Tourism Tattler June 2014 by Tourism Tattler

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

JUNE 2014

Contents

Issue 06 (June) 2014 PUBLISHER Tourism Tattler (Pty) Ltd. PO Box 891, Umhlanga Rocks, 4320 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Company Reg.No.: 2006/015252/07 Website: www.tourismtattler.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Des Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 815 0414 Cell: +27 (0)82 374 7260 Fax: +27 (0)86 651 8080 E-mail: editor@tourismtattler.com Skype: tourismtattler

Competition: Win a Family Safari Getaway at Thula Thula Private Game Reserve

MAGAZINE ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Bev Langkilde Tel: +27 (0)32 815 0414 / (0)31 813 5326 Fax: +27 (0)86 656 3860 Cell: +27 (0)71 224 9971 E-mail: bev@tourismtattler.com Skype: bevtourismtattler

Property Review: Kempinski Seychelles Resort

ONLINE ADVERTISING BANNER ADS www.tourismtattler.com/advertising_rates TOURISM SUPPORT SERVICES www.tourismtattler.com/tourism-support-center/ BUSINESS DIRECTORY LISTINGS www.tourismtattler.com/business-directory

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Hospitality: Wine Appreciation - Part 1 - The Soul of the Grape

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EDITORIAL Cover Story - Kempinski Hotels Article Comments BUSINESS SATSA Market Intelligence Report South African Tourism's Arrival Stats Interest in SA shoots up by 250% 9 Essential Skills for Entrepreneurs COMPETITIONS Win a Stainless Steel Flask Win a Family getaway at Thula Thula Win a case of La Bonheur Estate Wine DESTINATIONS RETOSA TFCA - Namibia EDUCATION English Writing Tips

▼ Sep 2013 Adv. Louis Nel Belinda McLaughlin Daniel Scocco Kwakye Donkor

EVENTS 19 Is Online Ticketing Safe? 20 Sports & Events Tourism Exchange HOSPITALITY 22 Property Review: Kempinski Seychelles 26 Wine Appreciation: Soul of the Grape LEGAL 28 ‘POPI’ Act - Part 13 NICHE TOURISM 29 Youth Travel Trends PHOTOGRAPHY 30 Understanding Exposure VISAS 31 Visa Limitations for South Africans TRADE NEWS Visit our website for daily travel news

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Laura Daly Nolene Hepburn Martin Jansen van Vuuren Peter Wickham Mwangi Githalu Simon Lewis Myra Rego Thys Buitendag MAGAZINE SPONSORS

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SATIB Insurance Brokers SATSA Conference 2014 SYNC Accounting & Business Services Kenya Tourism Board British Airways Campaign Against Canned Hunting

14 14 14 19 20 21

White Shark Projects Avis National Accommodation Association of SA Sports & Events Tourism Exchange WebTickets National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI)

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.

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Accreditation Official Travel Trade Journal and Media Partner to: The African Travel & Tourism Association (Atta) Tel: +44 20 7937 4408 • Email: info@atta.travel • Website: www.atta.travel Members in 22 African countries and 37 worldwide use Atta to: Network and collaborate with peers in African tourism; Grow their online presence with a branded profile; Ask and answer specialist questions and give advice; and Attend key industry events.

National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA) Tel: +2786 186 2272 • Fax: +2786 225 9858 • Website: www.naa-sa.co.za The NAA-SA is a network of mainly smaller accommodation providers around South Africa – from B&Bs in country towns offering comfortable personal service to luxurious boutique city lodges with those extra special touches – you’re sure to find a suitable place, and at the same time feel confident that your stay at an NAA-SA member’s establishment will meet your requirements.

The Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA) Tel: +2711 315 2420/1 • Fax: +2711 315 2422 • Website: www.retosa.co.za RETOSA is a Southern African Development Community (SADC) institution responsible for tourism growth and development. RETOSA’s aims are to increase tourist arrivals to the region through sustainable development, improved regional competitiveness, and effective destination marketing. RETOSA Member States are Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) Tel: +2786 127 2872 • Fax: +2711 886 755 • Website: www.satsa.com SATSA is a credibility accreditation body representing the private sector of the inbound tourism industry. SATSA members are Bonded thus providing a financial guarantee against advance deposits held in the event of the involuntary liquidation of a SATSA member. SATSA represents: Transport providers, Tour Operators, Destination Management Companies, Accommodation Suppliers, Tour Brokers, Adventure Tourism Providers, Business Tourism Providers and Allied Tourism Services providers.

Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA) Tel: +248 432 5560 • Fax: +248 422 5718 • Website: www.shta.sc The Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association was created in 2002 when the Seychelles Hotel Association merged with the Seychelles Hotel and Guesthouse Association. SHTA’s primary focus is to unite all Seychelles industry stakeholders under one association in order to be better prepared to defend the interest of the industry and its sustainability as the pillar of the country’s economy.

The Green Expo - Sustain Our Planet. Sandton, Johannesburg - 10 - 12 April 2014 Tel: +27 (0)21 689 3262 • Email: info@thegreenexpo.co.za • Website: www.thegreenexpo.co.za Three City Events, organisers of The Green Expo, have noted the need for a generally accessible exhibition focusing on sustainability issues appealing to the homeowner as well as the business person. It is with this in mind that The first Green Expo was held at the CTICC in November 2011. The success of this expo led to the launch of the Johannesburg Green Expo to be held in September at the Sandton Convention Centre.

International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) Tel: Haleiwa, USA: +1-808-566-9900 • Cape Town, South Africa: (+27)-21-813-5811 • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: +5521 40428205 • Germany: +49 2102 1458477 • London, UK: +44 20 3239 3300 • Australia +61 2-8005 1444 • HongKong, China: +852 8120 9450.

Email: member@tourismpartners.org • Website: www.tourismpartners.org

ICTP is a travel and tourism coalition of global destinations committed to Quality Services and Green Growth. ICTP advocates for: sustainable aviation growth; streamlined travel; fair taxation and jobs.

The Safari Awards 2014 Tel: +44 (0)1865 989280 • Website: www.safariawards.com With nominations from over a thousand luxury travel professionals, hundreds of readers of Tourism Tattler, Conde Nast Traveller, Brides and Travel Africa Magazine you can rest assured that any safari business nominated for a Safari Award is amongst the best in its genre. Finalists are amongst the top 3% in Africa and the Safari Award Winners are unquestionably the best, their reputation earned through excellence recognised by people who know what they are talking about.

World Travel Market London 2014 Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 7897 • Email: polly.magraw@reedexpo.co.uk • Website: www.wtmlondon.com World Travel Market - London is the leading global event for the travel industry. It is a vibrant must attend businessto-business event presenting a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors to UK and International travel professionals. It is a unique opportunity for the whole global travel trade to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business. Last years event attracted over 50,000 attendees, representing 186 countries. WTM is the place to do business with 5,000 international exhibitors.

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cover story

Our front cover for this edition features the luxurious Kempinski Seychelles Resort (read our Property Review on pages 22 - 25).

The 237 room Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo in Kinshasa re-launched through a management takeover in March 2014, while the 112 room Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda will be taken over in Q2 2014. Equatorial Guinea's future new capital of Djibloho, will see the opening of the Grand Hotel Djibloho Kempinski in Q3 2014, with 450 rooms and suites. Also in Q3, the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City will be opening in Ghana with 269 rooms.

Hoteliers since 1897, Kempinski has travelled the world in search of the most fascinating destinations without forgetting the finest traditions of its European heritage. With luxury holiday resorts, business and Spa hotels around the world, every Kempinski Hotel is unique, designed for guests who value five star holidays and luxury getaways. Besides 37 hotels located throughout Europe and 22 hotels in Asia Pacific, the Groups Middle East and Africa portfolio includes 17 hotels located in Bahrain, Jordan, Chad, Kenya, Djibouti, Qatar, Seychelles, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. New properties being added to the Groups already extensive portfolio this year, include the stunning Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel in Beijing and the Kempinski Hotel Changsha in China, the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, Ghana and the Kempinski Al Othman Hotel in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. During an interview with Lashley Pulsipher, the Regional Director of PR for India, Middle East and Africa, while on location in the Seychelles, I got the lowdown on the Groups future expansion plans into Africa. "Kempinski already operates seven hotels in Africa, five of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. The company is opening new hotels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, and its third hotel in Egypt, within the next 12 months," said Pulsipher. "Africa is THE future market for us, both from a strategic and a financial point of view,” added Reto Wittwer, CEO of Kempinski Hotels. “Important key destinations which play a vital role for the economic development of the continent are our target there. As we were industry pioneers in Russia and China, we also want to be pioneers in enhancing the luxury hotel market in Africa and set new standards in quality, service and luxury. We are focusing particularly on sub-Saharan Africa, which has seen exceptional economic growth for several years now.”

