Category: Tourism-Hospitality

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) – which successfully concluded its inaugural season sailing from Cape Town today (Thursday, January 26) on the Norwegian Jade – is seeing a growing demand for its cruises in South Africa. On December 21, 2022, Norwegian Jade became the first vessel in the line’s 18-ship fleet to homeport from the South African port of Cape Town, offering international and local guests 12-day itineraries along the coast of South Africa and Namibia with an overnight stay in Cape Town and visits to Mossel Bay, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Richards Bay, Lüderitz and…

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KwaZulu Natal has welcomed 520 00 domestic tourists and 51 000 international visitors to its shores over the high season so far, and tourism authorities are ‘in no doubt’ that the province will reach its target of 760 000 domestic and 58 000 international visitors by the end of summer. “We are pleased with the festive season figures as they reflect the province’s tourism performance over one month of our summer season and note that the province’s summer season draws to a close at the end of March. Therefore, I have no doubt…

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The Orpen, a new four-star lodge on the doorstep of both the Kruger National Park and the Manyeleti Game Reserve, is celebrating a successful first two months of operation. The ten freestanding chalets have private patios, bush views and either an outside bath or shower. Facilities at the lodge include a swimming pool, boma, free WiFi and wildlife rehabilitation centre. Activities include safaris and bush walks in both Kruger and Manyeleti. The lodge was established through a partnership between the Mont d’Or Hotel Group and the community-operated Wild Olive Cooperative,…

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Cape Town’s tourism sector is well on its way to recovery to post-pandemic figures, according to tourism leaders in the Mother City. This is underpinned by preliminary statistics received from Airports Company South Africa (Acsa), which showed that Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) recorded 266 656 international two-way passenger numbers for December 2022, resulting in a 95% recovery to the pre-pandemic numbers achieved in December 2019. The domestic terminal, for the same month, recorded a strong 72% recovery when compared with the 2019 figure, with 790 514 two-way passengers recorded.…

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The Radisson Hotel group has opened its first safari resort in Africa, Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort. This is a key step toward the group’s goal of reaching 150 properties in operation and under development in Africa by 2025, according to Tim Cordon, Chief Commercial Officer, Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group. “Radisson Blu Mosi-oa-Tunya Livingstone Resort, Zambia represents a unique destination for our guests to discover and explore. This hotel is our second property in Zambia following the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka, with a third hotel, Park…

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The City of Cape Town has formally signed a new lease for Killarney International Raceway operated by Western Province Motor Club (WPMC). This agreement allows WPMC to plan and commence with investment in its infrastructure and events that will further boost the local economy and job opportunities. “Motorsport at Killarney is a key component in making Cape Town Africa’s event capital. This new lease, which commenced on January 1, allows WPMC to continue to provide a secure venue, spectator thrills and family entertainment, to actively recruit motorsport events for the…

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Between 2010 and 2019 the African travel and tourism sector separated its economic growth from its greenhouse gas emissions – with data showing the total contribution to Africa’s GDP grew on average 2.6% annually, whilst greenhouse gas emissions increased by just 1.2% during the same period. This is according to figures detailing the climate footprint of the tourism sector in Africa that were recently revealed from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center. The data also demonstrated how the sector’s emissions intensity continues…

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The government of Zambia has added several countries to its list for visa waivers. This follows the announcement last October that visas would not be required for travellers from the UK, the US, Canada, Norway, Australia, China, South Korea, Gulf Estates and the European Union. The visa waiver for the original list of countries was expected to be in effect on October 1, however there was a delay owing to the absence of a legal framework, the statutory instrument, the immigration Electronic System Configuration and mechanisms for post-entry management. The…

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The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has welcomed an investigation into an alleged racist incident at the Maselspoort Resort and Conference Centre outside Bloemfontein in the Free State Province on Christmas Day (December 25). Law enforcement agencies are investigating a case of common assault after a video – showing white men attacking two black teenagers at the resort’s swimming pool – has gone viral. Allegedly the men were trying to remove the teens from what they termed the “whites only” pool. In the video, a man is seen…

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Fastjet Zimbabwe is to commence air services to two new domestic leisure destinations – Kariba and Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe – by late March 2023. The airline’s new services from Harare and Victoria Falls to Kariba Airport and Hwange National Park Airport will offer seamless connections for travellers to two of Zimbabwe’s top domestic tourism destinations, with scheduled flight connections using Embraer E120, 30-seat turboprop aircraft. Fastjet Zimbabwe spokesperson, Nunurai Ndawana, said: “We continue to demonstrate our commitment to the growth of tourism and the sustainability of air services in…

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