorrow’s eco-conscious travellers are considered as being well educated, more aware of their travel impacts and financially relatively well-off. They will increasingly make their travel choices based on the environmental status of destinations, products and services and while they could be considered trendsetters in this respect, experts believe that what is today still regarded as a niche in travel will soon become the mainstream source as the rest of the market follows.

“The Green Traveller study is not another initiative about how many people recycle; there is sufficient data on that. It is a comprehensive profile of sustainable travel consumers, and it fills a need for concrete data on this distinct, desirable niche segment. Until now, no one has had a clear idea about who sustainable travellers are or what they want - because they have been defined mostly by spending figures,” says Roth.

Without the insight that this study provides, it had been difficult for tourism and hospitality leaders to understand and serve the interests of this increasingly important segment. Nor has it been possible

“As the planet continues to heat up and resources become scarcer, every other sector of the economy is going to be adopting sustainable practices – perhaps at different stages, but whether it happens now or at a later stage, going green and making environmentally sensitive decisions makes business - as well as environmental – sense,” he adds.

According to Roth: “This is a critical time in travel and tourism – particularly when supply begins outstripping demand for product, and in order to avoid a catastrophic meltdown of the industry – whether from government regulation, shifting consumer behaviour, or both – the industry has to become authentically more sustainable, and has to communicate this to its customers in a credible way.”

Pricing: A lesson from Picasso Luxury Marketing Language We can all learn a valuable lesson from the great Spanish artist, says reputation consultant Deon Binneman.

A woman was strolling along a street in Paris when she spotted Picasso sketching at a sidewalk cafe. The woman asked Picasso if he might sketch her, and charge accordingly.

Picasso obliged. In just minutes, there she was: an original Picasso.

“And what do I owe you?” she asked.

“Five thousand francs,” he answered.

“But it only took you three minutes,” she politely reminded him.

“No,” Picasso said. “It took me all my life.”

The value of price Do you go for the same pricing as others or do you Value price? As a tourism professional your pricing strategy should be based on the value you bring to your client, not your cost (i,e, time and materials) to deliver the services.

First things first – always establish your value proposition - at the end of this project, what will you deliver and how much is it worth? Then you can establish a price proposal with reasonable progress payments against certain deliverables or milestones.

One last thing based on my own experience as a consultant - don’t be afraid to ask for what you are worth. Most folks out on their own tend to underestimate their value and ask for too little. You aren’t an hourly employee, you are a knowledge worker who brings valuable experience and competence.

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Using the word ‘luxury’ has been a hot topic among marketers. On its own ‘luxury’ has joined other debased words like ‘gourmet’ and ‘spa’ to the extent that some see fit to add a distinguishing modifier such as Haute, Ultra, or even HNW (high net worth) Luxury.

Even in emerging markets, care needs to be taken with the use of the word. The Chinese government took the word ‘luxury’ very seriously. Public (outdoor and broadcast) advertisements in Beijing that promote luxury products are now banned (imposing a $4500 fine) from using the term ‘luxury.’ The reasoning: the law is designed to protect social harmony, or the “increasing chasm between the rich and poor.”

So, rather than luxury, we’re now selling exceptional quality. Rather than pampering, we’re selling wellness, stress management and rejuvenation. We’re now in the business of exclusivity, discretion, bespoke, privacy and one-of-a-kind experiences. Consumers are also willing to pay more for provenance, making a brand story the core of a product, instead of a word, message, celebrity or fancy logo.

The quintessential traits/ attributes of luxury will always be authenticity, heritage, quality, craftsmanship and service. These all embody true value. But now we have other ‘must haves’ such as 21st century desires for new design and simplicity (the Future Laboratory calls it Heritage Modern), and 21st century values of sustainability and social conscience.

And we’ll continue to add to luxury’s vocabulary: time saving for the time starved; functionality and technology for greater productivity are becoming parts of luxury lifestyles. iPhones and iPads are prime examples, and it comes as no surprise that there are projections that Apple’s meteoric rise could soon see it overtake oil giant ExxonMobil and become the world’s largest company by market value.

MARKETING

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REGIONAL TOURISM

DESTINATION SOUTHERN AFRICA – T he Regional Tourism Industry of Southern Africa (RETOSA) is a concept that brings together the 15 captivating and diverse countries of the Southern part of Africa, through the promotion and marketing of tourism in the region. This ensures that a concrete destination identity is created. RETOSA offers a unique opportunity to discover the natural wonders and splendours of the region – the infinite contrasts of scenery, climate, colour, traditions and culture: the African Dream.

RETOSA aims to ensure that the tourism industry becomes the 21st century’s economic driver for SADC through the effective development and promotion of the sector - and they are well

on their way to achieving this. They successfully hosted the Festival of Africa as Africa’s signature event during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, ensuring all eyes were on Africa and its endless possibilities, by focusing on encouraging international investment. Another project that RETOSA is driving is the UNIVISA, which is essentially the SADC equivalent of the Schengen visa and will allow tourists to travel across Southern Africa with ease. This ideal mirrors the aim of SADC countries working together for the benefit of one another in breaking down borders and thus creating accessibility. Separate puzzle pieces are thus joined together in a broad web that stretches from the West Coast of Southern Africa to the East.

tourism

ANGOLA

BOTSWANA

Situated right on the Atlantic Ocean, Angola is a budding tourist destination with unspoilt beaches, teeming game reserves and a vibrant culture. Rapidly revitalising itself after the end of the civil war in 2002, the country has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, offering adventurous exploration and lucrative tourism investment opportunities.

A peaceful and prosperous country, Botswana is hailed as one of Africa’s most stable democracies an achievement reflected in the contented, friendly atmosphere which greets tourists in this, the homeland of the Batswana. A top tourist attraction is the Kalahari Desert, covering 70 per cent of the country, while the Okavango River delta in the north boasts abundant and richly diverse wildlife.

Luanda Luanda and Luanda’s beaches: Ilha do Cabo, Mussulo, Palmeirinhas, Corimba and Santiago.

Lubango and the Leba Pass, Kissama National Park, Iona National Park

Gaborone Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans and Nxai Pans National Park, Chobe National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Beaches and water sports in Luanda; game viewing, bird watching and river cruises in the Kissama National Park; climbing the TundaVala volcanic fissure; driving the Leba Pass; photographing the dunes in the Iona National Park.

Water safaris, walking and elephant-back safaris, and game-viewing by aircraft/helicopter in the Okavango Delta; 4x4 wilderness travelling in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Luanda

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, but the Maun and Kasane Airports up north are more popular among tourists.

Portuguese, several local dialects

English, Setswana

Kwanza (AOA) 1 AOA = 0.01060 USD*

Pula (BWP) 1 BWP = 0.13280 USD*

GMT +1

GMT +2

Tropical in the north, drier plateau in the centre and arid in the south. Average coastal summer temperature 21 °C, 16 °C in winter.

Semi-arid, hot and dry with summer rainfall.

Summer temperatures can reach 44°C, while in winter the average day temperature is 25°C, although it turns cold at night.

TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITES

Hotels, water sports, game reserves, infrastructure

Lodges and activities in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

MORE INFORMATION

E-mail: angola@angola.org www.angola.org/tourism.html

E-mail: board@botswanatourism.co.bw www.botswanatourism.co.bw

COUNTRY

CAPITAL PLACES TO SEE MAJOR ACTIVITIES

AIRPORT / S MAIN LANGUAGES as at 22/09/2011 (http://www.xe.com) CURRENCY *Conversion TIME ZONE

CLIMATE

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REGIONAL TOURISM

Experience the African Dream!