EDITORIAL

Kempinski employs around 20,000 staff in over 25 countries, and has an average of four million guests each year. As a global company, Kempinski believes its responsibility extends beyond its employees and guests, into the communities in which it operates, and has a corporate social responsibility programme that includes community health, arts and culture and an environmental programme for efficient energy usage. In the Destinations section of this edition, we also feature Namibia as a RETOSA Transfrontier Conservation Area (pages 16 - 17), and introduce a new Education section that focuses on English writing tips (page 18) and a new series on Wine Appreciation under the Hospitality section (pages 26 - 27). Our regular features in the Business section include the SATSA MIR on the latest inbound travel and hotel occupancy statistics (page 08), South Africa's record tourism numbers for 2013 (pages 10 - 11), and a useful article on '9 Essential skills that every entrepreneur must have' (page 12). The Events section looks at how Sports & Events Tourism will promote Africa to the world, and at how safe Online Ticketing is. Youth travel accommodation trends are covered on page 29, while the Photography section covers Exposure (page 30) and Visa limitations for South African travellers are revealed on page 31. We also have two reader competitions in this edition and don't forget to post your comments online to win yet another prize. Enjoy your read. Yours in Tourism, Des Langkilde.

JUNE 2014

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Article Comments May 2014's article comments received on the Tourism Tattler website and Facebook pages. CONSERVATION CACH Accused of Harming Conservation

www.tourismtattler.com/cach-accused-of-harming-conservation/

Submitted on 2014/05/19 at 7:51 am

The attacks on CACH (Campaign Against Canned Hunting) amount to nothing more than hysterical ad hominems, backed up by nothing. No reference to science, to ethics, to the horrendous impact that hunting has had on our wildlife, to the dramatic drop in numbers of animals across the continent, to the new report by Economists at Large that shows that hunting does not aid communities, to the inherent cruelty of killing animals for pleasure, to the fact that the tourism industry far exceeds the hunting industry, to jobs created and revenues brought in, to the corruption in government, which means that any so-called ‘regulation’ of the hunting industry is basically non-existent. The WWF and their ilk promote hunting because they are paid to do so by the hunting lobby. Hunting is cruel and unethical,

Congratulations to Elisa Galgut Elisa's comment has been chosen as the prize winner for May 2014 2014. Elisa's prize of a Dietz Monarch D10 Hurricane Lantern will be delivered with the compliments of Livingstones Supply Co – Suppliers of the Finest Products to the Hospitality Industry. Editor.

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is unsustainable, and has no place in modern society. WWF and others like to claim that there is a huge difference between ‘canned’ hunting and other hunting; not so. Canned hunting is the logical extension of other kinds of hunting – killing animals for pleasure is the worst kind of cruelty, because it is also cowardly. The canned hunting industry is showing the world that cruelty and cowardice for what it is, without the facade of a ‘fair chase’. The only ‘fair chase’ is if the hunter were dropped in the middle of the veldt with nothing more than a hunting knife and some water. CACH presents the truth. It’s amazing how WWF and other organisations that promote hunting will do anything to keep the image of hunting out of the public domain, because they know that once the public see lion and other animals blasted to death by stupid and pathetic rich people, the public will awaken to the cruelty of hunting and say ‘no more’. Elisa Galgut • Submitted on 2014/05/19 at 4:50 am

Being overpopulated, man invaded the animal’s space in the first place. If it wasn’t for that, greed and other reasons, animals would not have had to be cramped up in small parks all around the world. Now man have to cull in order to have enough room for the animals. Hennie Bezuidenhout

Wi n

The winning comment posted on the Tattler website during the month of June 2014 will receive a IsoSteel Stainless Steel Flask with the compliments of Livingstones Supply Co – Suppliers of the Finest Products to the Hospitality Industry. ISOSTEEL STAINLESS STEEL FLASK 0.5L SLIM W HANDLE Quickstop system for easy pouring - 0.5L capacity - Removable drinking mug - Foldable handle - Removable shoulder strap Price: R232.50 (R265.05 incl VAT)

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BUSINESS

Market Intelligence Report The information below was extracted from data available as at 22 May 2014. By Martin Jansen van Vuuren of Grant Thornton.

ARRIVALS The latest available data from Statistics South Africa is for January to December 2013: (Note: Stats SA recently revised data for Nov - Dec). Current period

Change over same period last year

442 523

1.0%

Germany

304 090

14.2%

USA

348 646

6.7%

India

112 672

5.5%

China

151 847

14.7%

Overseas Arrivals (excl same day visitors)

2 683 141

7.1%

African Arrivals

6 913 783

3.9%

Total Foreign Arrivals

9 616 964

4.7%

NB: African Arrivals plus Overseas Arrivals do not add up to Total Foreign Arrivals due to the exclusion of unspecified arrivals, which cannot be allocated to either African or Overseas.

HOTEL STATS The latest available data from STR Global is for January to March 2014: Current period

Average Room Occupancy (ARO)

Average Room Rate (ARR)

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)

All Hotels in SA

63.9%

R 1 090

R 696

All 5-star hotels in SA

68.1%

R 1 986

R 1 353

All 4-star hotels in SA

63.6%

R 1 021

R 649

All 3-star hotels in SA

63.3%

R 820

R 519

Change over same period last year All Hotels in SA

-0.1%

9.1%

9.0%

All 5-star hotels in SA

2.5%

9.5%

12.2%

All 4-star hotels in SA

-1.5%

6.9%

5.3%

All 3-star hotels in SA

1.3%

8.2%

9.7%

ACSA DATA

The latest available data from ACSA is for January to February 2014: Change over same period last year Passengers arriving on International Flights OR Tambo International

Passengers arriving on Regional Flights

Passengers arriving on Domestic Flights

3.3%

7.0%

0.9%

Cape Town International

5.9%

11.9%

3.3%

King Shaka International

21.8%

N/A

-4.0%

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MY BUSINESS Compared to the Market Intelligence Report published in May, the only new data in this report is the STR Global data. This data indicates that hotel occupancies have stabilised and that the rates achieved continue to recover, resulting in improved revenue per available room. The data from Statistics South Africa has been revised for November and December 2013. The data now indicates that arrivals from the UK increased by 1%, when it was previously shown as a decline of -1.3%. All the other arrival figures indicated in the above table have also increased.

For more information contact Martin at Grant Thornton on +27 (0)21 417 8838 or visit: http://www.gt.co.za

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BUSINESS

South African Tourism Numbers Reach Record High

South Africa welcomed a total of 9,616,964 tourists in 2013, up from the 9,188,368 tourists that visited South Africa in 2012. Tourist arrivals to South Africa in 2013 showed positive growth from all regions. The latest release from Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) indicates that international foreign arrivals to South Africa reached its highest levels ever, namely 14,860,216 in 2013. This 10.5% increase in international foreign arrivals (over 13,451,565 in 2012) translated to 9.6 million international tourist arrivals. All international tourist arrivals combined increased by 4.7%, while the overseas tourist arrivals sub-category increased by 7.1%. “South Africa’s tourism sector continued to show positive growth in 2013, reaching a record high of 9.6 million international tourist arrivals. Overall, South Africa recorded 428,596 more tourists in 2013 than we did in 2012,” announced South African Minister of Tourism, Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk. “Following excellent growth in 2012, when tourist arrivals to South Africa grew by 10.2%, which was more than two and a half times the global average, we are pleased to report that tourist arrival numbers to South Africa grew by a further 4.7% in 2013. “South Africa’s tourism industry continues to show good growth and we remain confident in the ongoing performance and sustainability of the sector,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. South Africa’s international tourist arrivals grew at an annual average growth rate of 7.4% between 2011 and 2013, well above the global average of 4.5% during this period. Positive growth from all regions In 2013, South Africa saw growth from all regions and from all markets in which it is actively marketing the destination. South Africa saw good growth out of Europe, its largest overseas market for tourist arrivals, in 2013. A total of 1,494,978 European tourist arrivals were recorded in 2013, a 7.0% increase on the 1,396,978 European tourists who visited South Africa in 2012. “We are pleased to report ongoing good growth from the majority of our European markets, with double digit growth in 2013 for three of our largest markets in the region, Germany (14.2%), France (10.3%) and Italy (10.6%),” noted Mr. Van Schalkwyk. A total of 304 090 German tourists visited South 10

