Two new hotels for Umhlanga Trade crucial in Mango...

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYOctober 23 2019 I No. 2566

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FEATUREADVENTURE TOURISM

REPORTeTRAVEL FORUM

‘#We’re staying!’

NEWSPREMIER KEEPS GROWING

Two new hotels for Umhlanga

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OUR NEW LANSERIA AIRPORT BRANCH IS OPEN!We have moved into the new terminal building. Our great service hasn’t changed, only our location.

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Trade crucial in Mango makeover FOUNDING ceo of

Mango Airlines, Nico Bezuidenhout, says his

time away has allowed him to see the airline with a fresh outlook. “I want us to regain our culture of innovation and I am continually asking why we do things in a certain way,” he said, before sharing with TNW some of the key areas that he is planning to focus on.

“In the last three years I have gained a greater understanding of regional air travel,” said Nico referring to the time he spent as ceo of fastjet. “While South

African consumers are spoilt for choice with domestic flights, there is no doubt that certain routes in Africa, and particularly in areas like Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, are underserved. Mango has had some success with regional routes and our Zanzibar flights are currently doing very well. As a result, we are looking into the possibility of adding selected new regional routes.”

On the topic of interline, SPA and codeshare agreements, Nico said low-cost carriers around the world were waking up to the value of shared networks and that some

traditional low-cost airlines were reporting that up to 40% of their traffic was now being generated by interline and codeshare agreements.

Nico said these network agreements were on the radar for Mango. “We need to review our product to be able to smoothly align with full-service carriers. We are working on a product evolution that will include a better cross-mapping for business-class passengers.” He said examples of these services could include priority check-in, preferred baggage allowances and meal vouchers.

Greased eTravelSparkling smiles from eTravel’s delightful duo: Avril-Leigh Shackleton (left) and Tammy Hunt at the ‘Grease’-themed gala dinner after the eTravel Forum held at the Indaba Hotel in Gauteng on October 13. ITCs from all over SA congregated for a weekend of product workshops, camaraderie and great prizes from suppliers. For more, see page 4.Hélène

Bezuidenhoudt (left), manager Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency, is pictured with Sophia Welz from the South African National Youth Orchestra and Fried Wilsenach, head of Department Audio from Splitbeam. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Happy 100!

EXCLUSIVE

To page 16

CemAir may return soonSarah robertSon

TEN months after the grounding of CemAir, the airline could finally be days away from being able to fly again. Consumer confidence is at an all-time low, however, with agents and passengers reporting that refunds – which the airline promised would

take eight weeks to process – remaining outstanding.

CemAir was grounded during December by the SACAA but eventually won its appeal against the authority in June. Despite this, the airline did not resume flights, saying that it had to renew its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) which had

To page 2

2 n Wednesday October 23 2019 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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EDITORIAL Managing Editor: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] Journalists: Sarah Robertson Deena Robinson Amogela Modise

Photographer: Shannon Van Zyl Production Editor: Ann Braun

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ADVERTISING Sales: Kate Nathan [email protected]

PRODUCTION Design Head: Dirk Voorneveld

SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation: [email protected]

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Two new hotels for Umhlanga

PREMIER Hotels & Resorts continues to grow. It is investing over

R380m in the construction of a hospitality precinct on Umhlanga Ridge, Durban, off the N2, offering a four-star Premier Hotel and three-star Premier Splendid Inn, scheduled to open in February.

The 130-room Premier Hotel will offer a restaurant, swimming pool and gym, while the Premier Splendid Inn will feature 64 rooms and its own eatery. Guests at both hotels will enjoy sea views from every bedroom, and access to the on-site conferencing venue that will cater for up to 400 delegates.

The property is conveniently located close to the Gateway Shopping Centre, Busamed Private Hospital and various office parks. Construction is on track, Mark Jakins, Premier Group sales, revenue and marketing director told TNW. Mark Jakins – big plans for Durban. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

20-hour flights plannedQANTAS Airways is testing a record-breaking direct flight between New York and Sydney.

The test will give airlines a better understanding of how possible ultra-long-haul flying is physically. Qantas is the first airline to attempt a flight almost a day long with no stop-overs.

The 20-hour route will cover over 16 000km and accommodate a small group of passengers. The aircraft will depart on Friday, October 18 from the US

and land in Australia on Sunday morning, according to Bloomberg.

Passengers on the brand-new Boeing Dreamliner will include the flight crew, scientists and medical researchers. The science project will regularly screen pilots for alertness, monitor the food and sleep and activity levels of the passengers to see how well the human body can cope.

There is an undeniable demand for what could be a physically strenuous journey.

Iata expects a potential customer base of 4,6bn in 2019 and 8,2bn by 2037 for extreme long-haul flights.

Along with another planned Qantas flight test from London later this year, it forms part of the airline’s ongoing Project Sunrise. If Project Sunrise is successful, Qantas will offer 20-hour direct flights to Sydney from both destinations in 2022. Qantas says it also plans routes from Australia to South America and Africa.

Portions of SAA to be sold Deena Robinson

THE government has resolved to sell portions of embattled national airline, SAA to private companies.

The decision was taken at the ANC’s national executive meeting at the end of September.

According to media

reports, the government first considered selling SAA in its entirety but it was agreed that the likelihood of anyone buying it was minimal because of its poor financial state.

Instead of bearing the costs of its debts, the government has resolved that it would look at

international airline carriers to buy a portion of SAA.

A R5,5bn bailout has been approved for SAA for the 2019/2020 financial year, in adition to the R10bn it received in this and last year’s financial periods.

The Department of Public Enterprises declined to comment.

CemAir may return soonexpired during the grounding period.

Ceo of CemAir, Miles van der Molen, told TNW that the airline had expected to receive its AOC last week but that this deadline had slipped to next week because the “internal process” was not complete.

Miles was adamant that the airline would announce its schedule and start date as soon as its AOC was in hand.

Spokesperson for the

SA Civil Aviation Authority, Kabelo Ledwaba, responded, saying that the SACAA was almost at a final stage of its review, which had been treated as a priority from day one. He said the authority hoped to conclude the matter in the next few days, adding that it would not bypass regulated process due to an attempt to exert pressure on it through media platforms.

