It is breathtaking. It is fascinating. It is grandeur. It is appealing. It is hospitable. It can only be Sun City, North West Province of South Africa. The resort is definitely extraordinary in this part of the world catering everything that can appeal to the mind as well as propel it to function better. - After watching with delight the parade of African and international designs on the runaway at the Africa Fashion Week held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, it was time to travel to Sun City for pure adventure and fun. Sun City is less than three hours drive from the Sandton city centre in Johannesburg, the resort is a worldwide attraction for its exotic entertainment op…

- ATLANTA, May 15, 2012 – Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) flight 295 to Tokyo-Narita became the first flight to depart Concourse F at the new Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal as it opens yesterday at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Shortly after flight 295’s departure, Delta flight 177 from Dublin, Ireland will be the first arrival on the new concourse. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified international terminal complex is the new doorway for customers arriving in and departing from Atlanta for international destinations. The new Concourse F, which adjoins the existing concourse E, includes 12 gates. Delta from Atl…

- Lagos, 16 May, 2012 – Currently an industry leader in its prime market of South Africa, the popular travel website has launched in Nigeria to much acclaim. Bookings sales value in Nigeria surpassed other Travelstart markets in Namibia, Tanzania and Kenya just 6 weeks after launching. According to Worldbank (2010), Nigeria is the technology hub of West Africa with more than 45 million Internet users and 30% Internet penetration. “Travelstart has been an incredible hit with customers throughout Africa and the build-up to launching in Nigeria has been the most exciting in years”, CEO Stephan Ekbergh says. “It’s like having a new baby in the family and we ca…

- Online travel agency Travelstart has launched its operations in Nigeria, offering a website where clients can search for and book flights, hotels and car rental. Travelstart, Africa's leading online travel agency, recently announced the beta launch of its Nigerian website www.travelstart.com.ng Already popular in South and East Africa, the Travelstart website offers Nigerian travellers a great set of tools to help them search and buy the travel options that best meets their budget and requirements. "We’ve launched Travelstart in beta as we want to start testing market acceptance in Nigeria. Nigerians are known to be early adopters when it comes to technology and online…

- There is trepidation in the air! Such is the human nature when there is a preceding accident or disaster related to actions and or ambitions about to be undertaken. The disaster of Costa Concordia in mid January, 2012 kept reverberating in my head as am scheduled for a four night cruise experience on board Msc Sinfonia enroute the South African city of Durban to Cape Town. The magnitude of my trepidation is probably fuelled by the fact that it would be my first time on a cruise ship and of course Costa Concordia cruise disaster off the Italian coast killing 32 people and the averted disaster of Costa Allegra which was adrift in the Indian Ocean before it was towed to safety in the Seychell…

- Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, today announced that Michael Venus will take charge of the company’s Corporate Affairs department. Michael, who has been the airline’s Head of International Media Relations since June 2011, has been appointed Vice President Corporate Affairs, with immediate effect. He will be responsible for Etihad Airways’ public affairs and corporate communications, including global media relations, social media strategy, internal communications, corporate social responsibility, environmental affairs and corporate events. Michael, a multi award-winning journalist, brings more than 30 years of media experience to the position. His caree…

- African markets remains the engine growth of South African tourism sector with Nigeria and Tanzania the leading lights of the continent’s biggest growth markets in 2011, with tourist arrivals from these two countries growing by 37.5% and 45.8% respectively. As a result of this impressive performance, the South African Government has budgeted about $31.5 million to grow over the next three years to grow its tourism sector from the African markets. According to South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, “These are excellent numbers we are extremely pleased with. And I would like to take this opportunity to announce that the South African Government has…

- South African Tourism supports the global call for a review of the exorbitant Air Passenger Duty (APD) taxes imposed on international tourist flows by the United Kingdom. These unilateral taxes have a detrimental effect on international travel at a time when the world tourism industry is recovering from the global economic crisis. Initially introduced as a ‘green’ tax by the United Kingdom, this tax is now clearly aimed at revenue–generation. These taxes, when combined with the European Union (EU) Emissions Trading System (ETS), are leading to double taxation and are distorting markets. Its impact is particularly severe on long-haul destinations where there are no altern…

- The 13th Cape Town International Jazz Festival line-up has been bolstered by the addition of three exciting internationally acclaimed artists. Master vocalist, poet and actress Jill Scott’s (USA) exciting repertoire is expected to bring the house down as she joins the other greats on the festival’s Kippies stage. In 2000 Scott released her much anticipated debut record Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol.1. This double platinum selling album earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed; Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 and The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3. Both garnered two m…

