Cape Town Reports 'Fair' Summer Season

Cape Town Tourism has released the results of its 2010/2011 Summer Tourism Survey, based on polls of member organisations, attractions and visitors between December 2010 and February 2011.

The report suggests that there is cause for optimism as traditional markets begin showing signs of recovery, while new source markets are increasingly becoming interested in Cape Town.

Accommodation establishment respondents had mixed feelings about performance during the Cape Town 2010/ 2011 summer season, with 45,8% stating that the period had met their expectations, while the rest said it was average or below average.

Almost 18% (17,60%) of accommodation establishment respondents operated at 81% to 100% occupancy during December, dropping to 12% of respondents for the same levels in January and increasing to 20,70% for February.

The majority of local bookings were received from Gauteng (75,6%), followed by the Western Cape (46,3%) and KwaZulu Natal (26,8%). Internationally, the traditional source markets of the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands and the US performed well.

The tour operator member base of respondents noted a general increase in bookings for the period December to February when compared with the same period in previous years, with the international market being the source of the majority of their visitors. Traditional markets from the UK, US, Germany and The Netherlands led the pack. The most popular booking methods were via direct e-mail by returning guests, telephonically, and bookings through travel agents, in that order.

CEO of Cape Town Tourism, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, said: “We have experienced a fair summer season for 2010/ 2011. It has been a season dominated by many unpredictable factors and perhaps inflated expectations after the World Cup. The biggest trends Cape Town Tourism has noticed are the slow recovery of international tourism due to various global crises, an encouraging growth in domestic tourism, and a significant increase in online and last-minute bookings, the use of social media and user-generated websites.”

Source: SA Tourism Update

South Africans saved 350 MW – enough electricity to power the city of Bloemfontein – when they switched off their lights during Earth Hour this weekend, power utility Eskom said on Tuesday.

As part of its support for the Earth Hour campaign, Eskom measured the reduction in electricity used during the hour against typical consumption for this time on an average Saturday evening.

Eskom’s support is in line with the 49M movement launched recently by Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe to mobilise South Africans to save electricity.

“We encourage every South African to ‘lift a finger’ − which is all it takes to switch off a light when it is not in use. Simple actions, such as using compact fluorescent lamps instead of incandescent globes, keeping unused appliances switched off, adjusting the thermostat on your geyser and switching it off when we leave for work and turning it on before we go to bed. Reducing electricity wastage can have a dramatic impact on electricity consumption. If you are not using it, switch it off,” said Eskom CEO Brian Dames.

In 2010, Eskom measured an estimated reduction of approximately 420 MW during the hour-long campaign.

Source: Engineering News

Top 10 Wine Countries

Interesting towns, interesting wine farms with traditional cellars, delicious wine and food – all this is often part of a wine tour. CWC brings you the Top 10 countries to visit for a wine vacation.

Australia

New Zealand

Chile

Spain

France

USA

Germany

South Africa

Moldova

Italy

National Tourism Sector Strategy Launched

The National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS) was launched yesterday by the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who said it would help position tourism as one of the fundamental pillars of the South African economy.

“The NTSS is a result of intense collaboration between the National Department of Tourism (NDT), an advisory panel of top industry minds, representatives of a variety of professional bodies in the tourism sector, academia, provinces, tourism-marketing agencies, civil society, local and national governments and members of the public,” said Van Schalkwyk.

“The process of formulating the strategy, gathering and incorporating comments and input and fine-tuning this product was comprehensive and consultative and the result is a sector strategy we can all collectively take ownership of,” he added.

The NDT received more than 37 000 inputs on the draft strategy, which was published in May last year. “These were considered and further bilateral consultations on the revised draft strategy were held with stakeholders,” said the NDT in a statement. “The final document has therefore been more than 18 months in the making and was formally approved by Cabinet on March 2, 2011.”