Next week: But what about the refunds?

From page 1

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REPORT eTRAVEL FORUM 2019

‘#We’re staying!’ as eTravel strikes optimistic noteALTHOUGH eTravel has

seen a flat year in terms of figures, with

negative growth of 0,5%, there is nothing flat about eTravel ceo, Garth Wolff’s, prophecies about the future of travel and tourism in South Africa, or his outlook for the SA economy.

Speaking at the eTravel Forum Gala Dinner at the Indaba Hotel on October 12, Garth said the last five years had been tough but he believed that the country was at the bottom of a negative cycle. eHolidays had had 5% growth and the independent wholesale consultant business was up by an impressive 16,3%.

eTravel broke through the R1bn turnover barrier in 2017, grew it to R1,16bn in 2018 and despite a small fall-back to R1,156bn in 2019, Garth forecasts it’s now on course for R1,175bn in 2020. He is particularly proud of the fact that the administrative staff have had 15 years of salary increases.

Commissions payable to eTravel ITCs were being budgeted at 81% in the short term, said Garth.

An exciting development is the eTravelConnect app, keeping ITCs connected with their travelling clients, allowing them to give clients real-time information and updates and allowing clients to contact their ITC when necessary. Garth promised that this would take eTravel ITCs to new heights of after-sales service.

On the outlook for South

Africa, Garth sees signs of confidence in the economy such as the Leonardo, the tallest building in Africa, where an 80 sqm apartment sells for R5,2m. He said with such demonstrations of confidence in the economy, Sandton looked set to become the financial capital of Africa. He

said the impunity of the Zuma era was

now over, the rot

was

being cleared out and the net was closing. President Ramaphosa’s focus on rebuilding an ethical foundation for SA and revitalising the economy was now in force, but recovery would take years and years, said Garth.

Garth has great faith in South Africa in the long run, and believes that inbound tourism has the potential to be much more of a foreign revenue earner than it is. His inbound venture, Blue Canyon Private Game Reserve, is forging ahead with the establishment of the Blue Canyon Wildlife Foundation, an NPO that incorporates an anti-poaching unit and is designed to protect rhinos and all wildlife of the reserve.

Even though we are all in hard times right now, Garth remains optimistic. “#I’m staying! Be the change you want to see,” he affirmed.

Lufthansa’s Dr André Schulz (left) with eTravel’s Garth Wolff.

eTravel’s top ITC for 2019 is Kim Moir,of Green Shoots Travel.

Angela Blyth of A2B Travel won the award for highest commission generated in the group, for the second year running.

The pink ladies! From left: Shirley Arrow, Air Mauritius; Lina da Costa, Bidvest Car Rental, and Caroline Smallwood, Amadeus. Photos: Kate Nathan

Rachel Donalds (left) of Singapore Airlines and Refilwe Fosu-Amoah of Kenya Airways looked like pure sunshine.

Alexis Bekker of The Lux Collective (left), with Comair’s Cindy Cunningham-Scott.

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NEWS

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KLM goes green for its Big 100KLM, the oldest airline

still flying under its original name, turned

100 this month, and South Africa was one of its first intercontinental routes.

The airline has always prided itself on being ahead of the game and, to mark the event, it chose a project tackling the issue of sustainability. It converted 14 456 paper planes made from recycled paper used in a world record event, into mulch for a ‘Forest of the

future’. The garden has been designed to generate income for an orphanage outside Johannesburg.

To celebrate its 100th birthday KLM staged a party of note for the trade. The airline hosted a night of futuristic glamour on October 11 in Fourways, Johannesburg. Guests were challenged with a theme that Celebrates the Future. The dress-code drew inspiration from a look ahead to the next century with the airline.

Pictured with KLM’s air hostesses of the future are (back) Erik Swelheim, md and cfo of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Wouter Vermeulen, commercial manager for SA of Air France KLM; and Claudia May, HR manager Air France KLM.

Giving a glimpse of the scientist of the future is Nathaniel Chetty (left), Air France KLM duty manager; with Lidia Folli, ceo of BidTravel; and Sean Bradley, Barsa board member.

Offering a colourful interpretation of the theme are (from left): Lilian Grau-Zweers (senior business support for KLM); Donovan Moodley, business development manager of Serendipity Tours; and Dawn Deyzel, business specialist at Hamba Travel Services. Photos: Shannon Van Zyl

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday October 23 2019 n 7

Adventure Tourism The adventure travel sector continues to show growth globally, with surveys revealing that the average adventurer is much older than most people would expect. Sarah Robertson reports.

SA travellers acquire a taste for adventure

THE Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) latest industry snapshot

report shows that 83% of surveyed adventure operators indicated that their 2018 revenues surpassed those of 2017. South African principal suppliers agree, reporting that the local adventure sector continues on its growth path, despite the dismal economic climate.

“We are seeing steady growth in the SA market year on year. Our style of sustainable adventure travel appeals to customers who are seeking tours that inspire, challenge and have a positive impact on the environment and communities we travel to,” says partnership growth manager of Intrepid Group – South Africa, Caroline Tinsley.

Roland Müller of Development Promotions agrees that South Africans

want more from a holiday than just relaxation. “They’re after once-in-a-lifetime experiences.”

Gm for South Africa and Middle East of On the Go Tours, Alex Gonsalves, says the company has seen consistent sales growth in South Africa over the last five years, with the local market becoming more adventurous in their travel choices.

“Many South Africans have done Thailand and Indian Ocean island beach holidays and are looking for something to take them outside their comfort zones.

“We find that the local market is big on cultural and soft adventure experiences like exploring Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels or Peru’s Inca Trail,” says Alex.

“The adventure sector is definitely growing in South Africa, encompassing everything from nature

encounters to active tours and adrenalin activities. There has also been an increase in sports enthusiasts incorporating adventure into their travel itineraries to maintain their active lifestyles while on holiday,” says key accounts manager of Air Madagascar, Ben Combrink.

Key accounts manager of Latam, Kathy Lavery, says the growth in adventure travel is somewhat millennial driven and fuelled by Instagram and hashtags such as ‘live your best life’.

Gen X-capadesThe perception that adventure travellers are young and

carefree is not an accurate one, with ATTA’s industry snapshot revealing that the average age of adventure travellers is 49.

