5th Cape Town Book Fair moving towards digital age. Plan your visit with Cape Town Book Fair website. Exhibitors invited to register titles on new Book Titles List before the fair, promoting products directly to their customers. Take advantage of book2look marketing tool to share reading samples and hook up with distributors and bookshops. Network with digital experts who present todays challenges and opportunities in seminars about digital publishing. Cape Town International Convention Centre.

‘Uplifting Mind and Body’ is the theme for 16th Cape Town International Kite Festival. Africa’s biggest kite festival attracts over 20,000 visitors, including biggest names in kiting in South Africa and the world who fly in to show off their magnificent kite creations. Kite-making, kite-flying, food stalls, kiddies’ rides, a full programme of entertainment, an eclectic craft market, this is family entertainment at its best. Open 10:00 to 18:00 each day. On lawns surrounding Zandvlei, Muizenberg. Entry R15 for adults and R5 for children.

SPRING Good Food & Wine Show®, South Africa’s finest food, beverage and lifestyle exhibition. A treat for gourmands and good-life devotees with a most sensational line-up of international celebrity chefs yet – joined by finest South African chefs and celebrities in nine state of the art kitchen theatres. Watch magic, taste heaven, and learn from the masters of food, wine, gourmet travel and lifestyle. Coca Cola Dome Johannesburg

ITB Berlin 2009 – stronger than ever - In times of crisis more market players are making increasing use of the world’s leading platform for the industry - 110,000 trade visitors, 42 per cent from abroad – topical issues ensure record attendance (plus 10 per cent) at the ITB Berlin Convention – public interest remains high – successful premiere for the ITB partner region: RUHR.2010 now firmly established on the international stage – 180,000 visitors in the display halls

“More market players visited the leading platform of the international travel industry than ever before. In times of rapid structural changes and highly competitive markets they focused on gaining a comprehensive market overview and on new business approaches. Thus, unlike many other industries, the travel sector is actively responding to the challenges. Trade visitor attendance remained high, proof of ITB Berlin’s resilience even in economically difficult times. Once again, ITB Berlin re-established itself as the world’s leading travel trade show“, said Dr. Christian Göke, COO Messe Berlin. Of the 110,857 trade visitors who attended (110,322), 42 per cent came from abroad, an increase of four per cent. Once again, record numbers took part in the convention, 12,000, compared with 11,000 in 2008.

Platforms for writers, publishers, agents, translators and press to engage, debate, discuss or plan new projects. It offers small progressive publishers a forum to showcase publications and activities, network, as well as opportunity to develop alternative approaches and strategies. Program includes roundtables on topical issues, conversations with authors, writing workshops, networking meetings of study circles and book clubs, publishers, authors, workshops on issues affecting authors and publishers, book launches, films, exhibitions. Dates: 7, 8, 9 Aug 2010. Museum Africa, Newtown, Joburg. R10 entrance. Ch u. 12 - Free entry.

Botanical Art Biennale has become a well loved and attended show, drawing diverse and enthusiastic crowds to the gardens bursting with promise of spring. Exhibition supported by Old Mutual and focus on rare, endangered and narrow endemic species indigenous to Southern Africa. SANBI intends to highlight and stimulate interest about the plight of these plants to the public through botanical art. Theme provides invigorating artistic challenge and encourages artists to build relationships with conservation organisations, scientists, artists and horticulturists. Kirstenbosch Gardens Cape Town

After 7yrs as a 3-day show, RMB WineX Cape Town opens its doors at CTICC on 19 Aug as a different event. Raising an already elevated bar, the 2-day show with over 100 exhibitors remains the most important premium consumer wine event in the Western Cape, with an aim to present quality rather than quantity. Annual Best Wines on Show ballot, with great prizes, adds to the fun of what is always a wonderful wine evening in the Mother City. shop@show is a convenient one-stop-shop alternative with delivery to your door. Early Bird R90 for all tickets bkd by Sun 15 Aug. w www.winex.co.za

RMB WineX is a great way to relax with friends and enjoy an evening tasting some more than 1500 wines available from 250 Cape producers who exhibit at South Africas premier wine event. After 7yrs as a 3-day show, RMB WineX Joburg opens its at Sandton Convention Centre on 27 Oct as a different event. Raising an already elevated bar, the 2-day show with over 100 exhibitors remains the most important premium consumer wine event in Jozi, with an aim to present quality rather than quantity. Annual Best Wines on Show ballot, with great prizes, adds to the fun of what is always a wonderful wine evening in the City. shop@show is the convenient one-stop-shop alternative with delivery to your door. Early Bird R90 for all tickets bkd by Sun 24 Oct. w: www.winex.co.za

WTM celebrates 30 Years - Staged annually in London, a vibrant must attend 4-day business to business event. Premier networking platform with destinations and industry sectors on offer to International travel professionals. 9- 12 Nov 2009. Excel Centre, London. www.wtmlondon.com