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Articles by Corné Alberts
Winter weddings gain popularity as couples embrace style, savings and seasonal charm
Winter is emerging as a popular wedding season in South Africa, offering couples lower venue costs, unique styling opportunities and a cosy atmosphere that sets celebrations apart from traditional spring and summer weddings. Photo for illustration purposes only. Image: Canva LIFESTYLE NEWS - While spring and summer remain popular choices for weddings, winter is proving to be an attractive alternative for couples looking to stretch their budgets and create memorable celebrations.
It started with one table...
issued byANEW Hotels & Resorts The year was 2019, and I still remember our first Africa's Travel Indaba, as ANEW Hotels & Resorts. We had one table, a lot of confidence, and a slightly overexcited sense of just being there…which felt like enough at the time. Looking back the small stand was closer to an introduction than a statement. ANEW was still the new kid on the hospitality block, with only two properties in the portfolio. So, we did what small teams do best.
How Technology and Flexibility Are Reshaping Tourism
Changing trends are making tourism a new, exciting and challenging space Technology, flexibility and conscious choices are shaping how the world travels this year. While the desire for discovery remains timeless, the way people approach journeys, from planning and booking to experiencing destinations, is evolving fast. Technology, especially AI, has transformed the way people travel and has become a trusted travel advisor and companion.
Why Women Are Travelling Together
Girl group getaways are a rising trend The days of waiting for ‘the right time’ or ‘the right person’ to travel with are long gone. Many women are packing their bags for shorter, more frequent escapes with their friends, and they’re doing it their way. A new travel trend called ‘girl grouping’ is redefining the way women travel. Recent research reveals that 14% of female travellers are planning a women-only trip this year, drawn by the friendship, freedom and fun the trip promises.
New look for Zanzibar lodge
&Beyond’s luxury lodge, Mnemba Island, off the north-eastern coast of Zanzibar will close for an extensive refurbishment from January 13. The main areas will be reconfigured, and forthcoming additions include an expanded bar area that will also be used as a daytime coffee and juice hub, and a mezzanine dining level providing breathtaking Indian Ocean views. A family banda (thatched chalet) and 12 new beach bandas will be added.
Cape Town Tourism harnesses VR to promote Mother City
Prospective visitors can now virtually tour Cape Town. The immersive experience stems from a partnership between a global leading destination marketing organisation (DMO) Cape Town Tourism (CTT) and virtual tours agency, Gecko Digital Global. Leigh Dawber, CMO of Cape Town Tourism, says the destination marketing company is always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire potential travellers to choose Cape Town.
Domestic tourism a priority during off-season
Domestic tourism – which provided a much-needed revenue boost during the COVID-induced lockdowns – is now seen as a key source market to decrease SA’s reliance on international travellers, especially during off-season. “Travel restrictions imposed on cross-border movement restricted the ability of South Africans to venture abroad. As a result, travellers had to seek out local holidays and explore their own backyards.
SANParks hands over science lab to school learners
South African National Parks officially handed over a science laboratory worth R1.2m (€59 485) to Jacob Mdluli High School at Makoko, a village outside Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate last week. The handover forms part of SANPark’s social legacy programme which focuses on community development in areas adjacent to its national parks. The science lab is meant to enhance science learning and teaching at the school with the view of improving the standard and quality of education.
New partnership a win-win for the environment and economy
CapeNature – the Western Cape Government’s conservation agency – and the Grootbos Foundation have announced a formal partnership to address alien vegetation clearing in the Walker Bay Nature Reserve Complex. The partnership will further provide skills training through the Foundation’s Green Futures College, the vocational training home of the Grootbos Foundation.
Sendelingsdrift border post and pontoon reopen
South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that the Sendelingsdrift border post and pontoon at |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park between South Africa and Namibia will officially reopen today (September 1). The Sendelingsdrift border post had been closed for three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. The border post and pontoon will operate seven days a week from 08h00 to 16h15.
New slots open for Tourism Business Incubator
Inbound tourism association, SATSA, recently announced that 10 new slots have opened for SMMEs to become beneficiaries of its Tourism Business Incubator. SATSA has invited the tourism industry to nominate any deserving small businesses (with 51% or more black ownership) for its incubation programme. Nominees should have a turnover of less than R50m (€2.4m) and be in operation for at least one year.
‘Very big and good summer season’ expected
South Africa’s tourism sector may reach 2019 arrival figures before anticipated, with all signs pointing to a bumper summer season. Speaking after the second National Tourism Safety Forum meeting, held in Cape Town on Tuesday (August 29), Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said data for the first six months of 2023 showed a 78.2% increase in tourism arrivals compared with the same period in 2022.