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Africa in 2013, firmly entrenching its status as South Africa’s third largest source market for overseas tourist arrivals. Tourist arrivals from France, South Africa’s fifth biggest overseas source market, grew to 134,840, while Italian tourist arrivals reached 67,790. South Africa’s largest overseas source market, the UK, however, grew by a modest 1% to reach a total of 442,523 tourist arrivals in 2013. In total, South Africa recorded 417,582 North American tourists in 2013, up from 393,446 in 2012. South Africa’s second largest market, the USA, accounted for 348,646 tourist arrivals in 2013, reflecting 6.7% growth on the 326,643 Americans that visited South Africa in 2012. “The US market remains a major focus of our global marketing efforts and we are heartened by the continued good growth we have seen out of this market in recent years,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. Asia, and Central & South America continued to record good growth on top of the exceptional levels witnessed in 2012, in which these markets grew by 34% and 37% respectively. A total of 435,076 Asian tourist arrivals were recorded in 2013, a 9.2% increase on 2012 numbers. China, South Africa’s fourth largest source market for tourist arrivals for the second year in a row, continued to perform, growing by 14.7% to reach 151,847 tourist arrivals in 2013. Arrivals out of India tempered in 2013, growing by 5.5% to reach 112,672 arrivals. Central and South American tourist arrivals numbers grew by 8.0% to reach 129,463. Brazil remains by far the biggest market out of this region growing by close to 5.6% to reach 82,802 tourist arrivals. South African Tourism is increasing its marketing efforts in Brazil having appointed a marketing agency in the country earlier this year and will, for the first time ever, take a delegation of South African exhibitors to the ABAV travel tradeshow in Sao Paulo, the largest travel trade fair in the Americas. “We remain excited by the potential offered by emerging markets. We are working closely with our partners in the industry to better market the destination in these regions and to make

South African Minister of Tourism, Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk.

BUSINESS

South Africa a more accessible destination for travelers from these countries,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. Australasia tourist arrivals to South Africa grew by 4.0% in 2013, with 148 660 tourist arrivals recorded. Africa, by far the largest source of tourism arrivals to South Africa, grew from 6,634,933 in 2012 to 6,889,389 in 2013. This amounts to growth in arrivals of almost 4%. African air markets continued to perform, with African air tourist arrivals growing by 12% in 2013, with growth recorded from all markets. “Travel is becoming ever more accessible for Africa’s rapidly growing middle class and we are certainly seeing this reflected in the growing number of African air arrivals to South Africa,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. Nigeria, the largest African air market for South Africa’s tourist arrivals, grew by 15.4% to reach 84 589 tourist arrivals. “We expect our first fully fledged South African Tourism office in the continent, which we opened in Lagos at the beginning of this year, to result in continued growth in arrivals from this market of growing importance and from the West African region as a whole,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. Tourism’s contribution to the economy The latest Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) data for tourism receipts and job creation show that South Africa’s tourism sector continues to increase its contribution both to the country’s GDP and to job creation. According to TSA statistics, released by Statistics South Africa for the period ending December 2012, direct tourism contribution to GDP grew from R83.5 billion in 2011 to R93.3 billion or 3% of GDP in 2012. Similarly, tourism contributed approximately 617,287 direct

jobs in 2012, amounting to about 4.6% of direct employment in the country, up from over 591,785 direct jobs in 2011. Dashboard for tourism performance to be developed The Minister also announced plans to take the country’s industry insights and market intelligence to the next level. “Great strides have been made by the tourism sector over the past decade to develop its knowledge base. We are now ready to take our efforts to the next level by transforming all of this information into intelligence through the development of a dashboard for the tourism sector,” noted Mr. Van Schalkwyk. “This dashboard will cover indicators for both the demand and supply sides of our industry, better reflecting our full value chain, as well as forward-looking lead indicators to supplement the current focus on historical arrivals and receipts. Working closely with our key stakeholders, we will be ready to launch this dashboard during tourism month in September,” said Mr. Van Schalkwyk. In conclusion, the Minister said that ongoing growth in all the markets in which South Africa actively markets the destination was proof that the country’s carefully considered marketing strategy was delivering the desired results. “The reality is that each year our invitation to come and visit South Africa, land of incredible wildlife, diverse experiences and most notably, warm and welcoming people, is being accepted by an ever growing number of people from around the world. Two decades into our democracy, I am proud of what this industry has achieved and confident of its ongoing ability to contribute to the growth and development of South Africa,” concluded Mr. Van Schalkwyk. Source: South African Tourism

Interest in SA shoots up by 250% South African destinations are attracting more interest, according to a recent TripAdvisor traffic study, which found views of South African destinations listed on the site grew over 250% from 2012 to 2013. The results confirm the recent findings of TripAdvisor’s TripBarometer study that found SA appearing on the ‘wish-list’ of travellers from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France. The fastest growing markets researching South African destinations include China, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, the UK and Australia. China saw the most impressive year-on-year growth with 109%. The country most viewed by users who also viewed SA was the US, followed by the UK, the Caribbean and Italy. This analysis suggests these countries may ‘compete with SA for international travellers. Helena Egan, Head of Destination Marketing Sales, EMEA for TripAdvisor, said: “Recent reports from the industry have shown that South Africa’s tourism market is gaining in momentum, with increasing interest in the destination from inbound travellers. What’s

perhaps most interesting is the growth in interest we are seeing from Chinese and predominantly German-speaking European travellers who are looking at SA as a holiday destination in increasing numbers. These findings not only paint a positive picture for the South African tourism industry, they also provide the foundation for a strong marketing strategy for local hospitality businesses.” During a presentation at Indaba, Charlie Ballard, Director of Advertising Research at TripAdvisor, indicated that people were less often looking for terms such as ‘wildlife’ and ‘animals’. The terms ‘safely’ and ‘safety’ are also coming up considerably less frequently than previously in searches for SA, while words such as ‘museum’, ‘luxury’ and ‘WiFi’ have become more prominent . Ballard adds that ‘solo travel’ seems to be on the increase, whereas searches for ‘family travel’ seem to be down. JUNE 2014

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9 Essential Skills that every Entrepreneur must have Operating a successful business requires certain skills. Test your own proficiency against these nine skill sets. By Thys Buitendag CA (SA). Being an entrepreneur is a demanding but mostly rewarding job. In a large corporate environment there are probably managers or department heads looking after the various aspects of a business, but in a small or medium business these aspects are often looked after by the owner. Based on my consulting experience, a successful entrepreneur requires a certain level of proficiancy in the these nine essential skills: 1. NUMERICAL – the ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide; calculate percentages (e.g. calculate a selling price for a product or service). 2. ACCOUNTING – understand what is income, expense, asset, liability; what is gross profit, net profit and cash flow. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE – be able to issue an invoice, deposit money, make payments, payroll, recordkeeping, procedures, systems and controls. 4. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT – a basic understanding of financial statements (be able to interpret it); calculate basic ratios to help you manage your business (e.g. profit %, return on investment). 5. MARKETING & SELLING – how to market your business and sell your products; build your brand. 6. PEOPLE MANAGEMENT – how to manage your employees so they perform at their best, motivation, disciplinary measures, performance management. 7. BUDGETING – understand what a budget is, why it is necessary, how to do one and measure your performance against the budget. 8. BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP SKILLS – strategic planning, positioning, market trends, personal life balance, set business vision and goals, outperform your competitors. 9. LEGAL – know of the various statutory Acts applicable to your business and basic knowledge of these Acts (for information on Statutory Regulations for businesses in SA, read the May edition). Now rate your skill in each of these nine aspects. Use a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. 12

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Now work out a plan of action to improve those skills where you rated yourself 3 or under. There are various ways that you can increase your skill level. Some examples would be to search the internet for articles; read books, attend a course or seminar or contract the services of a specialist e.g. an accountant, lawyer or labour specialist. Set yourself goals and learn something new every day, week or month. The words of Henry David Thoreau are worth keeping in mind: "What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." (Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resistrar, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist). "Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is worse." African Proverb. About the Author: Thys Buitendag is the principle value contributor at SYNC Accounting & Business Services. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant after studies at the University of the Free State. He has over 25 years of experience ranging from being an auditor for a few years to being part of the senior management of large corporations and operating his own business, mostly in the manufacturing (feed, FMCG, agriculture related) and IT industries, driving efficiencies in production, logistics, treasury, administration, finance and sales. For advice or assistance telephone +27 (0)11 475 8422 or for more information visit: www.synbs.co.za. You can also send an mail to tattler@syncbs.co.za.

