TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYMay 8 2019 I No. 2542

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FEATUREFEATUREINTO AFRICAREPORT

AVIADEV AFRICA 2019Fifth freedom problems inhibit open skies

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Air Tanzania – direct flights to JNBsaRah RobeRtson

AIR Tanzania will start flying four times a week between Johannesburg

and Dar es Salaam from June 28.

TC209 will depart from Johannesburg at 14h20 arriving in Dar es Salaam at 18h35 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. TC208 will depart from Dar es Salaam at 10h30, arriving in Johannesburg at 12h45 on the same days.

The airline’s head of public relations, Josephat Kagirwa, told media that the route would be operated by a B787 Dreamliner configured with 22

seats in business class and 240 in economy class.

The flights have been loaded in the GDSs under both the airline’s TC code and the Hahn Air code.

Riaan Goosen, owner of Club Travel Zoo Lake, was pleased to hear about the new flights, saying it was always good to have competition in a market. He said there was a lot of business travel between South Africa and Dar es Salaam but that most of his corporate clients preferred to book with SAA for the Voyager miles. He said he would consider selling the airline for onward destinations, provided its connections were good.

According to the airline’s website, it services Dodoma, Kigoma, Tabora, Mbeya, Mtwara, Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro, Songea, Bukoba and Mwanza in Tanzania; and Bujumbura (Burundi), Comoros, Entebbe and Mumbai. Johannesburg is not yet listed.

Operators told TNW they were eagerly awaiting further details of fares and schedules from Air Tanzania but at present it was too early to comment on whether the airline would be supported from a leisure perspective.

TNW contacted Air Tanzania for further details but had not had a response at time of going to print.

From Airlink, with love

Celebrating the discounted fares is Pearl Mahlangu, Airlink’s marketing and customer relations officer, Regional. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

BOOK your clients these discounted fares with Airlink to cities in SA, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and St Helena. The fares are all-inclusive and valid for travel until August 31. CPT to WDH from R4 070

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JNB to PZB from R1 510 one way. JNB to PHW from R2 450

one way. JNB to MUB from R7 260

return. JNB to BBK from R6 930

return. JNB to POL from R10 790

return, and JNB to HEE from R14 360

return.

Stop Press!

CemAir has won its appeal against the SACAA for the grounding of its fleet and the suspension and subsequent cancellation of its operating certificates. All the notices issued grounding CemAir by the CAA have been overturned by the by the Appeal Committee.

Families: Namibia caught laggingsaRah RobeRtson anD Dave MaRsh

AS SOUTH Africa finally eases its unpopular inbound unabridged birth certificate (UBC) requirements for minors, which have been detrimental to tourism, Namibia is now reinforcing the implementation of UBC requirements for minors travelling to and from its borders.

The Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration

has warned, in a new official release sent out on April 24, that children under the age of 18 travelling to and from Namibia must carry original or certified full birth certificates in addition to their passports.

The South African travel and tourism industry has been fighting against this very requirement for three years. The industry’s victory in November, when the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) finally eased the

documentary requirements for foreign children entering South Africa, was short-lived when the DHA immediately issued a contradictory travel advisory that caused airlines to continue denying boarding to minors without certificates for five months after the change was published in the Government Gazette.

However June Crawford, ceo of the Board of Airline Representatives of South

To page 2

2 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: tnw@nowmedia.co.za Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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NEWS

Families: Namibia caught lagging

Africa (Barsa) confirmed this week that Iata was now advising check-in staff not to request birth certificates from minors who have South African visas or who are exempt from visas if travelling with their parents with the same surname. This change came about after the DHA issued a new travel advisory on April 2, which clearly and unambiguously states that only a passport is needed for children under 18 if they travel with parents on a visa-exempt passport. Most of SA’s major inbound source markets are visa-exempt, including the US, UK and most of Europe.

Otto de Vries, ceo of Asata, said the UBC policy had been detrimental to tourism in South Africa from both an inbound and an outbound perspective. “We strongly advise that policies that require families to carry UBCs are rescinded and rebuilt from the ground up. We encourage discussions between the public and private sector so we can try to understand the concerns of government

around safety and security, while also looking at the needs of the travel and tourism sector. This is the only way we will be able to build a meaningful travel culture in our country,” said Otto.

Although the Namibian ministry’s statement (which says incidences and threats of child trafficking are on the rise), was dated April 24, PR officer for the Namibian Ministry of Home Affairs, Sakeus Kadhikwa, told TNW that the requirement had actually been in effect since 1993 and fell under Immigration Control Act 7, 1993. He said the information had been released again in order to make public aware of the ministry’s requirements and advise them in terms of regulations.