Travelling in Southern Africa is an unforgettable experience. It is a region of extremes and natural beauty – a world in 15 countries.

The wonder of snowcapped mountains, rugged coastlines and tropical islands compete with sweeping carpets of vibrant flowers and vast areas of unspoilt wilderness. The mist enshrouding the Victoria Falls, the deep silence among the ochre dunes of the

Namib, the first glimpse of a mountain gorilla in its natural habitat – all these things affect the soul in ways unfelt in other regions.

Experience the African Dream - Diversity, Humanity, Climate and Wilderness,

OFFICE NATIONAL DU TOURISME DE MADAGASCAR

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)

LESOTHO

MADAGASCAR

One of the largest countries in Africa, the DR Congo boasts the second largest rain forest in the world and is home to Africa’s most powerful river, the Congo River, and five World Heritage Sites. It is also known for its rare animal species, including the chimpanzee, the bonobo, the mountain gorilla, the okapi and the white rhino.

Lush and breathtakingly beautiful, Lesotho is aptly known as The Mountain Kingdom. It boasts some of the highest and most scenic mountain peaks in Southern Africa, as well as a collection of top-class resorts and lodges and even snow!

East of Africa, in the Indian Ocean lies this idyllic piece of earth, split off from the African mainland millions of years ago. As an island - uninhabited until seafarers from Southeast Asia and Africa arrived 1500 to 2 000 years ago Madagascar’s isolation has preserved unique species such as the endangered lemur and ancient baobab trees.

Kinshasa Kinshasa, Congo River by boat, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kivu, Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Maseru Maseru, Thaba Bosiu, Sehlabathebe National Park, Katse Dam in the Malibamatso Valley, Thabana Ntlenyana Tourism

Antananarivo Antananarivo, Avenue du Baobab at Morondava, Reserve speciale de L’a narana, Snorkeling at Ifaty, Mangily and Madio Rano

Cruising on the Congo River; sight-seeing in Kinshasha; visiting Lake Kivu and the volcanoes of the Virunga mountain range; boating, rafting or hiking through the rainforest; visiting the mountain gorillas.

Climbing Thaba Bosiu; shopping in Maseru; game viewing, bird watching and pony trekking in the Sehlabathebe National Park; enjoying water sports at the Katse Dam; skiing in the Maloti Mountains.

Snorkelling and diving at Ifaty; visiting the lemurs and the Ankarana Reserve; sight-seeing in Antananarivo

N’djili, Kisangani, Lubumbashi

Moshoeshoe International Airport - Maseru

Ivato International Airport

French, Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba

English, Sesotho

French, Malagasy, English

Franc (CDF) 1 CDF = 0.00100 USD*

Loti (LSL) 1 LSL = 0.12077 USD* (ZAR) also accepted

Aviary (MGA) 1 MGA = 0.00050 USD*

GMT +1 to +2

GMT + 2

GMT +3

Tropical, hot and humid. Day temperatures reach around 30°C.

The rainy season stretches from October to April, with summer maximum temperatures of 32°C and higher. In winter, minimums drop below freezing and snow is common.

Rainy season November to April with average summer temperature of 20°C, which drops to just below 15°C in winter.

World Heritage Sites

Resorts, accommodation in the Maloti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area.

World Heritage Sites

E-mail: ont_rdcongo@yahoo.fr www.freewebs.com/drcongotourisme/english.htm

E-mail: ltdc@ltdc.org.ls www.ltdc.org.ls

E-mail: ontm@moov.mg / direction@ontm.mg www.madagascar-tourism.com 6/2011

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REGIONAL TOURISM

MALAWI

MAURITIUS

Called the warm heart of Africa, Malawi is a paradise of abundant wildlife, waterfalls and lakes. Most famous for the crystal-clear Lake Malawi and the rugged terrain of the Great Rift Valley, the country offers unforgettable travelling extremes.

Described as a sparkling crystal in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is best known for its stunning beaches, luxury resorts and water sports. World-class golf courses, fascinating history and warm, welcoming people all add to the appeal.

Lilongwe Blantyre is the commercial and industrial centre Lake Malawi National Park, Chongoni Rock Art Area, Mulanje Mountain, Liwonde Nyika and Kasungu National Parks, Lengwe, Majete and Nkhotakota Game Reserves

Port Louis Le Morne Brabant, historical Mauritius Gymkhana Golf Club, Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis, Black River Gorges National Park, beaches

Kayaking, snorkelling and scuba-diving off the pristine beaches of Lake Malawi; horse-back safaris in Nyika National Park; exploring the Chongoni rock art; climbing Mount Mulanje.

Snorkelling, scuba diving and ‘undersea strolls’; water sports such as kayaking, jet skiing, parasailing and windsurfing; hiking in the Black River Gorges National Park; visiting Le Morne Brabant.

AIRPORT / S

Kamuzu International Airport (Lilongwe), Chileka (Blantyre)

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport

MAIN LANGUAGES

English, Chichewa

English, French, Mauritian Creole

as at 22/09/2011 (http://www.xe.com) CURRENCY *Conversion

Kwacha (MWK) 1 MWK = 0.00615 USD*

Rupee (MUR) 1 MUR = 0.03484 USD*

TIME ZONE

GMT +2

GMT +4

CLIMATE

Hot in the low-lying south, moderate in the northern highlands. In summer, the day temperatures are 30°C+, and in winter they drop to 16 °C.

Tropical, warm, dry winter May to November, wet and humid summer November to May with a possibility of cyclones.

TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITES

Accommodation in Liwonde National Park, Cape Maclear, hotels, and Nyika conservancy

Hospitality property development

MORE INFORMATION

E-mail: info@visitmalawi.mw www.visitmalawi.mw

E-mail: vivek@mtpa.mu www.tourism-mauritius.mu

COUNTRY

CAPITAL PLACES TO SEE

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

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REGIONAL TOURISM

MOZAMBIQUE

MOZAMBIQUE

NAMIBIA

Namibia Tourism Board

SEYCHELLES

the seychelles islands another world

Shimmering oceans, azure skies and a history steeped in rich culture and adventure make Mozambique the ideal destination for every type of traveller, from honeymooners to backpackers.

The mild temperatures of the Indian Ocean currents and the stunning beaches are also a tempting drawcard to many scuba-divers, spearfishermen and anglers.

Arid and with sparse vegetation, Namibia is a land of breathtaking beauty and splendour. In this second least densely populated country in the world, travellers can explore the deep ravines of the Fish River Canyon, the timeless beauty of the Namib Desert and the vibrant, friendly towns and cities.

The Seychelles can truly be described, without exaggeration, as paradise on earth. This spectacular necklace of 41 granite and 74 coral islands in the Indian Ocean is a land of perpetual summer, and is renowned for some of the best beaches in the world.

Maputo Maputo, Bazaruto Archipelago, Ilha de Mozambique, Gorongosa National Park, Pemba, Wimbi Beach

Windhoek Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, Namib Desert, Skeleton Coast, Swakopmund, Lüderitz, Etosha National Park, Windhoek

Victoria The Aldabra Atoll: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cousin Island Special Reserve, The Vallée de Mai: A World Heritage Site

Kayaking, sailing, dhow trips and snorkelling; visiting the Bazaruto Marine Park and the historical Ilha de Mozambique; game viewing and bird watching in the Gorongosa National Park.

Taking a balloon ride over the dunes of Sossusvlei; hiking in the Fish River Canyon; flying over the the Skeleton Coast; taking a safari in the Etosha National Park.