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WIN

C O M P E T I T I O N

A Family Safari Getaway

To enter this competition, simply find the answer to the following question (the answer can be found in the text below) and visit the Tourism Tattler website at: www.tourismtattler.com/competition

“What do the Zulu words Thula Thula mean?” The first correct entry drawn after the closing date of 28 June 2014 will win a safari getaway consisting of 2 nights for two adults and two children sharing a Family Tent at the Luxury Tented Camp in Thula Thula Private Game Reserve. The prize is on a full board basis and includes 2 Game Drives and/or Guided Walking Safaris each day. Thula Thula Exclusive Private Game Reserve and Safari Lodge, with its centuries of cultural and wildlife heritage, takes pride in tracing back it's origin to the private hunting grounds of King Shaka, founder of the Zulu Empire. The Zulu words Thula Thula literally mean peace and tranquillity, which can be found in abundance at this 4500 ha private game reserve. The first historic meeting between Shaka and his father (Senzangakhona), which set the stage for the creation of the Zulu Nation, took place at the Nseleni River which flows through the Thula Thula game reserve. Situated near Empangeni, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, Thula Thula is a 45 minute drive from Richards Bay and two hours from King Shaka International Airport. For more information contact +27 (0)82 259 9732 or email thula@netactive.co.za or visit www.thulathula.com

Accommodation. The Luxury Tented Camp assures exclusivity with 8 luxury tents, all with private viewing decks, mosquito nets, fans and en suite bathroom. The Elephant Safari Lodge provides an exclusive bush experience in absolute luxury. Here guests can enjoy exotic cocktails at the "Marula Bar" in the main lodge or just relax in the thatched lapa lounge while viewing game at the waterhole. Alternately, guests can view game from their own private verandah in one of eight 8 luxurious air conditioned chalets elegantly decorated in ethnic and colonial style. Cuisine. The Elephant Safari Lodge is a renown gourmet experience, while the Tented Camp serves buffet lunches and Boma braais or potjie dinners. Conservation. Founded by the late Lawrence Anthony (author of Babylon's Ark, The Elephant Whisperer and The Last Rhinos), his wife Françoise continues his legacy. Note: Read the Terms and Conditions of this competition at: www.tourismtattler.com/ wp-content/images/ThulaThula-Competition-June2014-TermsConditions.pdf

WINNER OF THE THULA THULA ELEPHANT SAFARI LODGE COMPETITION FROM THE MAY 2014 EDITION CONGRATULATIONS to Michele Harvey of Active Africa. Michele has won a 2 night getaway for 2 people sharing on a full board basis at the exclusive Elephant Safari Lodge. The prize includes 2 game drives and/or walking safaris each day, with the compliments of Thula Thula Private Game Reserve.

www.thulathula.com

JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

DESTINATIONS

RETOSA

Southern Africa: The grandeur of its beautiful deserts and vast lands

Since a visitor would find it hard-pressed to visit all the sand dunes and intriguing sites of each of the countries in Southern Africa, we will focus on Namibia and its neighbors South Africa, Botswana, and Angola. By Kwakye Donkor. The Welwitschia plant is considered a living fossil, and is found only in the Namib Desert. Image © Wikimedia Commons.

Southern Africa is home to many sprawling deserts and seemingly endless expanses of land - perhaps at first glance, not a typical travel itinerary, but one that should not be overlooked, for here lies the beauty and mystery of a fascinating adventure. Surely a trip to this magical and mysterious region is more than worthy of a multi-destination itinerary, and quite frankly, makes sense to take advantage of what will surely be the trip of a lifetime.

Namibia Namibia never fails to enthrall its visitors, to charge the fantasies and imaginations of narrators in their efforts to aptly describe the many-faceted grandeur and harsh splendor of this desert country. Having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 55 million years, it is considered to be the oldest desert on Earth. The wildlife and flora surviving here are fascinating, and have adapted to life in this generally inhospitable region in unique and strangely beautiful ways. A trip to this area is a remarkably surreal experience, but most visitors revel in its strangeness. In the Nama language, Namib means “vast,” and here the desert occupies around 80,900 square kilometers, stretching 1,600 kilometers along the Atlantic coast of Namibia, varying in width from 50 to 160 kilometers. It is protected by the Namib-Naukluft Park, a wonderland of 50,000 square km of shifting sands and vibrantly-colored dunes. It is the world-famous Sossusvlei sand dunes that attract the most attention. The immense ochre sand dunes at Sossusvlei are one of the most astonishing sights in the world. Blown into razor-sharp ridges by the sand-shifting winds, the impossibly dramatic red dunes are the highest in the world, towering some 300 meters into the air. These magnificent dunes are accessible to any self-driving visitor, and there is plenty of excellent accommodation in and around the area. The best time to view Sossusvlei is close to sunrise and sunset, when the vibrant colors change constantly, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. One of the best ways to appreciate the magnificence of this area is by light aircraft on a scenic flight from Walvis Bay or Swakopmund, or by catching a balloon ride over the dunes, although it can also be entered overland by gravel roads. Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek, is laid-back, funky and eclectic, and one of the safest cities in Southern Africa. Coastal Swakopmund is one of the most surreal and unforgettable destinations in the country, with African and European influences having fused uniquely and offering a different kind of sand dune. A section of dunes have been set aside for adventure activities such as sand boarding and skiing, quad biking, camel rides, and off-road driving. 16

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Swakopmund also offers diving, surfing, or simply lazing on the beach, and boat trips to see dolphins and seals. Surrounding the town is the NamibNaukluft Park, one of the most bewitching desert wilderness areas in Africa. Etosha National Park, meaning “place of dry water,” is centered around a huge, flat calcrete pan of about 5 000 square kilometers. The pan provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to the semiarid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. Containing water for only a few days each year, the pan lures thousands of flamingos. Served by three wellestablished rest camps and a host of private lodges along its borders, Etosha offers visitors a wide choice of safari options and a rich wildlife.

South Africa One of the most famous destinations in South Africa is the Cradle of Humankind - one of eight World Heritage Sites in South Africa, and the only one in Gauteng. It is widely recognized as the place from which all of humankind originated. The 47,000-hectare site has unearthed the best evidence of the complex journey which our species has taken to make us what we are – a place of pilgrimage for all humankind. There are 13 excavated sites which have been identified within the area, and these have been declared as national heritage sites by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). The careful management of these unique sites is a clear priority if the site is to be preserved and sustainably utilized. The world-renowned Sterkfontein Caves is home to the oldest and most continuous paleontological dig in the world. It is also the site of discovery of the famous pre-human skull affectionately known as “Mrs. Ples,” and an almost complete hominid skeleton called “Little Foot,” dated 2.3 and 4.17 million years old, respectively. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site has become a major international tourism destination with a total of 387 tourism attractions including 91 graded establishments. There are 175 places to stay and 113 restaurants in and around the area to choose from. Seventy Conference venues and 44 wedding and event venues can accommodate from 20 to 800 guests.

Botswana Imagine an area the size of Portugal, largely uninhabited by humans – this is the Makgadikgadi Pans. It is the largest dry lake in Africa, with an area of

DESTINATIONS

The Serra da Leba, a mountain range in Huíla Province of Angola. Image © Wikimedia Commons.

12,000 square kilometers, and it is widely believed to be one of the largest salt flats on Earth. The Makgadikgadi is a breeding ground for aquatic birds, its waterholes providing wonderful game viewing, with its land area encompassing around 10,000 square kilometers of the Kalahari Desert. Some of the pans are enormous, while others are the size of a small duck pond, and around these are rolling grasslands and the occasional picturesque palm-tree island. Many pans are interrupted with sandy desert in between, the largest being the Sua (Sowa), Ntwetwe, and Nxai Pans. Baobab trees and Kudiakam Pan are also part of life found in the Makgadikgadi. Due to their combined importance for wildlife migrations, this national park was established concurrently to protect the entire ecosystem. Four-wheel drive is recommended for travel, and there are several lodges and campsites that cater to the fully-equipped, self-drive visitor. Visit the pans during both the dry and the wet season, in order to see the pans at their starkest and then witness their transformation to the wonderland forming the backdrop to dramatic migrations.

Angola Sprawled over 15,150 square kilometers is the largest national park in the country – Iona National Park. Bordered to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, it forms part of a continuous block of 1,200 kilometers of protected land together with Namibia’s Skeleton Coast and the Namib Naukluft National Park. There is a variety of desert and semi-desert ecosystems in the Iona National Park, including mobile dunes along the coast, desert grasslands, open woodland, and savannah. Some of the remote desert landscape is a photographer’s dream. Before the Angolan civil war, Iona National Park was known as an animal paradise, rich in big game. Unfortunately, illegal hunting and poaching, as well as the eradication of infrastructure caused considerable damage, however, efforts are underway to replenish the wildlife lost during the civil war, and

today you will see springbok, kudu, ostrich, oryx, and the rare cheetah. The park is known for its unique flora, including the Welwitschia Mirabilis. It also contains incredible rock formations and a varied birdlife. The park is home to many indigenous peoples, who have remained isolated from and oblivious to the outside world, and who are described as the most culturally intact on the African continent. Iona is home to such peoples such as the Mucubal and Himba, as well as many Kimbundu groups. Most are subsistent farmers and herders. Start your journey Most visitors enter Namibia at Hosea Kutako International Airport located 45 kilometers east of Windhoek. International flights arrive multiple times throughout the week from Johannesburg and Frankfurt via a number of carriers including Air Namibia. Other airlines with scheduled flights to Namibia include British Airways, South African Airways, LTU, and TAAG, the Angolan national airline. The airport terminal offers a bevy of shops and restaurants, also ATMs and other helpful services, including taxi and shuttle transportation that is also available to and from Windhoek. Getting around Namibia is remarkably easy for all levels of travelers. Roads are generally good, routes well marked, and Namibia is full of friendly, helpful people to guide you along the way. With proper planning and packing, the country is yours. To get to Namibia’s neighboring countries of South Africa, Botswana, and Angola, the simplest form of travel is by air. That being said, traveling by road can be a wonderful experience, but visitors need to be aware of all the relevant regulations and precautions to take a vehicle across a border and what paperwork needs to be completed in advance.

