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"I have often tried to fathom the effect that Africa has on different people. What is it about this dusty landmass that so fascinates us? I suppose we all have different images in our mind's eye when the word "Africa" is mentioned. More than a few of us might admit to the old postcard cliché of giraffe against a setting sun wandering around flat topped acacias with a snow capped Kilimanjaro in the background. The CNN watching pessimists among us might see an emaciated Sudanese child sitting next to a dusty hovel in the middle of nowhere desperately trying to keep the flies away. Yet it is the plethora of savagery and beauty that lies between the above extremes that has me thoroughly addicted. Africa is more than just third world poverty and AK toting children, genocide and corruption, pestilence and Presidents for life. Africa is the ultimate paradox, a beauty so addictive that it leaves you gasping and a sadness so poignant that it numbs the soul.
Botswana's tourism industry is going to grow. The information is presented in the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) report produced by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and commissioned by the Government of Botswana and the Botswana Tourism Board. It is expected that the industry will annually grow by some 5 %, which is faster than the world average growth (4.3 %). Tourism is quite important for the country as it creates some 10% of its employment. The tourism also generates 16 % of non-mining GDP.
"Although this growth is positive and the country is one of the Africa"s most exciting travel destinations, it remains relatively unknown and is heavily dependent on intraregional tourists. Indeed, as far as long-haul markets are concerned, it is probably Africa"s best-kept secret" WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten mentioned. Mr. Baumgarten claims that these forecasts show that, with the right policy framework, Botswana has the potential not only to expand rapidly but also to significantly broaden its tourism product base, appealing to much a wider range of tourist tastes and budgets.
Botswana's Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Kitso Mokaila has said that Botswana can no longer depend on its mining industry. The minister says that tourism industry will be made a priority for the country's economy. "Travel & Tourism will contribute enormously to the country's economy and we are committed to running a conscious campaign to publicize the strategic role and benefits of tourism in order to stimulate a more positive perception to the wider public" said Kitso Mokaila.
"Fantastic news for all in Botswana - Congratulations to the Government of Botswana and the Botswana Tourism Board, whom continuously support the growth and development of the hospitality and
dimension to learning which we believe has a positive impact on the development of the 2000 learners attending schools which currently participate in the programme. Our programme is dependent on the ongoing support of our sponsors and we welcome new partners who wish to make a contribution to education in the midlands.
A special offer to our guests who join us for Christmas at Nitani this year …
The Safari Club SA will be opening its doors on the 1st November 2007 with 17 luxury en-suite twin bedded rooms for the Safari Traditionalist to Southern Africa. Privately owned and run by Emile Muller who has vast experience in the travel trade with 8 years in Botswana's Chobe and the Okavango Delta.
In 1999 the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) established a pilot project called the Fair Trade in Tourism Initiative around Elim. Shiluvari along with the Ribolla Tourism Association and various Artists and crafters were the drivers of the pilot project with IUCN. The FTTI wanted to develop the first fair trade in tourism accreditation trademark that was based on the fair trade system for agricultural products, developed in Europe in the 1960's. This initiative was a world first and Shiluvari was proud to have been a part of the process from the outset.
In 2003 Fair Trade in Tourism SA was ready to assess and accredit the first tourism products with the trademark. Shiluvari was one of the first 4 products in SA (and world wide to be awarded the trademark in October 2003). Shiluvari is proud of the recognition it has received from FTTSA but we also recognise that the FTTSA brand is growing around the world and tourists are more and more seeking to stay with tourism products that have been accredited with the FTTSA trademark. Therefore the benefits of the trademark are both recognition of being an industry leader in sustainable tourism as well as the increase in occupancy levels due to the marketing awareness of FTTSA. We at Shiluvari look forward to being part of the growth of Fair Trade in Tourism and to host many more discerning tourists to the unique natural and cultural treasure chest of Limpopo.
Source: SouthAfrica.info … The all-in-one official 
A skills audit by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism finds that the local tourism industry will require about 80 000 additional workers in the three years ahead of hosting the 2010 Fifa World Cup. The audit indicates that over the next three years, the industry will require about 24 100 cooks and chefs, 23 500 waiters and waitresses, 15 000 cleaners, 7 800 cashiers and 8 000 managerial staff. Addressing the Tourism and Hospitality Colloquium in Johannesburg this week, University of Johannesburg's (UJ) School of Tourism and Hospitality director Daneel van Lill said that a key challenge at present was that demand for staff far outstrips supply.
With over 180 high-level local and foreign academics and business leaders in attendance, the conference served as a platform to debate issues such as global tourism and hospitality trends, the impact of tourism development, opportunities for capital investment, leadership and entrepreneurship, manpower requirements within the industry and major sporting events, such as the World Cup. Van Lill said the local hospitality industry was set to undergo a major revamp, with emphasis being placed on quality training, to ensure that the country is sufficiently prepared with qualified people, systems and resources for 2010 and beyond. "These challenges are common knowledge in the hospitality industry, but the Colloquium presented an opportunity for industry leaders to explore ways of overcoming this challenge," he said.
The number of tourists visiting South Africa between January and May grew by 10% compared to the same period last year, driven by increasing numbers of visitors from Nigeria, Kenya and France, says Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. Speaking at the launch of Tourism Month at the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday, Van Schalkwyk said South Africa was "acknowledged as one of the fastest growing destinations in the world", with a growth rate in international arrivals that "far outstrips the rest of the world." Van Schalkwyk added that South Africa was reaping the benefits of its new airlift strategy, approved by the Cabinet last year, which had resulted in increased access to the South African market for foreign air carriers.
He said there was healthy annual growth from African air markets in the first five months of the year, led by Nigeria with a 22% increase in arrivals and Kenya at just over 12%. South Africa is also having more success in luring visitors from the Americas, with over 140 000 arrivals from the United States, Canada and Brazil, a 5% increase over last year. Arrivals out of Europe were up by just under 2%, driven by an 11.5% increase out of France. However, there was a loss of over 4% in arrivals from Germany, which Van Schalkwyk attributed to market-specific economic activity. "The German government increased VAT (value added tax) by 3%, which has affected German travel purchase behaviour, but the economy is expected to normalise in the second half of the year." 
Click to download the February 2007 newsletter
Click to see the March 2007 newsletter|
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