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COMMUNIQUE' - NOVEMBER 2009 EDITION
In This Issue:
and more...
Smart Travel In 2010 - How It Will Affect You!
All indications are that airline seats will be sold out and many flights are already full, cars will not be available for hire, and most hotel rooms have been allocated to the event. Many areas will be restricted to permit holders and you will not be permitted access. You will not be able to pick up the phone to your travel agent, or service provider or click onto the internet and book travel arrangements as usual. No way! XL Turners Travel is preparing a strategy to assist our travellers by keeping in touch with the latest developments, availabilities and options. Visit our website today to keep abreast of our strategising for 2010 - www.turnerstravel.co.za.
29 Beaches Awarded Blue Flag Status
NATIONAL Marine Month in October 2009 came to an end on a high note when the new season of Blue Flag South Africa was launched at Muizenberg beach last week with the announcement that 29 beaches had been certified prior to the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Speaking at the launch, Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, said the increase of Blue Flag beaches from 19 last year to 29 this year was extremely good for tourism in South Africa. "In order for South Africa to optimise its tourism potential, it is critical that we offer both domestic and international visitors clean, safe and well-managed beaches". "The main catalyst for the increase in the number of Blue Flag beaches has been the opportunities that have arisen as a result of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Municipalities participating in the programme have seen the benefits of having Blue Flag beaches and wish to be in a position to offer and promote their Blue Flag beaches to 2010 visitors and those who plan to return to South Africa in the future. Six new municipalities have added additional beaches to their suite of Blue Flag beaches," the Minister said. Research has shown that the commitment of municipalities to Blue Flag makes sound economic sense within tourism, e.g. research on Margate beach indicating that the value of Blue Flag status at the beach could generate income amounting to tens of millions of rands per annum. Minster van Schalkwyk said research feedback had shown that both international and domestic tourists valued the quality assurances that Blue Flag beaches offered. "With a 23 year history of implementation in Europe, international visitors to South Africa are familiar with the Blue Flag brand.
Cathedral Peak Gets Four Stars
DRAKENSBERG resort, Cathedral Peak Hotel, has been awarded a fourth star from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa following four years of extensive refurbishment. The refurbishment programme included new kitchens in 2006, a new dining room, new public areas and bathroom renovations in 2007 and new honeymoon suits and bungalows this year.
City Lodge Announces Two New Hotels
THE JSE-listed City Lodge Hotels group has begun developing two new hotels - Road Lodge Southgate and Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport - taking to eight the number of hotels the group is currently building around the country. Road Lodge Southgate, adjacent to the Southgate Mall in southern Johannesburg, will have 118 rooms at a total development cost of R43 million. It will open towards the end of May 2010. Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport will have 66 rooms, a development cost of R28 million and is also expected to be completed during May next year. Other group hotels currently being developed include: City Lodge OR Tambo Airport (303 rooms), City Lodge Fourways (211 rooms), City Lodge Lynnwood (205 rooms), City Lodge Hatfield (187 rooms), Town Lodge Port Elizabeth (204 rooms) and Road Lodge Port Elizabeth Airport (90 rooms). Road Lodge Southgate will be the group's first hotel in southern Johannesburg while Road Lodge Bloemfontein Airport will be the group's second hotel in the Free State. There are currently 18 Road Lodges in South Africa, the most recent to open being the 125-room Road Lodge Umhlanga Ridge. The group currently owns and operates 44 hotels across the Courtyard, City Lodge, Town Lodge and Road Lodge brands.
Southern Sun "Going For Green"
THE Southern Sun's Garden Court hotels are launching programmes to ensure it becomes an environmentally friendly brand. In an effort to create a more sustainable travel future and reduce its impact on the environment, Garden Court will implement several eco-initiatives. Since September, the hotels have been using Ozone, a water treatment application. Not only are guests assured of safe, treated drinking water, which will also be used in food preparation. The hotel will package the water in handmade sandblasted glass jugs produced locally in Ngwenya using glass recycled from all Garden Court hotels using glass recycled from all Garden Court hotels. "This initiative fulfils our objective to reduce, reuse and recycle. Recycling glass enables and economic growth," said Neil Bald, operations director. Another venture involves producing organic fudge made from organic sugar.