The Namibian release also states: Adults travelling

internationally with children who are not their biological offspring are advised to provide an affidavit giving consent for travel from the child’s biological parents or legal guardians.

If a child is travelling with only one parent, the other parent must provide consent for the child to travel with the parent in question. If one parent is deceased, a copy of a death certificate of the deceased parent should be provided. An unaccompanied minor

travelling to or from Namibia is also required to produce a letter or affidavit as proof of consent to travel, from one or both parents or legal guardians. A letter from the person who is to receive the child, containing the residential address and contact details where the child will be residing; a copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child; and the contact details of the parents or legal guardians of the child must also be provided.An agent source has

confirmed that entries in Timatic reflect the same text regarding immigration/emigration for Namibia.

From page 1

Lion's share of cruise cakeCoastal cruising has grown significantly in the last two years. Records were broken as the 3 000-passenger Musica ended the local season with a voyage to popular Portuguese Island off Mozambique. On board were the agents who are making the most of the trend and who attended MSC's All Star Travel Awards. From left: top producer from an independent agency, Robert Baker of SA Travel Online; MSC’s Stacey Barnett, sales manager; Ross Volk, ceo; and Tracey Krog, sales international cruising; and winner of the top-producing consortium, Andrew Stark, ceo of Flight Centre. There are big plans for the 2019/20 season. Look out for TNW’s guide ‘10 things to know about local cruising’ to be published later this month. Photo: Dave Marsh

Qatar offers Pre-CheckDeena Robinson

QATAR Airways is now participating in TSA Pre-Check, a screening

programme that makes travelling through US airports more convenient.

The programme enables passengers, who are members of the US Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveller Programme and travelling on Qatar Airways, to have a more efficient screening process through the airline’s ten gateways in the US, including Washington Dulles International Airport, JFK International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Miami

International Airport. For TSA Pre-Check

travellers, there is no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets at security checkpoints in the US. Children aged 12 and under accompanying the travellers will also receive TSA Pre-Check.

Qatar Airways passengers who are TSA Pre-Check registered can add their Known Traveller Number (KTN) when making each booking reservation with Qatar Airways in order for the respective note to appear on the passenger’s boarding pass at check-in on flights departing out of one of the ten US airports.

Sell three, sail freeTHE Luxury Collection by Cruises International is offering agents a ‘sell 3 sail free’ incentive on the Crystal Esprit with Crystal Yacht Cruises.

The incentive is only

available when agents book directly with Cruises International. It is valid for booking until May 1,only on Crystal Esprit and only for travel in the Seychelles between

January and March 2020.The free voyage is only applicable on selected Dubai and Seychelles sailings and can be confirmed only 45 days prior to voyage.

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4 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

REPORT AVIADEV AFRICA 2019

Fifth freedom resistance bedevils open skiesHilka Birns

AFRICAN countries’ refusal to grant fifth freedom rights to carriers

from other African countries remains one of the most contentious issues bedevilling the implementation of the African Union’s Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), says Chris Zweigenthal, ceo of the Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA).

In SAATM, signatory states agree to allow African airlines fifth freedom rights, allowing them to carry revenue traffic from their own country to a second country and onwards to a third country, thereby opening up regional markets

for economic growth. Chris said policy issues

around fifth freedom rights needed to be resolved.

“There cannot be any exceptions to the rule. Everybody must get the same reciprocal benefit from fifth freedom rights.”

Since the launch of SAATM in January 2018, 28 African states (including South Africa) have committed to it, but many have been slow to implement it. “Only 14 have actually signed a memorandum to unconditionally open up their markets, said Raphael Kuuchi, Iata’s Special Envoy on Aero-political Affairs.

Raphael said the issue of a dispute settlement

mechanism also remained unresolved. He said only 10% of Africa’s population currently travelled by air, because of the high cost of air travel and limited access to air connectivity, all issues that SAATM was intended

to unlock. He said Iata was working with the AU on an economic impact study to clearly spell out to African governments the benefits of liberated air transport. “I would like those who have signed up to start implementing SAATM, because

if we delay this process any longer we will see African aviation experience a further dip in passenger numbers.”

Gaoussou Konate, consulting director Technical & Operations of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), said the implementation of SAATM faced four challenges: high airfares; high airline operating costs; unsustainability of airlines; and a lack of trade among African countries. “Our fares are double or triple compared with the rest of the world. Middle-class African citizens can only afford 1,1 air trips per year, compared with the middle class in Latin America’s 5,4 trips, Asia Pacific’s six

trips, the Middle East’s 11 trips, Europe’s 26,4 trips and the North American middle class’s 33 trips per year.” He said a decline in fares was noticeable on African routes where fifth freedom rights had been introduced, e.g. between Abidjan and Dakar.