About RETOSA: RETOSA is the regional institution responsible for tourism development and growth. The organization aims to increase tourism arrivals to the region through sustainable development initiatives, improved regional competitiveness, and effective destination marketing with strategic partners. For more information about RETOSA, go to www.retosa.co.za About the Author: Kwakye Donkor is the Marketing and Communications Director at the Regional Tourism Organisation Of Southern Africa (RETOSA). JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

EDUCATION

English Writing Tips

Inflections in English

The rise of the information age has made the need for writing clear, concise English more important than ever, particularly in the travel industry. This first part in a series of monthly articles, extracted from DailyWritingTips.com, is about that − with topics ranging from grammar to punctuation, from spelling to usage and vocabulary in the English langauge. By Daniel Scocco. Inflections are word elements that indicate grammatical relationships among the words in a sentence. For example, the verb walked is in the past tense; we know this because of the inflectional ending -ed. The noun girls is plural. We know this because of the s that has been added to the singular word girl. All languages make use of inflections. Those that make use of a great many inflections – like Latin – are called synthetic languages. Those that do not have as many – like English – are called analytic languages. The low incidence of inflections in English requires speakers to pay attention to word order. Nouns Nouns are inflected by the addition of an apostrophe (') to show possession: The boy’s backpack was stolen. (singular noun, ’s). The boys’ backpacks were stolen. (plural noun, s’). The letter s is usually added to a noun to form the plural: The girl climbed Mount Everest. The girls climbed Mount Everest. Errors with plural nouns occur with words that do not form the plural by adding s, for example, woman/women; calf/calves, etc. Errors in placing the apostrophe are quite common. For example: The mens’ locker room instead of The men’s locker room. Some uncertain writers sprinkle apostrophes in very unlikely places: Chloe sing’s with the choir. (Should be sings). The dog hurt it’s paw. (Should be its paw). Verbs Regular verbs are inflected to show past tense by adding the suffix -ed: talk, talked, (have) talked. Errors occur with verbs that indicate past tense by changes in spelling, for example, write, wrote, (have) written. Pronouns Because pronouns have retained more inflected forms than nouns, they are the source of probably half the grammatical errors made by native English speakers. The inflections that give trouble with the personal pronouns are these: Subject forms: I, he, she, we, they. 18

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Object forms: me, him, her, us, them. Possessive forms are of two kinds: those that stand for a noun (possessive pronouns), and those that stand before a noun to show possession (possessive adjectives). Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs. Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. For example, That book is mine. (Possessive pronoun standing for book). That is my book. (Possessive adjective qualifying book). The pronouns you and it present no problems, because they are the same in both their subject and object forms. Other errors with the possessive forms are misspelling its and using their with a singular antecedent: Wrong: The house is having it’s roof replaced. Correct: The house is having its roof replaced. Wrong: Every scout will do their duty. Correct: Every scout will do his duty. Adjectives Adjectives are inflected to show comparison. This article illustrates the different ways of doing it: Comparative Forms of Adjectives Adverbs Adverbs are also inflected to show comparison. Adverbs that end in -ly are inflected by adding more and most in front of them: happily, more happily, most happily. Note: Some authorities regard the comparison of adjectives and adverbs as word formation rather than inflection. For more information visit: www.dailywritingtips.com About the Author: Daniel Scocco is the founder of Daily Writing Tips. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian, but he is always trying to improve his grammar and writing skills. He also writes actively on DailyBlogTips.com, a place where he shares tips and tricks to build successful blogs. About Daily Writing Tips: Daily Writing Tips Pro is aimed at people who are serious about improving their writing skills. Every day subscribers receive a useful writing tip (just like the one in this article) and a set of writing exercises via email. Subscribe at: www.dailywritingtips.com/pro

Sports & Events Tourism Exchange aims to promote Africa to the World The Sports & Events Tourism Exchange (SETE) Conference and Exhibition, now in its fourth year, will be taking place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban from 28 to 30 October 2014 together with third year Conference Sponsor, the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA). By Myra Rego. SETE is a dynamic business to business platform that is aimed at positioning Africa as a sports and events tourism destination and encourages collaboration between the sports, events and tourism industries that will showcase their product offerings to the attending International Hosted Buyers and local corporates, specializing in these sectors, who are interested in bringing business to South Africa. Following the success of the previous three conferences, this year’s conference is aimed at celebrating the successes and achievements of the events tourism industry over the past 20 years. This year the focus has been expanded to include Arts, Cultural and Lifestyle events with sports events as part of the Events Tourism sector. Organised by Thebe Reed Exhibitions, SETE is backed by the KwaZuluNatal Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the region’s

EVENTS

marketing body, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal are also giving the event their full support. Sugen Pillay, Business Development Director Thebe Reed Exhibitions says, “The SETE platform created four years ago has grown to become an annual calendar event in the sports and event tourism industry. Over the past 4 years we have seen high profile international rights owners of events and sports tour operators who have used SETE to bring more events and tour groups into the country.” “During SETE 2013 it was good to meet fellow hosted buyers from other countries and many good contacts were made there. As specialists in South Africa and a major provider of sports tours I found this a very useful forum,” says Richard Latham Zeta Tours. This year the conference will not only assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the strategy set in place in 2013, but will also examine the role of local government in supporting major events, understand global sponsorship trends and accessing finance for major events. For more information, visit www.sportsandevents.co.za or contact Rene Staack on +27 (0) 11 549 8300, email Rene@ThebeReed.co.za About the Author: Myra Rego is an account executive at LloydOrr Communications. www.lloydorr.com

JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

EVENTS

Is Online Ticketing Safe? Online ticketing in South Africa is a growing industry as more and more people, across the generational divide, move towards purchasing tickets via the web. But what are online ticketing companies doing to ensure consumers are protected from online fraud? By Noleen Hepburn. The use of mobile technology, using your cellphone or tablet, to purchase tickets to music, theatre or cultural events is booming and several mobile sites have been developed to make it easier for consumers to transact in this way. However, with the ease of purchasing tickets online, ticketing companies are stepping up their security measures to ensure that consumers are protected and not taken advantage of by unscrupulous ‘ticket’ sellers. “Trust is the number one factor for customers when buying tickets online,” says Christy Turner, Co-Founder of Webtickets, the market leader in integrated online ticketing solutions in South Africa. “Tickets to specific events can be pricey and event-goers want to know that they are dealing with a reliable and trustworthy company when making their purchase.” Some of the measures being introduced to alleviate ticket fraud include requiring event-goers to pre-register for larger events. Following internationally aligned ticketing practices, large events will require visitors to pre-register online using their ID numbers and they will be limited to purchasing only a specific number of tickets to prevent ticket scalping, where dishonest vendors buy tickets en masse and sell them onto event-goers at exorbitant prices. Another measure that has been introduced is a secure way of transferring your tickets to another interested party. If you’ve purchased tickets through an official and trusted agency,10:03 you’llAMbe able to sell your ticket on 216x28mm advert.pdf 1 ticketing 2014/05/28 to another person in a safe way. “At Webtickets, we’ve introduced an easy

5-step Ticket Transfer process to allow you to safely and securely sell your ticket to a new buyer. Research shows that one in ten people have been victims of an online ticket scam, so it is very important to ensure that you have all the information available before you transfer money to someone for tickets that might not even exist,” warns Turner. Ticketing security can also work the other way around. “Several companies use a biometrics system that is integrated into their existing ticketing scheme to control access to their sites or venues. In this way, they can be sure of who is gaining access from an internal perspective and manage security more effectively. “We are in the process of working in close collaboration with some of South Africa’s top tourism sites such as the Robben Island Museum, to introduce biometrics into their ticketing system. Once implemented, fingerprint access will only allow entry to the premises to official employees and approved contractors. This type of biometric access control system has been used for some time at world-class sites, such as Walt Disney World in the USA,” explains Turner. For more information visit: www.webtickets.co.za About the Author: Noleen Hepburn is a communications strategist at Voice Factory Communication. www.voicefactory.co.za

tickets.co.za YOUR TICKETS, YOUR WAY s

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

JUNE 2014

OGILVY CAPE TOWN 67466/GRAN

Advertisement sponsored courtesy of Ogilvy & Mather / Tourism Tattler as a service to the travel trade.

