Cape Town born Lindsay Venn, former Executive Chef now turned Food and Beverage Manager at Tsogo Sun’s Southern Sun The Cullinan hotel has been asked to take charge of the kitchen for Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka in the upcoming ...

Tourist guides in South Africa are some of the most important people in the travel trade. They interact on a personal level daily with tourists, and a good tourist guide can make a holiday visit really memorable.  In this article, ...

Alaska draws people from the world over to see its wilderness and the wildlife, snow clad mountains and massive glaciers, rivers with brown bears, northern lights dancing across a velvety winter sky. Alaska deserts to forests to gold-bearing river valleys ...

Hitting the Suite Spot with Dr Eve at Home* Suite Hotels

Dubai, UAE, 29 June 2020 – Emirates continues to add travel options for customers with the announcement that it will re-start passenger flights to Cairo (from 1 July), Tunis (from 1 July), Glasgow (from 15 July) and Malé (from 16 July). This ...

Cape Town, 17 June 2020 – Entries are now open for the Wine & Food Tourism Awards, a prestigious accolade established to inspire and promote local wine, food and hospitality in a variety of categories. Entries can be submitted until ...

Johannesburg, 11 June 2020 – Following a record number of submissions received during the online entry process for Miss South Africa 2020 between 11-31 May, the beauty pageant judges have announced their top 35 selection. The top 35, in alphabetical order, ...

JOHANNESBURG, 4  June 2020 – South Africa’s tourism private-sector, under the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), have been engaging on the Tourism Recovery Strategy currently being developed by South African Tourism. TBCSA is advocating unequivocally for the earlier ...

Kruger National Park, 03 May 2020 – South Africas’ Tourism Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, would do well to spend just R30 of her R200k monthly salary to buy nature guiding veteran Frank Watts’ short story, ‘Lockdown SA: Through the Eyes of a ...

In keeping with its motto “We are born creative”, Flagstone Wines’ head winemaker, Gerhard Swart, has created a single block pinotage that will surely rejuvenate any writers creative slowdown during the COVID-19 lockdown. “When we named this pinotage ‘Writer’s Block’, ...

Durban, 03 June 2020 – With the tourism sector hardest hit by the national lockdown to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, life for tourism business owners has come to a halt. As part of government interventions to support ...

The first thing most people will think about when they hear ‘Tourism in Africa’, is Safari. It is true, Africa’s wildlife is the most iconic in the world and this great continent has some of the most varied animals on ...

Cape Town, 22 May 2020 – Gåte Restaurant @QuoinRock Wine Estate in Stellenbosch is offering an unparalleled three-course tasting journey curated by culinary masterminds, Chefs Nicole Loubser and James Would. The Gåte at Home box creates a dialogue between art, tradition, and technical craft. ...

The technological advancements that make modern life simple and easy are also the technological advancements that come with quite in-depth considerations to make sure things work as they should. Whether you’re booking a connecting flight, designing a simple website, or ...

If you can read this whole story without laughing then you’ve probably never tasted a real Durban curry. I was crying by the end… This witty narration is probably fictional – it was doing the email rounds back in 2008, ...

Florida. The sunshine state. Bursting with beaches, theme parks, wildlife, families on vacation and plenty of retirees enjoying the hot climate. Florida is also known as the hurricane state, where the season lasts for 5 months, starting in June with ...

Good news is hard to come by during these times of global pandemic, which makes the German governments’ offer of financial support for South African students all the more welcome. Due to COVID-19, many students have lost their jobs which ...

Medical (aka Health or Wellness) Tourism is a growing niche as more and more tourists travel to the stunning city of Cape Town, South Africa, for their dental procedures and treatments.  For Europeans and travellers from the Americas and Asia, ...

New York was named at a time where expansion into the New World was coming thick and fast – that’s probably why England’s King Charles II thought nothing of gifting the naming rights of what was to become one of ...

Johannesburg, South Africa, 11 May 2020 – The International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) has released the winning entries for the 2020 ITFFA Awards. The showreel will be officially launched this evening at 19h00 CAT via the ITFFA YouTube channel ...