Former Ethiopian Airlines ceo, Girma Wake, challenged AFRAA and regional communities: “Why do you allow your members and civil aviation authorities to continue to protect their markets to the disadvantage of millions of people who are currently denied intra-Africa travel? We should all work together to bring about full implementation of SAATM.”

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AASA ceo gets lifetime awardHilka Birns

AASA ceo, Chris Zweigenthal, has been given the 2019 Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Award in recognition of his contribution to the air transport industry.

The award was presented to Chris at the AviaDev Africa 2019 summit in Cape Town.

Chris has led AASA for the past 10 years, prior to which he was its deputy ceo. A civil engineer by profession, he began his airline career in 1988 with SAA.

Chris said there was significant opportunity to take African aviation on to the global stage, with the region forecast to have the

highest growth after Asia over the next 20 years.

While this was forecast to be 4-5% for the next 20 years, from a low base of

2% of global market share, there was no reason why African aviation could not experience double-digit growth, he said.

‘Work together to make SAATM happen’Hilka Birns

AFRICAN airlines and airports need to work together to address teething problems that are delaying the full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

This was the call from African airline executives at the AviaDev Africa 2019 conference. Air Namibia’s chief commercial officer, Ben Kakonda, called on fellow airlines to share traffic rights through codeshares and interline agreements to make SAATM work and open up intra-African markets. “We should consider Africa our domestic market,” agreed Nowel Ngala, commercial director of Togo-based ASKY Airline. “It took ASKY three years to get traffic rights to Dakar and it’s been impossible to get fifth freedom

rights to Dakar and Burkina Faso. We have a serious problem with authorities who are not willing to understand.”

Guarantees of fifth freedom reciprocity and an effective dispute resolution mechanism were critical SAATM structural back-ups highlighted by Kenya Airways’ head of Network Planning & Alliance, Martin Gitonga. “African airports should see us as partners instead of taxing us at every opportunity. East and South African airports are taking a lead in this, but the biggest challenge lies in West Africa.”

Africa World Airlines head of Commercial, Richard Kyereh, said the private Ghanaian airline had started positioning itself to take advantage of the opportunities that SAATM would bring. “Most carriers think SAATM will mean that big airlines will swamp the

market and swallow smaller airlines, but we think it will bring competition and more opportunities for small airlines,” he said.

Ben said the airline was already benefiting from fifth freedom relaxations, such as on its route between Ghana, Namibia and Johannesburg. “SAATM is going to open up areas for small airlines like ourselves, areas we never thought of serving before. There are some countries where the solution is not yet forthcoming. If all countries sign up to SAATM it will help us and it will increase connectivity in Africa,” he said.

Iata’s Raphael Kuuchi advised airlines to engage diplomatic channels to negotiate fifth freedom rights and to share their concerns where restrictions remain.

MICE could propel African aviation growthHilka Birns

THE MICE tourism industry could propel growth in African aviation, Rick Taylor, ceo of The Business Tourism Company, told the AviaDev Africa 2019 conference.

He was commenting on AviaDev md Jon Howell’s statement that the potential revenue from new African routes could yield US$28,7bn (R411bn) if African airlines started serving the 66,3% of the continent that is unserved.

Rick said the MICE sector in Africa was valued at US$194bn (R2,8trn) compared with US$1,3 trillion (R18,6trn) globally, indicating its “enormous potential”. “International MICE delegates

spend US$366 (R5 245) pp per day in Africa. An event like this conference generates US$384 000 (R5,5m) for the local economy when 200 delegates each spend US$300 (R4 300) per day. The MICE sector is still under-valued in Africa, but things are changing, with new convention bureaus having opened up in Rwanda and Uganda, for example.”

African governments should appreciate the value of MICE tourism, because up to 17% of business and event travellers brought along their partners and up to 38% were likely to become repeat leisure tourists if there was a Customer Relationship Management strategy by the convention bureau, said Rick.

AASA ceo Chris Zweigenthal (left) received the 2019 Ato Girma Wake Lifetime Award from Raphael Kuuchi, Iata Special Envoy to Africa. Photo: Hilka Birns

“There cannot be any exceptions to the rule.”

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6 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

AfricaInto

As some African states open their skies, airlines have been able to establish new hubs and enter into alliances to boost their networks. Tessa Reed reports.

New hubs and airline alliances spark optimism

REGIONAL travel in Africa has long been plagued by poor air connectivity,

especially to West Africa. Protectionist state policies

have made it difficult for African airlines to grow their networks, so much so that many countries in West and North Africa are connected to Southern Africa via hubs off the continent, resulting in much longer travel times.