“The vision of the NTSS is to position SA as one of the top 20 tourism destinations globally by 2020, and I believe our concerted and focused efforts as a sector will enable us to reach this goal,” said the Minister.

Key focus areas of the NTSS are:

- Arrivals – the strategy will direct the achievement of increased numbers of tourists to SA, with a target of increasing foreign tourist arrivals to 15 million in 2020.

- GDP – the aim is to increase tourism’s contribution to GDP from an estimated R189,4bn in 2009 to R499bn by 2020.

- Job creation – the aim is to create 225 000 jobs by 2020.

To achieve these three overarching objectives, the NTSS will focus on:

- Domestic tourism development – by increasing the number of domestic trips from 30,9 million in 2009 to 54 million by 2020.

- Regional tourism development – by establishing five SA Tourism offices within the continent by 2020.

- Emerging markets – the NTSS requires that in terms of the determination of target markets and marketing approaches we recognise the need to leverage on the platforms facilitated by BRICS.

- Business Events – by establishing a National Convention Bureau under the auspices of SA Tourism, which will be operational in the new financial year.

Tourism Grading Council In A Nutshell

1. The Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is the only officially recognized organization that authorizes accommodation establishments to display Quality Stars.

2. Operating as one of the business units of South African Tourism (SAT), the TGCSA ensures the standard of quality of accommodation and conference venues, throughout South Africa through its stated vision: ‘To establish a recognisable and credible globally benchmarked system of quality assurance for accommodation and MESE (Meetings, Exhibitions and Special Events) experiences, which can be relied upon by visitors when making their choice of establishment’

3. This is achieved by literally “putting the stars where they belong”. The TGCSA provides a rigorous framework and process for the quality assurance that is continuously sought after by tourism products seeking to showcase their products in this vibrant industry which contributes to an increase in consumer confidence, thus ensuring the country’s international competiveness as a tourism destination of choice.

4. There are currently, over 7000 graded establishments; with an average of 150 NEW establishments joining the grading system every month.

5. The Awards Sub Committee appointed directly by the Minister of Tourism, following a public nomination process, oversees the awarding of One to Five Stars Grading Status to various establishments within the nine categories which include Hotels, Guesthouses, Country Houses, Bed & Breakfast, Lodges, Caravan & Camping, Self Catering, Back Packers and Hostelling as well as MESE.

6. The Process of getting graded is as follows:

a. Visit the TGCSA website www.tourismgrading.co.za

b. Read the minimum requirements and grading criteria and decide which of the 9 categories your establishment falls under (hotel, B&B, Guest House, etc).

c. Decide which quality star level your establishment fits (One to Five Star).

d. Fill in the online application form and choose an Assessor that operates in your province.

e. You will then receive an invoice from the TGCSA, which has to be paid BEFORE an Assessor comes to visit.

f. Your chosen Assessor will contact you to arrange a suitable time to visit your property and conduct the assessment.

g. The Assessor will then submit his motivation (for the particular Star grade he is recommending for your property) to the TGCSA, monthly Awards Committee Meeting for approval.

h. Once approved by the committee, you will receive a full report on your grading assessment as well as various correspondence welcoming you to the TGCSA family.

i. You will receive a certificate which needs to be prominently displayed in the reception area of your establishment.

j. You will receive a plaque denoting your Star grading status which also needs to be prominently displayed around the entrance of your establishment.

k. You are now ready to market yourself as a Star Graded Property!

7. This Grading Status must be renewed annually following a reassessment by a TGCSA Accredited Grading Assessor.

8. Should an establishment choose not to get renewed, they will have to remove all marketing material that refers to Stars as the TGCSA has the trademark rights to this.

9. The TGCSA has its offices in Sandton, Johannesburg and is headed up by Chief Quality Assurance Officer, Ms Thembi Kunene.

10. The chairman of the TGCSA is Mr Peter Bacon who has been appointed by the Minister of Tourism, together with the 9 other members of the Awards Committee.