“The average age on our tours is 45-plus and it is not uncommon to have clients over 50 or 60 looking for big cultural

experiences, but done in comfort,” says Alex.

“The average age of an Exodus traveller is 52, with our cycling holiday clients averaging 55,” says international sales director of Exodus, Andrew Appleyard. He says the demand for adventure holidays from this generation is driven by a healthier and more health-

conscious older population who want to stay active.

He adds that these travellers have often seen the popular destinations by this age and now have the means to explore more exotic locations.

“Millennials are definitely travelling more, but Madagascar also attracts many bird watchers and hiking enthusiasts from an older generation,” adds Ben.

Meanwhile Roland says the age of an adventure traveller tends to vary, based on the experience they are selling.

“Adventure cruising passengers might be a bit older, but we’ve had young couples request Hurtigruten cruises for honeymoons as well.

“Active trips are generally requested by younger, or young at heart and fit travellers, but age is not necessarily a determining factor here.”

Alex Gonsalves

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ADVENTURE TOURISM

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blog.welcometoreunionisland.com

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[email protected]

Hikers on the Inca Trail arrive at Machu Picchu via the Sun Gate.

Many roads lead to Machu PicchuPROBABLY the most iconic site in South America, Machu Picchu is best reached on foot. Most hikers reach the city by trekking along the Inca Trail, which traverses the ancient pathway used by the Incas. However, local adventure specialists say there has been an increase in bookings for the lesser-known trails in this region.

The classic Inca Trail is a four-day trek winding up from the Urumbamba River across mountain passes and through cloud forests in the Andes. Hikers arrive at Machu Picchu via the famous Sun Gate. Latam’s Kathy Lavery says the trail is considered a moderate trek that people of most fitness levels can complete.

Alternative routesOn the Go’s Alex Gonsalves says a number of alternative routes to reach Machu Picchu have recently cropped up due to the restriction of Inca Trail permits. In this region, On the Go sells both the classic Inca Trail and the Lares Trek.

“In general we find that the Inca Trail attracts those looking to tick off the bucket-list following the Inca’s original route to

Mach Picchu via the Sun Gate. The Inca Trail is a little longer and considered a bit harder than the Lares Trek, but travellers get to visit a greater number of Inca ruins along the original route,” says Alex.

He says the Lares Trek tends to attract those

looking to escape the crowds and enjoy more of a cultural experience as the trail passes through a number of Peruvian villages. The highest point is 4 600m while the Inca Trail only reaches 4 215m. It is also a three-day trail compared with the Inca Trail’s four days. As no permits are required for the Lares Trek, clients can often book at the last minute. Inca Trail hikers visit the Inca ruins and camp close to another 500 permit holders each night, while Lares Trek clients will virtually have the trail to themselves, says Alex.

Development Promotions’ Roland Müller says G Adventures also offers a five-day Salkantay Trek in this region.

“On this trip you’ll trek in the shadows of the impressive Salkantay mountain, which has been dubbed the most spectacular peak in the Peruvian Andes.”

Other iconic treksLatam’s Kathy Lavery recommends the Cotopaxi volcano in Ecuador, which she describes as a two-day challenge to orienteer the glacier of an active volcano. “This trek is easily combinable with a Galapagos cruise while you are in Ecuador.”

Known as one of the easiest 6 000-metre mountains in the world to climb, the Huayna Potosi trek in Bolivia provides

incredible views of Lake Titicaca and Cordillera Real, says Kathy.

She describes The Fitzroy trek in Argentina’s Parque Nacional Los Glaciares as one of Patagonia’s most spectacular hikes. “One of the many highlights of this five-day trek involves watching the sunrise over the massive granite peak of Mount Fitzroy as it glows pink and purple and reflects in the lake below.”

Roland Müller of Development Promotions’ says another up-and-coming trail is the Lost City Trek in Colombia. “Trek through farmland, steamy jungle and rural Kogi communities to reach the lost city of Teyuna. There is a 1 200-step final ascent to the Lost City, but you are rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding mountains along the way.”

The Inca Trail for tight schedulesG ADVENTURES has launched two new Inca Trail options for customers with tight holiday schedules.

The new tours are a five-day, four-night Inca Trail tour, starting from R10 520; and a four-day,

three-night tour, starting from R9 060.

Development Promotions’ Roland Müller says the operator’s original Inca Trail trip is a seven-day hike starting from R14 340, which also includes some

time to explore Cuzco and its surrounds.

Both are great options for clients who have time limitations. The new trips are already on sale with departures commencing from March 2020.

Roland Müller

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Adventure travel Reunion IslandDiving, hiking, fishing and much more...


ADVENTURE TOURISM

It’s all about the destinationADVENTURE operators are reporting a significant increase in interest in South America, Scandinavia, north and southern Africa and the Middle East this year, with custom itineraries particularly in demand. This is according to ATTA’s industry snapshot.

“Peru’s Inca trail is more popular ever,” says Latam’s Kathy Lavery. She continues that there has been an increase in clients travelling to Patagonia (on both the Argentinian and Chilean sides) to see the glaciers before they melt due to global warming. Kathy also reports an increase in SA school groups visiting the Galapagos for educational tours.

Roland Müller of Development Promotions says its Norwegian cruises with Hurtigruten and the Inca Trail tours in Peru with G Adventures

are two of their most popular destinations.

“We’ve noticed an increase in requests for trekking trips like the Camino and Mont Blanc in Europe. Active hiking, biking and kayaking trips are particularly popular in southeast Asia, and Nepal is also very popular with hikers.”

Air Madagascar’s Ben Combrink says there has been an increase in interest for Madagascar as an adventure destination. “Madagascar offers magnificent hiking trails with landscapes ranging from rain forest to arid semi-deserts. Tulear in the south is known for its surfing while Diego Suares is popular with kite surfers.”

According to Intrepid, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Western Asia are its most popular destinations. “Jordan,

Israel, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan have grown for us in 2019. Travellers’ safety concerns have been alleviated and people are travelling to see the impressive sights, amazing food and to take advantage of the great value for money that these regions offer,” says Intrepid’s Caroline Tinsley.