Durban International & La Mercy To Be Used For 2010
THE existing Durban International Airport and the new airport at La Mercy will both be used during the World Cup next year to "ensure a smooth operation", transport minister, Sbu Ndebele, announced on Tuesday. "The new airport will start operating on May 2nd next year and Durban International Airport will be decommissioned after the soccer tournament," he said. The name of the new international airport is till undecided. The Kwa Zulu Natal government still has to propose a name and open it to public discussion.
Huge New All-In-One Carnival For Cape Town In 2010
EXECUTIVE Mayor Helen Zille has announced an exciting new venture on the tourism calendar for Cape Town. From 2010, Cape Town will have
an annual all inclusive Carnival that will aim at bringing together the diverse communities of the city through music, dance, creative and cultural
expression, culminating in a weekend of inclusive fun for Capetonians and visitors alike. "Upon visiting Rio, we identified that Cape Town has no
shortage of cultural offerings combining music, dance and other kinds of creativity, however, these all seem to be catering for particular niches. One
Thus never sees the rich tapestry of music genres, cultural representations and dance styles together, as an expression of the heart of Cape Town
rich in its diversity," says Professor Rachel Jafta, founding member and chairperson of the Cape Town Carnival Trustees. "We wanted to create
something new, where communities interact and celebrate our uniqueness, but also unite as citizens of one of the most beautiful cities of the world,"
says Rachel. She goes further by identifying the three main objectives of the Carnival as being "the enhancement of social cohesion and cultural
expression, the building of community self-esteem and development and the creation of positive spin-offs for the local economy and especially
tourism". The inaugural Cape Town Carnival will be held from 12-14 March 2010, in between the Argus Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans Marathon,
therefore adding to the tourism calendar. The theme for the 2010 Carnival is "Rhythm, Roots & Boots", giving the participants a chance to put on
their dancing shoes, fire up their rhythms and tell wonderful visual stories of diverse and common roots that span lifetimes. The Friday night of the
Carnival will be known for Carnival balls and dancing, whether it is in a community hall, at a participating hotel or club or a beach or street party.
The Trust would love everyone to accredit their event to be formally included in the Carnival programme. On the Saturday, eight groups consisting
of between 1,500 and 3,000 artists (dancers, musicians, singers, etc) will parade through the streets with magnificent floats reaching two to three
storeys high. At midday the actual competition will start, with the groups performing for 60 minutes each. Professional judges will evaluate the
groups with their input accounting for 50% of the points. The rest will be determined by SMS voting from the public. At the stroke of midnight the
winners will be announced and the top five groups will automatically qualify to enter into the next Carnival. The other three places will be competed for again in knock-out rounds. And then the city will party on. The Carnival songs will be recorded and distributed for months prior to the event with the intention that the public will get to know the songs and join in whilst their favourite group dazzle the judges and audiences. The Carnival model has been developed to create groups of communities, crossing across geographical and cultural boundaries, working towards a common goal. Although the idea was inspired by the Rio Carnival, the Cape Town Carnival will be uniquely South African. The Rio Carnival attracts approximately 500,000 visitors to the city and is broadcast across all the continents. The Carnival Trustees are confident that, with the buy-in of everyone in our communities, commerce, tourism and creative industries, Cape Town could follow suit in the years to come.
SA Tourism Heads To European Incentive Business Travel Market
SOUTH African Tourism has announced its participation at one of the world's leading exhibitions for the global conference, incentives, events, business travel and meetings industry - EIBTM (European Incentive Business Travel Market), which takes place in Barcelona, Spain, in December. EIBTM give exhibitors a platform to promote their meetings destination capabilities to international hosted buyers, other exhibitors and trade visitors. The South African tourism pavilion, says the organisation, will have a two-fold focus; firstly, it will create awareness of South Africa as a prime business tourism destination by marketing the upcoming Meetings Africa exhibition in 2010, and secondly it will highlight the impact of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup on the business tourism landscape in South Africa. "We want to create awareness about South Africa asa more than capable destination for global meetings and incentives. We also want to invite international buyers to participate at Meetings Africa 2010 where they will get a first-hand opportunity to experience what South Africa offers as a business tourism destination," says Nomasonto Ndlovu, Global Manager of Business Tourism at South African Tourism. South African Tourism, Ndlovu says, is intent on growing the business tourism sector, as it is already lucrative and shows huge potential growth. "In 2008 business tourism represented 6% of total foreign arrivals to South Africa and this figure is increasing year on year. In 2007 business tourism contributed R2,6bn to the South African economy and in 2008 the figure had grown to over R3 billion. Meetings Africa is our biggest marketing initiative to grow this market and we will be promoting it heavily at EIBTM. Furthermore, South African Tourism wants to take full advantage of international soccer fever during this time, as the EIBTM event takes place just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup final draw in Cape Town. "Our brightly coloured pavilion, with diski dancers, vuvuzelas sounding and our exhibitors wearing their Bafana Bafana shirts, will be a hub of excitement. EIBTM is an excellent opportunity to showcase not only our fantastic capability to host big events and conferences, but also to show the warmth and incredible beauty of South Africa - all the crucial elements for a premier business tourism destination." Ndlovu goes on to say: "We want to focus on the impact that 2010 developments are having on our destination: the modern hotels that accommodate big groups easily; the upgraded infrastructure such as the USD 1,16bn revamping of our airports and the new rapid rail system that gives commuters easy and rapid access to numerous key points in the Johannesburg/Tshwane commercial and industrial hub of South Africa. Combine these elements with South Africa's breathtaking natural beauty and we have a more powerful meetings destination to take to EIBTM."