Water sports, Surfing, Wine tasting, Scenery, Safari, sailing, Golf, Honeymoon, Fishing, Arts

Maputo, Pemba

Chief Hosea Kutako International Airport, Windhoek and Walvis Bay

Seychelles International Airport, Pointe la rue

Portuguese, Swahili

English, Afrikaans, German, Oshiwambo

English, French, and Creole

Metical (MZN) 1 MZN = 0.03724 USD*

Dollar (NAD) 1 NAD = 0.12080 USD*

Rupee (SCR) 1 SCR = 0.08193 USD*

GMT +2

GMT +1

GMT +2

Tropical, with rainfall from December to April and a possibility of cyclones. Summer temperatures exceed 30°C, and the rest of the year the average is 25°C.

The driest in Africa. An average summer temperature of 30°C, which drops to 20°C in winter.

Tropical, 28-32°C

Activities and accommodation in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

The Waterfront Development in Katima Mulilo, Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Marine

E-mail: info@visitmozambique.ne www.visitmozambique.net

E-mail: media@namibiatourism.com.na www.namibiatourism.com.na

E-mail: info@stoza.com www.seychelles .travel

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REGIONAL TOURISM

The Kingdom of

It’s Possible

SOUTH AFRICA

SWAZILAND

The diversity of its landscape, its game reserves, its lush and scenic coastal cities, its strong economy and excellent transport infrastructure, make South Africa a favourite destination.

Swaziland is one of Africa’s smallest countries, but it boasts a rich history and culture. Its game and nature reserves are highly recommended for Big Five game viewing. There are also several golf clubs with excellent courses, such as the Royal Swazi Golf Course.

Pretoria (executive) Cape Town (legislative) Garden Route, Cape winelands, Kruger National Park and other game reserves, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Drakensberg mountains, Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg

Mbabane Ezulwini and Malkerns Valleys, Hlane Royal National Park, Swazi cultural village in Mantenga Nature Reserve, King Sobhuza II Memorial Park, Mlawula and Malolotja Nature Reserves

Taking a cable car to the top of Table Mountain; game viewing, safaris and bird watching in the Kruger National Park; meandering along the Garden Route; wine-tasting in the wine region; water sports and golfing at the coastal resorts.

Visiting the Swazi Cultural Village and the King Sobhuza II Memorial Park; horse-back safaris and guided walks in the Hlane Royal National Park; hiking in the The Malolotja Nature Reserve

AIRPORT / S

OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town, Durban and several smaller airports

Manzini

MAIN LANGUAGES

English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, IsiXhosa, IsiNdebele, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, SiSwati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga

Siswati, English,

as at 22/09/2011 CURRENCY *Conversion (http://www.xe.com)

Currency: Rand (ZAR) 1 ZAR = 0.12069

LLilangeni (SZL) 1 SZL = 0.12073 USD*

TIME ZONE

GMT +2

GMT +2

CLIMATE

Moderate to very hot in the north, with summer temperatures of 40°C and more, to below freezing point at night in winter.

Rainfall from December to April. Summer temperatures reach 40°C in the lowveld, and winter temperatures on the Highveld drop to below 15°C.

TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITES

Transfrontier Conservation Areas

Accommodation, Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area.

MORE INFORMATION

E-mail: info@southafrica.net www.southafrica.net

E-mail: infodesk@tourismauthority.org.sz www.welcometoswaziland.com

COUNTRY

CAPITAL PLACES TO SEE

MAJOR ACTIVITIES

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REGIONAL TOURISM

TANZANIA

The Land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and The Serengeti

ZAMBIA

ZIMBABWE

Home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, and Lake Tanganyika, the world’s longest and second deepest fresh water lake, Tanzania is an awe-inspiring country. Other major tourist attractions include the Serengeti National Park, in particular the annual wildebeest migration, and the popular holidayisland of Zanzibar.

Epitomising the real Africa, Zambia is home to natural wonders such as the thundering Zambezi River and world-famous Victoria Falls. Nature reserves and transfrontier conservation enable the visitor to view wildlife it its natural habitat.

Known for its welcoming people, rich culture and fascinating drumming and dancing rituals, Zambia is the ideal adventure destination.

In addition to abundant wildlife and exceptional game parks, Zimbabwe offers a rich variety for tourists that includes the Great Zimbabwe ruins, the spectacular Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River. Numerous activities – including bungee jumping from the railway bridge and white-water rafting - have evolved around this famous landmark.

Dodoma (Political) and Dar es Salaam (Administrative, commercial) Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Victoria, Arusha National Park, Dar Es Salaam

Lusaka Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park, Lake Kariba, Victoria Falls

Harare Harare, Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, Hwange National Park, Great Zimbabwe National Monument, Khami Ruins National Monument, Matobo Hills near Bulawayo

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro; visiting Zanzibar; game viewing and bird watching in the Serengeti; visiting the Ngorogoro Crater; taking a boat trip on Lake Victoria.

Scenic flights over the Victoria Falls; swimming in the Devil’s Pool above the falls; white-water rafting and other water sports; river cruises; elephant-back rides; walking with lions, game drives in the Mosioa-Tunya National Park; walking safaris in the South Luangwa National Park.

Flights over the Victoria Falls; sunset cruises on the Zambezi river; bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge; river rafting and other water sports; swinging through the gorge; elephantback rides; walking with lions; visiting the Great Zimbabwe National Monument.

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro, International Airport in Arusha

Lusaka International Airport, Livingstone

Harare, flights to Victoria Falls

Swahili, English

English, Chinyanja and 72 local dialects

Shona, Ndebele, English

Shilling (TZS) 1 TZS = 0.00061 USD*

Kwatcha (ZMK) 1 ZMK = 0.00020 USD*

Dollar (ZWD) 1 ZWD = Suspended

GMT +3

GMT +2

GMT +2

Tropical Summer temperatures 20°C in the highlands, in winter down to 10°C. Elsewhere 25 31°C in summer and 15 20°C in winter.

Tropical, the rainy season stretching from November to April. Average temperatures of above 20°C over most of the country.

Moderate, wet from November to May. An average summer temperature of 21°C, down to 14°C in winter.

Conference and eco-tourism

Wildlife-based activities, Transfrontier Conservation Area.

Resort development, Wildlife based activities, Tourism frontier conservation areas, Accommodation and Tourism infrastructure

E-mail: info@tanzaniatourism.go.tz www.tanzaniatouristboard.go.tz

E-mail: zntb@zambiatourism.org.zm www.zambiatourism.com

E-mail: info@ztazim.co.zw or marketing@ztazim. co.zw / www.zimbabwetourism.net

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & CONSERVATION

Wilderness Safaris on track to turn off diesel generators There can no longer be any allowance within sustainable ecotourism for the diesel generators which have kept the luxury tourism cogs of peace, the utmost comfort, silence and world-class game viewing in motion. Luxury tourism operator Wilderness Safaris arrived at this decision and a recent inspiring example of this is the Xigera lodge in the Okavango Delta where leading global solar power technology distributor, SolarWorld Africa, supplied high quality German solar technology for a 35kW array.

T

he system was put together by Corrie van Wyk and his team of engineers at On Track Alternative Power Pty (Ltd), an established distributor of SolarWorld Africa solar technology. On Track has a reputation within the conservation industry for its ability to complete projects in the most challenging and ecologically sensitive environments. “We have been working with Wilderness Safaris since 1999 and have a well-established name with operators for consistently reliable and technically sound engineering in the most difficult environments in sub-Saharan Africa” says owner Corrie van Wyk. ENERGY SAVING INITIATIVES Wilderness Safaris operates luxury camps and safaris throughout Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Seychelles and is run by a group of likeminded wildlife enthusiasts who came together to build a successful safari business, delivering a unique experience for guests while ensuring that southern Africa’s pristine wilderness areas remain sustainably protected. This has driven their decision to electrify their luxury camps exclusively on photovoltaic power as part of their Camp Energy Saving Initiative.