Marco Ciocchetti, ceo of XL Travel, highlights the reliability of air travel on the continent as a key challenge,

especially when it comes to onward connections. “You never know whether the flights are going to be on time or if they are going to be cancelled.”

The underdeveloped network and the fact that many countries protect their national carriers at the expense of a competitive air market, result in travelling

costs in Africa being significantly higher than travel in other regions.

The situation is compounded by comparatively higher taxation and aeronautical fees on the continent.

The Single African Air Transport Market

(SAATM) seeks to advance the liberalisation of civil aviation on the continent and while 25

African states, including South Africa, have signed up to the programme, only a handful are carrying out their commitment.

Airlines Association of Southern Africa ceo, Chris Zweigenthal, says when it comes to fifth freedom rights (which allow airlines to carry, pick up and drop off passengers between two destinations outside of their hub), some African countries have granted these, but these are not necessarily being reciprocated. “If we are going to have an implementation

of open skies in Africa, and liberalisation, it must be on an equal basis and there must be full reciprocity.” But progress, if slow, is being made. (See report on page 4.)

Oz Desai, gm of Corporate Traveller SA, says intra-Africa airline connectivity has increased by 5% year-on-year in 2018. “Seventy new routes launched in the same period. Thirty more intra-continental routes are in the pipeline. This is excellent news, but we must keep striving for visa openness and affordable airfares.”

Marco Ciocchetti

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QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday May 8 2019 n 7

INTO AFRICA SAA deal to expand West African networkOVER the last couple of years, SAA has stepped out of a number of markets in West Africa, leaving a significant network gap to the region.

A new deal between SAA and Africa World Airlines (AWA), a privately owned Ghanaian airline, is expected to enhance connectivity to the region.

Earlier in the year, the two

airlines signed an MoU that is set to see SAA establish a West African hub in Accra. AWA operates fights from Accra to Lagos and Abuja (Nigeria), Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Monrovia (Liberia) and plans to launch a route to

Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire later this year.

“We battle with connectivity into West Africa and that has been the case for quite some

time,” says Mladen Lukic, gm of Travel Counsellors SA.

“It is at a premium and the network has not been growing for a number of years.”

SAA spokesperson, Tlali Tlali, says the two airlines initiated the codeshare process in August 2018. He says SAA is focused on enhancing its footprint on the continent and he expects an announcement about the codeshare to be made as soon as both airlines have completed the requisite process.

More flights to the DRCSA EXPRESS has added a frequency to its service to Lubumbashi, and RwandAir has initiated services to Kinshasa.

The additional frequency takes SAX’s previous six-times-weekly service to daily. This comes after the International Air Services Council awarded the airline a licence for eight additional frequencies, which paves the way for a double-daily service.

An SA Express spokesman told TNW that additional frequencies on the route would be introduced at a later date.

Effective April 17, RwandAir started operating services to Kinshasa on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights depart Kigali at 09h20 and arrive in Kinshasa at 11h10. Return flights depart Kinshasa at 17h30 and arrive in Kigali at 21h20.

Accommodation is a challengeAGENTS canvassed by TNW on OpenJaw highlighted payments with hotels as a key challenge when arranging travel into Africa.

One agent reported making bookings through sites like Expedia instead of dealing directly with hotels.

Monique Swart, founder of the African Business Travel Association, says hotel payments can be a challenge everywhere, not just in African destinations, especially where bill backs are concerned.

“Many hotels still keep credit card records on file, which is not in line with protection of personal information regulations locally, and pre-payment in different currencies can also be problematic,” she says. “The culture of hospitality will also mean that it will be rare for front office staff to stand their ground with travellers not sticking to voucher allowances etc, and so there is always the possibility of invoicing being delayed.”

Monique says finding accommodation is another challenge. “Often the top ‘name brand’ hotels are very expensive, but this is seen as a better option than choosing an independent hotel where they worry that it will not be suitable,

clean, or safe. B&Bs in many of the developing countries are not as trusted as they are in South Africa.”

However, Monique adds that more corporates are looking at independent brands and corporate housing options because of pricing, as there are many good ones.

Monique says safety is also a concern. “Domestic airlines in Africa, especially those servicing more remote regions, don’t always have the best safety records, so companies can be put in the difficult position of choosing a direct or well-timed flight that might not be on the best airline, versus having to wait for a flight on a more reputable airline.”

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Tlali Tlali

Monique SwartTo the point

In April, fastjet Mozambique and Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (LAM), the national carrier of Mozambique, entered a codeshare agreement on Beira, Quelimane and Tete routes operated by both airlines. The codeshare relationship was initiated on the Maputo to Beira and Quelimane routes which will soon be followed by the Maputo-Tete route.