11. Contact the Tourism Grading Council at: Tel: +27 11 895 3000 or visit www.tourismgrading.co.za

New Star Grading Plaques Launched

A new star grading plaque, together with a universal accessibility plaque, has been introduced by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA). The launch of the new plaques is being hailed as a major milestone in the TGCSA's bid to overhaul its grading criteria, minimum requirements and operating systems.

The previous grading criteria were originally introduced in 2002. Inconsistencies in the application of the grading criteria and minimum requirements, coupled with inadequate management processes and systems, led to a lack of uniformity in the awarding of stars.

Speaking at the unveiling event held at the King Edward Hotel and the Forest Hall Guest House in Port Elizabeth, Chief Quality Assurance Officer, Thembi Kunene, said: "The new plaques will help protect our brand and put a stop to the illegal use of stars as they are now trademarked."

On the new plaques the stars are placed above the category name. A critical inclusion is a sentence stating that the plaque is the property of the TGCSA, which will allow officials to legally enter a property to remove a plaque if necessary. Each plaque also features a unique serial number linked to the membership number of the property.

Also in attendance at the unveiling was Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, who said: "Our grading plaques are a symbol of the assurance we provide to tourists, both local and international, that they can rely on star graded establishments when making their choice of accommodation or conferencing establishment. A significant amount of time and energy was spent during this process in fine-tuning the criteria to get them right for the industry. The aim was to not only ensure that South Africa can maintain its international competitiveness as a tourist destination, but indeed to show that we can be world leaders in terms of quality assurance."

"But a system is only good as the people who are participating in it. The public are not only on the receiving end, but also an active player in the system. As South Africans, we tend to accept poor service, but we are asking that the public not only complain, buy also provide feedback on where improvements can be made," said Van Schalkwyk.

Velvet Sky Takes To The Air

Starting March 22, South Africa’s newest carrier will launch its inaugural flight from Johannesburg to Durban.

Following months of speculation and rumours, Velvet Sky Aviation yesterday announced its launch.

“As a new airline offering the lowest possible ticket prices, our corporate philosophy mandates cost saving through all levels of our operation. It was this mandate that dictated the city of Durban, with its lowered operating costs as the administrative centre of the business.”

“In-flight service will consist of pre-ordered snack boxes and drinks which are available online as part of the booking process. You can also book meals at the check-in desks in the terminals. Skychefs, which are part of the Lufthansa group will be providing on board catering. Alcohol is unavailable on our flights, for now, said Cecil Reddy, chairman of Velvet Sky.”

Wednesday saw an awful fire rage through the Kleinmond area decimating almost everything in its path. Fueled by strong winds, the fire caused the near evacuation of everyone in its path.

After a couple of phone calls from the DMO approximately 800 litres of bottled water were delivered to those firemen and helpers bravely trying to kill the inferno.

Huge thanks must go to Birkenhead Brewery and Pick n Pay for donating the water and a special thanks to Percy of Percy Tours for delivering the water.

Thanks Guys. You make us proud to be Overstranders.

Massive Price Hikes During 2012 Olympic Games

Tourists are facing the prospect of massive hikes in the cost of accommodation in London during next year's Olympic Games.

Many of the capital's hotels intend to raise their prices during the Games and one hotel intends to charge five times the normal tariff, according to a report by the Financial Times.

A four-star hotel quoted £1100 for a room that would normally cost £200, according to a wholesale tour specialist who asked for neither the hotel nor his company to be named.

Another four-star hotel quoted £297 per room per night during the Games compared with £131 this year, and a three-star hotel has more than doubled its £80 a night rate to £162.

One hotel is planning to implement a strict 100 per cent cancellation fee during the Games, which run from 27 July to 12 August 2012.

The same hotel is also demanding that 70 per cent of bookings must be paid by the end of September 2011 and it is insisting that the final balance should be handed over by 31 January.