Decoding female travel preferences
Stereotypes still pervade travel, and the industry's understanding of female travellers remains limited. “Gender-biased beliefs still exist, like women shouldn’t travel alone, women aren’t interested in active travel experiences, and that catering for women means hairdryers, bubble baths, and baby changing stations. This puts women at a disadvantage, and the industry as a whole. The statistics show that women love to travel more than men: 64% of worldwide travellers are women, 36% are men.
‘Now weighing in at one tonne - Khanyisa the albino ellie!’
The HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) Trust celebrated a mammoth milestone this month when Khanyisa, the albino elephant, finally weighed in at one tonne. When Khanyisa started her journey at HERD’s elephant orphanage in South Africa, she weighed 124kg, but quickly worked her way up. There were moments in between that scared the orphanage, as she dropped weight with every bout of diarrhoea or illness.
Revamp for iconic KZN lodge
Isibindi Africa’s Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in KwaZulu Natal’s Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, has recently completed a sweeping revamp of the main area and luxury villas. Isibindi’s décor team, led by Kelly Coates and Penni Korb, worked a brief of ‘fresh guavas and cinnamon’ into the contemporary style of the glass-wrapped lodge. Kipikee Studios, who builds all Isibindi’s custom design furniture, matched the brief with their organic, contemporary designs.
New additions to African Tourism Leadership Forum agenda
There is just over a month to go for the African Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) & Awards to be held at the Gaborone International Conference Centre in Botswana from October 4 to 6. The ATLF is a pan-African dialogue platform bringing together key stakeholders of Africa’s travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors to network, share insights, devise strategies for intra-African travel and tourism growth, and develop the promotion of Africa as a travel destination.
DUR fuel hydrant system ‘now stable’
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) released an update early yesterday evening (August 30), stating that its fuel hydrant system was now stable. This is after the Durban airport had identified a fault on the optic fibre fuel system’s control and communications in the morning, which resulted in system shut down. “We would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while we were resolving the matter,” the airport said in the update.
Europe drives SA’s arrival growth
South Africa’s inbound tourist numbers have increased as the country gradually moves out of the winter season, registering a significant month-on-month increase. According to the latest figures from Statistics South Africa, overall, overseas arrivals increased by 24% (from 123 069 in June to 161 376 in July). The rise is particularly evident in European arrivals, as numbers grew from 48 894 in June, to 88 440 in July. However, US arrival decreased slightly from 36 032 in June to 31 612 in July.
Mead makes a comeback in Cape Town
Guided by sustainability and storytelling, a Cape Town establishment has revitalised an age-old beverage – mead – with the goal of disrupting a modern-day industry dominated by wine and beer. Cape Town Meadery has introduced a range of mead beverages inspired by a 20 000-year-old Khoisan drink known as !Karri, which was produced from rain and honey fermented in a hollow tree trunk. The company’s products include Alvearium Gin (a double-distilled mead) and Braggot Lager, a refreshing honey beer.
Industry mourns Darren Napier
South Africa’s tourism sector is mourning yesterday’s passing of Darren Napier, who had been intimately involved in the industry since 2003. Napier started his career as a senior consultant and product developer with Wilderness, before moving to Tourvest as a corporate and online product manager. He spent four years as the Regional Sales Manager (Sub-Saharan Africa) for Abercrombie & Kent, before moving on to his most recent role as Sales and Marketing Director for DMC Personal Africa in 2017.
Rwanda partners with another football giant
German football club Bayern Munich announced a five-year football development and tourism promotion partnership with Rwanda on Sunday (August 27). The partnership, unveiled during FC Bayern’s first home game of the season, will see the club work specifically with Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports to set up a football academy to strengthen the development of football in the country.
BREAKING NEWS: Possible flight delays at DUR
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) released a statement this morning (August 30), confirming that a fault had been identified on the optic fibre fuel system’s control and communications, resulting in system shut down. The airport said operations were likely to be impacted, causing flight delays. However, all departing flights have left on time as of 08h00 this morning. As a contingency measure, aircraft are currently being refuelled from the mobile tanker.
Possible flight delays at DUR
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) released a statement this morning (August 30), confirming that a fault had been identified on the optic fibre fuel system’s control and communications, resulting in system shut down. The airport said operations were likely to be impacted, causing flight delays. However, all departing flights have left on time as of 08h00 this morning. As a contingency measure, aircraft are currently being refuelled from the mobile tanker.