Kathy Lavery

TIC makes activity cover easierTIC has simplified its sporting event and activity cover, making it easier for agents to issue cover for the growing segment of adventure travellers.

“Sporting activities are automatically included but we feature seven activities that require specifically

endorsed cover and 10 activities or hazardous pursuits that are specifically excluded,” says Simmy Micheli, manager – sales and marketing of TIC.

Simmy says the most popular demand for sports and activity cover is for mountaineering, which she says makes up about 50% of the requests TIC receives.

Activities that require

an endorsement can be bought when clicking on ‘Add Sport’ when viewing the cover option on TIC’s website. These include mountaineering over 3 500m and/or mountaineering that necessitates the use of crampons, ropes, ice-axes and/or oxygen; rugby; boxing; cage fighting; roller derby; touring on a motorcycle with an engine capacity of over 500cc and professional sport of any kind.

Totally excluded activities include sky diving, cave diving, free diving, cliff diving; hunting; parachuting or hang gliding; tow-in surfing; BMX riding; motor racing; horse racing; white water rafting levels five and six; and climbing past base camp on Mount Everest.

Full automatic cover is provided for leisure skiing and scuba diving, provided that the diver is licensed or accompanied by a licensed instructor.

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“Activities that require an endorsement can be

bought when clicking on ‘Add Sport’ on TIC’s

website.”


Lava tunnels, beach braais and heli flips DESTINATIONS A Buzz’s Janet McCloughan recently visited Réunion Island and describes it as the perfect destination for adventure travellers.

The highlight of Janet’s visit was her trip to Réunion’s active volcano. She says the views from the crater are incredible and that the lunar-like scenery created by the lava is spectacular to hike through. She also enjoyed exploring the underground lava tunnels, which she says are a series of connected caves and tunnels formed by hardened lava of different hues. Janet suggests that clients stop in at the nearby town of Sainte-Rose to visit the Notre-Dame des Laves church. It is said that a miracle took place here when lava from an eruption parted and travelled around the church, leaving two distinct lava pathways.

Janet also recommends a visit to the lively seaside village of Saint Gilles on the west coast, which she says is a great destination for any

sort of watersport. She took a boat trip from the harbour and enjoyed a wonderful sighting of a pod of dolphins.

In addition to the island’s famous active volcano, there are three other cirques (collapsed volcanic craters) to visit. “Although pricey, a helicopter trip in Réunion is really worthwhile, as a number of the most beautiful regions, including the Mafate Cirque, can only be accessed by helicopter or on foot.” Helicopters depart from Saint Gilles and you can choose a tour of the cirque, a tour over the active volcano or a longer trip including all of the above, says Janet.

Where to stayThe Diana Dea Lodge, located in a 370-hectare park close to Sainte-Anne, offers spectacular views of the east coast of the island. “It may be a bit off the beaten track for some guests, but I loved the peacefulness of the location, with the rooms opening out

into the gardens where you can often spot deer from your patio,” says Janet.

In Sailine les Bains, near Saint Gilles, Janet recommends the Dina Morgabine. She describes it as a funky three-star-plus hotel situated next to a golf course. Although not right on the seafront, the hotel offers complimentary transfers to the beach.

In the same area, Janet visited the Ness by D’Ocean, a new four-star hotel. It is right on the beach and has a beautiful pool, beach views and snorkelling opportunities in the reef in front of the hotel.

Getting thereJanet enjoyed flying on Air Austral saying the service and meals are really great. “They offer the only direct flight to Réunion, which is a convenient four hours. They also have a premium economy cabin on the route, which is great for clients looking to spoil themselves a bit.”

ADVENTURE TOURISM

Diana Dea Lodge, Réunion.

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Animal experiences: new welfare policies TRAVEL companies continue to introduce new ways for people to connect with and understand animals, while protecting their welfare across any experience that features them.

Airbnb, for example, has launched Airbnb Animal Experiences, which offers encounters that include paddle boarding with corgis, kayaking with conservationists, learning alongside urban beekeepers or skateboarding with a record-winning bulldog. Guests seeking more adventure can discover Arctic foxes or even help rescue puppies lost within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

New welfare policyYou won’t find an Airbnb Animal Experience where you can kiss a dolphin or ride an elephant, as the category is underpinned by a new animal welfare policy, created in collaboration with World Animal Protection.

The new policy stipulates, among other issues, that there should be no direct contact with wild animals including, but not limited to, petting, feeding or riding animals. Marine mammals should never be in captivity for entertainment.

Broader host businesses should not feature elephant rides, big cat interactions, illegal wildlife trade, sporting events such as canned and trophy hunting as well as animals performing for entertainment.

Over 100 Airbnb Animal Experiences are Social

Impact Experiences, which direct all proceeds from bookings to non-profit organisations. These include supporting causes such as conservation, animal rescue and veterinary care.

Similarly, G Adventures has also announced its new animal welfare policy developed in consultation with World Animal Protection, the Jane Goodall Institute and the World Cetacean Alliance.

Jamie Sweeting, vice president of social enterprise and responsible travel, G Adventures, says the policy replaces the company’s existing animal welfare guidelines and acknowledges the operator is taking things to the next level across the business.

“With the launch of the new policy, we’re actively educating travellers and holding our staff around the world accountable for reporting issues via a new task force we have set up internally. The animal welfare policy will be built into our traveller conduct policy and staff contracts. We want people not only to abide by the policy, but to monitor the behaviour of others and alert us when they see anyone who might be causing, often unintentionally, harm to the animals with whom we share our planet.”

A video entitled ‘Wildlife has the right to a wild life’ has also been launched alongside the new policy to educate people on how to interact with wildlife in a way that does not harm animals or put people – both locals and travellers – in danger.


The MediterraneanThe Mediterranean is a firm South African favourite, particularly with cruisers. It attracts the same visitors over and over again so where are agents and suppliers seeing demand for something new? By Michelle Colman.

New ideas for the old hands

FOR those who have travelled and cruised the Mediterranean before

and are looking for new experiences in the same location, there are many options for consultants to recommend.

Well-travelled guests want more intimate experiences on smaller vessels and to visit the smaller ports that big cruise ships cannot access, says Sabrina Allcock, director of Discover the World in SA. “One perfect fit would be Variety Cruises.”

