COP 17 "A Golden Opportunity"

The Cop 17 climate change conference in Durban at the end of the year would be a “golden opportunity” for KwaZulu-Natal to attract investment, a tourism launch heard in Joburg on Monday. “We are going to seize the moment,” Mike Mabuyakhulu, the province's MEC for Economic Development and Tourism vowed. Speaking at the launch of a new tourism route linking KZN, Mozambique and Swaziland, he said more than 800 Chief Executives from major investment companies would be in Durban during the climate talks and “we are going to maximise this golden opportunity”.

The province was involved in preparations for the event and Mabuyakhulu predicted there would be many delegates keen to invest in green economy projects. The tripartite tourism initiative between the three regions, unveiled to the media on the eve of World Tourism Day, aims to promote the area as a single tourism and investment destination, with a vision to enable visitors to experience all three regions in a single day. Focusing on culture and nature, the three regions, supported by their governments and tourism authorities, want to grow tourism figures, including boosting international arrivals as well as increasing the number of tourism attractions that visitors can go to, thereby creating jobs. And most important of all, said Mabuyakhulu, they want to attract private sector investment into the three areas. “We are going to adopt an aggressive stance to promote the route,” he said, adding that it would be marketed at all the international tourism shows. There was already a “high level” of interest from potential investors, Mabuyakhulu said. The aim was for the route to become one of the best-known in the world, he said.

While Cape Town has the famous Garden Route, the three regions will now have their own tourism trail to be known as East 3 Route. It will be launched from October 24-27 when drivers in more than 50 4x4s will travel from KZN to Mozambique and Swaziland, with officials from the three regions hosting investors, celebrities and possibly a president or two at workshops and gala dinners, where the investment opportunities will be showcased. Macford Nsibande, the Swaziland Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, said: “We are trying our best to become a pilgrimage of culture in Africa.”

To find out more about COP 17 click here

Source: IOL online (Barbara Cole) 

Important notice from DEDT

Notice from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism

Please note that South African Revenue Services (SARS) will no longer accept payments in respect of Liquor Licenses as from 1 October 2011. From 1 October 2011, all payments for liquor licenses can be made at any ABSA BANK using the details below.

• Only cash deposits or electronic transfers will be accepted (No Cheques).
• No bulk payments will be allowed
• All references to contain a prefix (01 for new applications, 02 for existing licenses and 03 for renewals)
• In the case of new applications, your trading name will be your reference e.g 01Thandabantu tavern
• For existing liquor licenses your reference number will be your license number, e.g, 02KZN/00000
• For renewals, your reference number will also be your license number but the prefix changes, e.g. 03KZN/00000
• Applicant to submit proof of payment with the first two pages of the application in respect of lodgment of any liquor license application
• License holder to submit proof of payment in respect of activation of any liquor license together copy of Form 4, Form 11 or Form 15.
• All license holders are reminded to renew their liquor licenses before 31 December 2011 to avoid penalties. All those who fail to renew before 31 December 2011 will be liable for penalties (50% in January 2012 or 100% in February).
• Liquor licenses not renewed by 28 February 2012 will lapse, warranting the license holder to lodge a new application.

Please note the following:

• Receiving a FORM 22 does not validate your license if it has already lapsed
• The onus is on the license holder to ensure that no double payments are made as no refunds will be entertained.
• All licenses that were issued in terms of s19 (FORM 4) as from 1 July 2011 are not subject to renewal at the end of 2011.

The proof of payment and supporting documents in respect of renewal fees, new applications and activation of licenses must be forwarded to Mrs. Swazi Mbambo, Fax No.: 086 644 4307 For further details please contact Khombi Mthanti on 033 264 2795 or Nkululeko Thwala on 033 264 2681.

Bank Absa Bank Account Name Liquor Licenses
Account number 407 832 8103
Clearing code 63-49-26

Tourism on the move!

Thousands of tourists, traveling on cruise liners, visit the Port of Richards Bay each year. As the region does not have a formal passenger terminal, ensuring that tourists' first impressions of Zululand are those that will leave behind fond memories and exciting experiences has always been a challenge due to passengers generally disembarking in the harbour with no access to tourism information or what is available in the area......until now.

The tourism section of uThungulu District Municipality has come up with an innovative solution to the problem, a state of the art mobile tourism office.

The mobile tourism office boasts state of the art displays, flat screen television and walking through becomes an experience in its own right. According to Anita Tait, Tourism Manager at uThungulu District Municipality, "the mobile information office will not only allow us to better service cruise liners coming to our shores, these tourists want to spend time in our area, they want to experience the Zulu culture, our forests and wildlife but unless we can give them the information they need, they will probably go elsewhere. The mobile office also allows us to take tourism wherever it is needed, be it a festival out in the bush or tourism display at one of the many shows we attend each year, the mobile office allows us to take tourism to the tourists, no matter where they are.  "

The mobile office includes over fifteen square meters of tourism displays and information all "wrapped" in beautiful images of our region. Another innovative first for Zululand !