Johannesburg, 10 May 2020 – Entries for Miss South Africa 2020 open at 09h00 tomorrow and close on May 31, 2020, at midnight. The organisers believe they may have the best year ever and are hoping for a record number ...

Having spent close to 15 years reviewing some of the world’s most iconic travel destinations, sustainable tourism places, and forgotten dusty trails that lead to places of local legend, I’ve picked up a thing or two about how to make ...

Tourism students often fail to obtain high grades for their academic projects because of poor quality. It’s induced because of weak writing skills. Consequently, they ought to somehow improve those skills and enhance their academic score. Oftentimes, the only salvation ...

Whether you’re the type to hostel hop through European capitals, likes to trek and camp in the midst of untouched nature, someone who prefers the 5-star breaks or anything in between, gadgets that change your travel experience for the better are ...

McLean, Virginia, 28 April 2020 – Hilton announced today a new programme to deliver an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in Hilton properties around the world. In a first for the hospitality business, Hilton is launching elevated processes and ...

Cape Town, 28 April 2020 – Cape Town Tourism has launched a new campaign with the theme “We Are Worth Waiting For!” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The main message behind the “We Are Worth Waiting For!” campaign ...

Monday, 27 April 2020 – Today is an important landmark in South Africa’s history; Freedom Day. To acknowledge the great sacrifices South Africans have made since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, South African Tourism has released a new television ...

Cape Town, 25 April 2020 – The launch of Walk4Africa (W4A) – a sustainable tourism development project that aims to convene walkathon events along the coastlines of 38 African countries – has been postponed to September 2021. According to W4As ...

London, 24 April 2020 – An estimated 100 million job losses in the Travel & Tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic has been predicted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).  The startling figure, based on research from WTTC, ...

This series on Environmental Tourism is published in three parts. Part 1 deals with the main impact areas of Environmental Tourism. Environmental Tourism, – also referred to as Ecotourism, Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Tourism – are terms rooted in the ...

Resolving a timeshare complaint in southern Africa has been made a lot simpler. According to the Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa (VOASA), the Independent Timeshare Complaints Service (ITCS) provides a mediation role between consumers and the associations’ accredited members. ...

Zimbabwe, 21 April 2020 –  The Victoria Falls appears to be thoroughly enjoying its alone time, reaching its highest water flow in a decade with a powerful display of breath-taking beauty and intensity, which ironically no one is there to ...

Part 1 in this series covers environmental impacts. Part 2 deals with the environmental impacts of tourism from a global perspective. Environmental Impacts of Tourism – Global Level Loss of Biological Diversity Biological diversity is the term given to the variety of life ...

Part 1 in this series covered environmental impacts, while Part 2 dealt with the environmental impacts of tourism from a global perspective. Part 3, deals with the environmental conservation aspect of tourism. Tourism and Environmental Conservation The tourism industry can contribute to ...

For tourism organisations wanting to tap into the growing ecotourism niche tourism market, the International Ecotourism Society provides the answers. By Desmond Langkilde. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting ecotourism. Founded in 1990, ...

Anyone who has yet to experience the heart-wrenching emotional and financial turmoil of unexpectedly losing a job should count themselves lucky. Being called in for a chat with human resources and finding out you are being made redundant is pretty ...

Nowadays, just about anyone with a DSLR camera can take pretty good images of iconic travel locations and publish them on social media channels like Instagram. However, becoming a successful travel photographer requires more than simply “faking it ‘til you ...

Durban, 17 April 2020 – According to  ANEW Hotels and Resorts (ANEW) chief executive officer, Clinton Armour, the COVID-19-induced lockdown provides tremendous opportunities for business growth. Many small to medium sized hotels/ lodges do not have the resources, either financial ...

Johannesburg, 16 April 2020 – According to travel and tourism industry leaders who participated in a series of webinars hosted by South African Tourism, the sector must use the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic to address barriers to tourism growth ...

If you are interested in having your Safari Lodge, Hotel, Guesthouse, Destination, Tourism Activity / Attraction, or Tourism Transport product being featured in the Tourism Tattler, please email an expression of interest to editor@tourismtattler.com. Reviews are conducted by our journalists, ...