HOSPITALITY

Property Review

Kempinski Seychelles Located on the exclusive south end of MahĂŠ directly on the famous Baie Lazare Beach, the Kempinski Seychelles Resort is close to the airport and 40 minutes from the capital Victoria. Travel Agents and Event Organisers seeking a venue that offers guests discernible luxury with all amenities onsite will find no better than that provided by this exquisite resort. By Des Langkilde.

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

JUNE 2014

HOSPITALITY

If a 6-star grading exists for accommodation establishments in the Seychelles, that would be my rating for this superb resort. From the friendly and efficient attention of staff on check-in to the luxurious room amenities, wide ranging facilities and ample activities, this resort has it all.

their skills on the piano or at the snooker table. An ultra-modern gym located adjacent to the pool caters for cardiovascular and power training sessions, while the athletically inclined can train at two tennis courts.

Dining

Meetings and events are catered for through three indoor venues, of which the Salon Quincy is one of the largest in the Seychelles, catering for 200 theatre style seats.

Excellent cuisine is served at four unique venues; including the signature L'Indochine restaurant, inspired by the cuisine of the Indian Ocean rim, the casual Windsong poolside bar, which offers an eclectic selection of carefully crafted cocktails and snacks, and Café Lazare − the resort’s buffet-style dining venue where breakfasts and themed dinners are a gastronomic delight. The Planter’s Bar and Lounge is located just off the lobby area, where a delectable selection of snacks and a special medley of cocktails can be enjoyed.

Business Facilities

Special Occasions Weddings and honeymoons are specialised events that the resort caters to and I can think of few venues that are better staffed and equipped to cater for these memorable moments of a lifetime. And then there's The Spa... (see page 25)

Rooms Little touches like personalized messages on the rooms plasma TV screen, daily letters from management and newspaper snippets in the language of your choice, a complimentary bottle of wine and fruit tray on arrival and a fully stocked bar fridge, which you only pay to have restocked, are all part of the service. Room amenities include his and hers bathrobes and slippers, monogrammed suit bag and shoe shine implements in the dressing room cupboards and the widest range of bathroom amenities that I’ve ever come across. Activities In true resort style, the hotel caters for families with a supervised Kids Club. The club is open 7 days a week from 9:00 to 18:00 hours and children from 4-12 years old are cared for free of charge. A daily activities roster keeps guests active, while sport equipment from the Watersports Pavillion kiosk on the beach can be used at any time of the day. The Tidal Lounge has an extensive library for both books and DVD’s. It also serves as the games room, where guests can practice JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

HOSPITALITY

Little Known Facts About Seychelles −Did you know that: • The fabulous treasure of the notorious Pirate Olivier le Vasseur, (La Buse) today valued at $US 160,000,000, probably still lies buried somewhere at Bel Ombre in North Mahé. • Aldabra is the world’s largest raised coral atoll and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is so vast that the whole of Mahé could fit inside its lagoon. Aldabra is also home to the only flightless bird in the Indian Ocean, the White-Throated Rail as well as to 273 species of plants and ferns and home to the largest population of Giant Tortoises in the world; 150,000 in total. • Seychelles is home to one of the tiniest frogs (1 cm at maturity) • Seychelles is home to the world’s heaviest land tortoise living in the wild. This is Esmeralda (304 kg) on Bird Island. • Aride Island is an important breeding site for 10 species of seabird and the world’s largest population of lesser noddies. It is known as the seabird citadel of the Indian Ocean. Seychelles is home to some of the rarest endemic birds (Seychelles bush warbler, paradise fly-catcher, bare-legged scops owl) to be found anywhere on earth. • Mahé’s rarest bird, the Bare-legged Scops Owl is so rare that it was once thought to have become extinct before being re-discovered in 1959. Seychelles is scattered over an area of 1.4 million km² of ocean. • Victoria is one of the tiniest capitals in the world and can easily be explored on foot in less than a day. • Seychelles’ granitic islands are the oldest oceanic islands on earth. • The mountainous granite isles of the Seychelles are the only islands in the middle of any ocean that are not of volcanic origin. • Seychelles’ waters once teemed with crocodiles and ‘aligartes’. The largest ever recorded was found on La Digue and was said to be 13 feet long and a girth of 8 feet.

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

JUNE 2014

HOSPITALITYA

Spa and Wellness The luxury spa and wellness centre, set against a majestic hillside backdrop, has six private treatment rooms with a twin treatment room for honeymooners or special treatments. Up to now, I've considered people who enjoy being massaged to have masochistic tendencies, but after a full body 'Classic' massage at the powerful hands of masseur Brayan, I'm a convertee! For more information visit: www.kempinski.com Image (left): The Spa Manager, Maria Rossie Torres with masseur Brayan Fernandez.

KEMPINSKI SEYCHELLES RESORT FACT SHEET AT A GLANCE Address:

Baie Lazare, Mahé, Seychelles

Coordinates: Type: Rooms: Capacity: STO Rates: Facilities:

Latitude = -04°45.31"S : Longitude = 055°28.55"E Resort 143 Bedrooms & 7 Suites 150 beds (299 including sleeper sofas). Available on application. In-room coffee/tea, Electronic Safe, iPod docking station, Mini Fridge, Flat-screen TV, Working desk, Shower/Bath. Services: Kids Club, Swimming Pool, Library, Lounge, Casino, Watersports Pavillion, Tennis Courts,. Activities: PADI licensed Dive Center, Snorkling, Kayaking, Surfing, Rock Climbing, Casino. Spa: Fully equipped Spa & Wellness Cente. Gym: Fully equipped Gym. Parking: Free parking on site & Helicopter Pad on premises. WiFi: Free Base Internet Restaurants / Bars: 3 Restaurants and 2 bars . Conference facilities: Fully equipped in-door & outdooe venues. Notable: Incentives, conferences and special occasions are catered for and serviced by a specialist team. JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

− PART 1 −

SOUL of the

GRAPE Wine is so more than just an alcoholic beverage; it's an adventure of the palette, a soulmate to culinary delights, a voyage into history and culture, and an almost foreign language of its own. But with so many clichés to approach wine, how does an average wino become a connoisseur? In Part 1 of this series, Belinda McLaughlin starts at the beginning − a very good place to start! Life is full of surprises (like being invited to write this wine series for Tourism Tattler!). It was quite by accident that my career took a turn about fifteen years ago, and I found myself in the position of buying, tasting and selling wine. I always knew that there was white wine, red wine, wine with bubbles and of course, communion wine! These past years have been my most exciting – a real adventure in finding out about our incredible South African heritage of wine, with its colourful history of people, different soils, vines, labels and the beauty of the Cape. In the wine business, learning never gets boring and never ends, so put your feet up, get comfortable and follow me. We respect our early wine growers for their insight in choosing a wide range of cultivars suited to the soils of the Cape. The wine grower today is constantly striving to improve the cultivation of grapes and the quality of the wine. Such devotion to the industry has placed South Africa amongst the world’s top growing and award winning wine producing countries. An increasing number of our wine farms are also becoming very involved in conservation (www.bwi.co.za), and practising Fairtrade principles (www.info.fairtrade.net). To begin with, there are six essential factors when making wine: CLIMATE and SOIL – Terroir is the commonly used French term, which explains how these two elements combine to influence wine production. CULTIVAR – is the type of grape or varietal. Each cultivar has a unique set of taste characteristics which greatly influence a wine’s flavour and the tasting experience. LOCATION – as the climate and micro climate of the slope of the land helps to determine the quality and character of the wine. VITICULTURE – the actual cultivation of the vineyards and production of grapes, all of which are impacted by the preparing of soil, grafting of vines, planting of selected vineyard stock, pruning of vines, the various trellising practises in viticulture, the use of various types of fertilisers, and the constant battle against different types of disease that blight vineyards.