Tickets for London 2012 go on sale tomorrow and tourism chiefs are worried that the price hike will deter people from visiting London during the Games.

Chris Foy, a spokesman for the government's tourism agency Visit Britain, told TravelMail: ‘We will get a much clearer idea of hotel prices once the tickets go on sale but we have heard from tour operators overseas that they are having trouble booking hotels during the Games'.

Source: ehotelier.com

British Airways, operated by Comair Limited, has announced that it will soon be servicing all major South African coastal routes and will commence flights between Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town at the end of this month.

“We are experiencing demand for premium travel options to coastal destinations, mostly from the increased number of business travellers on these routes,” said Heidi Brauer, Comair’s executive manager for group marketing. “British Airways will therefore be taking over the servicing of these routes from LCC, kulula.com from March 27, offering travellers the full-service Club (business class) experience as well as Executive Club benefits.

“Furthermore, the current BA flight configuration and aircraft types are better suited for these routes, further enhancing operational efficiency,” Brauer said.

BA will offer daily return flights between the following destinations:

- King Shaka International Airport and Port Elizabeth International Airport

- Port Elizabeth International Airport and Cape Town International Airport

Edelweiss Air Visits Cape Town

Starting from the end of October, Switzerland’s Edelweiss Air will introduce twice-weekly flights to Cape Town on Tuesdays and Fridays during the airline’s 2011/2012 winter season.

According to the airline’s website flights will depart Zurich at 09h30, arriving in Cape Town at 21h45. The return service will depart Cape Town at 23h25, arriving in Zurich at 09h50.

Emirates Introduce Additional Flight To Cape Town

Starting March 27, Emirates will introduce an additional daily service to Cape Town. Flights will depart Dubai at 03h50, arriving in Cape Town at 11h40. The return service will depart Cape Town at 13h40, arriving in Dubai at 01h15 the following day.

The airline says the second service “vastly” improves connections to the Americas and Europe. EK773 is operated by an Airbus 340-500 carrying 258 passengers in a three-class configuration.

With the introduction of the additional flight Emirates now operates six daily international flights out of South Africa, increasing its frequencies to a total of 42 per week.

In addition, the airline has also announced 100% increase in frequency between Dubai and Seychelles. This route will be serviced by 14 flights a week by the end of the year.

From March 28, the service will increase to 12 weekly flights and two further frequencies will be added to the winter schedule, making it a double daily service.

Source: SA Tourism Update

SA Tourism Competitiveness Declines

S.A's tourism competitiveness declined in 2010, according to the fourth Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Factors influencing our position are diverse and a few are listed here:

SA is ranked 14th for its natural resources and 55th for its cultural resources. Despite the buzz in the industry that SA is overpriced, we continue to fare well in terms of price competitiveness, ranking 37th.

The report says infrastructure is also well developed for the region, with air transport infrastructure ranked 43rd and a particularly good assessment of railroad quality (47th) and road quality (43rd). “Overall, policy rules and regulations are conducive to the sector’s development (ranked 31st); this is an area where the country has improved since the last assessment, with well-protected property rights and few visa requirements for visitors,” says the report. “Indeed, in 2010 the government selected tourism as one of the five priority sectors in its growth plan and has been reviewing tourism legislation in an effort to streamline it further.”

But some areas of weakness have brought down SA’s overall ranking. “Safety and security remains of serious concern (ranked 129th), as is the level of health and hygiene, where SA is ranked 88th as a result of its low physician density and concerns about access to improved sanitation in particular,” says the WEF report.

Top 10 countries in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index:

1. Switzerland
2. Germany
3. France
4. Austria
5. Sweden
6. United States
7. United Kingdom
8. Spain
9. Canada
10. Singapore

Source: SA Tourism Update

Hermanus Wines Wow The World

Local winemakers continue to make Hermanus proud as they gain worldwide recognition and prove themselves a force to be reckoned with.