Thaybz Khan, head of product at Cruises International, agrees on the appeal of more intimate ships. “Look at itineraries that cover the smaller ports along the French or Italian Riviera. These little islands and towns are a beautiful part of Europe where the larger ships do not often stop, but luxury cruise lines do cover these ports.”

Cathy Lawrence, reservations manager at Leisure Travel International, notes that seasoned Med cruisers find it easy to explore Europe with pre- and post-cruise add-ons. They will hop on trains and move on to other countries. She has also observed a gradual increase in the popularity of river and canal cruising among younger

travellers and families, which, she believes, is a good way to enjoy ‘intense’ sightseeing. In the Mediterranean countries, she books a lot of LeBoat cruises in France.

Tiffany Krcadinac, team leader at Cruisabout Waterstone, has also seen interest in smaller ships as well as cruise and tour combinations for those wanting to spend 14 days

away. Yacht charters are less in demand, she finds, as clients are hesitant to embark on self-guided holidays as these can incur additional or unexpected costs.

“I worked on ships for many years and there are numerous itineraries to consider and lots of wonderful cruise liners. I would definitely say that repeaters need to branch out on their cruising experience and try different ships from different cruise line companies. The vessel category and vessel inclusions can make or break the

itinerary and experience,” says Tiffany.

For those clients who have seen and done the classic Med, there are so many cruise itineraries that lead off the Med, says Travkor md, Anthea Leonsins. Examples include the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and now Black Sea cruises that are open again for the 2020 season after they were cancelled for a few years. These cruises start in Athens and travel via Istanbul across the Bosphorus and then enter the Black Sea to visit ports in the Ukraine (Odessa and Yalta), Constanta and Georgia.”

Travel Vision finds that South Africans travelling back to the Med are keen on unique experiences, getting closer to the locals and upskilling themselves in their chosen interests. Suggestions from ceo Dharmesh Koovarjee include Adriatic cruise and cycle combinations, art and photographic experiences and culinary experiences in a whole range of countries, from Portugal to Turkey.

A successful sale, he says, depends on understanding the clients’ needs and skill levels. “It’s not just about giving them a cycling tour. It’s about giving the right client the right offering within that category”.

Demand exceeds supply for cruise and cycle combo SALES for next year’s cruise and cycle Croatian combo took off in July, says Inge Dobihal, owner of Austria Connection, and it is already a battle to find the required cabins for family groups of eight to ten.

Austria Connection promotes cruises operated by the Katarina Line and its vessels are generally small, with a capacity of 18-20 cabins.

Inge advises travel agents to make their clients aware that the worldwide demand is much higher than the availability and, if they are serious, they should book as soon as possible.

There are six categories of boats on offer, from a traditional wooden old-timer with bunk beds, to the deluxe superior with air-conditioned en-suite cabins. Cycling cruise departures are scheduled in May, early June,

September and October, avoiding the very hot months when cycling may be uncomfortable.

The product “is a unique possibility to experience the country, not only the major towns, but also the small villages, the crystal-clear sea and picturesque bays,” describes Inge. Every day, breakfast and lunch are served on board and in the evening, the ship docks in a different harbour for guests to go out on their own to explore. Depending on the ship category booked, some additional meals, excursions and transfers are also included.

This form of travel is ideal for families with children, she says. “As you don’t cruise for too long without a break for swimming, snorkelling or going on shore to explore a lovely town, nobody gets bored.”

Did you know?

NCL’s Norwegian Joy has the biggest racetrack at sea and the musical ‘Kinky Boots’ will headline the entertainment bill on Norwegian Encore’s sailings from this month. Norwegian Gateway has new itineraries out of Rome and 10- or 11-night sailings are ideally positioned for African markets. The grand Norwegian Epic will cruise out of Barcelona and Rome next year. In 2021, passengers will be able to cruise from Cape Town to Venice on Norwegian Dawn.

TNW8210

Contact: 011 408 8000 / [email protected] / www.travelvision.co.za

IstanbulCulinary ExperienceFrom R16 920 ppsValid 1 October ’19 to 30 April ’20Included: • Transport for all group activities. • Accommodation as mentioned. • All Tours & Experiences.

Excluded: • International flights. • Meals not listed in itinerary. • Activities not listed in itinerary. • Transport outside of group activities.

“Repeaters need to branch out on their

cruising experience and try different ships from

different cruise line companies.”


THE MEDITERRANEAN

The ‘Istanbul Culinary Experience’, part of Travel Vision’s Explorer Collection, is a six-day, seven-night trip on offer until April 30. It explores the city’s popular neighbourhoods and culinary backstreets with sample tastings at the best speciality food shops and restaurants. For R16 920pps, travellers get accommodation, tours, listed meals and experiences. International flights are not included.

Book it!

Topping the popularity pollsLOCAL experts agree that the Greek Isles remain first choice for first-time Med cruisers, often combined with Turkey and Croatia.

Anthea Leonsins, md of Travkor, highlights the classic Eastern Mediterranean that takes in the stunning Croatian Dalmatian coast, the Greek islands of the Ionian Sea and the iconic islands of the Aegean as well as ships that only visit the Greek islands of the Aegean and touch on the coast of Turkey.

Croatia is currently riding a wave of popularity, according to Vicky Steinhardt, marketing and product manager of Pentravel.

Vicky says bookings for

sailing boats around the islands off the Dalmatian coast are on the increase. Anthea agrees, and says chartering crewed yachts off the Croatian coast, generally out of Split, is excellent value. “Get enough friends together and you have a vessel to yourself.”

Italy and Spain, popular ports in the Western Med, are flavours of the moment because their economies make them more affordable for South Africans, according to Cathy Lawrence, reservations manager of Leisure Travel International.

Most of the sailings she has booked depart from Genoa and Venice. Santorini

and Mykonos in Greece and Palma in Spain are sought-after inclusions in the itinerary. Passengers tend to extend a seven-day cruise with another week of land arrangements.

For Trafalgar and CostSaver, it is Turkey that is currently topping the Mediterranean popularity polls. CostSaver’s ‘Wonders of Turkey’ is the top seller overall, says Bronwyn Strydom, marketing manager. ‘Highlights of Turkey’, ‘Best of Turkey’ and ‘Best of Greece’ are the top sellers under the Trafalgar brand.

