Tourism, Travel & Hospitality in South Africa

Chatbots and the hospitality industry

Key players in the hospitality industry are still trying to figure out how to build the perfect chatbot - smart, capable of understanding complex semantics, and conversing with the customer as an experienced service rep would...

IATA, A4A launches year-long campaign to improve baggage tracking

"Arriving without a bag is a very frustrating experience for our customers. Over the last decade, we have reduced mishandled baggage by 54% with improved processes. The next step is to realise the full benefits of baggage tracking..."

21 Jul 2017

Four tips to make your business travelling time productive

Travelling for several hours at a time may be a part of your business life and while travelling for business is not a problem, being idle while travelling could be...

By Meet Morakhiya 20 Jul 2017

Skills in demand: IT opportunities in tourism

Tourism is full of opportunities for tech-savvy youngsters, from those who love IT and want to work in that field specifically to those who combine IT with the desire to develop businesses and startups...

By Enver Duminy 14 Jul 2017

Lesotho issues e-visas

Lesotho has joined 13 other African countries that issues electronic visas...

10 Jul 2017

Tech takes on travel

Behind the scenes, in tourism, there's a new wave of business strategy driven by technology processes, all generated to create a better experience for the visitor...

6 Jul 2017

New Winelands portal to unlock the future of wine and wine tourism

With the launch of a new wine tourism portal, a one-stop searchable wine tourism gateway to the Winelands, the area and its tourism offering are now just a click away...

4 Jul 2017

WorkTripper: Putting business-ready accommodation bookings to the test

It was only a matter of time before an online booking platform dedicated to business travel saw the light of day in SA. We got word of the new business-ready accommodation booking platform, WorkTripper and decided to put it to the test...

By Cari Coetzee 4 Jul 2017

Why the hospitality industry needs to adapt to millennial travellers

Millennials, fuelled by a powerful combination of FOMO and wanderlust, represent one of the most lucrative segments of the travel market...

29 Jun 2017

Sygic Travel database bursting with 360° travel videos

Through the Sygic Travel database of more than 1,300 travel videos in 360°, travellers can find themselves in the world's most beautiful places...

29 Jun 2017

Why hoteliers need to do their homework before selecting a hotel management system

"Hoteliers need a solution that fits their needs. So if a solution is too small, it will not satisfy all their requirements. On the other hand, a larger solution may seem great, but..."

27 Jun 2017

VR in travel and hospitality: Is it a fad?

Will VR be relevant in hospitality decades from now, or is it just a shiny fad?

By Jogbojogbo Abdulrahman 26 Jun 2017

The battle between travel bots and TMCs - who will win?

AI assistants and travel bots may be gaining ground, but a sound digital solution that incorporates these tools should be complemented by a knowledgeable travel management company and consultant...

22 Jun 2017

#WTMA17: How do millennials define luxury travel and why does it matter?

While millennials are optimistic about the future, they believe in living for today. Therefore, they are willing to spend more on material items they feel are special to them, or dig deep for an experience of a lifetime...

By Cari Coetzee 31 May 2017

International

Nairobi to land Sh4.6m per person luxury flight

A Hong Kong-based airline operator plans to launch a Sh4.6m-a-ticket luxury flight to Nairobi targeting Asia's super-rich keen on sampling Kenya's prime holiday destinations. Crystal AirCruises - the luxury private jet and resort operator - said last Friday its private jet will make the inaugural flight from Hong Kong to Nairobi on September 30.

By Brian Ngugi 8 hours ago

Can tourism alleviate global poverty?

Wouldn't it be great if something as simple and pleasurable as international travel could help end something as grinding and enduring as global poverty? After all, the industry is booming, growing at least 4% a year since the 1960s (with a brief slowdown in 2009), according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

By Susanne Becken 1 day ago

#CSIMonth: How to create the ultimate sustainable travel adventure

We may be halfway through 2017 - the year that was officially named the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) - but by no means has sustainable tourism become a dying fad.

20 Jul 2017

Star-studded new British Airways safety video adds comic relief

In a new and entertaining pre-flight safety video, British Airways spreads important safety messages, while boosting fund-raising for Flying Start - the charity partnership between British Airways and Comic Relief.

19 Jul 2017