Hamilton Russel's Chardonnay 2009 was selected for the Sommelier Journal's Top Releases of 2010 - a list compiled by their editors and writers and other leading professionals from around the world. This Sommelier's choice is one of only five from around the world.

This year's vintage will be the 30th vintage of Hamilton Russel Vinyards Chardonnay.

The Bouchard Finlayson wine estate in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley has also recently received another feather in its cap.

Their Galpin Peak 2009 Pinot Noir was among the selection of exciting New World wines reviewed in the February issue of the exclusive Wine Spectacular magazine. The wine scored an outstanding 92 points out of 100.

Top Ten Cruise Destinations

A newly launched cruise comparison website has revealed the top 10 cruising locations across the world for those planning on enjoying a cruise holiday anytime in the future.

The top 10 'cruising locations', as outlined by Danielle Fear of CruiseCompare.co.uk, are as follows:

Alaska

Alaska is and always has been a firm favourite as a cruise destination. The region offers amazing sights and plenty of activity opportunities that can only be found in this part of the world. Cruisers can catch a glimpse of whales and other marine life as they silently glide through the deep blue waters. Here you can also visit the Rocky Mountains or even go bear watching. Alaska is the largest of all the US states and is also the least densely populated. On offer in Alaska is 34,000 miles of tidal shoreline.

Australia & New Zealand

What could possibly be more amazing than sailing under Sydney's Harbour Bridge and being greeted by the iconic Sydney Opera House. The Australasia region has something for everyone; there are endless sights to see and monuments to photograph and New Zealand offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.

Bahamas

The Bahamas are home to glistening clear blue waters and pristine white sandy beaches. When you throw in the location, and the fantastic weather, it becomes even more appealing. The Bahamas are situated in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Cuba, and Nassau on New Province Island is the most popular stop for cruise ships visiting the region. Here you can find fine dining and some of the freshest seafood on the planet along with boutique shopping and various casinos.

Canary Islands

The Canary Islands are ideally situated for hot summer sun; just off the coast of West Africa, the cluster of islands offer varied landscapes and Lanzarote boasts a rather large volcanic area. Most cruises to the Canaries will visit all islands within the cluster. Although all within a stone's throw of each other, they are all individual and each offer something different. Tenerife boasts various wildlife and water parks along with a pleasant year round temperature. In Gran Canaria, tourists can feast their eyes upon the extremely impressive sand dunes of Maspalomas.

Caribbean

The Caribbean is quite possibly the most popular cruising destination overall. You can find picture-perfect beaches and superb diving locations, along with the chance to experience the region's blend of Caribbean, African and French cultures. The best place for diving and snorkelling is Grand Cayman. Here you can explore shipwrecks beneath the clear blue sea along with the chance to spot some rather colourful tropical fish. If exotic locations and relaxation is what you desire then the Caribbean was made for you.

Egypt and the Middle East

This particular area has become more popular in recent years. Now with itineraries offering both Egypt and the Middle East on one cruise, it is a perfect chance to experience what these ancient and mysterious lands have to offer. Egypt is a must visit; you can view and even enter the Pyramids, as well as catch a glimpse of the Sphinx or even visit the valley of the kings. For something more relaxing you can bask yourself in the waters of the Dead Sea where it's natural minerals will cleanse and refresh your body and mind.

Far East Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand

These are just some of the amazing destinations on offer with a Far East cruise. Bargain hunters will be in their element when they stumble upon the various street markets and vendors. You have everything on offer here from tropical rain forests to lush sandy beaches and exotic landscapes. Definite places to visit in this region are the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple. Tease your taste buds with exotic cuisine and enjoy this trip of a lifetime. Beautiful, unspoilt white sand beaches, warm crystal clear seas and lush tropical landscapes in this destination of a lifetime!
MediterraneanVisit stunning Gaudi architecture in Barcelona, cruise through the water filled streets of Venice in Italy or how about stepping back in time and visiting the ancient monuments in Rome? The Mediterranean offers something for everyone and the regions perfect summer climate continues to keep it as a firm and loyal favourite.