Airlines Announce Fare Increases
SAA and Lufthansa have announced the following fare increases:
SAA will increase published fares on the following routes, effective November 5th:
- Business and economy class fares between South Africa and Blantyre will increase by 5%
- Economy class fares between South Africa and Entebbe will increase by 3%
- Business and economy class fares between South Africa and Harare will increase by 5%
- Business and economy class fares between South Africa and Zambia will increase by 3%
- Business and economy class fares between South Africa and Maputo will increase by 3%
Lufthansa will increase business and economy class fares to Germany and Europe between 2% and 5%, effective November 3rd, 2009.
Air Namibia Launches Lusaka Flights
EFFECTIVE October 25, Air Namibia will operate five flights a week from Windhoek to Lusaka, Zambia, via Johannesburg. The sector between Johannesburg and Lusaka will be done in codeshare with Zambezi Airlines. "We are also pleased to announce at the same time that we will be improving our service offering by providing an early morning departure at 08h10 from Windhoek to Johannesburg and an evening departure at 18h30 from Johannesburg to Windhoek," said, Air Namibia business development manager, Xavier Masule. "This service improves the offering to Windhoek based business and leisure travellers who can now travel to Johannesburg and return the same day, affording them a full business day, he said. Days of operating are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Depart Windhoek 08h10 arrive Johannesburg 09h55 Depart Johannesburg 18h30 arrive Windhoek 20h30.
Contiki Holidays For 18 - 35's
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London To Rome
16 Days - Valid from 04-30 April 2010
R12,265
excluding food fund of R2,670 per person sharing
Package includes:
- 15 nights accommodation: 2 nights in Contiki's exclusive French Chateau, 11 nights comfortable cabins in Contiki's own villages and 2 nights in hostels
- 15 breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch and 11 dinners included in your food fund
- A dedicated crew with an experienced and professional Tour Manager and driver
- Transport in a modern air-conditioned coach with power points for charging
- Ferry crossing
- Sightseeing tours of all major cities including 11 world heritage sites
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European Magic
9 Days - Valid from 18-30 April 2010
R10,665
per person sharing
Package includes:
- 8 night's twin-share hotel accommodation
- 8 Continental breakfasts and 5 three-course dinners
- A dedicated crew with an experienced & professional Tour Manager and driver
- Transport in a modern air-conditioned coach with power points for charging
- Ferry crossing
- Sightseeing tours of all major cities including 3 world heritage sites
- Hotel tips, local taxes & service charges
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Terms & Conditions apply. R1000 deposit to be paid within 7 days of booking. In order to qualify for the 6 month in advance early payment discount, full payment is required 6 months prior to travel.
November 2009 Lucky Draw Competition
On the breathtaking Dolphin Coast of KwaZulu Natal lies Prince's Grant Golf Estate. This North Coast jewel offers a lifestyle of natural beauty, quality relaxation and peace of mind. The way life should be lived.
Visit www.princesgrant.co.za for more details.
This month, one lucky reader stands the chance to win the following wonderful prize:-
1 NIGHT AT THE LUXURIOUS LODGE AT PRINCE'S GRANT
FOR TWO PEOPLE SHARING
To enter our lucky draw competition, all you need to do is make any travel booking during November 2009 and email your name and company name to Rachelle: rachelles@turnergroup.co.za
Or, simply fill in your details below and click enter competition.
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