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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
Allie Hunt has joined the management team of Cape Town Helicopters and Escape+Explore. Escape+Explore Founder Ingram Casey and Cape Town Helicopters CEO Neil Warren say bringing Hunt on board reinforces their shared vision to elevate trade collaboration. Hunt, who has owned and managed Inspirational Places for the past 17 years, will help connect the two Cape Town brands in her new role.
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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
The expansion of Gauteng’s high-speed Gautrain network is a step closer to reality with the publication of a Notice of Route Determination. The notice, issued by the MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng, has detailed the proposed routes:Little Falls Station to Jabulani Station (Soweto) via Roodepoort Station. Cosmo City Station to Samrand Station via Fourways Station, Sunninghill Station, and Olievenhoutbosch Station.
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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
Hyatt Hotel Corporation opened the Hyatt Place Nairobi Westlands and Hyatt House Nairobi Westlands, the first dual Hyatt branded project on the continent, on March 18. Located along Lower Kabete Road, the development is close to the city’s top attractions including Westgate Mall, the Nairobi National Museum, and Karura Forest. It is one of the few pet-friendly hotels in Nairobi and guests are offered Hyatt Place rooms alongside residential-style Hyatt House rooms tailored for extended stays.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
The results of Tourism Update’s latest poll indicate positive industry consensus on travellers spending more on safaris. Asked if they noticed travellers are willing to spend more on safaris than they did in the past, the largest proportion of our industry respondents (53%) selected “Yes”. Only 27% said “No” and the remaining 20% were “Unsure”.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
Etihad Airways is planning to boost its services to South Africa from March 30. The airline will operate four flights per week between Abu Dhabi and Johannesburg, on Sundays, Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays. From August 1, the airline will increase frequencies to daily. The flight schedule is as follows:Flight EY748 departs Johannesburg at 09h55 and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 19h50. The return flight EY747 departs Abu Dhabi at 02h20 and arrives in Johannesburg at 08h35.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
The results of Tourism Update’s latest poll indicate widespread optimism about a strong rebound in the European source market this year. When asked to predict which source market would register the highest arrivals growth rate in 2025, the largest proportion of our industry respondents (35%) selected Europe. The results come on the back of a sluggish 2024 for inbound arrivals from Europe into South Africa. The market grew by just 1.1% last year.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
CemAir has postponed flights to Plettenberg Bay Airport until at least September. Flights were expected to resume in April. According to the airline, the decision follows the collapse of the agreement between Bitou Municipality and Garden Route Aero, the appointed operator of the airport. The management of the airport has returned to Bitou Municipality. Flights to Plettenberg Airport will only commence once runway and other repairs are complete, which, it says, at this stage are yet to begin.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | David Frost |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
As we step into 2025, South Africa’s tourism recovery remains uneven. While overall inbound tourism sits at just under 82% of 2019 levels, the distribution of visitors is highly concentrated in just two key regions: Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. Meanwhile other provinces – despite offering exceptional tourism experiences –continue to struggle.
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1 month ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | Harriet Akinyi |Patricia de Lille |Rosemary Anderson |Gheeta Payle
In the race towards the 2030 climate change goals set out in the Paris Agreement, the next five years will focus on accountability for sustainable tourism. This is according to Judy Kepher-Gona, Founder and Lead Consultant at Sustainable Travel and Tourism Africa, speaking at the launch of Sustainable tourism trends to watch in 2025 – a comprehensive analysis of the key trends shaping the future of sustainable tourism.
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2 months ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | Harriet James |Gheeta Payle |Neethling du Toit |Sandra Kneubuhler
India, among the world's fastest-growing travel markets, and East African countries are looking to leverage mutually beneficial tourism opportunities. The Indian middle class with disposable income is rapidly expanding. With this, the number of individuals who can afford international travel is also rising. According to an Expedia report, by 2025, 13.9 million leisure departures will be recorded from Mumbai.