- Jazz enthusiasts no longer have to hold their breath with the final announcement of artists for the 2012 Cape Town International Jazz Festival announced today at Katzy’s in Rosebank, Johannesburg. This year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival will take on March 30 and 31. In its 13th year, the festival continues to titillate South African audiences with the finest in local and international performers at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The headliners reflect the festival's philosophy of broadening audience's perspectives of what is understood as 'jazz'. "If it's music, sweet music, lets it play," is the philosoph…

- South African moviegoers are familiar with American cities like New York after having seen them depicted on screen countless times, but now American audiences are getting to see what Cape Town looks like. Two blockbuster box office hits released on screens in the US this month feature Cape Town as their prime location. According to Hollywood specialist blog www.deadline.com, Chronicle, starring Alex Russel, Dane DeHaan and Michael B Jordan, is about three teenagers who gain superpowers. It raked in $12m (R92.5m) on its opening weekend from February 3-5. Safe House, the shooting of which had many Capetonians celebrity-spotting as it stars hunk Ryan Reynolds and Denzel Washington, p…

- SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM was delighted to learn recently that chief marketing officer, Roshene Singh, has been named an Internationalist for her leadership in global destination marketing work that shows ‘outstanding thinking in brand communications’. The honour was bestowed by The Internationalist, a global publication based in New York that explores the best of global branding and marketing, creating a resource for marketing and communication professionals; celebrating pockets of excellence; and stimulating fresh thinking and application in a world that is truly a global village. Singh finds herself in the company of a small number of global marketers of excellence who hav…

- Etihad Airways has announced the launch of flights to Lagos, the airline’s first destination in West Africa, from July 1, subject to regulatory approvals. The direct flights will link Abu Dhabi and Lagos six times a week and will be operated by a two class A330-200 aircraft with 22 Pearl Business class and 240 Coral Economy seats. Lagos becomes the 83rd destination in Etihad Airways’ global network and the return flights will create a new link between Nigeria, Africa’s third largest economy, and the United Arab Emirates. Following the launch of services to the Seychelles in November 2011, Tripoli last month and Nairobi in April, the addition of Nigeria marks ano…

- Johannesburg, 30 January 2012. In line with its strategy of expanding its presence in Central Africa South African Airways (SAA) started flying to Pointe Noire in the Congo, from 26 January. This welcome addition to the airline’s ever expanding route network on the continent offers its customers further access into Central Africa. SAA will be operating to 21 cities on the continent with the commencement of this service. Pointe Noire, the economic capital of the Congo is SAA’s fourth new destination on the continent for the 2011/12 financial year, joining Ndola (Zambia), Kigali (Rwanda) and Bujumbura (Burundi) as the airline’s most recent additions to its expansive…

- From a unique Golf and Lifestyle Safari Weekend, the introduction of the National Convention Bureau and cutting-edge new research, Meetings Africa 2012 offers exhibitors, delegates and visitors an unparalleled opportunity to conduct business, network and learn. A record 130 influential buyers from around the world are expected at Meetings Africa 2012, Africa’s biggest business tourism trade show, which takes place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 28 February to 1 March 2012. The event, which recently won the ‘Best Trade Exhibition’ award at the Exhibition and Event Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) Awards, seeks to position South Africa amongst…

- Kigali: RwandAir has formally announced its plans to replace the two 50 Seater CRJ200s with brand new regional jets. This announcement comes after the airline reached an agreement with a buyer for the two aircraft it purchased in 2009 at the start of its fleet acquisition process. In a statement to the press RwandAir CEO John Mirenge confirmed that the airline has had plans to sell the CRJs and replace them with brand new larger capacity regional jets. “The two 50 seater CRJs were our first purchased aircraft from Lufthansa Cityline and they have served us very well especially in the three hour radius of Kigali flights. We have however seen the regional market grow and we feel this…

- More than 30 million video views online is a ‘gift that’s literally fallen into South Africa’s lap’ PARADISE, THE MUSIC VIDEO of global rock supergroup Coldplay that was shot on location in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the South African Karoo has attracted more than 30 millionviews on social media channel, YouTube. It’s a level of global popularity that South African Tourism wants to capitalise on to drive awareness of the paradise-like beauty of this destination and to encourage more people to take Coldplay’s South African inspiration and turn it into a holiday in the most beautiful destination in the world. From now on, anyone who surfs the Para…