Norway and the Fjords

Norway offers some of the world's most amazing panoramic scenery and quite possibly one of the most exciting cruising experiences you could ever imagine. A popular stop is Bergen, a small city that lies neatly amongst glorious mountains and is essentially the gateway to the Fjords. Mabodal Valley offers stunning views of the Voringsfoss waterfall; this is for the more adventure-hungry amongst us, as the climb will see you navigate your way to the very top. Other popular stops in this area are Flaam, Honningsvaag, Eidfjord and Alesund.

Panama Canal

A cruise through the Panama Canal can offer you a glimpse into two very different worlds as you embark on a journey both to the Pacific Region and the Caribbean. Popular stops include Costa Rica where you can explore neo-classical architecture or how about Puntarenas where you can try and spot white hawks as they nestle among the lush mountains. The Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering achievements and a cruise along the canal will certainly not disappoint. Be sure to explore your way around the Amador Causeway as it offers some extremely pleasing views and tasty restaurants.

Source: ehotelier.com

Not long ago hoteliers around the world would rely on their website in order to attract web traffic but things have changed a lot during recent times. With the advent with social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube it is becoming increasingly important for hotels to be present on these platforms.

Twitter

Twitter has grown exponentially during recent years and has become a formidable marketing tool. At the moment it is estimated that there is around 200m people that use twitter regularly. At first many marketers viewed Twitter as being irrelevant as a marketing channel but if used properly Twitter can be very useful. One of the beauties of Twitter and most social media in general is that it will allow you to interact with your potential clients and stakeholders easily. Questions and complaints can be answered easily and remedial actions taken promptly. By using the search tools, proper hashtags and other relevant tools you can effectively find out what your clients think of you and your competitors. This can really help you when it comes to online marketing research and allow you to better understand your clients and hence give them what they are looking for.
Just as with traditional email marketing, Twitter provides an interesting way to create a list of potential clients for your service. This can be new clients or customers that have already been at your hotel and will like to stay in touch with what is happening with their favorite place.

Facebook

Facebook has evolved a lot from being the playground for students to become something more heterogeneous in terms of users. At the same time business pages have also evolved in order to allow marketers to make better use of the service. Below you will find some interesting ways on how you could best use Facebook as a marketing channel.

It is rare to find someone that does not possess a Facebook account nowadays and it might be a good opportunity for you to reinforce your brand by using this medium. Whether it is past clients or potential clients they will all want to find out what is happening at your hotel.

Just as with Twitter, Facebook will allow you to receive feedback and complaints from clients. This will allow you to take corrective actions as soon as possible.
You can also purchase ads on Facebook in order to drive traffic to your main website or your Facebook page. The interesting thing is that these ads can be targeted to some particular target market based on interest and demographics.

Youtube

Youtube is another medium that carries some interesting potential. People spend a lot of time nowadays on Youtube and it might be important for you to consider getting a piece of the cake. Moreover people are keen to share videos on Facebook and other social media sites and this can help you make the most of viral marketing.

You can make use of Youtube to provide some high quality presentation of your hotel. Your potential clients may have a better understanding of your infrastructure and also the standard of the service that they should expect.
The power of Youtube video lies in its ability to go viral. If done properly a video can be viewed by millions of viewers thus allowing you to boost your brand. However you should make sure that your videos are done professionally and not something made on a Sunday afternoon. It needs to be creative in order to get viral.
Make sure that your video is tagged correctly before submitting it to Youtube. Indeed viewers make use of tags in order to find videos and this will allow your videos to be found. Additionaly you should also make sure that you make use of proper titles in order to be found by the search engines.

Social media are interesting ways for you to get traffic and potential clients. However you will need to learn how to best use these modern tools if you want these tactics to work.

