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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | Cape Town |David Frost |Patricia de Lille
A new treehouse safari lodge is under development in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, with construction led by Imvelo Safari Lodges in collaboration with US-based Nelson Treehouse. The Tum Tum Treehouses Lodge, set to open in late 2025, will feature six rooms accommodating up to 12 guests in the south-eastern region of Hwange. The lodge will include four elevated treehouses with wooden platforms, canvas roofs and en-suite bathrooms as well as two ground-level rooms for family accommodation.
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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | Cape Town |David Frost |Patricia de Lille
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has announced a temporary extension for foreign nationals awaiting the outcomes of visa waiver requests, long-term visa applications and appeals. The new directive, signed by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber on March 28, grants eligible applicants an extension until September 30. It applies to:Foreign nationals with pending waiver applications. Applicants awaiting long-term visa decisions under sections 11(1)(b) to 22 of the Immigration Act.
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3 weeks ago | 
tourismupdate.co.za | Cape Town |David Frost |Patricia de Lille
The Portfolio Committee on Transport has raised concerns over what it calls “predatory pricing” and overbooking practices in South Africa’s low-cost airline sector, suggesting that deregulation had failed to benefit poor travellers as originally intended. The transport committee received briefings on anti-competitive behaviour in the low-cost carrier market during a joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition on Tuesday, April 1.
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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 | Zachariah George |Sue van Winsen |David Frost |Patricia de Lille
Over the past decade – especially in the past five years – Africa has experienced a start-up boom. More than 2 000 new ventures have secured nearly US$12 billion (€11 billion) in funding. However, the tourism sector has been largely left behind. Speaking at WiT Africa in Cape Town last week, Ben Peterson, CEO of Purple Elephant Ventures, highlighted the gap.
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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.