The installation, commissioned for Xigera Camp (pronounced Kijera) is located on a riverine island in the heart of the Okavango Delta. This part of the Moremi Game Reserve, a magnificent yet fragile wetland, surrounded by deep channels and lush vegetation; is considered to have the best game viewing opportunities in the world.

DIVERSE USE OF SOLAR POWER Ecotourism operators have been forced to utilise diesel generators in the past as most lodges are situated far from any grid. In the Okavango Delta, scattered with luxury lodges, diesel generators ran most of the camps but had to be located far away from guests because of the sound and air pollution associated with these traditional off-network power generators.

The Xigera system was designed to answer to the rapidly increasing price of fuel and the ever growing demand on all consumers to reduce carbon emissions.

“We are once again very pleased to support another project which strongly highlights the manifold use of these systems, whether for ecologically sensitive tourism operations or rural village electricity supply”, says SolarWorld Africa’s Managing Director, Gregor Kuepper.

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to ten luxuriously furnished, raised tented rooms each with en-suite facilities and an outdoor shower.

Normally On track would have located the equipment beneath a shelter under the array where the temperatures are cooler however the water level was too high so a separate shelter was built next to the array away from the rising water level for this reason.

CHALLENGES The biggest challenge lay however not in the assembly of the array but in the actual transport of the individual system components to the lodge. The equipment is road-freighted to Maun from South Africa. Equipment cannot be transported into the delta by vehicle. However for three months of the year, the lodge can be accessed by river and it was in this small window that they were able to complete the arduous task of transporting the equipment by boat along the river journey of eight hours to the camp from Maun, Botswana’s tourism capital on the edge of the delta. Once the boat was docked, a Landrover jeep pulled the boat up to dry land so as to unpack the equipment safely.

Once packed onto the jeep, the jeep transported the equipment to the location where the wooden array structure was in place.

On Track built a wooden walk way at the height of the base of each string so as to facilitate cleaning as local wild birdlife settles on the modules. An electrified fence surrounds the entire installation to prevent hyenas from chewing through the system or an elephant from pushing against the fencing and the entire system has been earthed with copper wiring in the event of frequent lightning strikes. Cabling of the array, albeit fairly uncomplicated, was a fairly perilous action as the cabling had to run through a river frequented by crocodiles and hippopotamuses and On Track’s team had men in place to note the presence of these animals while the cabling took place.

In total the Xigera design took three weeks and once this was established, a further three weeks for the structural construction.

The installation took a further 15 days. This area of the Okavango delta, near the Moremi reserve is considered to have the best game viewing opportunities in the world.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & CONSERVATION

Minister launches South African Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism

Launching the National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism at the Featherbed Nature Reserve in Knysna on 12 September, Minister of Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk highlighted the fact that Responsible Tourism is about creating better places for people to live in, and better places to visit. It therefore goes without saying that South Africa’s natural environment is one of its greatest tourism resources, and therefore the tourism industry needs to be actively involved in conserving and protecting it.

OBJECTIVES The Minister said that the primary objective of Department of Tourism (NDT) is to retain the and social advantages of tourism development and reducing the undesirable impacts on the natural, cultural or social environment.

Speakers onboard the Pebble Cruiser - Dr B Mehlomakulu, SABS CEO, Mr the National Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism and Ms Jennifer Seif, Fair Trade economic South Africa. growth while historic,

“Through the application of responsible tourism practices, we will develop the tourism sector as a national priority in a sustainable and acceptable manner, integrating tourism to the broader social and economic processes in society” Minister emphasised.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM The NDT commenced with a process of developing the National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism (NMSRT) in 2009 as part of its strategic objective of creating a sustainable tourism industry. South Africa was amongst the first countries to include “Responsible Tourism” in its national tourism policy, the 1996 White Paper on the Development and Promotion of Tourism in South Africa. Following the White Paper, the then Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) also produced the National Responsible Tourism Guidelines in 2002 which emphasised the need to address the triple bottom line of sustainable development (economic, environmental, and social sustainability).

The draft National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism was finalised by the department in 2010, where it later underwent a rigorous process through the South African Bureau of Standard (SABS) in order for it to become a South African National Standard (SANS).

The draft was then subsequently published as a South African National Minimum Standard for Responsible Tourism (SANMSRT) on the 28 March 2011. The SANMSRT consists of 41 criteria, covering the core aspects of sustainability and divided into four categories, namely: sustainable operations and management; economic; environmental; and social and cultural.

This standard serves three purposes: • To establish a common understanding of the minimum criteria for responsible tourism; • To promote responsible tourism in the tourism sector, including accommodation, hospitality, travel distribution system, as well as all organs of state and entities, organized labour and communities involved or interested in the tourism sector in South Africa; and • To establish the minimum criteria for certification of the sustainability of organizations in the tourism sector.

The NMSRT will be utilised by tourism organisations such as Local Tourism Organisations or sector organisations to create awareness amongst their members about responsible tourism, and this document can be used as a benchmark for their members to work towards attaining the goals set by the national Responsible Tourism Guidelines of 2002. It can also be used by tourism businesses and organisations preparing for certification or simply evaluating the organisation’s progress in respect of sustainability.

The Minister concluded by saying that the launch marks an important milestone in the promotion of responsible tourism and the raising of awareness amongst tourists on the value of conserving our natural resources for sustainability to ensure continued growth in the tourism industry for years to come.

For more information, please contact: National Department of Tourism. E-mail: tbloem@ tourism.gov.za

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Game Breeding: A solution to ailing eco-tourism?

While the global economy is in a poor state, the South African wildlife ranching industry has been buoyant and the higher value animals or ‘exotic species’ such as Sable, Buffalo, Roan, Black Impala and Golden Wildebeest are fetching record prices in most instances and demand seems to be outstripping supply, writes Julian Freimond of SATIB Insurance Brokers.

The establishment and stocking of afore mentioned game in exclusive breeding facilities is becoming big business.

Syndicates are emerging whereby gene pools are being shared and rare, Sable antelope breeding bulls sold for R1.2 high value game and R2.3 million are becoming a trading commodity in the same way as precious metals and stocks. Investors have gone as far as to pull money out of stock markets, find a competent wildlife breeder with good facilities and expertise and supply funds enabling the partnership to realise substantial financial gains through off spring produced from stud animals.

In many instances this form of income is substituting lost revenue due to diminishing eco-tourism; however it does need very substantial financial muscle to play this game! As examples some recent auction prices for animals include Sable Antelope

breeding bulls sold for between R1.2 million and R2.3 million, a buffalo bull sold for R10 million, black impala reaching R220 000 00 and golden wildebeest for a staggering R475 000 00. Sadly the prices of Rhino have dropped off due to the poaching fears surrounding this species.

With values at these types of levels, it is critical that effective insurance cover is purchased to cater for these exposures.

Available insurance covers include: • CAPTURE RISKS Cover for mortality/death during the capture of wildlife.

• TRANSIT RISKS Cover for mortality/death during the transportation and delivery of wildlife.

• VELD OR BOMA RISKS For short periods or annual cover while animals are in quarantine for international translocation, pending sale or delivery, at auctions or in breeding camps etc.

• RESTRICTED COVER For mortality of animals as a result of fire, storm or lightning only, or fire, collision + overturning during transport.

For more information on insurance cover contact Julian Freimond on 083 3257974 or jfreimond@satib.co.za

Dinokeng demonstrates Gauteng’s commitment to responsible tourism The ideal of sustainability has begun to play a more and more significant role in our lives. So it’s only natural that we extend this sustainable approach to travel, and that is why we would like you to Meet Dinokeng.