First confirmed record of Egyptian vulture in Malawi
For the first time on record, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust has recently reported a sighting of an Egyptian vulture, an endangered species that has never before been seen in Malawi. The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to global population and geographic range declines over the last century.
Acsa addresses summer travel chaos concerns
Airports Company South Africa has contingency plans to ensure operations run smoothly at its airports during the upcoming peak summer season. This was highlighted following concerns raised by the aviation industry over delays in a tender process.
Heavyweight speakers for TBCSA conference
The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has announced four of the pre-eminent names that will make up a heavyweight line-up of keynote speakers and panellists for its annual Tourism Leadership Conference, being held in Sun City from September 6-8.
Key appointment for MORE Family Collection
MORE Family Collection has appointed Kyle Warmback as Group Marketing, Digital & Communication Manager. Warmback has a creative agency background; he was previously Digital Account Director at Stratitude. He has vast experience in digital marketing, business strategy, design and branding, and public relations, and is driven by delivering measurable results. “We are looking forward to Kyle’s contribution to MORE Family Collection.
Air Algerie welcomed to SA
Trade partners welcomed Air Algérie (AH) to South Africa last week, with the airline’s inaugural flight between Algiers and Johannesburg. The airline will operate two flights a week on the route from September 21. ALG-JNB is the airline’s 45th international route and its seventh in Africa. The inaugural flight carried a high-level delegation from Algeria, including ministry and embassy officials, the airline’s executive leadership team, and foreign press.
Will BRICS expansion drive tourism? Industry divided
With the BRICS group of countries inviting a further six countries (Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), to join its ranks next year, we wanted to gauge readers’ response to whether expansion of the economic bloc would benefit tourism. The results of our latest poll show readers are divided, with 35% saying it would be a positive driver of tourism to South Africa, and 34% saying no. The remaining 31% selected ‘Maybe’ as their response.
Makgadikgadi salt pans helicopter experience launched
Desert & Delta Safaris has unveiled a new Makgadikgadi helicopter experience. The two-hour excursion can be booked from Leroo La Tau lodge or as an extension from the sleep-out option. The scenic flights include a visit to the Kubu Island and a chance to touch down and explore this mystical place made up of Gondwanaland rocks, huge baobab trees and ancient remnants from civilizations gone by.
Nigeria Air set to launch in October
Nigeria Air – which aims to be the West African country’s national carrier – will officially commence operations in October, under the management of Ethiopian Airlines. The airline will be owned 49% by Ethiopian Airlines, 46% by Nigerian private investors, and 5% by the Nigerian Government. Ethiopian Airlines CEO, Mesfin Tasew, confirmed the airline’s imminent launch during an interview with Bloomberg TV. He said Nigeria Air would initially operate with two wide-body and six narrow-body aircraft.
TFR confirms speed restriction in KZN nature reserves
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has confirmed that a speed restriction is in place for heavy-haul trains transiting through public and privately owned nature conservation areas in northern KwaZulu Natal. This has emerged from questions sent to the rail freight division of South Africa’s logistics utility after a spate of collisions with locomotives killed six impalas, eight buffaloes, a wildebeest and two White rhinos last week.
FlySafair relaunches key Western Cape service
Low-cost airline FlySafair has just announced the relaunch of a key local route to its growing list of local destinations. From September 8, the airline will once again connect the two largest cities in the Western Cape: Cape Town and George. This will be welcome news to both holiday-makers and businesspeople who regularly travel between the two cities. Three flights per week are planned.
‘Adventure tourism can significantly boost rural areas’
Adventure tourism, expected to grow in prominence over the coming years, holds significant potential for South Africa’s rural communities, according to Andre du Toit, SATSA Adventure Chapter Chair and Safari and Tourism Insurance Brokers (SATIB) Head: Business Development. The global adventure tourism market is set to reach R88trn (€4.3trn) by 2032, growing at an annual rate of 28.7%, according to a report by Allied Market Research.
Four feline ‘rangers’ keep pesky rodents under control
Sibuya Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, represented in the UK by Kusa Connect, has recently ‘appointed’ four cats to help control mice and rats on the property. “A standout feature of Sibuya's approach [to sustainability] is the introduction of four adorable cats that play a vital role in naturally controlling mice and rats without the need for harmful pesticides,” Kusa Connect said.
Fastjet ups Bulawayo-Johannesburg frequencies
African low-cost airline, fastjet, will add additional flight frequencies from Bulawayo’s JM Nkomo International Airport (BUQ) to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), starting October 30. The service will increase from a daily service to 12 weekly flights with the re-introduction of a morning service, adding a choice of frequencies and flexibility for travel between these cities.