Want to get funky in Philly? This bustling city is one of the most beautiful places in Pennsylvania and features quite a few unique opportunities for visitors who want to get in on native action. Philadelphia is a real gem, ...

Cape Town, 13 April 2020 – The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be submitting their Smart Lockdown working paper to President Cyril Ramaphosa today. The DA’s Policy Unit has been working with healthcare and financial experts, policy specialists, and their Shadow ...

Saltwater fishing is a relaxing activity that many aspiring first time anglers want to experience. Fishing on the sea can make you fish for new species, but it can be more challenging since it is larger. Those who try saltwater ...

Pretoria, 09 April 2020 – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this evening that the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown is being extended by a further two weeks. This follows the Presidents’ address of 15 March, when he announced measures to combat the spread of ...

There’s a lot to see and do in London, even on a foggy day. If you’ve had a last-minute change of plan, though, where is the best place to see Londons’ iconic attractions for a few selfies before heading off ...

Johannesburg, 04 April 2020 – There is no doubt that COVID-19 uncertainties have had a severe impact on the global travel and tourism industry, and we are still counting. This will, however, not last forever because global experts and our ...

Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, 02 April 2020 – Isibindi Africa Lodges founder, Brett Gehren, has released a moving video in which he narrates a message of courage to the Groups’ staff following the crisis situation of the nation-wide coronavirus lockdown, and their ...

Cape Town, 01 April 2020 – A new frog species discovered in the Western Cape province of South Africa, so closely resembles a strawberry that it has been named the Strawberry Frog or scientifically as Phyllobates Fragaria Lirpa. By Tourism Tattler ...

Or what NOT to do Financing, when acquired and used wisely, can be a great growth and expansion tool but what are the three most common mistakes that entrepreneurs and small business owners make that makes it impossible for them ...

With the world on lockdown due to COVID-19 – one tourism company has gone above and beyond to give people around the world the chance to experience Swedens’ Lapland in all its majesty – without having to leave the confines ...

Nairobi, 26 March 2020 – Although experts from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and elsewhere agree that cats and dogs are not at risk of getting COVID­-19 nor transmitting it to humans, PETA is ...

For such a small, landlocked country, Austria has had an almighty effect on the cultural scene across the globe. From Strauss’ magical take on the River Danube to Mozart’s Don Giovanni which has opera lovers clamouring for Vienna opera tickets, ...

If you’re planning a trip to the US and you’re a sports fanatic, then the good news is you’re really spoiled for choice. From the NFL to the NBA, and the MBL to the NHL, the acronyms are as plentiful ...

Pretoria, 23 March 2020 – Today, South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation to announce an enforced a nation-wide lockdown for 21 days with effect from midnight on Thursday 26 March. This follows the Presidents’ address of 15th March, when ...

Cape Town, 20 March 2020 – The travel & tourism industry mourns the passing of Solomon (Sol) Kerzner who died of cancer at the age of 84 while surrounded by his family at the Kerzner family home, Leeukoppie Estate, in Cape ...

Following my KZN South Coast Activities and KZN South Coast Attractions posts back in June/July 2015, this post explores more attractions to be found along the Ugu South Coast municipal region of KwaZulu-Natal. By Des Langkilde. This road trip can ...

Johannesburg, 20 March 2020 – Airports Company South Africa has, together with other relevant aviation authorities, implemented air travel restrictions as detailed by the Minister of Transport in the International Air Services (Covid19 Restrictions on The Movement Of Air Travel) ...

Protea Banks, situated 7.5 km offshore from Shelly Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, is the best year-round dive site for shark viewing. And the best dive operator to get you there is African Dive Adventures. Here’s why. By Des ...

Lives being devastated and one million jobs a day being lost due to coronavirus pandemic says World Travel & Tourism Council London, 20 March 2020 – According to the London-based international organisation, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private ...

London, 19 March 2020 – The Commonwealth has extended the deadline for Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) membership applications to 05 April 2020. To become a Global Youth Ambassador and be eligible for the Commonwealth Youth Council, applicants must be between ...

Cape Town, 19 March 2020 – With effect from Saturday 21 March the pick-up and go area at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) will operate from the ground floor of Parkade 2. Currently, it is located in Parkade 1, but ...