We’re not just thinking about making roast chicken for dinner for our family anymore, but we’re looking for an organic chicken that is reared locally to reduce our carbon footprint.

We’re thinking about reusing our organic waste in our gardens and separating our rubbish to recycle our glass, paper and plastic. We’re even starting to support local suppliers to help grow local industries.

If you support the making of responsible choices of holidays, then Dinokeng is the perfect place for you. It is just a short drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria which means your carbon footprint will remain small in comparison with travelling further afield. But perhaps the biggest draw is knowing that by visiting this delightful area you are helping to grow the local economy and support small business owners.

Dinokeng people Take Patricia for instance, who runs authentic village tours in Onverwacht, a village near to Cullinan. By taking a tour of this interesting village on a traditional donkey cart, you are not only supporting Patricia and helping to grow her operation, but you are also helping to grow the local economy. The highlights of Patricia’s tours include the delicious koeksisters and home-made ginger beer that she provides.

Dinokeng offers visitors a wide range of activities from horse riding and quad biking to indulgent spas, hot air ballooning and game viewing. No matter what your budget is, you will find comfortable accommodation and a range of restaurants to tantalise your taste buds. Whether you prefer a sedate afternoon of window shopping in Cullinan or an exciting

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cycling safari, there is something for everyone and you are sure to be welcomed with a warm Dinokeng smile.

In fact, that welcoming spirit sets Dinokeng apart.

The locals are delighted to introduce you to the area and showcase the best that Dinokeng has to offer.

Fani Face is another example. He likes nothing more than to entertain guests and ply them with delicious food and vibey entertainment at his unique eatery in Refilwe, which is close to the small town of Cullinan.

Fani is not only a chef, but he is also an artist. He built his restaurant himself and decorated it with recycled items he found in the area. He wants to expand his restaurant and hopes one day to create an artist’s hub where creative people can gather and visitors can enjoy some of Dinokeng’s artwork in one central space.

By visiting Dinokeng, and supporting local business people like Fani, you are helping to make his dreams a reality. While contributing to this business and sustainably growing the economy, you are travelling responsibly.

Live a more sustainable lifestyle – visit Dinokeng and travel with a conscience. Go to www.meetdinokeng.co.za for more information.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & CONSERVATION

Uganda / Kenya - Land use change application causes instant objections As the assaults against the environment multiply across the region continue, like the Mabira saga in Uganda, the “corridor of destruction” SerengetiLake Natron-Selous-Tanga Marine Park in Tanzania, in Kenya, too, the stage is set now for an epic battle between the conservation fraternity and developers, as a scheme became public to cut off Amboseli National Park from the migratory routes to the Chyulu Hills, Tsavo West, and across the Athi Plains towards as far as the Nairobi National Park, writes Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome.

A

has thrown its institutional weight behind the objections and demanded, too, that any such change of use of land be halted, citing the impact on the Greater Amboseli ecosystem, while recalling government efforts to strip Amboseli a few years ago of national park status, which would have made the conversion of land use surrounding the park easier in the absence of the strictest protection measures.

With tourism likely to return to the top of the economic achievers’ list, reclaiming the number one spot from the tea sector and expected to produce record arrivals in 2011 combined with record earnings of nearly a billion US dollars, it will be

n application by the owners of the sprawling ranch to get approval to turn part of the ranch into an industrial estate has been received by the Kajiado County Council according to a renowned conservation source in Nairobi, who is now mobilizing public opinion against the plans.

Image: Kevin Smith

“Take Nairobi National Park as an example. In the old days, game migrated from as far as Amboseli, even across the now border with Tanzania and from Tsavo into NNP. Today, the land is fragmented, and the park is largely fenced off. Ranchers and farmers, real estate developers, and industrial zones at Athi River and the Kitengela plains have fenced off and otherwise blocked the migration routes. We are now struggling to keep at least some of the old corridors open but it is becoming ever more difficult.

“In the Central and Northern part of Kenya it is the same, migration between the Aberdares and Mt. Kenya, between as far as Marsabit via Samburu to Lewa and the Laikipia plains, it is ever more difficult for elephant and other game to move as they are imprinted to do.

“If we permit this ranch land to be fenced off at crucial sections, we are guilty of a massive interference in game migration patterns, and the results cannot even be described right now.

Wildlife versus human settlement conflict will get much worse, and yet we have it in our hands to prevent it by standing up and objecting loudly, to lobby government, because this could have a very negative influence on tourism to this part of the country when game no longer can migrate, escape droughts, and find pastures in various places,” one source said when contacted over these revelations and promptly asking for this scheme to be widely exposed. “You know that when this appears in a leading publication it makes our job easier, more people know it, global conservation groups find out about it, and they can join, help us lobby through international bodies and organizations.

You need to get the word out about this ludicrous scheme where a few would get rich beyond measure and our wildlife and environment would suffer for generations, maybe never to recover from it.”

Support The conservation and environmental lobby in Kenya has received the powerful support from the Kenya Wildlife Service, which

difficult for government to allow the application for land use change and put the long-term sectoral performance of wildlifebased tourism at risk, yet logic has not always been the Kenyan government’s strong point, and the decision is awaited with great anticipation.

Legal recourse Added the same source: “Our legal volunteers, who include some of our top lawyers, are ready to take this through the Kenyan and East African court systems if necessary. We have taken hope from the East African Court in Arusha even throwing out the Tanzanian government objection over jurisdiction in connection with the Serengeti Highway project, and we here, too, can make a case we believe in court to speak up on behalf of our wildlife and our environment.”

Published with acknowledgement to Wolfgang’s East Africa and Indian Ocean reports (http://wolfganghthome.wordpress.com/)

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM & CONSERVATION

UNWTO Affiliate

H

eritage’s membership of the UNWTO was approved during the 90th session of the UNWTO’s Executive Council held in Mombasa, Kenya in June this year. Heritage has become the first UNWTO private sector affiliate in South Africa.

The only other tourism certification standard to be formally recognised by the UNWTO is Heritage’s strategic partner, the USbased Green Globe Certification company.

The UNWTO is a specialised agency of the United-Nations and the leading international organisation in the field of tourism.

It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. It also plays a pivotal role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, paying particular attention to the interests of developing countries.

The organisation encourages the implementationof the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, with a view to ensuring that member-countries, tourist destinations and businesses maximise the positive economic, social and cultural effects of tourism and fully reap its benefits, while minimising its negative social and environmental impacts. Its membership includes 154 countries, 7 territories and over 400 affiliate-members representing the private-sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

Acceptance by the UNWTO proves that the South African developed standard is of international relevance and a leader in the field of environmental certification in tourism.

The Heritage Programme is currently being operated by over 150 tourism-based businesses across southern Africa. The programme is recognised by the UNWTO and has partnered with FEDHASA in the Imvelo Awards held annually to recognise responsible tourism practice.

The Heritage Environmental Management Company (Heritage) was formed in 2002 as southern Africa’s first environmental performance rating initiative. It has since become the largest and most successful environmental management system and certification programme of its kind in Africa, and is one of only two environmental certification standards worldwide to be affiliated to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). In May 2009, Heritage was appointed the Green Globe preferred partner for subSaharan Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Green Globe Certification is the worldwide sustainability system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Operating under a worldwide license, Green Globe Certification is based in California, USA and is represented in over 83 countries. Green Globe is an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and a member of the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) governing council.