Guide qualification challenges to be addressed
The tourist guide qualifications in South Africa are set to change, after all the current qualifications expired on June 30.
Travel company enhances Damaraland offering
Namibian conservation travel company, Ultimate Safaris, will officially open its premier private retreat, Onduli Enclave on November 1. Onduli Enclave is a privately serviced and stand-alone villa addition to Onduli Ridge. The villa is separate from the main lodge and will be run independently from it. The villa is located on a private concession in the Doro !Nawas Conservancy in the heart of Damaraland, 20 minutes away from the Unesco World Heritage Site of Twyfelfontein.
New boutique hotel on the cards for historic wine farm
Ground will soon be broken for a new boutique accommodation offering situated within the iconic Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. The new development will be managed by Newmark Hotels & Reserves. This follows the signing of a partnership agreement between the Cape Town-based hospitality management company and the historic wine estate outlining that Newmark will manage all accommodation on the farm.
New boutique accommodation offering on the cards for historic wine
Ground will soon be broken for a new boutique accommodation offering situated within the iconic Blaauwklippen Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. The new development will be managed by Newmark Hotels & Reserves. This follows the signing of a partnership agreement between the Cape Town-based hospitality management company and the historic wine estate outlining that Newmark will manage all accommodation on the farm.
Initiative to maximise aviation development in Africa
Iata and the African Airlines Association (Afraa) have announced that Afraa is to join Iata’s Focus Africa initiative – a collaboration that is expected to lend more strength to the initiative. Focus Africa aims to maximise the contribution of aviation to development across the continent by improving passenger and freight services.
SURVEY: What is the state of luxury travel?
The luxury travel market has rebounded quickly, and we want your insights into its recovery. If you’re involved in catering to luxury travellers, then click here to share your thoughts with us in a brief survey.
SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance projects gain momentum
Nine months since its launch, the SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance is building a unified response to some major issues affecting tourism growth, with accessibility measures like the Univisa and air access at the top of its priority list. Tourism is a key driver of economic growth and job creation across the SADC region with UNTWO data indicating that the sector directly contributed about 2.8% of total GDP in 2017.
Profile: Helping rural artisans gain market access
Tourism Update is profiling the top three 2023 finalists announced for the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge (AYTIC) held in Swakopmund, Namibia, in May this year. The winner will be announced at the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards in Botswana, this October. This is the second of three profiles.
Luxury safari camp opens in northern Serengeti
East African accommodation provider, Sisini Africa, recently introduced Lamai Nature Camp, the first luxury safari camp in its collection. Located in the Lamai Triangle of northern Serengeti, Tanzania, the camp offers four intimate luxury tents overlooking the endless plains that are home to abundant wildlife.
How AI will transform the hospitality industry
The hospitality industry is particularly well-suited to benefit from AI, as it can be used to automate tasks, improve efficiency and provide personalised experiences to guests, according to Jose Soares, Director of IT at The Capital Hotels, Apartments and Resorts. However, with its benefits it may bring some challenges too as it could lead to the loss of jobs in organisational and maintenance positions, including front-desk staff and housekeeping.
Zim’s premier tourism expo scheduled for October
Zimbabwe's premier international tourism showcase, Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, will take place in Bulawayo from October 12-14. The annual event brings together key players and stakeholders in the global tourism industry, providing a platform for networking and collaboration, while showcasing Zimbabwe's tourism potential. This year's expo celebrates the resilience, dynamism, and untapped potential of Zimbabwe as a premier tourism destination in Africa.
Ellies join in the golfing fun
Professional golf players looked on in awe of the elephants at the Leopard Creek Country Club, overlooking the Kruger National Park, during the Alfred Dunhill Championship last year. The elephant herd can be seen playing in the mud and crossing the Crocodile River, much to the enjoyment of the golfers and commentators. Have a look at the video below:
Mpumalanga parks go cashless
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) will implement a cashless service system at all its nature reserves and its Visitor Information Centre with effect from September 1. The cashless service promotes transactions that do not expose the tourists and the employees to danger. It responds to the control environment that ensures optimal revenue collection, safety of the MTPA employees and the comfort of tourists, who will not need to carry cash with them when travelling.
Speeding train kills 17 - wildlife’s plight spotlighted
Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) has suggested meeting with nature conservationists to formally discuss coal trains driving through the Pongola Game Reserve and reserves in KwaZulu Natal. This follows news that speeding coal trains operated by TFR killed two White rhinos, eight buffalos, six impalas and a wildebeest on Friday, August 18. Tourism Update understands that TFR has an agreement with nature conservation authorities to limit trains driving through the parks to 40kph.
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