Source: Travelwires

Tourism At An All Time High

South Africa recorded a 15.1% increase in tourist arrivals to the country last year, the Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, announced yesterday at a media briefing at Parliament.

"In 2010 we saw more than eight million tourist arrivals (8 073 552) to the country compared to just over seven million (7 011 865) in 2009. This compares very well in international terms. Figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) show that global tourism arrivals are estimated to have grown by 6.7% in 2010, which means that South Africa outperformed the global market by more than 8%.

"The 15.1% growth in tourist arrivals to South Africa outperformed that of every other region in the world, including arrivals growth of 13.9% for the Middle East, 12.6% for Asia and the Pacific, 7.7% for the Americas, 6.4% for Africa and 3.2% for Europe. We are delighted with these strong growth figures, particularly as it comes so soon after a global economic recession," Minister van Schalkwyk said.

The top ten overseas markets for 2010 were as follows:

- UK, up 1,5% from 446 369 to 453 030

- USA, up 22,6% from 230 324 to 282 377

- Germany, up 24,7% from 194 034 to 242 028

- The Netherlands, up 8,4% from 114 431 to 124 088

- France, up 14,4% from 100 890 to 115 401

- Australia, up 30,4% from 82 753 to 107 905

- India, up 29,7% from 55 203 to 71 587

- China, up 90,7% from 34 561 to 65 920

- Canada, up 21,9% from 45 330 to 55 263

- Italy, up 8,6% from 50 303 to 54 641

"It is important to acknowledge that the particularly good growth in South Africa's arrivals figures was undoubtedly given a significant boost by the World Cup. South Africa in fact recorded a peak in tourist arrivals in June and July 2010, which is traditionally our low season. From the results of our survey on arrivals during the World Cup, we know that more than 309 000 tourists arrived in South Africa for the primary purpose of the World Cup. The World Cup arrivals therefore represent about 4% of the total arrivals for 2010.

"In terms of growth from the respective regions, tourist arrivals from the Americas grew the fastest at 37.4% compared to 2009, followed by Asia and Australasia with 34.6%. Long-haul markets grew the fastest in 2010, showing an increase of 21%, and the strong growth of 14% from air markets within our continent is also particularly encouraging," Minister van Schalkwyk said.

How To Build The Customer Relationship

My hair dresser does it, the vet does it and even my supermarket does it. What am I talking about? They are all great at building a relationship with me, their customer.
Why is this important? It makes me feel valued, so builds loyalty, it keeps them in my mind so I'm more likely to come back or refer others to them, and it keeps me informed of things that might interest me, such as special offers or promotions. It makes the difference between simply knowing of them to liking them and most importantly trusting them, and ultimately more of my business.
So how it is that so few hotels, meeting venues or restaurants follow this example? Of the many places I visit whether for business or pleasure few really capitalise on all the opportunities that exist to build the customer relationship.

Before
This starts before your customers arrive. Have you ever made a reservation somewhere and then suffered from ‘buyer's remorse' as you then get a bad feeling about the venue?
If taking bookings in person ask questions about their visit that might help you offer a more personal service. What is the purpose of their visit, what time will they be arriving, have they been before, how will they be travelling, do they have any special requirements for their room, dietary, access, etc? Anticipate their needs for the type of event.

During
Making personal contact with your customers builds rapport and trust. This starts with being visible - not just your staff, but some managers' presence too. But being visible is only half the story. What are you doing to reflect and convey your values and attitude to customers and staff? The way you interact with your staff and participate in the operation gets noticed.

After
Show you appreciate their custom; a little thank you note of some description goes a long way, even better if it is personalised in some way; hand written better still. This is an ideal time to ask for feedback, testimonials for reviews too.
Keep in touch. Tell your customers what you are doing. What have you done as a result of customer feedback, what's new, what awards or accolades have you received.

Source: ehotelier.com