In March, the tourism sector came to a sudden halt when President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would go on a nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The lockdown saw international travel banned and the gates of every hotel and game reserve temporarily closed, leading to the tourism industry to shed thousands of jobs and billions of Rands in profit.
With the lockdown restrictions being eased to allow international visitors and open recreational areas, Carte Blanche finds out if the tourism sector can survive the continuing effects of the coronavirus pandemic....
A South African National Parks (SANParks) initiative led by SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni distributed food parcels and water tanks to vulnerable communities bordering Marakele National Park in Limpopo.
Tourism SA recently hosted a contingent of SA travel media in the Drakensberg, giving them a taste of the variety of experiences on offer. Read more about our experience of the Drakensberg here. All images courtesy of Tourism KZN.
Speaking at the Tourism Month launch at the Drakensberg Sun Resort in KwaZulu-Natal on 23 August, Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane emphasised that tourism has the potential to boost South Africa's economic growth and improve job creation, which requires an inclusive tourism sector.
She highlighted the importance of Tourism Month as a means to both South Africans and visitors from outside the country's borders to travel and experience our country's diverse offerings.
Read more about the launch...
As part of its partnership with the SA Guide Dogs Association, Montecasino's executive management team suggested names for the association's newest additions. Following the final decision made by the SA Guide Dogs Naming Committee, the labrador puppies were named Bella and Mario.
Wesgro has partnered with trail-runners Ryan Sandes, Meg Mackenzie, Stu McConnachie and Nic Rupanga to showcase Cape Town and the greater Western Cape as a mecca of trail running. The Connected by Trail video series is made up of four 60-second videos and an 8-minute documentary. It was shot in the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve and the Elgin Valley.
World Travel Market Africa 2019 opened its doors at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 10 April, welcoming a host exhibitors, buyers, travel professionals and media.
The big theme at the 2018 The Business of Wine & Food Tourism Conference was innovation. The conference was recently held at the Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. In line with the theme, several speakers focused their discussions on the role of big data. US-based big data wine specialist Cathy Huyghe was this year's headline speaker this year.
The winners of the sixth annual Distell Inter Hotel Challenge were recently announced at a gala awards event at the Belmond Mount Nelson in Cape Town. Siya Molefe from the One & Only Cape Town was named chef of the year, while Samantha Swartz from The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa in Cape Town was crowned wine steward of the year.
The 19th Kruger National Park (KNP) Achievement Awards took place on 18 May 2018 in Skukuza, Mpumalanga. Below are the recipients of awards at the event.