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OENOLOGY – the actual winemaking process in the cellar. Each winemaker uses differing techniques and have their own cellar working preferences in the winemaking process, which is what gives each winery’s Merlot, for example, a different character from its neighbours. The motto of many winemaker’s is “good wine starts on the vine” which is why viticulture is so important. Wine is actually a bit like the English language – there are many exceptions to every rule! The above six factors are what excite me about wine! It is amazing how at one winery there can be so many soil types. For example, there is a farm called Lomond in the Cape Agulhas region, which has 120 hectares under vine, but has over eighteen different soil types present in this small area. That is why the study of soils and their impact on the vines is so important. A wine farm can have a block of Sauvignon Blanc grapes growing on one side of a road, and block of Shiraz growing on the other side! Certainly unlike the sugarcane fields of KwaZulu-Natal, where I currently reside, which are planted for kilometre upon kilometre across the rolling hills. Mind you, the iLembe District started a vineyard project, known as Maphumulo Vineyards in January 2011, which plans to produce up to 25 tons per hectare of grapes for wine, brandy, juice and table grapes. Each cultivar needs a specific soil type and a different place on the slope of the land. Each grape cultivar also has a specific leaf fingerprint. They all look like grape leaves, but a viticulturist can look at a leaf and know whether it is a Chardonnay or a Sauvignon Blanc. Most wineries have fascinating histories, with a story behind each label, which continues to fascinate me. Not to even mention the incredible characters know as winemakers! To really understand the wine you are drinking, we need to start with knowing about the different types of wine making grapes or Cultivars. Cultivars: The type of grape There are more than 5,000 different wine grape varieties around the world. Keep in mind though, that red grapes can be used to produce white wines, but these are the main cultivars:

HOSPITALITY

n i W

a mixed case of

LE BONHEUR estate wines Enter online at:

www.tourismtattler.com/competition/wine

and answer this question: What is the Cape Legends Wine Club? Red Wine Cultivars • The red colour comes from the skin of the grape. • Tanin is extracted from the skin of the grape and the wood in the barrel. Tannin is a natural preservative that helps red wine last longer. It is the tannin that gives red wine the extra taste of dryness. • We talk about red wines as being Light, Medium or Full Bodied: • Cabernet Sauvignon - Full. • Sharaz (Syrah) - Full. • Merlot - Medium. • Cincaut - Medium. • Pinotage - Medium (this has a very special place in South African wine history. It is our very own and unique cultivar and is a cross between Pinot Noir and Hermitage *Cincaut). • Pinot Noir - Light / Medium. • Malbec - Medium. White wine cultivars • We talk about white wines as being Sweet, Off Dry or Dry. • Again, there are many more white grape varieties, but these are the main ones: • Chenin Blanc - Dry / Off Dry. • Chardonnay - Dry (usually wooded). • Sauvignon Blanc - Dry. • Semillion - Dry. • Pinot Grigio - Fruity Off Dry / Dry. • Gewurztraminer - Off Dry / Sweet. • Weisser Riesling - Off Dry / Sweet. • Cape Riesling - Off Dry (also known as Orouchen Blanc). • Viognior - Off Dry / Wooded.

The Cape Legends Wine Club allows you to buy South African wine online straight from the website at www.capelegends.co.za. Choose from an extensive portfolio of wine brands and learn about each one of them and what sets them apart. ABOUT LE BONHEUR This 163-hectare estate with the optimistic name of Le Bonheur (happiness) is situated along the slopes of the Klapmuts hill in the Northern reaches of the Simonsberg mountain, in the Stellenbosch wine of origin district. Four years of painstaking labour went into perfecting the structure and composition of the soil before entrusting the vines to it. The improvement and restructuring of Le Bonheur's soils have been modelled on those of the famed vineyards of France. Today, they contain all the minerals and other nutrients needed for growing the top-performing varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Of these varieties, the best clones were selected to suit the Estate's climate and soils. For more information visit: www.lebonheur.co.za

In the next issue we will talk more about the different styles of wines and how wine is made. I do hope you have enjoyed this article and if you have any questions please feel free to email me at bhmclaughlin@ capelegends.co.za IMPILO ENDE! (meaning LIVE LONG in Zulu) About the Author: Belinda McLaughlin is the Brand Ambassador for Cape Legends. For more information visit: www.capelegends.co.za JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

LEGAL

The NEW ‘POPI’ aka PROTECTION

OF PERSONAL INFORMATION ACT Parts 1 to 12 in this series can be read in back issues of the Tourism Tattler (see page 03 for PDF download links).

– PART 13 –

PENALTIES, LIABILITY and EXPOSURE CATEGORY 1 Punishable offences in terms of Protection Of Personal Information Act − The following offences are, if committed, punishable with either a fine (not exceeding R10 million), or imprisonment (for a period not exceeding 10 years), or both: • Obstruction of a Regulator - a person will be guilty of an offence if they hinder, obstruct or unlawfully influence the Regulator or any person acting on behalf of or under the direction of the Regulator; • Failure to comply with enforcement or information notices - if a responsible party fails to comply with an enforcement notice, they will be guilty of an offence; • Offences by witnesses - a person will be guilty of an offence where such a person is summoned to give or produce evidence before the Regulator and that person, after being sworn in, gives false evidence before the Regulator on any matter; • Unlawful acts by a responsible party in connection with accountability - if a responsible party contravenes s8 of the Act, subject to certain exceptions, that responsible party will be guilty of an offence. The responsible party, in terms of s8 of the Act, must ensure conditions for lawful processing are met.

The following offences are, if committed, punishable with either a fine (not exceeding R10 million), or imprisonment (for a period not exceeding 12 months), or both: • Failure to notify the Regulator that processing is subject to prior authorisation – if a responsible party fails to notify the Regulator that processing, which is about to be embarked upon, is subject Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

• Breach of confidentiality - any person who breaches the provisions of s54 of the Act, which states that a person acting on behalf of or under the direction of the Regulator must treat all personal information they come across as confidential, will be guilty of an offence; • Obstruction of the execution of a warrant - a person who obstructs or fails to give assistance to a person executing a warrant in terms of the Act will be guilty of an offence; • Failure to comply with enforcement or information notices - if a responsible party in purported compliance with an information notice served on it, makes a false statement, it will be guilty of an offence; and • Offences by witnesses - a person will be guilty of an offence where such a person is summoned to give or produce evidence before the Regulator and that person either (i) does not attend; (ii) fails to remain in attendance; (iii) refuses to be sworn in or to make an affirmation; (iv) does not answer fully and satisfactorily; or (v) does not produce any item that they have been summoned to produce. Conclusion Despite the fact that the Act is quite onerous on Employers, there is a one year grace period from the date on which the Act commences to allow for compliance. If a responsible party acquaints itself with the provisions of the Act timeously and puts in place the necessary measures, the penalties mentioned can easily be avoided. With acknowledgement to: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

CATEGORY 2

to prior authorisation from the Regulator, that person will be guilty of an offence;

JUNE 2014

Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide a brief overview of legal matters pertaining to the travel and tourism industry and is not intended as legal advice. © Adv Louis Nel, 'Louis The Lawyer', June 2014.

NICHE TOURISM

Youth Tourism STAY (Safe Travel Accommodation for Youth) WYSE Association, the global trade body for the youth travel accommodation sector, has launched its seventh annual survey on youth travel accommodation trends. By Laura Daly.

The new industry report is based on a survey of 2,231 Youth Travel Accommodation (YTA) operations across 100 countries and includes findings across all aspects affecting the industry, from the average size and rates of properties to the social media habits and booking styles of their guests. Trends One of the report's most significant findings concerned the changes to booking trends, with lead times coming down since the organisation's previous report. Half of bookings are now made between one and three weeks in advance compared to the previous figure of 36% while the figures for bookings made less than a week in advance remain stable at less than one fifth. At the same time, fewer bookings are now made between one and three months in advance with these figures down from a third to 22%. However, the report indicates a close relationship between the length of stay and the lead time for bookings with those making shorter stays also tending to have much shorter booking lead times. Accommodation As might be expected, city centre establishments tend to be double (just over 20 rooms) the size of their rural counterparts, with an average of 10 rooms. Student residences, meanwhile, have an average of 140 rooms. Whilst properties tend to be 40% larger in North America than in Western Europe with 35 rooms, the region actually has the lowest number of beds per room worldwide, with just 4.8 compared to Western Europe's 7.1. Conversely, just 38% of these North American rooms have en-suite facilities, which is considerably lower than the global average of two thirds.

important role in this sector, with 29% of hostel bookings now being made via these channels. However, the global average revenue per available bed in 2013 remains â&#x201A;Ź23.50 (approx. ZAR333.85) and the average bed occupancy rate is unchanged at 59%. When it comes to technology, it is perhaps unsurprising that the 28% of respondents who have developed mobile applications or ensured their sites are mobile-friendly report the largest number of bookings via mobile sources. Regarding third party booking channels, Hostelworld is the most important for hostels and, with its recently-acquired Hostelbookers site also in the top three, now holds a significant market share in this industry. Booking.com has also seen significant growth in this arena. David Chapman, Director General of WYSE Travel Confederation, said: "With a third of young travellers now using their smart phones when planning their holiday and lead times shrinking as online booking becomes easier, it's increasingly important that the youth travel accommodation sector keeps up with the consumer's technological demands. "Whilst we are finding that our members are increasingly spurred to be active on social media channels, just a third of our respondents indicate that they are active on social media of which 90% of these use Facebook and 43% Twitter. Our survey therefore suggests that the future of our industry will depend on smaller establishments embracing this trend as much as the larger operations." The full report is free for STAY WYSE members and a free executive summary of its findings can also be downloaded at: www.staywyse.org/research or from the UNWTO website.

