Patrick Matlou

Back in the mists of time on the banks of the Vaal river, a small and inconspicuous travel market with a handful of tourism products and even fewer delegates turned the Riverside Holiday Inn into the launchpad of something special. And now, the annual South African Tourism Indaba has become a must-see for the worldwide industry

Development plans currently being put into action at Cape Town International airport will enable it to meet projected passenger demand until 2050, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has said. Designed to accommodate 200 000 passengers a month, the domestic terminals are currently handling an average of 280 000 passengers.

Lesedi Cultural Village, a traditionally styled multi-cultural centre close to Hartbeespoort Dam, is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Situated on the R512 en route to Sun City, just 10km north of Lanseria airport and with easy access from Pretoria and Johannesburg, Lesedi (the Sotho word for "light") is becoming one of Gauteng’s more unusual conference venues.

The Engen-sponsored Heidelberg Xairu Blue Crane Route, launched on January 24, brings to 43 the number of tourism routes established by communities across Africa. The significance of this self-empowerment initiative is that it gives grassroots people access to the growth potential of the tourism industry.

The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has reported that collections of the 1% tourism levy charged on all accommodation in South Africa reached a total of R40-million including VAT, cumulative to September last year.

Arrivals at Cape Town International over the Christmas holiday season were up compared with the same time last year, heralding a bumper season for the Mother City. International and regional arrivals grew by more than 3 000 passengers in November last year, while domestic passenger numbers increased by a massive 11 500.

The Cape tourism industry paid tribute to its finest role-players recently when those who offered top-class service, excellent quality and actively encouraged community participation were rewarded for their achievements. Six exceptional industry players walked off with the coveted awards at the dazzling third annual Cape Tourism Awards ceremony.

The Pezula Group has signed a management contract with Southern Sun Hotels — the largest hotel group in the southern hemisphere — for the multimillion-rand luxury Pezula Resort hotel, situated in the heart of the Garden Route. An all-suite deluxe boutique hotel, it will be the flagship of the newly launched Southern Sun Collection.

Situated close to the southern tip of Africa, where the mighty Indian and Atlantic oceans meet, Cape Town has, for more than 300 years, served as a launch pad to the continent of Africa.

Sun International’s new tour operator, Sun International Dreams, is enjoying great success since its launch in April this year. It was created to provide a slick marketing arm and a one-stop reservation call centre, where the consumer can purchase the full package inclusive of air tickets and tours — primarily to the two resorts at the Victoria Falls in Zambia: the Zambezi Sun and the Royal Livingstone.

The Eastern Cape is a much-frequented holiday destination, with its stunning unspoilt beaches, safe warm bathing and spectacular scenery. Malaria-free game parks such as the Addo Elephant Park and Shamwari feature the Big Five and a wide range of outdoor activities and sports.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and South African Tourism would like to respond to the recent Going Places opinion piece by Sharon van Wyk. The article began by questioning what Tourism Month had achieved.