Headlines


Miss Universe Zimbabwe

Sanganai Travel Expo Super Stars

Posted on: 22 Nov 2011

by Patrick Allen, National Photographic Editor and Ursula Brown, Managing Editor, Cape Info SA - reporting live from Harare

Sanganai/Hlanganani –  World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair, annual Tourism Trade Fair organized by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority at Harare international Conference Centre, Harare, showcases widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracted international visitors and media from across the world. Dates: Oct 8-12 2011

Exhibitors include Emirates which recently announced that it will be flying to Zimbabwe starting February next year. At least 190 buyers confirmed participation, with 88 being hosted by the tourism industry. Buyers are drawn from UK, Baltic Islands, Germany, Japan, Poland, Iran, Dubai Ghana, Nigeria and Mauritius. 

Delegates are in the country for a business convention. The fair started with a street procession from Africa Unity Square on Sat 8 Oct 2011 which lead to a family fun day at the Harare Gardens. There are two trade days, Oct 10 and 11 with the last day reserved for the public.

Exhibitors on show : 
• National Tourism Boards
• Embassies
• International Airlines 
• Tourism destinations
• Leading Tour Wholesalers, Tour Operators and Travel Agents
• Leading Hotel Chains of the world
• Car Hire and Transport Operators
• Suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry
• Investors
• Government Ministries
• Parastatals

Photos by Patrick Allen, National Photographic Editor, Cape Info SA

Pic 1 : Miss Universe Zimbabwe
Pic 2 - Promoting Peace
Pic 3 - Zim Army (Actively working on de-mining programme .... for the love of peace) 
Pic 4 - CATS - Central Air Transport Services

more show photos click on Patricks Gallery
http://web.me.com/ratmandude/zzHISTORYzz/World_Travel_Tourism_Africa_Fair_Gallery/index.html

CNN Anchor Richard Quest at Global Face OFF!

Its a Rap - INDABA 2011

Posted on: 04 Aug 2011
Report by Ursula Brown Managing Editor Cape Info SA.

Indaba 2011:  Playing globally, winning locally - Indaba is Africa’s biggest travel and tourism trade show, spanning 27,000 square metres. More than 13,000 visitors, 1,300 exhibitors, and over 170 international hosted buyers and hundreds of local and international media were expected this year. (7-11 May 2011 - ICC Durban)

This year the theme is “Playing globally, winning locally”,  encapsulated  ideals of shared and inclusive growth and job creation in the South African tourism sector, to be achieved by establishing a strong international presence in support of becoming a global player.

“When we talk about tourism, we often talk about policies, statistics and objectives,”  said South African tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.  “Tourism is much more than that. Tourism is about people. The magic ingredient that differentiates tourism from every other economic sector is people.  International tourism arrivals to South Africa grew by 15.1 per cent in 2010, with the undoubted tourism highlight being our country’s successful hosting of the World Cup.  “We are ready to turn this new potential into long term, sustainable growth,” added van Schalkwyk.

One of the highlights Sun 8 May was Global Media Face Off, which saw CNN Business journalist Richard Quest discuss “Emerging Markets and Global Tourism Trends” with journalists from around the world. Anchored by CNN's celebrated journalist Richard Quest, a panel from SAT and related agencies explained to the media the country's plans to take total tourist arrivals figure from 8.1 to 15 million by 2020. To meet such a goal any country would have to think of a mix of unique strategies and panel members explained how they would design a package for tourists that would include, apart from South Africa's celebrated wildlife, an experience of its culture, history and the like.

To ensure continued success, South African Tourism launched a new National Geographic Adventurers Wanted campaign, aimed at entrenching South Africa’s leadership as an adventure destination in seven key markets - Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and UK. The new Sho’t Left Campaign will also encourage domestic travel by South Africans.

SA Tourism tasked with local market - State tells SA Tourism to boost domestic travellers at Durban tourism Indaba 2011 in order to create New Growth Path jobs
"There is too much emphasis on international tourism; there is a need to stimulate the domestic market," the department’s director-general, Kingsley Makhubela, said in a panel discussion at the Indaba 2011 tourism exhibition in Durban. South African Tourism has a budget of about R800m this year, about 80% of which will be spent on promoting SA to visitors.Promoting the country to the domestic market and the rest of Africa will take about R54m, South African Tourism CEO Thandiwe January-McLean said. Mr Makhubela said domestic tourist market was the country’s "bread and butter".

The domestic market could be relied on by the industry when financial and economic factors became unfavourable in the international market. "South African Tourism must start to develop key targets to manage our domestic market," Mr Makhubela said.

Under national tourism sector strategy announced this year, government’s aim is to increase foreign tourist arrivals to SA from 7-million in 2023 to 15- million by 2020, tourism’s total contribution to the economy from R189bn in 2023 to R499bn by 2020, the number of domestic tourists from 14,6-million in 2023 to 18-million by 2020, and to create 225000 new jobs by 2020.