ET still dominatesIN DECEMBER last year, Ethiopian Airlines established a foothold in Mozambique with the launch of Mozambique Airlines, of which it owns a 99% stake.

Toward the end of last year, Ethiopian Airlines also entered into an agreement with the government of Chad

to launch a new national carrier, Tchadia.

Through its partnership with Asky Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines services 22 destinations in West and Central Africa and another seven destinations through its partnership with Malawian Airlines.

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Did you know?

Kenya Airways operates 21 weekly flights out of Johannesburg and 10 weekly flights out of Cape Town.

8 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

INTO AFRICA

Leisure add-ons for bustling NairobiKaren Blixen MuseumThe Karen Blixen Museum is 10km from Nairobi’s city centre in what was once the home of Karen Blixen.

She and her husband, Baron Bror von Blixen-Finecke, purchased the property with the intention of operating a coffee plantation. When the two separated, Karen continued living in the house and running the plantation until she returned to Denmark in 1931.

Today, the museum is open to the public every day from 09h30 to 18h00. It features rooms in keeping with the original decor as well as props from the 1985 film, Out of Africa.

Nairobi National MuseumBuilt in 1929, Nairobi National Museum offers travellers a glimpse into Kenya’s heritage and culture. It is open every day from 08h30 to 17h30.

The museum’s permanent collection houses a Birds

of East Africa exhibit with more than 900 stuffed specimens, and an exhibition of the region’s mammals. The Cradle of Humankind exhibition displays a collection of skulls and early human fossils. There is also a display of Kenyan and East African history and one of ethnological artefacts from Kenya’s various tribes and ethnic groups.

Nairobi National ParkLocated less that 10km south of Nairobi, the Nairobi National Park is unique because of its closeness to a city.

Nairobi National Park is over 100 square kilometres and home to Black rhinos, plains game, predators including lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas, as well as over 400 species of birds. Its habitats include rocky valleys and gorges, open grassy plains with scattered acacia and highland dry forest.

Tourism to Ethiopia swellsWHILE coming off a low base, Ethiopia’s travel and tourism economy grew by nearly 50% last year, registering the largest growth of any country in the world.

This is according to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual review of the economic impact and social importance of the sector.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and ceo, said the

boom had been driven by the very strong performance of aviation in the country and the development of Addis Ababa as a growing regional hub.

Following the release of the WTTC’s review, Ethiopian Airlines also attributed the country’s tourism growth to its unique attractions.

“The timeless charm of Ethiopia’s natural, cultural and historic attractions has been driving an influx of tourists

from far and wide. As the land where mankind, coffee and the Blue Nile trace their roots, Ethiopia has always been a fascinating destination for holidaymakers,” the airline said in a statement.

It also highlighted the country’s Unesco-registered Heritage Sites, which include the obelisks of Axum, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and the fortified historic town of Harar.

Nairobi National Museum.

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Did you know?

Ethiopian Airlines’ passengers transiting through Addis Ababa can take advantage of stopover offerings from Ethiopian Holidays, including sightseeing in Addis, visits to the pre-Christian era obelisks of Axum, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the 9th century mosques of Harar, and the coffee farms of Kaffa. Ethiopian Holidays offers 10% commission to Iata agents for packages booked through the operator and 7% commission to non-Iata agents. Ethiopian Airlines operates services to 120 destinations, about half of

which are on the continent.

To the point

Selous Serena Camp and Serena Mivumo River Lodge in Selous Game Reserve are undergoing soft refurbs.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday May 8 2019 n 9

The CapeTessa Reed reports on family-friendly activities, the return of corporate travel following the alleviation of the water crisis, and new gin routes.

Gin with Cape origins

LONG famed for its wine estates, the Western Cape is now the location

of a growing number of gin distilleries.

“Cape Town has embraced a renaissance among gin lovers and has subsequently provided multiple offerings for enthusiasts,” says Briony Brookes, Cape Town Tourism communications and public relations manager. “The city has previously been voted ‘best city in the world for restaurants and bars’, so it’s fitting that it should lead in this demand.”

“The Western Cape is well known for being wine country,” says Tim Harris, Wesgro ceo, “but over the past few years, has quickly become a power player in the gin stakes, with a number of local distillers creating unique gins

by incorporating indigenous botanicals into the distilling process.” He says this has resulted in award-winning gins with a flavour that is tied to the Western Cape.

Briony also points out that,

while boutique gin distilleries, brands and bars are popping up all over the world, Cape Town is one of the main cities to lead the craze, with fynbos and rooibos being two of the most popular unique ingredients to infuse gin.

The Cape Town Gin Tour, which launched last year, was inevitable in a province already hosting wine, spice, and olive tours. The route encompasses the following distilleries in the city: Hope on Hopkins; Musgrave Gin; Woodstock Gin Company; New Harbour Distillery; Pienaar & Son; and Cape Town Gin Company.