For information visit www.greenglobe.com

Unique adventure catalogues 31 local conservation areas in 12 months In an unprecedented journey over the course of the next year, Scott Ramsay will travel to 31 of the country’s most famous and most important conservation areas. As a photographer, writer and content producer, Scott will spend about two weeks in each of the 31 different places, including all the national parks, such as Kruger National Park, Table Mountain National Park and Kgalagadi National Park. The concept entitled ‘Year in the Wild’ aims to promote conservation and nature tourism as an important role player in the country.

Photography and social media is at the core of Scott Ramsay’s epic journey.

Every day, he will upload photographs as well as blogs and video - to a variety of social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr, and several other websites, including Getaway.co.za, WildCard. co.za and SANParks.org. Additionally, Scott will interview the people who make conservation possible the rangers, field workers, community leaders and researchers.

“As one of the most beautiful countries in the world, South Africa’s natural areas are truly priceless, economically and socially,” Scott said. “As a country and people, we need to ensure that not only are these natural places conserved for future generations, but that they are accessible to all people, both rich and poor, so that everyone can enjoy their benefits. These nature reserves are the soul of South Africa, and through my photographs and social media, I want to raise awareness of their importance, as well as show how other people can enjoy them.”

For several years Scott worked as a photojournalist for Getaway Magazine, and today works independently for a variety of magazines and websites, photographing and writing about conservation in Africa. Year in the Wild is a co-sponsored expedition, including South African National Parks, CapeNature, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Eastern Cape Parks, Ford, Total, EvoSat, Vodacom, Goodyear Tyres, Frontrunner 4x4 Technology, National Luna, EeziAwn, Conqueror Trailers, Cape Union Mart, K-Way Gear, Garmin and Global Fleet Sales.

For more, go to http://www.yearinthewild.com, or http://www. facebook.com/YearInTheWild.

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The CPA and Insurance

RISK

There’s been huge reaction to the introduction of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) in the tourism industry and we have seen this particularly in the B&B and guesthouse sector. Is the news as bad as we’ve been led to believe? asks Dave Jack.

Certainly many experts on the CPA have been giving lectures and going into individual clauses which have terrified their listeners. Perhaps I’m guilty of over-simplifying the Act, but I think there are a couple of basic things we need to remember.

but we do know that it can be costly to defend such an action. Even if you win.

Firstly, the act was introduced to protect the consumer from unethical practice. Secondly every one of us almost every day is a consumer and thirdly – and probably most central to the entire Act – is to ask oneself ‘How would I want to be treated?’ Taking this simple question into all aspects of the running of one’s business should give the B&B or guesthouse owner a fair degree of comfort. The question needs to be looked at from every angle though: reservations, brochures – and especially websites: ‘How would I want to be treated?’

So: does insurance help?

It is seldom, if ever, that one will get insurance to protect against false advertising. But what is available to BnB SURE policy holders is an optional section to cover Tax and Legal Costs arising from the enforcement of the CPA should this sort of thing arise or should one get a visit from SARS.

For instance – how would you feel if you’d been told that an establishment had wonderful sea views, when in fact all you can see is a tiny bit of the ocean when you walk to the bottom of the garden? How would you feel if you were told that the establishment had ‘secure’ off street parking? As an example: the use of the word ‘secure’ could be extremely dangerous.

If a guest drives through your gate and somebody either slips in on foot or ‘tailgates’ and holds him or her up – is the property secure? If the guest felt that by saying your parking was ‘secure,’ you’d engaged in false advertising - and if he or she had been severely traumatised in view of this false advertising, he or she would want compensation.

Would he or she succeed in a case against the establishment? We don’t know at this stage as this kind of event has not been tested in court –

It’s crucial that establishment owners check all their advertising and look for – and take steps to mitigate – dangers in the operating of their establishments (particularly, where establishments are multi-listed on several tourism websites you need to ensure that all are correct).

Just remember the golden question: ‘How would I want to be treated?’

You can download BnB SURE’s A Guide to the Consumer Protection Act and Consumer Rights from their website at www.bnbsure.co.za

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SAFETY & SECURITY

Tourism Safety Initiative faces closure The Tourism Safety Initiative (tsi) could face closure if the private sector of South Africa’s tourism industry do not take steps to rescue the project. Tattler editor Marjorie Dean interviewed Annelie Barkema, the Projects Manager for SATSA who heads up this initiative. revenue and R108.864 billion in contribution to GDP. Not to mention the lost opportunity of jobs not created.

The Theory In the case of Safety and Security, the private sector is uniquely positioned to support Government in the delivery of this key pillar upon which the policy rests and has a vested interest in ensuring that positive Safety and Security experiences are a prime driver of growth in the Tourism Sector.

This can only be achieved through a focused implementation mechanism to address proactive, preventative and re-active elements related to Safety and Security. Under the SATSA banner, this mechanism in the form of the tsi has been tried, tested and in its current state has reached its capacity.

We can only expand its application and operation in a proactive phase where more tangible benefits will flow to members and the destination.

The tsi is a Public/Private Partnership (PPP), undertaken and funded by SATSA in the interests of inbound tourism. The project has the backing of Business Against Crime South Africa (BACSA) and the National Department of Tourism (NDT), and has been endorsed by the Tourism business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

The New Growth Path for South Africa hails the Tourism Sector as one of the six economic sectors that underpins economic growth and job creation for the country. Within the context of the New Growth Path, the National Department of Tourism (NDT) in conjunction with the tourism industry has in its National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) set its vision for South Africa to be “a top 20 tourism destination in the world by 2020.” To meet the provisions of its stated Mission statement, the NTSS has advocated that we are to “significantly grow a sustainable tourism economy …” This growth is targeted at doubling the international arrivals and it would contribute to the target set for an additional 225 000 jobs, thereby supporting poverty alleviation.

For this vision and mission to be fulfilled, South Africa needs to be perceived as a safe and secure destination at a global, regional and local level. The 2010 FIFA World Cup afforded South Africa the opportunity to change perceptions dramatically world wide.

The Task Given both the focus and the priority that has been placed on Tourism, combined with the intent and serious risk of failure that safety and security poses to tourism, it is imperative that a safety and security initiative related to the industry creates a platform that addresses three strategic aspects: i. proactive, ii. preventative, and iii. re-active strategies These strategies are required to positively impact on and influence perceptions and realities of South Africa as a safe, secure and hospitable destination. Tactical elements need to be in place to handle reactive and crisis issues that occur; and that all the while requires treatment that is mindful of the ramifications of these events on the sensitive and fickle nature of tourists in their choice of a destination.

Research by both South African Tourism and Grant Thornton shows that because of perceived personal safety factors, over a five-year period 22,25 million travellers chose to travel to other destinations and chose not to travel to South Africa. This equates to 4,45 million travellers lost to South Africa per year. These research models indicate that lost business opportunities could have equated to a loss of R48.6 billion in direct

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TSI Objectives TSI has been positioned as a B2B resource in the areas of safety and security directly related to Tourism and the ancillary industries upon which the Tourism experience impacts. TSI aims to: • To build a community of safety that is dedicated to developing Tourism, in other words - to get more Tourist arrivals.

• Empower industry with relevant information to make effective positive decisions related to the perception and real delivery of South Africa as a safe and secure destination.

• Provide access to Government structures - National, Regional and Local Safety and Security departments to expertise related to Tourism • Leverage off of best practice and fast track implementation of its Safety and Security Implementation vehicle through the development of collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and role players • Add value and impetus from the private sector in contributing to the creation of a safe and secure tourism industry, and tourism products within that industry.

• Implement a risk mitigation strategy that speaks directly to elements of the nature of the global competitiveness within the industry and NTSS in promoting and fostering South Africa as a safe and exciting destination.