Demographics When it comes to guests, the main age targeted by youth travel accommodation (YTA) operators is 25-34 years (61%). However, 10% of YTA properties are now aimed at the flashpacker market aged 35 or older, with bed and breakfast operators most likely to make up this market. Business travellers, meanwhile, make up 11% of guests and groups account for 17% of business. Bookings In terms of revenue, third party websites are playing an increasingly

About STAY WYSE: STAY (Safe Travel Accommodation for Youth) WYSE Association is one of the WYSE Travel Confederationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sector associations. Formed in 2006, its focus is to provide support and representation for the US$34 billion / year youth traveller accommodation industry. Annual Conference: Set to be the youth travel industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest ever event, the World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) will be taking place in Dublin from 23-26 September 2014. Visit www.wystc.org to register or find out more. JUNE 2014

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

PHOTOGRAPHY

Understanding

EXPOSURE

The single most important element in photography is light, as it is the capturing and recording of light that creates truly stunning photographs. By Peter Wickham. The amount of light allowed to be captured is called the exposure and therefore too much light results in over-exposure and too little results in under-exposure. There are three elements to exposure (no more and no less), these being: a) Aperture (the size of the hole in the lens, or f number. This can be described as the doorway through which light moves); b) Shutter speed (We can equate this to the door fitted to the doorway, which determines how long it stays open to allow light to move through); c) ISO (the speed that the light allowed into the camera is accepted by the sensor). APERTURE. We have equated this to a doorway through which light moves. It makes sense therefore that the larger the aperture, the more light that can pass through. The smaller the f number, the larger the hole allowing light to travel through, i.e. f2.8 is much larger than f8, which is again much larger than f22. SHUTTER SPEED. When we understand that f22 is a smaller aperture than f8, we should also then understand that when the aperture is smaller, the shutter needs to be open longer to allow the same amount of light to pass through to the sensor. The converse is true for a larger aperture. ISO. The sensor is located in the camera, and in line with the lens so that light passing through the lens when the shutter is open, will then fall upon the surface of the sensor, from where it is processed into the image by the camera software, and stored onto the memory device. We need to remember a few things though. If the shutter speed is slower than the focal length multiplied by the crop factor of the camera, you run the risk of camera shake causing a blurry image unless the camera is on a tripod. We sometimes give up Depth Of Field by opening the lens aperture to allow for a faster shutter speed. Should we not be able to compromise our aperture, or it's opened up to it's full extent, then we can adjust the ISO, the cost of which, will be the addition of noise (graininess) in the image. For every stop of light gained by opening aperture or increasing ISO, the shutter speed can then increase by the same degree, as the balance of the exposure will be maintained (what light you add with aperture or ISO, can then be taken away with a faster shutter speed and therefore end up with the same amount of light being recorded). Please remember that a click on the scroll wheel is not necessarily one stop, as all cameras work in thirds of a stop for aperture and shutter speed and some in thirds with regards to ISO as well. 30

Tourism Tattler Trade Journal

JUNE 2014

From this we can see that it is possible to manipulate the shutter speed to achieve freezing the moment, or allowing movement to occur whilst the shutter is open, which then results in motion blur. Taking photos of moving water is usually where one seeks a slow shutter speed to achieve a silky water effect. Obviously the use of slow shutter speeds requires the use of a Tripod and working in low light conditions. If we are looking to lose light to make shutter speeds as slow as we can, we firstly close the aperture to f16 - f22 and ISO to the lowest that the camera will provide. If the shutter speed is still too high, then the use of Neutral Density filters and/or Polarizer filters will help a great deal. To freeze movement, the converse of the above is true. Here one would try to achieve the highest shutter speed possible by opening the aperture as wide as possible, and if necessary, increase the ISO (but be aware that increased ISO creates a magnetic field around the sensor, which manifests as noise and thereby reduces the quality of the image). Always be aware that camera exposure refers to the amount of light to be recorded and not merely the shutter speed. All three components of an exposure need to be considered as an equal part of it. Finaly, when considering your exposure, decide on the importance of Depth Of Field or shutter speed (refer May edition - page 35), and then meter on a mid-tone with your choice in mind. About the Author Peter Wickham is a professional photographer with over thirty years of experience. When not on assignment for hospitality and travel projects, Peter teaches photography on a one-on-one basis or to small groups. Tel: +27 (0)79 670 7356 Email: info@proimpact.co.za Website: www.proimpact.co.za Facebook: Pro impact productions

VISAS

Visa Limitations for South African Travellers In the world of fast-paced, global travel, the last thing you want is visa hassles ruining your clients opportunity to take advantage of a special travel offer at short notice. In this article, Mwangi Githahu and Simon Lewis take an in-depth look at visa limitations for South African travellers. “All men are created equal,” Abraham Lincoln reminded the people of the United States at Gettysburg in 1863. Of course, honest Abe never crossed an ocean or travelled abroad, so he never had to hassle with applying for a visa. If he were alive today, you could be sure to read wry tweets along the lines of “All passports are not created equal” flying into cyberspace from @honestabe. A quick scan through the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index will illustrate just how unequal most passports actually are, from Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom (all on an eye-popping 173 visa-free countries) down to Afghanistan on a paltry 28! Visa-free access based on a passport is a reflection of that country’s tourism status, political relations as well as their economy. Easy access might mean they are very tourism friendly and politically welcoming, while limited access can suggest the country is a bit of an outcast (usually due to a history of conflict and warfare) or is so strong economically that they are eager to keep easy access through their border posts more exclusive. Access to a wider range of visa-free countries offers substantial opportunities for tourism as it stimulates tourism bodies and operators to offer short-notice specials to take advantage of sudden heightened tourism activities or events. Marketing such special offers to countries whose passport holders can take off at a moment’s notice is a great way to help fill empty airplane seats or hotel rooms and it also makes it easier to adjust travel arrangements at short notice when on holiday. As tourists, South Africans have easy visa-free access to 94 countries around the world, the same as St Lucia and Turkey. That might seem like a lifetime’s worth of travel, but it all depends on the individual country breakdowns. Sadly, some key destinations are not visa-free for South Africans, such as North America, almost all of Europe as well as Australia. On the positive side, South America is open, as is a lot of Asia and Oceania. Turkey is understandably stronger in Russia and the Middle East, but while a lot of Africa is not available visa-free with a South African passport, crucially the main Southern African tourist destinations are, along with the countries situated along the eastern coast of Africa. There are 26 African countries that South Africans can travel to either without a visa or with a visa that can be snapped up on arrival. These countries include Botswana (where we can stay for 90 days without a visa), Mauritius (60 days visa-free as tourists, or 90 days-visa free for business visits) and Senegal (three months without a visa).

The only African nations that trump South Africa are the Seychelles (visa-free access to 126 countries) and Mauritius (123). Critically, both of these nations are strong through Europe, while Seychelles has the added benefit of visa-on-arrival to Egypt (not an easy country to access visa-free). Madagascar offers South Africans a 30-day visa on arrival at no cost and Zambia welcomes South Africans for 90 days in a year visa-free (these 90-days can be taken all at once or in intervals). Ironically, in terms of SADC countries, South Africans only get a 14-day free visa for Lesotho, yet they can get into Tanzania visa-free and stay for 90 days! Go figure! All is not lost for frequent flyers holding a South African passport, though. Choosing your marriage partner with care (in regards to his or her passport!) could give you a second passport which might open up a great many travel gates. The other ways to get your hands on a second passport are through a lengthy residency application (a sign of the truly committed international traveller) or citizenship by investment, whereby you buy property in another country and are rewarded with the fairly rapid granting of citizenship and a passport. The latter is only for the seriously well-heeled, but carries tremendous advantages in terms of their lifestyle. “Affluent South African passport holders who do a lot of international travel, whether for leisure, business or both, can gain enormous benefits from having a second passport through a citizenship-byinvestment programme. These are offered by several countries and allow an investor to legally, and almost immediately, acquire citizenship without needing to physically live in that country,” says Andrew Taylor, Managing Partner at Henley Estates, global leader in citizenship by investment. “This speeds up travel, facilitates business opportunities and even affords their children the opportunity to be educated overseas.” “If the South African passport holder acquires citizenship of Cyprus (151 countries visa-free), for instance, then they can add Canada, Europe, parts of Asia and Russia, Australia and even some African countries that are not open visa-free on the South African passport. That’s a powerful passport combination to have, and it literally makes the world your oyster,” adds Taylor. About the Authors: Mwangi Githahu and Simon Lewis are a South African-based writing team specialising in tourism and travel. Henley & Partners are a global leader in citizenship by investment programs. Their African office is based in Cape Town, South Africa. JUNE 2014

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