“It currently features six distilleries over six kilometres, with over 20 local gins available to try,” says Briony. She says the Gin Route is self-guided, but a guided version of the route will launch soon.

Tim Harris

Top gin spots The Gin Bar on 64A Wale

Street promotes itself as “the original ‘secret’ gin bar”, and not without reason. The bar is easily missed and entered though a chocolate café. Inside the Mediterranean-style secret courtyard, guests can enjoy five signature cocktails, each said to cure particular ailments. For example, the ‘Soul’ cocktail “promotes mindfulness a good night’s sleep, and better general wellbeing”. Gin tastings are offered from Thursdays to Saturdays, but must be booked in advance. Legacy Hotels and

Resorts’ The Portswood Hotel and The Commodore Hotel both offer daily gin specials from 17h00 to 19h00, where guests

can select gin and tonics for R45, choosing from a range of tonics such as orange and mint; blueberry and basil; strawberry and rocket; grapefruit and rosemary; cinnamon and thyme; red apple and sage. The Botanical Bar at 160

Longmarket Street serves drinks and food with a botanical twist, including cocktails inspired by regional botanicals. There are also plenty of options that have been created with local craft gins. The Twelve Apostles’ Gin

Lab @ The Conservatory, is open daily from 11h00, offering many local and international gins. The daily gin tasting offers three local gins paired with three different tonics.

Corporates head back to Cape TownAT THE start of 2018, corporate travel managers and TMCs were advising against all but essential travel to Cape Town as the city faced severe water restrictions. As a result, hotels experienced a drop in occupancies.

The industry reported that corporates that were travelling to Cape Town were opting to fly in and out for same-day meetings instead of overnighting. However, with a significant reduction in water usage by Cape Town residents and visitors, the projected date of ‘Day Zero’ – when the city’s taps would run dry – was pushed out

again and again, and then averted. As a result, travellers are heading back.

“While the drought may have initially resulted in caution among corporates

for bookings, water-management activities at hotels and conference centres have seen a resurgence in bookings,” says Briony Brookes of Cape Town Tourism.

City Lodge Hotel Group chief financial officer, Alastair Dooley, told TNW that last year’s water crisis had affected occupancies in the Cape Town region, with some recovery observed since November 2018. “Travellers, both corporate and leisure, who were reluctant to add further pressure to the water crisis in the Western Cape last year, are once again

comfortable choosing this region,” he said.

However, he said the economy in general throughout South Africa remained under pressure. “This continues to impact travel patterns as corporates and consumers tighten their belts.”

Acsa figures show that passenger numbers for the first quarter of this year are up by 3% on the same period last year. “While we know that the water situation in Cape Town is still very serious, it is great to see some recovery in the region. We’ve definitely seen some renewed strength

on the Cape Town routes, which is encouraging,” says Kirby Gordon, FlySafair head of Sales and Distribution.

Briony also emphasises that, while the worst of the drought has passed, with rainfall and alternative water supplies coming on board, Cape Town, as with many parts of South Africa, remains a resource-scarce environment. “With this in mind, we ask that visitors remain mindful of our resources and that they join locals in conserving water supplies and avoiding unnecessary use of water.”

“Travellers, both corporate and leisure, who were reluctant to add further pressure to the water crisis in

the Western Cape last year, are once again

comfortable choosing this region.”

10 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

THE CAPE

Kid-friendly Cape “THE Western Cape is a perfect destination for families wanting to explore,” says Wesgro’s Tim Harris. He highlights the Garden Route as one of the most popular self-drives in South Africa, saying it offers a number of family-friendly experiences. Some of these include strawberry picking at Polkadraai Farm in Stellenbosch; ziplining near the Cango Caves;

puzzle activities at the Puzzle Park in Plettenberg Bay and sandboarding at the Dragon in Mossel Bay, which boasts the longest sandboard ride in South Africa.

“With families, budgets are usually a consideration,” says Cape Town Tourism’s Briony Brookes. She highlights some of the fun things for families to do for under R50 a head. These include having a braai

at Maiden’s Cove, a lookout point between Glen Beach and Clifton Beach where pods of whales and dolphins can be spotted; sharing a few scoops of ice-cream at The Creamery, a Sea Point spot famed for its organic, locally sourced ice-creams; and exploring the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, which offers plenty of children’s activities, some of them free.