“These countries experience fair temperatures throughout most of the year, which make them attractive destinations,” she says.

MSC Cruises has released soft pricing on a few 2020 sailings. A seven-night Western Med cruise on the MSC Grandiosa from May 3-10 from Genoa, visiting Naples, Messina, Valletta (Malta), Barcelona and Marseille is R13 653pps, including port charges, gratuities and insurance. A seven-night Eastern Med trip on the

MSC Lirica from June 5-12 from Venice to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Cefalonia/Argostoli, Kotor (Montenegro), Split and Trieste is R15 153pps. The MSC Seaview travels in the Western Med from May 9-16 from Barcelona to Ajaccio (France), Genoa, La Spezia, Civitavecchia, Cannes and Palma de Mallorca from R15 153pps.

East or west in 2020?

Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Trafalgar

MSC Lirica.

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Introducing MSC OPERA

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Capitalising on current interest in Croatia (pictured), Trafalgar has launched the ‘Pearls of the Adriatic’ Croatian cruising for 2020. The ‘Highlights of Austria, Slovenia and Croatia’ tour was one of Trafalgar’s 2019 top sellers and is expected to do well next year. The all-new ‘Riviera Explorer’ visits lesser-known Mediterranean cities such as St Tropez, Cannes and Monaco while CostSaver has introduced a new destination, Egypt, in ‘Footsteps of the Pharaohs’. Note that there is a 10% discount on selected Trafalgar trips (besides Turkey and Greece) until December 18. There are no early payment discounts for CostSaver trips.

There is not much time left to take advantage of Cruises International’s Save & Surf offer where 30% savings are offered on seven-night Western Med 2020 sailings on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas between May and October. Bookings must be made by October 31 this year. Fares run from R15 020 to R22 460pps. Certain 2020 sailings with Celebrity Cruises also made by the same date include perks such as US$250 (R3 800) on-board credit, unlimited WiFi and free passage for kids.

Croatia, a top seller

Book it!

More ashore in the MedPRINCESS Cruises will offer interesting combinations in 2020, including the Greek Isles coupled with Israel departing from Rome. A comprehensive option is the ‘Mediterranean Collection’, 21 days of cruising to almost every port in the Med, departing Barcelona and including Gibraltar, France, Italy,

Montenegro and Greece.Next year the cruise line

also introduces the brand-new Enchanted Princess, which will be based in Europe and specifically the Med.

The More Ashore programme enables passengers to see the sights during the day and experience nightlife after dark with late-

night departures or even overnight stays.

Passengers can also take part in the Bon Appetit partnership – shore excursions with a culinary slant. These include experiences such as preparing a Greek feast in a Corfu restaurant, baking an olive ciabatta in an Italian bistro, or an Insiders’ food tour of Nice.

Mykonos, Greece.

TNW9421SD

Palma Majorca

Mediterranean Sea

•

• ••

••

BarcelonaRome

(Civitavecchia)

Florence/Pisa(Livorno)Cannes

Naples Balti

c Sea

•

• • ••

•

Tallinn

St. PetersburgStockholm(Nynäshamn)

Helsinki

Copenhagen

Berlin(Warnemünde)

*50% off second guest: For qualifying bookings, the first guest pays the applicable per person twin/double occupancy cruise only fare, and the second guest sharing the same stateroom receives 50% off their cruise only fare. Discount does not apply to government taxes, port expenses & fees, or onboard service charges. Valid for Oceanview staterooms and above, excluding OX, BX and MAX (Sail Away) categories. Offer applies to first and second guests on the reservation only. Valid for new qualifying bookings made until 31 October 2019. Applicable to selected sailings only. Offer is for new individual FIT reservations only, is not valid for affinity groups or tour operators and cannot be held as a group block. Offer is capacity controlled and can be withdrawn at any time. Offer cannot be combined with Free at Sea, and combinability with any other promotional offers is subject to Norwegian Cruise Line’s discretion and change at any time. Other restrictions may apply. Discount may not be transferred to another booking in the event of cancellation. ^Prices are correct at time of email dispatch are in US Dollars & do not include port fee’s & taxes which are extra. All bookings are subject to Norwegian Cruise Line’s applicable booking conditions available at www.ncl.com. ©2019 NCL Corporation Ltd. Ship’s Registry: Bahamas and United States of America. 7245.3.10.19

CONTACT YOUR NCL WHOLESALER, VISIT US AT NCL.COM OR CALL + 27 87 550 4792.

Balcony Stateroom from $1,299 pp^ Oceanview Stateroom from $1,629 pp^

WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN FROM BARCELONA7-DAY CRUISE • NORWEGIAN EPICSailing May – November 2020

SCANDINAVIA, RUSSIA & BALTIC FROM COPENHAGEN9-DAY CRUISE • NORWEGIAN ESCAPESailing May – October 2020

Amalfi Coast, Italy St. Petersburg, Russia

^Price based on 11 October 2020 sailing. ^Price based on 2 October 2020 sailing.

ENDS 31 OCTOBER 2019

7245_03_Fi_TNW_206x150_HALF_PAGE_AD_SA_OCT.indd 1 10/10/2019 10:51


Why the Med tops cruising choices – how best to sell itTHE Med continues to be in demand for cruising, with a high rate of repeaters alternating between Western and Eastern Mediterranean itineraries.

Ross Volk, md of MSC Cruises SA, describes the attraction of the destination. “The accessible airlift, and the choice and favourable length of cruise itineraries, make the Med exceptionally appealing for South African travellers, with seven-night itineraries being the most popular.”

Western Med cruises typically include Italy, Spain, France and Portugal, while Eastern Med itineraries visit Greece, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey, he says.

“Venice is usually featured as a port of embarkation and debarkation for the Eastern Mediterranean itineraries and Genoa/Naples or Barcelona for the Western Mediterranean.”

Ross says Eastern Med cruises usually visit more ancient cities and ruins such as Athens and Ephesus, while historic and cultural highlights like Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia take centre stage on a Western Med cruise.