Mauritius, 18 March 2020 – The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, has announced today that no commercial aircraft will be allowed to land on the island with effect from 10:00 (Mauritius time) on Thursday, 19 March 2020. This ...

Planning a trip to a country you’ve never explored before is exciting, but it can also cause anxiety if you’re unsure of the customs, procedures, and important things to remember prior to your departure. To help you along, here are ...

South Africa, 17 March 2020 – In response to the 15 March statement by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, which include the prohibition of gatherings of more than 100 people, the following events ...

Ever since the announcement that South Africa is in Lockdown against the spread of Corovirus (COVID-19), TourismTattler has received a deluge of emails stating various travel and tourism service providers’ booking cancellation policy updates. In case you have not already ...

Pretoria, 16 March 2020 – South Africa’s President Cyril Rhamaphosa announced measures to combat the spread of Corovirus (COVID-19) on Sunday 15th March. The measures effectively place a lockdown on foreign tourists travelling to the country from some key inbound ...

Joint statement issued by City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Opportunities and Tourism, James Vos and Cape Town Tourism CEO, Enver Duminy: Cape Town remains open for tourism business and a safe destination for travellers. Cape Town, ...

Friday 13 March 2020 – Yet another major tourism travel trade show has succumbed to the COVID-19 Coronavirus around the world. Reed Exhibitions Africa has confirmed that Africa Travel Week, which comprises of World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa) and International ...

Cape Town, 13 March 2020 – Quoin Rock Wine Estate is renown for its exceptional wine and cuisine. However, one of the defining features of this award-winning estate is the Cape Dutch-style Manor House. The ultimate venue for opulent weddings and ...

Cape Town, 11 March 2020 – WTM Africa is well known as a hub for business-to-business (B2B) development within the travel and tourism industry, it, therefore, comes as no surprise that the Tourism Authority of Thailand is attending for the ...

Johannesburg, 11 March 2020 – South African Tourism is calling on all tourism businesses and service providers to participate in the 2020 Travel Trade Friday. This is an initiative by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa that allows trade businesses ...

Cape Town, 10 March 2020 – For tourism in South Africa to raise its contribution to GDP, expand economic opportunity and accelerate inclusive growth, it has to tackle the issue of sustainability head-on, says Margi Biggs, convenor of the annual ...

Value Added Tax (VAT) charged to clients in the Tourism Industry can be a minefield, especially when dealing with foreign tourists. In the tourism industry, not only does one need to look at the costs of putting together the trip, ...

This opinion piece by Francois Collin, Media Liason Officer at the National Federation of Tourist Guides and Affiliates (NFTGA), recounts his personal experience in dealing with an iStore located in Menlyn, Pretoria. I am writing this as an open letter ...

Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, a five-star premium eco-luxury lodge, is set in a pristine Milkwood forest overlooking Walker Bay in the Overberg region of the Western Cape.  Beyond a luxury experience, progressive tourism is incorporated into every level of the ...

Cape Town, 05 March 2020 – To coincide with the Cape Town Jazz Festival, The Table Bay Hotel Food & Beverage team are bringing another cosmopolitan experience to guests with titillating Tequila and Tapas pairings in March. Enthusiasts can explore ...

There’s nothing so quintessential as a quiet weekend in Knysna with a book you can’t put down – except perhaps the questions it raises. By Martin Hatchuel. Gareth Patterson wanted to solve one of Knysna’s most common mysteries in his ...

The organiser of the International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFF Africa), Caroline Ungersbock, has welcomed a video entered by two young Knysna-based filmmakers. Rean (24) and his brother, Chant Messina (20), filmed, produced, and edited the 2-minute, 58-second video, and ...

There are many reasons to visit Miami Beach, from the sea and the sand to the stunning sunsets and endless array of outstanding cuisine. Some of the very best beaches in the country can be found right here, including the ...

Abidjan, 25 February 2020 – International soccer star Didier Drogba has helped his birthplace, Côte d’Ivoire, strike gold by helping to collect MOUs for a total of $15 billion in commitments to back tourism projects in the West African country. ...