Speaking at a conference on hotel investment, on the fringes of Indaba, Rhodes University commerce faculty professor Matthew Lester challenged tourism operators for not selling innovative packages as was done in other countries. While Prof Lester did not advocate big discounting, examples of innovative packages that stimulated tourism elsewhere included free accommodation for gamblers at some hotels in Las Vegas, US, and free "booze and food" attached to some holiday packages in Mauritius.

"Every hotel I walk into (in SA) occupancy is very low. I can tell you, in Eastern Cape, where I come from, it is carnage. Where are the packages to attract loyal customers?" Prof Lester said the biggest challenge for tourism was getting visitors to SA for the first time as it was a long-haul destination and costs were high. He said that while there were enough financial incentives from the government to attract investment for new facilities and for training, a sport and tourism-related incentive should be considered to make it cheaper to get to SA. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal CEO Ndabo Khoza said if one analysed tourism brochures in the province from 2005 and now, there was no difference, indicating a lack of innovation in designing inclusive packages of new experiences. 

INDABA 2012 - May 2012 - ICC Durban South Africa



Join ADOBE - Aim, Shoot, Edit

Posted on: 02 Aug 2011
by Ursula Brown, Managing Editor, Cape Info SA

Join ADOBE - Aim, Shoot, Edit

Exclusive workshop with two renowned Nikon professional photographers and inspiring Adobe representatives for an introduction to unlimited world of photography. A professional introduction to the endless creative possibilities of photography,  Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Photoshop Lightroom 3.

Event details
Date: Tues 19 July 2011
Registration : 8am for 8.30am
Venue : Axiz Workgroup Auditorium International Business Gateway
Cnr. New & 6th Roads, Midrand

Programme

08:00: Arrival/Registration

08:30: Nikon Welcomes You 

08:40: Johan Pretorius - Nikon Professional Photographer specialising in Portraiture and Sports Photography

10:40: Coffee/Tea Break

11:00: Carla Scholtz - Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw for Professional Photography

12:00: Lunch

12:30: Brett Florens - Nikon Professional Photographer specialising in Wedding and Fashion Photography

14:45: Coffee/Tea Break

15:45: Michael O'Neill - Adobe Europe Representative

16:30: Leonard Rabotapi - Marketing & PR Manager, Adobe - Go Create Networking

Lee Westwood (UK) takes the crown

Winner Nedbank Golf Challenge - Lee Westwood

Posted on: 17 Jul 2011

by Patrick Allen National Photographic Editor Cape Info SA - reporting live - photographically speaking - from Sun City

World number ONE is number ONE at Nedbank Golf Challenge Sun City.

The Englishman chipped in for a birdie on the 18th to clinch a final-round 68 and finish 17 under par, with Tim Clark of South Africa a distant second. As his rivals struggled in swirling winds, Westwood carded five birdies to win the $1.25m (£792,000) first prize.

South African Retief Goosen shot a 68 to end up eight under and share third with Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Westwood's stunning chip from well off 18th green at Gary Player Country Club rolled gently into the hole to provide a fitting finale to a week in which he showed exactly why he is now rated the best golfer on the planet. Westwood reached the top of the world rankings in October 2010. 

Nedbank Golf Challenge final leaderboard:
-17 L Westwood (Eng) 
-9 T Clark (SA) 
-8 R Goosen (SA) MA Jimenez (Sp)
-5 E Els (SA), R Fisher (Eng) 
-3 P Harrington (Ire), R Allenby (Aus)

It has been a momentous year for the 37-year-old Englishman, who finished second in two majors, played a key role in yet another Ryder Cup victory for Europe and deposed Tiger Woods as the world's number one golfer five weeks ago.

After his superb eight-under-par 64 on Friday, few would bet against Westwood, who was runner-up in 2000, adding his name to the illustrious list of winners on the crystal ball trophy. He was never in any difficulty as he cruised around the Gary Player Country Club without dropping a shot, claiming four birdies on each nine. Westwood showed early on that he was in touch with his putter as he sank a brilliant 35-footer for birdie on the par-four third hole.

Like a batsman building his innings in cricket, Westwood made sure he had a solid base on which to attack from by hitting nine out of 14 fairways and reaching 16 out of 18 greens in regulation. He quickly overtook overnight leader Padraig Harrington, whose challenge waned as he scrambled to a level-par 72 to be six shots off the pace, battling off the tee and with his putter.

It was an electrifying round from the world number one, who negotiated the course with an ease that marks him out as one of the greats.

Fellow Englishman Ross Fisher was the one golfer to stay in touch with Westwood with four birdies in the last six holes. An eagle on the par-five ninth had put him back on an even keel after he had been in trouble with successive bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes. Harrington in a tie for third place with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Edoardo Molinari on day two.