Coastal gems for families The West Coast National

Park, just inland from the secluded harbour of Saldanha Bay, is a spot where families can picnic, hike, mountain bike and whale watch. The park is also rich in flora including fynbos and daisies. Flower season in the West Coast National Park is at its peak from August to September, but there are flowers year round. The Western Cape is home

to two colonies of African penguins, an endangered species in decline. These are at Boulders Beach in the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area and at Betty’s Bay. While penguins are habitually found in the coldest parts of the world perched on icebergs, the African penguin is

unique for having adapted to warmer subtropical environments, such as the Cape’s beaches. Dubbed the ‘dogs of the

sea’, seals are playful and inquisitive, making them great snorkelling mates.

Swimming with seals can be arranged with Animal Ocean in Hout Bay and Offshore Adventures in Plettenberg Bay. Both operators take guests out to sea by boat and supply snorkelling gear.

Bo-Kaap gets national heritage status DURING April, Bo-Kaap, a former Malay township on the slopes of Signal Hill, was proclaimed a National Heritage Area, which ensures that new developments and alterations to existing buildings do not break with the historic urban landscape of the area.

Apart from being one of Cape Town’s oldest residential neighbourhoods, the Bo-Kaap is also the

earliest established Muslim community in South Africa and the home of the Cape Malay people.

One of the theories behind the bright colours of the houses is that the colours are an expression of freedom, because slaves were forced to wear white. Another is that the colours of the Bo-Kaap are linked to Ramadan and the celebration of Eid.

Visitors can experience

Cape Malay cuisine at Bo-Kaap Kombuis, which serves traditional Cape Malay dishes and offers a view of Table Mountain, or visit the Bo-Kaap Museum to learn more about the history of the area and its people. Established in 1978, the museum depicts the lifestyle of a nineteenth-century Muslim family. City Sightseeing also offers daily free walking tours in the Bo-Kaap.

Every Wednesday, the Quarter Kitchen at The Portswood Hotel offers a buffet, serving Cape Malay-inspired curries.

Did you know?

Strawberry picking at Polkadraai Farm in Stellenbosch.

Kraalbaai on the West Coast.

TNW9163SD

www.LegacyHotels.com www.LegacyLifestyle.co.za

Travelling for business?

From Accra, to Windhoek to Sandton, you won't want to do business

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+27 11 8066800 / hotels@legacyhotels.com www.legacyhotels.com

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TNW Business 180x80_portrait PRINT.pdf 1 2019/04/26 15:51

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Deena Robinson, at deenar@nowmedia.co.za

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday May 8 2019 n 11

Appointments

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Key Account Manager – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesInbound tour operator seeks a senior consultant skilled in quoting with strong negotiation skills and excellent communication capabilities. Salary: R18 000–R25 000. Email: lee-annem@leebotti.co.za

MICE Manager – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesTMC seeks professional individual with solid relationship and client management skills. Travel with groups and 5 years’ experience required. Salary: R30 000–R35 000. Email: lee-annem@leebotti.co.za

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The Travel Corporation (TTC) hosted a fundraising auction for the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) earlier this year. The auction raised over R25 000 for the EWT and all proceeds will go toward training new dogs to help fight against rhino poaching as part of the EWT’s Conservation Canine Project. From left: Kelly Jackson, head of sales at TTC; Sara Park of Flight Centre; Nicolette Buckle of TTC, and Divan Viljoen of Flight Centre. Photo: Liane Kim Photography

TTC fights rhino poaching

Still Gold!Travel Counsellors Roslyn de la Hunt and Petro Rossouw have just retained their Gold Status. They will get to enjoy a Gold dinner with their partner and other Gold TCs and will also be rewarded with a Gold international trip. The destination will be announced at the global Conference in November.Roslyn de la Hunt Petro Rossouw

The Quatermain Faircity Hotel has appointed Jerod Flaum as general manager. He was formerly employed as the regional operations manager in KwaZulu Natal for the First Group. He prides himself on service excellence and customer-guest service.

Mahlatini Luxury Travel has appointed three new recruits. Ilaria Semprii-Sara has been appointed to head the Italian-speaking division and brings with her

over ten years of experience within the tour operator sector. Adelle Bell has spent over a decade with a number of safari specialist tour operators and is joined by Steve Meinhold, who moves from his role as Senior Travel Consultant at Rhino Africa where he has been for the past five years.

Together, the three new team members bring almost 50 years of experience in the African travel industry.