Both Eastern and Western cruises offer destinations that provide exceptional cuisine, shopping, culture, history

and beautiful beaches. “The decision on which cruise to opt for is often made based on the itinerary that includes the most cities the traveller wishes to visit on one trip. Facilities and specials offered by the cruise line can also play a role.”

Globally, the Med is second

only to the Caribbean in terms of preferred international cruising destinations, but among South African travellers it takes first place, says Jane Davidson, director of Development Promotions, which represents several cruise lines in SA, including Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).

South Africa, NCL’s largest source of passengers in Africa, is already its second-largest producer of MICE business internationally and third for multi-generational family bookings.

“With so many elements included in the cruise fare, which would add up at any land-based resort, most passengers return to us within two years.

“That represents significant potential for our retail partners as well as incentive and events planners on the continent,” says Nick Wilkinson, NCL vice-president and md UK, Ireland, Israel, Middle East & Africa.

Jane says Western Med cruises typically include Spain, France, Morocco, Tunisia and Portugal, while Eastern Med cruises visit Croatia, Greece and Turkey. Italy does double duty and usually features as a port of embarkation and debarkation for both. “The

bottom line is both regions are equally stunning and it’s hard to go wrong with either.”

For art and history lovers who want to explore landmarks, beaches, cafés and boutique shops in the Western Med, Jane recommends the seven-day cruise from Barcelona on NCL’s Norwegian Epic.

“The cities and seaside towns of this region are typically viewed as more refined, brimming with skip-the-queue art galleries and museums. It hits the sweet spot for gourmet foodie fanatics who love the idea of spending an afternoon at a café in a place like St Tropez, sampling local wine and dabbling in people-watching.”

Ancient world wondersFor the sand-between-your-toes person, the Eastern Med is known for its consistent weather and sun-soaked beaches, she says. Prized ports include Split and Dubrovnik. “This side is big on archaeology, mythology and the wonders of the ancient world.”

Jane also recommends visiting Italy, Greece, Montenegro and Croatia aboard the Costa Deliziosa (Costa Cruises). There are departures scheduled over the December school holidays and it holds appeal for families with its 4D cinemas, grand theatres and roller-skating tracks.

According to Sabrina Allcock of Discover the World, Princess Cruises is experiencing a large amount of repeat travellers heading for the Med. By splitting the Aegean and Adriatic, short breakaways that encompass all of the most popular ports are possible.

She lists many reasons why the destination is appealing to South Africans – affordability, easy air links, perfect weather between May and early October, calm seas, beautiful beaches, culture, history and excellent cruising.

Did you know?

MSC Cruises offers the Yacht Club experience on newer ships, which is essentially a luxury ship within a ship. This all-inclusive style of cruising includes perks such as priority boarding; butler service; access to Top Sail Lounge; private restaurant dining; entry to an exclusive pool area; inclusive drinks and private island extras.

THE MEDITERRANEAN

“The decision on which cruise to opt for is often

made based on the itinerary that includes

the most cities the traveller wishes to visit

on one trip.”Ross Volk

TNW8204

WITH

Sabrina Allcock

PRINCESS was recently voted ‘Best Cruise Line in

Europe’ by Women’s Choice Awards. The accolade

speaks for itself when one considers the vast number of cruise lines that operate

in Europe extensively. Princess offers cruises to

almost every corner of the European continent

and coupled with Scandinavia & Russia, the

Mediterranean remain our 2 most popular

destinations for South African travellers.

The Med in particular offers short 7 night

voyages including the Greek Isles, Barcelona,

Naples, Sicily, Florence and other popular ports. Many of our cruises depart from Rome and Alitalia offer a

direct flight at unbeatable fares which makes the

Med even more accessible for South Africans.

Princess also offers itineraries with

More Ashore Late Night calls where we stay in port

until at least 9 p.m. so that passengers can also experience some of the

fabulous nightlife.

Don’t forget that our brand new

ENCHANTED PRINCESS will be based in the Med next year and

2020 prices are from only R12,999pps.

Call Discover the World today

and let the adventure begin …

MARVELLOUS MEDfrom R12,999

Tel: 011 [email protected]

www.princess.comTNW9426SD

LIMITED TIME ONLY. BOOK NOW.*T&C s APPLY

SAVE 10%*

ON EUROPE & BRITAIN 2020

And give your clients the freedom to discover and confi dence to explore

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Amogela Modise, at [email protected]


Appointments

Pick of the week

These adverts were selected from the vacancy section of www.travelinfo.co.za To advertise contact [email protected]

brought to you by

TNW

8211

Holiday Consultant – CPT, NorthQuantex Recruitment GroupEarn fantastic commission! Amadeus essential. Must be able to work in a fast paced, professional environment. Leisure consulting experience vital. Email: [email protected]

Intermediate/Senior Wholesale Consultant – CPT, S/WestQuantex Recruitment Group2+ years’ travel experience, sound Amadeus skills and fantastic Mauritius product knowledge required. Join a team of experts and be rewarded. Email: [email protected]

Flight Controller/Groups Consultant – JNBProfessional Career ServicesMinimum 10 years’ experience in operations i.e. flight, FIT and group bookings. Sourcing, booking and issuing group flights. Galileo. Email: [email protected]

Creditors Clerk – CPTProfessional Career ServicesMinimum 3 years’ experience in creditors. Tourplan and experience in the travel industry. Process creditor’s payments and trade creditors. Process non trade related payments. Email: [email protected]

Payroll/HR Generalist – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesFast growing inbound company seeks experienced payroll/HR generalist to join their team. Pastel or Sage 300 proficiency essential. Salary R15-25K. Email: [email protected]

Leisure Superstar – CPTLee Botti & AssociatesHelp travel dreams come true by joining this passionate team! 2 years’ leisure consulting experience essential + GDS proficient. Salary R15-R20K. Email: [email protected]

SWISS recently showcased its newly refurbished Airbus A340 at a press event at OR Tambo. The aircraft will service the Zurich-Johannesburg route. Upgraded features include new lighting and entertainment systems, in-flight WiFi and amenity kits. Pictured at the event is Dr André Schulz, gm Southern Africa of Lufthansa Group, under which SWISS falls; flanked by two SWISS air hostesses. Photo: Deena Robinson

SWISS showcases upgraded aircraft

The team from Travel Counsellors took time out to unwind at The Rock in Design Quarter in Fourways. The monthly Travelbags get-together was hosted by The Lux Collective. Pictured are (back) Glen Taylor, sales manager of Lux; and (front from left) Chantel Smuts, Karin Livingstone and Lize Joubert, all Travel Counsellors.