In part three of this series, TourismTattler looks at some useful social media monitoring and analysis tools. Last month we started off by researching our present position in Social Media Marketing and we hope this gave you some clear ideas ...

Tswalu is a vast, magical land of infinite possibility, with sweeping vistas and a liberating sense of space. The green Kalahari is Nature at its most diverse and surprising, and to spend time here is to be touched by exuberant, ...

In part two of this series, TourismTattler asks some pertinent questions that should be answered before embarking on a social media journey. Part 1 of this series can be read here. Introduction Before we set off on our journey from a ...

Stellenbosch, 22 February 2020 – Food and wine have always been a complimentary pair and they’re best savoured outdoors in the company of friends. When the venue for such a treat happens to be the beautiful Grand Domaine Wine Estate overlooking ...

Committed to low impact environmental and eco-friendly accommodation, Tented Adventures’ Pilanesberg National Park Safari Camp, and Pretoriuskop Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park are perfectly positioned with minimal permanent structures within their respective campgrounds. The ‘Glamping’ experience that Tented ...

Fair Trade Tourism certifiedTenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre, a non-profit organisation located close to Plettenberg Bay, uses tourism as a platform to raise awareness about threats facing South Africa’s indigenous wild cats, using the funds it generates from tourism ...

Cape Town, February 2020 – During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of Nation Address, he announced the roll-out of Electronic Visas (eVisas), to make applications easier for tourists wanting to visit the country. As the incoming Mayoral Committee Member for Economic ...

LUX* Resorts and Hotels has embarked on a journey towards a carbon-clean future, known as ‘Tread Lightly’. Working with Ecosur Afrique, LUX* asks for a voluntary donation of €1 per room night – 32.5 per cent of which goes towards ...

In this new E-Marketing series, Tourism Tattler will help you to become a Social Business. We will show you what influences people’s social behaviour (how to go viral) how to automate online communications, how to position your brand, and how ...

As a travel writer, I’ve visited many sustainable tourism destinations and eco-friendly hotels across the world. They’re doing their bit but how can you, as an eco-conscious traveller, play your part? By Holly Tuppen. Here are a few simple tips ...

Exploring the Southern California city of Los Angeles is best done as a self-drive road trip. Depending on your budget, you can cruise the Hollywood Boulevard in a Ford Mustang convertible, show your tough side in an F150 pick-up truck, ...

African tribal design-inspired owners and artists, Mike and Justine Weeks’ meticulous attention to detail is reflected in the fine African beadwork and handcrafted designs that are evident throughout the prestigious Safari Lodge on the northern boundary of Amakhala Game Reserve. ...

This article shares advice for overseas travellers to malaria-risk areas, with specific relevance to South Africa.

Going on a boat cruise is a lot of fun, and if it is your first time, a little intimidating. The sea is scary to most people, and you might wonder what the basic things you need to know are. ...

When we’re tight on cash, the idea of going on vacation might seem impossible. But we all need to relax and get away from the stresses of life every now and then. Luckily, vacations don’t have to break the bank. ...

Located on the coast at Kenton on Sea in the Eastern Cape and spanning the magnificent Kariega Estuary on its course to meet the warm Indian Ocean, the malaria-free Sibuya Game Reserve, Tented Camps and Lodge is South Africa’s only ...

ADDIS ABABA, 18 February 2020 – The Global State of Democracy (GSoD) 2019: Addressing the Ills, Reviving the Promise – the second edition of the flagship report of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) – launched ...

Cape Town. 18 February 2020 – WTM Africa 2020 is tackling sustainable tourism at macro and micro levels this year, by lining up a number of eco-conscious initiatives alongside recognising game-changing sustainability practices in the African travel industry. Update: 13 ...

Dar es Salaam, 15 September 2020 – Beach and marine resource tourism along Africa’s East Coast and the continents Indian Ocean islands need development and exposure to international tourists. This observation was made by the African Tourism Board (ATB) Chairman, ...

Nairobi, 15 February 2020 – Following a four-day working visit to Kenya, African Tourism Board (ATB) CEO, Doris Wörfel, engaged with tourism industry leaders to initiate and advance pilot projects that could be implemented across the African Continent. During the CEO’s ...