- Flights to operate from Kigali every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday and same day return flights from Lagos on the new Boeing 737-800NG. RwandAir the national carrier of Rwanda today launched direct flights from her operating hub in Kigali to Lagos the commercial hub of Nigeria and West Africa. Lagos becomes the 13th destination to join the airlines rapidly growing network and the fourth new destination this year after domestic Gisenyi, Brazzaville – Congo and Libreville - Gabon. The three weekly flights will depart from Kigali at 0830HRS (Local Time) and arrive in Lagos at 1140HRS (Local Time). The return flights depart from Lagos at 1330HRS (Local Time) to reach Kigali at 1840H…

- ABUJA, 15 November, 2011 – Delta Air Lines in co-operation with Air Nigeria will launch nonstop service between Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Accra’s Kotoka International Airport, Ghana, effective December 1, 2011*. The service will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays using Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with 36 BusinessElite seats, 29 seats in Economy Comfort and 143 seats in Economy. “Delta is delighted to offer a new Delta service for our customers between Nigeria and Ghana, complementing our existing service to the United States,” commented Bobby Bryan, Delta’s Sales Manager for West and East Africa. “Wit…

- Africa’s leading airline, South African Airways (SAA) has appointed a Nigerian national, Ohis Ehimiaghe as the new Regional Manager: North, West and Central Africa. The appointment is as a result of the airline’s restructuring of its Africa & Middle East region which has now been split into three distinct sub-regions. With this move, Ehimiaghe has relocated from Luanda, Angola where he has been Country Manager for the airline for the past two years to Lagos with jurisdiction which covers Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, DRC, Gabon, Cameroon and Benin Republic. Ohis has been with SAA for over four years, with an additional 10 years experience in aviation havin…

- Table Mountain is a New7Wonder of Nature, following the official announcement on Friday, November 11, 2011. We are very, very excited about this win! From being awarded the World Design Capital 2014 designation just a few weeks ago to Table Mountain being named one of the New7Wonders of Nature today, Cape Town and South Africa are standing proud! – Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariëtte Du Toit-Helmbold " Having initially been chosen as one of 440 candidates in 2009, Table Mountain attracted millions of votes from around the world before voting closed on Friday. The New7Wonders of Nature are the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, the Puerto Princesa Underground…

- Business travel industry in West Africa inches near global competitiveness as the inaugural Business Traveller Africa Conference took place in Lagos ended with positive reactions on relevant measures to tap into the future potential and further develop the industry in the region to acceptable international standards. With delegates from both West and Southern Africa and the partnerships of Delta Air Lines, HRG Nigeria and South African Airways, the one day conference which was held at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, presented industry stakeholders the opportunity to identify the challenges as well as map out strategies for improving the business travel industry in West Africa. Declaring the…

- Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) today announced the start of its first Business School Internship program for Nigeria. Working in co-operation with the State University, Abraka, Delta will offer interns on-the-job training and provide valuable work experience. “Delta’s intern program is a natural extension of our activity and investment in the markets we serve,” said Bobby Bryan, commercial manager – East and West Africa. “By giving young business students an opportunity to learn how a global company operates, they can learn new skills, which could make this a life-changing experience for them.” Delta is developing its intern program across western…

- Cape Town’s status as World Design Capital 2014 is a major boost for South Africa’s credentials as a major international lifestyle destination and a big boost for the country’s tourism industry. This was the excited response from South African Tourism’s Chief Marketing Officer Roshene Singh to the announcement this morning in Taipei that Cape Town had beaten the other shortlisted finalists, Dublin (Ireland) and Bilbao (Spain), to the title of World Design Capital 2014 at the International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress. “This is wonderful news for Cape Town and for our country’s entire tourism industry and South African Tourism would like to congratul…

- South African Airways (SAA), Africa’s most awarded airline has restructured the management of its Africa and Middle East (ME) region and also announced the appointment of two new senior leadership team members. Under the restructuring exercise, the airline’s Africa & ME region is now split into three distinct sub-regions: • East Africa and Middle East – (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Burundi and Rwanda) • North, West and Central Africa – (Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, DRC, Gabon, Cameroon, Benin Republic) • Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands – (Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, S…

- South African Tourism today launched its revamped online expertise programme, also known as “Fundi”, for Nigerian trade partners and travel consultants selling destination South Africa. Before 15 November, 2011, anyone of them who successfully complete the course will be given the opportunity to win a trip to South Africa for a valuable personal experience within the country. Fundi is an online programme that is designed to transform SA tourism trade partners and travel consultants into product specialists on all things concerning travel to South Africa. According to SA Tourism Regional Director for Africa/Middle East and Domestic, Phumi Dhlomo, “The Fundi programm…