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12 n Wednesday May 8 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

TNW NEWS

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Heartwarming specials!Feroza Moosa (left) and Annine Frischmuth, sales executives at aha, would like to warm the cockles of agents’ hearts with this special! Aha is offering your clients unbeatable winter warmers with 20% off the best available rate (BAR) as part of its Love Winter campaign. Offers include 20% off the BAR at these properties: Gateway Hotel in Umhlanga; Harbour Bridge Hotel & Suites in Cape Town, and Shepherd’s Tree Game Lodge in North West. Valid for sales until May 15 for travel from May 1-31. Rates are VAT inclusive but exclude the tourism levy. This promotion may only be applied to new bookings. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Fastjet defers SA entryDeena Robinson

FASTJET will defer the launch of Fastjet South Africa to 2020. The

airline’s South Africa-based holding group said in a statement on its website that its plans to launch Fastjet-branded operations in South Africa had been pushed back from the previously announced 2019 to 2020

The airline already has a platform for entry into the South African market, having concluded its investment in Federal Airlines (FedAir) in October last year.

Fastjet Group says, due to the impact of the recent cyclones in Mozambique and the Zimbabwean government’s decision in

January to introduce a new virtual currency, the real-time gross settlement (RTGS) dollar, and its immediate devaluation against the US dollar, it has had a seasonally weaker demand in the first quarter of the year.

It has restructured its Zimbabwean cost-base to save on scarce foreign currency. It also relocated its passenger call centre support function from Cape Town to Harare during the first quarter of this year, and has restructured its head-office support infrastructure in Johannesburg, resulting in a labour cost reduction of approximately 30% year-on-year.

In preparing FedAir to have the ability to operate

a Fastjet-branded airline on its own in SA in 2020, the Group has registered one of the four ERJ145s it acquired in December 2018 on the FedAir aircraft operating certificate. FedAir will support the Zimbabwean operation on an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance basis from July. This will allow FedAir to gain its own operational expertise on the ERJ145 fleet and replace long-term support from Solenta Aviation (South Africa) for additional aircraft and crew supply.

Fastjet expects to generate a marginal underlying operating profit for 2019, making way for the brand entry into South Africa in 2020.

RCI closes Sky PadsaRah RobeRtson

ROYAL Caribbean International closed its Sky Pad last month after a man was severely injured in an accident on the top-deck trampoline.

Sky Pad is a new attraction that was installed only last year on RCI’s Independence of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas. It was also a feature of RCI’s newest ship, Spectrum of the Seas, which embarked on its inaugural cruise during April. Sky Pad has been described as a ride experience that combines trampolines with bungee

jumping and virtual reality.Casey Holladay has

allegedly filed a Federal lawsuit against the cruise line for US$10m (R143m), claiming that the ride’s bungee cords snapped and

threw him 20 feet to the ground, breaking his pelvis and causing permanent injuries.

RCI said in a tweet that the ride had been shut due to the cruise line’s

commitment to safety.Simmy Micheli, sales and

marketing manager of TIC, says the insurance company had a case two years ago where a four-year-old boy was left permanently brain damaged after falling from a trampoline. The claim for his hospitalisation and intensive care treatment amounted to R2,9m.

“Freak accidents are not the norm, just like being bitten by wild monkeys in Thailand or being gored by elephants on a safari is the norm. In fact most accidents that we encounter are from skiing, pavements and stairs.”

Hotel voucher fraud – are agents safe?Deena Robinson

THE self-professed ‘Travel Sheriff’, Sharon Stander, has warned both hotels and agents to be alert for hotel voucher fraud.

Sharon says a fraudulent hotel voucher was issued using her agency’s name (Bangy Travel) and used at a hotel where Bangy had no reservation.

The fraudster arrived at the hotel after-hours and handed the voucher to the hotel staff. Sharon believes that there is either existing software that allows fraudsters to change details on QuickTrav vouchers, or that legitimate vouchers are being intercepted from hotel reservation emails or client emails.

But Chris Curtis, finance

and operations director at Quick Software, says access to the QuickTrav voucher system is restricted to agency staff within the protected network only, and that voucher PDFs are encrypted and non-editable. He adds that vouchers are generally emailed direct to the hotel from the QuickTrav system. Vouchers carry the hotel reservation number for the hotel to agree to their own system.

Chris says for this type of fraud, perpetrators would need to manually and fraudulently produce a similar-looking voucher, then present it to an unsuspecting hotel after hours. The hotel would have to not be alert to a suspicious-looking voucher, presented by hand instead of email, and fail to check that the reservation

reference on the voucher matched its own system.

Agents face challenges, Sharon says, because hotels require vouchers as part of their confirmation process and guarantee but clients sometimes check in after-hours when agents and staff are not always available to validate the voucher.

A gm of a Johannesburg hotel, who wished to remain anonymous, says systems should be in place to prevent this type of fraud. She says hotels should only accept vouchers from agencies with whom they have a relationship, backed up by credit clearance from the bank. If they are unhappy with an agency’s credit application, they should deal with that agency on a pre-payment basis only.

“Freak accidents are not the norm. Most are from skiing, pavements

and stairs.”