Rocking out!

Thompsons Holidays gave travel partner, Travel By Investec, a warm welcome when it moved into its new office space on October 8 in Plattekloof. Pictured appreciating the new digs are Deline Van der Merwe (left), senior sales representative, and Derek Ledward, regional manager for the Western Cape, both from Thompsons Holidays with Yolanda Saayman, Travel by Investec operational manager.

Welcome to our new home!

Flow gets into travelDeena Robinson

THE Flow Group has launched Flow Travel, a travel agency specialising in both inbound and outbound group travel. The agency started operating on September 1.

Branded as a sister company to Flow Communications, a marketing and

communications agency, Flow Travel offers bespoke itineraries without blowing the budget, says Tara Turkington, ceo of Flow Travel.

“Flow Travel is a wholly independent travel agency and was born out of Flow Communications’ experience in travel and tourism marketing and communications,” Tara says.

Helena Maxwell is the new commercial manager of Border Air. Helena was previously manager of Kenya Airways’ offices in the Southern and Central Africa regions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Witwatersrand.

Rathna Sewdass has been appointed key account manager for Latam at Border Air. Rathna has previous sales experience at Kenya Airways and Singapore Airlines. She has completed a one-year MBA in tourism management and development.

To advertise on this page email robynd @nowmedia.co.za


TNW NEWS

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or [email protected]

TNW7136

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or [email protected]

TNW7136

Last week, we asked readers if they foresaw interest in Saudi Arabia, following the decision to allow tourist visits.

Trade not sold on Saudi Arabia

No Yes

TNW9430SD

Visit flysafair.co.za Or find us on Travelport,

Amadeus & Sabre under FA Email: [email protected] /

[email protected]

Customer Satisfaction Index

On-Time Performance

SOMETIMES NUMBERS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

September 2019

93% %96

38%62%

Airlink will be adding more flights between Cape Town and Hoedspruit this holiday season. Additional flights will operate from December 24-30, excluding Christmas Day, and from January 2-5. Flights depart Cape Town at 09h45 and arrive in Hoedspruit at 12h25. Flights from Hoedspruit depart at 13h05 and arrive in Cape Town at 15h55. At Hoedspruit’s Eastgate Airport, the gateway to the Kruger National Park (via Orpen Gate), your clients gain access to private game reserves, lodges, and rest camps. Pictured is Pearl Mahlangu, Airlink’s regional marketing & customer relations officer. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Hello Hoedspruit!

Will relaxed BC regs apply to SA minors? Sarah robertSon

AS TNW went to print this week it was believed that the South African

Immigration Board was meeting to finalise the abolition of the unabridged birth certificate (UBC) requirement for foreign children to enter and exit South Africa.

The law, which was introduced by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba about five years ago, made South Africa one of the most inaccessible countries in the world for children to travel to and from, and has been widely blamed for hampering both inbound and outbound tourism.

Home Affairs spokesperson, Siya Qozo, told SAnews that the Minister had taken the decision that unabridged birth certificates would no longer be required for overseas tourists with children travelling to South Africa and that it was expected to happen this week.

While the South African inbound industry is celebrating in anticipation of the abolition, the outbound industry is frustrated that the rumours indicate that the law will continue to apply to South African minors.

Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, ceo of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) – who attended the National Economic Development and Labour Council meeting last week where the Minister announced that the UBC requirement would be abolished – said they did not know yet whether the law would apply to all children or only foreign children, or how the changes would be implemented.

“We only know so far that the government has acknowledged that the law has hampered inbound tourism.

“We must give the Ministry space to make their own announcement. It is still possible that the unabridged

birth certificate requirement will be abolished in its entirety.”

Tshifhiwa said if the law was only partially abolished the industry would continue to make a case for the total abolition of the requirement.

While ceo of Asata, Otto de Vries, said it was too early to make an official statement relating to hearsay, Asata had always advocated that the law should be completely rescinded.

Otto said that the UBC requirement, as it was currently being implemented, was discriminatory against South African families that did not meet the form of a traditional two-parent household.

He also speculated that it would be discriminatory to amend a law that had been implemented in order to combat child trafficking, so that it was applicable to children of some nationalities and not others.

What about children with dual nationality? With the rumoured abolition of the UBC requirement for foreign children, agents are asking what to advise their clients with children who are dual passport holders.

While there are not large numbers of dual passport holders in South Africa, this is an important segment of the market

who are often frequent travellers. Whether or not these minors would be exempt from the UBC requirement would be clarified by Home Affairs once the announcement was made, said TBCSA’s Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa.

Canvassed agents speculated that because most dual passport holders

exit and enter South Africa on their South African passports, the UBC ruling would still apply to them.

“It is a schlep but I would recommend that dual passport passengers go ahead and obtain their children’s UBCs anyway – better to be safe rather than sorry,” says TC’s Astrid Harrison.

Mango makeover

Nico explained that technology was also important for network growth. “We developed our own reservations platform when the airline was launched in 2006 but we are reviewing this system with an eye on capabilities that would make it easier for us to codeshare.”

He said he viewed the travel trade, which has historically contributed about 40% of Mango’s revenue, as an important distribution channel and that he was aware of how important SPA and codeshare agreements were to this channel. He said Mango’s distribution through Travelport and Amadeus was working well and that he wanted to co-operate closely with the trade to grow sales further through this channel.

Another key focus for Nico

is improving Mango’s on-time performance. “Simply put customers want an airline to take them to the right destination at the right time.

Despite the changes that he plans to implement, his management style remains very hands on, with a strong focus on customer service.

“My executive committee team isn’t very happy with me at the moment,” he said, explaining that he had insisted that the entire team spend time assisting with check-in and even serving clients in-flight.

“We often expect our front-end staff to be in the firing line when customers are unhappy with us, when it is most important that our management team have a full understanding of what is going on from the ground up.”

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