Track History Excellent relationships have been forged between the tsi and the South African Police Service (SAPS) at all levels. Through publicity and marketing work tsi is now established a ‘top-of-mind’ in any incidents of crime or safety involving tourists. Since the tsi office within SATSA was set up in November 2007, notable successes achieved have included: North West Policing Project: Hartbeespoort A spate of serious crime incidents targeting lodges in the area was clearly perpetrated by one gang, acting with seeming impunity. The business community in the area were frustrated in that video and photographic evidence was never forwarded to prosecutors and got lost, and suspects were let off without bail. The tsi wrote letters to the SAPS Provincial Commissioner, complaining about the Hartbeespoort Station and Brits magistrates’ court. This led to the SAPS North West setting up a task team to investigate the area, and was headed by the Assistant Provincial

SAFETY & SECURITY Commissioner. The task team produced strong results immediately.

Wholesale changes in the leadership structure at the Station were implemented, and key actions taken in the service delivery patterns.

ORTIA Follow Home Robberies In mid-2007 a crime pattern was detected where gangs would identify and follow specific targets from the arrivals hall at ORTIA and rob them at their hotel lobby / home driveway. Due to our formative relationship with BACSA, we were able to table our concerns, along with evidence / case numbers / and observations through to police at national level. The strongest evidence was for us to link all the case numbers – reported by the victims at a myriad of police stations. BACSA staff revealed that a nearby Shopping Centre Initiative (SCI) was combating a gang known as the Rolex gang, who carried out follow-home robberies from shopping centres. Due to the “heat” from SCI’s interventions, the gang had been forced to move their operations, and they settled on ORTIA airport. This information was very useful and in the long run helped to crack the case.

2010 FIFA World Cup Preparation Confederations Cup Delivery ProvJOINT Gauteng, the provincial roll-out of the national joint operation committee, was set into operation. Due to the amount of preparatory work with the SAPS World Cup team that the tsi had participated in, the ProvJOINT invited tsi to become involved and sit in the meetings for the roll-out of the Confed Cup. Both parties were able to increase their understanding of the relevant complexities and establish working processes and procedures. This involvement was invaluable for the tsi’s work and lobbying in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Diplomatic Community Relationships In the lead up to the World Cup, the diplomatic community based in South Africa began to ramp up their preparations for the expected numbers of foreign passport holders to arrive for the event. A working group was established, and the tsi was invited to participate to smooth the road ahead for consular staff (many of who were newly posted to SA for the purpose of preparing for the World Cup).

subsequently called upon to provide expertise to visiting delegations from Brazil for the hosting of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The tsi has participated in the creation of safety and security best practice in the hosting of major tourism events.

Hazyview An increase in crime and lack of effective policing had resulted in a number of incidents that hit tourism in this area particularly heavily. After being approached by the tourism community in the province, the tsi brought the issue to the attention of senior officials in the National Police and soon afterwards, efficiency studies were conducted and as a result personnel in the police stations in the area were replaced. This has resulted in more effective policing, which has reduced the number of incidents in the area, particularly in the urban areas.

ADDO Community Initiative The Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the community of the Addo area in the Eastern Cape had been applying different approaches to address the challenge of lack of visible policing. The tsi met with the CPF to set up engagement mechanisms with the Minister of Police and Senior Officials.

Input from the tsi created reporting mechanisms to track and report on incidents expediently as well as providing expertise in their handling. The value-add from tsi was through understanding how national police structures worked, and using the tsi relationships and networks to unblock efforts so that key police decision makers were made aware of the problem and action was taken.

Memorandums of understanding have been signed with both Western and Eastern Cape. While these major projects have shown the value of the tsi in major incidents, the tsi is also involved on an ongoing daily basis in assisting both the tourism community and other affected individuals to enable them to contact and make best use of government and private sector assistance facilities that are available to them.

With all the positive work and tangible results that the tsi has delivered to date, to the ultimate benefit of the private sector in tourism and the country as a whole, it would be a sad day indeed if this initiative were to be closed down due to funding constraints, but as SATSA’s CEO Michael Tatalias says, “As an association incorporated to certify its members credibility as quality providers of services to the inbound travel trade, SATSA has an obligation to deliver on its mandate. We simply do not have the financial resources to continue funding the tsi in isolation. This initiative was started

by SATSA with the specific aim of ensuring an incident free 2010 World Cup event. That objective has been achieved and we believe that it is now time for the industry at large to become involved and to share in the financial burden.”

The Tattler will keep readers abreast of developments in this important initiative as they unfold.

For more information contact SATSA on +27 (0)11 886 996 or to report tourism related crime incidents or to request victim support call +27 (0)861 874 911 or e-mail tourism.safety@satsa.co.za

2010 FIFA World Cup During the entire 2010 World Cup event, the tsi’s project manager was the only civilian to sit in the National Joint Operations Centre (NatJOC) of SAPS and the South African National Defense Force. NatJOC was staffed by 400 members collaborating from various different departments, and the tsi was instrumental in coordinating the efforts of Safety and Security Offices for Tourism. Due to the strength of the relationships that were fostered as a result of participation on the NatJOC, the tsi has been 6/2011

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TRADE NEWS

National Braai Day sees Guinness World Record for the longest braai National Braai Day, which was held on Heritage Day, on 24 September saw South African, Vito Polera, break the record for the longest braai after taming hot coals for 32 hours straight at Food Lover’s Market, Willowbridge in Cape Town. He beat the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest ever recorded braai, previously held by fellow South African, Jan Braai, who set the record at 28 hours and 30 minutes in 2010.

The record setting attempt was an idea from Brian Coppin, CEO and cofounder of Fruit and Veg City.

In the time it took to set the record Vito braaied 74kg of meat, enough to feed 1300 people through Fruit and Veg City’s CSR partner, Foodbank.

During this time, Polera only took two rest breaks, totaling just 17 minutes during the 32 hours. Guinness World Record adjudicator, Tarika Vara, flew in from the UK to ensure that the strict criteria were met. In order to meet the specified rules, Polera needed to have five types of meat cooking at all times and was not allowed any assistance or bar support from the many onlookers. Two cameras were required to capture every single minute of the braai, while time-keepers and auditors from Deloitte were on hand to audit every moment of the braai.

D’ Ouwe Werf hands over new wheelchair Having completed the epic 932km Fairbairn Capital/Old Mutual joBerg2c cycle challenge in May 2011 to raise money for the purchase of a customised wheelchair, Elanie Potgieter, General Manager of Stellenbosch’s historic d’ Ouwe Werf Hotel, saw the fruits of her labour come to fruition at a handover that took place at Woodside Special Care Centre.

Potgieter used the cycling event as a platform to raise money for the purchase of a custom made, motorized wheelchair for Sherna Sauls, a resident at Woodside Special Care Centre in Cape Town. Sherna is a 21 year old physically disabled person with a very limited range of movement and her new motorized wheelchair means that she is now able to control her own mobility by using only the tips of the fingers of her right hand to operate her new motorized wheelchair.

Zambia added to list of countries requiring Yellow Fever vaccination South Africans travelling to Zambia will now be required to have a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate following a global Yellow Fever risk assessment conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Zambia`s status has been classified as a low risk. However, as Yellow Fever is vaccine preventable, and travellers to and from countries with a low risk of transmission still risk contracting or importing Yellow Fever into South Africa, the Department of Health in South Africa has updated the Yellow Fever vaccination policy to include Zambia. The new policy, effective from 1 October 2011 will require a valid Yellow Fever certificate for all travellers over 1 year old travelling from Zambia, or having been in transit through a Yellow Fever risk country including Zambia. Yellow Fever is an infectious vector-borne disease that is caused by a virus. It is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito vector. source: http://www.doh.gov.za/show.php?id=3047 Hot Ballito National radio and television presenters, top media representatives and a bevy of beautiful girls came together in a blaze of excitement at Johannesburg’s ZAR nightclub during September to mark the launch of a marketing campaign aptly called ‘Hot Ballito’.

Leveraging from the name of Ballito or ‘little ball’ in Italian and then adding a dash of red – a red ball has been adopted as the logo for the campaign.

“Ballito has been identified as the primary development corridor in the country with an estimated 40 000 new homes to be built in the next five to 10 years with a high-speed rail link between the airport and Ballito, a new town centre and an international conference centre being planned,” said Trenley Tilbrook CEO of the iLembe chamber of commerce, industry and Tourism.

Elanie Potgieter - GM of d’Ouwe Werf Hotel, Stellenbosch and Sherna Sauls of Woodside Special Care Centre Kudos to Tourism Radio as industry comes out in praise of Proudly Mother City invention Mother City headquartered Tourism Radio has a special affinity to Cape Town. Not only did CEO Mark Allewell found the proudly homegrown company in his home town in 2005; 18 months later, Discovery Channel broadcast footage of Allewell’s ingenious invention, featuring key Mother City tourism attractions, which led to a German venture capitalist consortium snapping up the company.

Tourism Radio’s Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) driven information station aims to make travelling a more fulfilling experience for the selfdrive tourist. Its GPS technology transmits information about the driver’s surroundings as they travel through a particular Tourism Radio zone.

Three types of information are aired, namely regional location content, informative radio shows, and a unique Intellipoint system that draws the driver’s attention to prominent landmarks via anecdotes and historical facts.

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Trenley Tilbrook (CEO iLembe Chamber of Commerce), Derek Watts, Gareth Cliff, Kanyi Gasa (CEO Enterprise iLembe), DJ Fresh The International Hotel School celebrate student’s achievements The International Hotel School, along with the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC), had reason to celebrate in September, when they proudly observed the graduation of four exceptional tourism students from the IHS ‘Skills, Tasks & Results’ (START) training programme.

Seven top-achieving, senior high school students from Merniva High School and the KwaBhekilanga Secondary School in Alexandra, who had an interest in pursuing a career path in tourism, participated in the programme. Ten Grade 11 and 12 students, who were studying Tourism as a school subject, were also selected after rigorous assessments with the programme’s stakeholders.

TRADE NEWS Experience the Kleenex® Flower Route The Namaqualand flower route, extending from the Western Cape right up to Springbok in the north, is a natural wonder. Kleenex® are sponsoring the Flower Route in partnership with West Coast Tourism, Northern Cape Tourism and Cape Town Tourism.

The Kleenex® Flower route will provide a map that includes all major landmarks on the route along with suggested routes, some of the major flower route hotspots, viewing tips, species identification notes and useful contact information. Flower maps will be available at regional tourism and info offices and at all the major ‘gateway’ forecourts. Visitors wishing to find out where flowers are blooming best need only to call the Kleenex® Flower Hotline 071 320 7146. In addition, the map can be downloaded from the Kleenex® Facebook page (Kleenex South Africa) as well as the website (www.kleenexflowerroute.co.za) Kleenex® is extending this experience by creating interactive platforms through Facebook (Kleenex South Africa) and Twitter pages (@ KleenexFlowers). In addition, flower lovers will be able to upload their photographs, sharing their experiences and the best viewing locations.

The best picture will win a prize.

Thank Goodness for Kleenex Townhouse Hotel raises funds for Tygerbear Foundation Three employees from the Townhouse Hotel and Conference Centre braved the freezing Atlantic water on the 1 September to participate in the Spring Dip, organized by Heart 104.89FM. But Ashley Davids (Grassy Park), Cameron Jacobs (Grassy Park) and Enzo September (Colorado Park) decided to take it one step further and do the dip in ladies swimming costumes – much to the amusement of the gathered crowd. It was not all done in jest however, the three ‘dippers’ had taken it upon themselves to encourage fellow members of staff to raise R1250 towards a very worthy cause. Jacqui Williams, GM of the Townhouse Hotel decided to match her staff’s efforts and together R2500 was raised and donated to the Tygerbear Foundation for traumatized children and families.

Ashley Davids, Cameron Jacobs and Enzo September brave the cold in their (un)flattering ladies costumes.

SA Tourism’s innovative Touch Table shines at the Loeries South African Tourism’s Touch Table, a world first in interactive travel and tourism trade communication, has won two Awards at the 33rd annual Loerie Awards - a Silver Loerie in the category of ‘Internet, Mobile and Interactive Communication: Applications and Interactive Tools’ and a Loerie Craft Certificate in the category of ‘Internet, Mobile and Interactive Communication: Digital Crafts’.

The Loeries recognition comes amidst a string of recent South African Tourism awards and accolades. Last week, SA Tourism’s ‘Adventurers Wanted’ campaign (in collaboration with National Geographic) won a Media & Marketing (M&M) Award for Global Media Excellence - the campaign reached more than 260 million people around the world last year with personalised stories of the exhilarating adventure experiences offered in South Africa, while the World Travel Awards (WTA) last week in Egypt named South African Tourism Africa’s best destination marketing body, an award South African Tourism also won in 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Vineyard Hotel & Spa Long Service Awards Five members of staff were recently awarded long service awards, as they have been working in the Petousis family hotels for over 30 years. All speak with fond memories of the late Mr Petousis Senior. “He taught me great humility, self-discipline, pride and dedication” says Denise Roman.

Erica Makubalo added “Mr Petousis allowed me to learn so much and now I can share that knowledge and help my community, he gave me confidence to use my voice.” All feel very privileged to have worked for the Vineyard Hotel & Spa since 1980 and are very proud to have to received their awards.

Roy Davies, GM of The Vineyard Hotel & Spa posing with long service awardees Cheryl Marock (Plumstead), Monica Tyhlulu (Khayelitsha), Denise Roman (Mitchells Plain), Erica Makubalo (Mitchells Plain) and Alfred Dickenson (Lansdowne) with Lex Petousis on the flank.

Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site wins at the Getaway Show The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site exhibited at the Getaway Show at the Coca-Cola Dome in September and took home second prize for the Best Destination.

The award acknowledges outstanding profiling of a variety of tourism product offerings that engage the visitors to the Getaway Show and beyond. This year’s major draw at the stand was a fun activation featuring a hot air balloon and a 3D banner, depicting all the activities on offer to visitors to the World Heritage Site.

Fana Jiyane, CEO of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, said: “It is a great honour to win an award of this nature. Our core focus is on developing public awareness about the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and we believe that our participation and supporting brand activation at the show attracted people to learn more about the World Heritage Site and its array of tourism offerings, which now exceeds 400.”

Robertson Small Hotel shines at hospitality industry ‘Oscars’ The Robertson Small Hotel scooped the title of ‘Best Luxury Country Hotel in South Africa’ at the World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony, which was held in Zagreb, Croatia in September.

“The World Luxury Hotel Awards believe that the overall guest experience is one of the most critical factors in a hotel’s measure as a luxury hotel”, says Marinique Truter, Executive Manager of the World Luxury Hotel Awards. Riaan Kruger, General Manager of The Robertson Small Hotel, commented enthusiastically after receiving the Award, “This Award confirms our commitment to consistently delivering outstanding service to our guests and will serve as a constant motivation for our team to maintain and even enhance this high level of excellence”

Riaan Kruger, General Manager of The Robertson Small Hotel, receives the Award from Marinique Truter, Executive Manager of the World Luxury Hotel Awards.

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