Zululand Spring Festival

Zululand’s premier combined entertainment and exhibition showcase, THE ZULULAND SPRING FESTIVAL, will take place in Richards Bay, on Friday 30 September - 14h00 to 22h00. Saturday 01 October 2011 - 09h00 to 22h00. Sunday 02 October 2011 - 09h00 to 14h00.

The second largest combined entertainment and exhibition event in KZN, the Zululand Spring Festival provides an ideal platform for local and national trade, plus the opportunity for the public to enjoy the latest in South Africa’s, top entertainment. Entertainment includes both local and national artists and performers, making up a spectacular fusion of entertainment, that suits all age groups and cultures. The Zululand Spring Festival in Richards Bay once again attracted major crowds with 25 000 visitors and nearly 250 stands being sold at Spring Festival 2010.

The success of Spring Festival is evident by the R10 million turnover that emanates from the event into our community over this three-day period. Massive pre-publicity sets the pace for Zululand Spring Festival and the quality of the entertainment programme is of high standard and calibre, with many of South Africa’s top performers joining the ranks in the entertainment programme. Exhibitors from all over South Africa will once again display their products or services, which range from decor, sports and leisure, arts and crafts, fashion and accessories, motor industry, outdoor and garden, technology, tourism, education and industrial exhibits, as well as an array of flea market stalls, with an ambit of unusual products to choose from.

If you want to take full advantage of making new contacts and improving your sales or image, or being involved in a sponsorship exchange agreement, then Zululand Spring Festival is the place to be - a marketing opportunity not to be missed!

Click here for more information

New categories for entrants in 2012 AA Quality Assured Awards

South Africa’s only consumer-based accommodation awards programme has undergone extensive changes to keep up with modern trends in the hospitality industry. Hence, particulars of the 2012 AA Quality Assured Accommodation Awards programme have been announced.
 

Vanessa Sand, managing director of AA Travel Guides, convenors of the awards, says the programme is keeping up with trends in the accommodation sector so that achievers gain the maximum benefit from their participation.

“All AA Quality Assured Accommodation members – of which there are currently just under 2 500 in southern Africa – have automatically been entered into the awards,” says Sand. Guests can enter feedback into the review section of each establishment’s listing on www.aatravel.co.za, via traditional AA guest review forms, electronically via an APad, which has been customised into a digital guest book, or via eGuestSurv Reviews. “We now have the technology in place for feedback received to go live within a week of it being received, making the system so much more user-friendly to both the consumer and the establishment,” says Sand.

According to Sand, AA Travel Guides – having managed these awards for the past 18 years – has done extensive industry research and consultation in recent months, and has revised the award categories that establishments can enter 

“It was necessary to structure our award categories in line with current accommodation industry trends,” she says. “We are confident that establishments will find the exact relevant category for them to enter and that consumers understand these category definitions to be in line with their expectations.”

Feedback received from consumers relates to aspects such as service levels, the quality of food, ambience and value for money. AA Travel Guides will accept feedback until 30 April 2012, where after all reviews will be processed.

Provincial finalists and winners will be announced in July 2012. These winners will then compete against one another to become national winners, to be announced at the 2012 Getaway Show.
Finalists and winners will have the opportunity to profile themselves in the annual awards publication ‘South Africa’s Best’, 100 000 copies of which will be distributed via Getaway magazine, tourist offices and Caxton publications.

“With our new focus on AA Quality Assured properties only – truly our gateway product – we believe the awards programme will grow even further,” says Sand. “The AA brand is associated with trust, integrity and quality and we are now creating a platform that members can use to market themselves even more widely and effectively,” says Sand.

For more information on the AA Quality Assured program click here

Don't Miss The 2011 RBM Annual Birdwatch

Getting up close and personal with an Eagle Owl

The 2011, Richards Bay Minerals annual "Birdwatch" is a highlight on the Zululand eco-tourism calender with birders flocking from across the country to enjoy some of Richards Bay's best birding.

The event kicks off with an evening talk on Friday the 4th November by Shanan and Ben Hoffman of the African Birds of Prey Sanctuary. The talk will introduce the public to the fascinating world of raptors and include an "up close and personal" opportunity to experience these majestic birds.

Saturday the 5th Novmber's program starts off with guided birding walks at Lake Nhlabane in the RBM lease area. Lake Nhlabane and the surrounding forests is a legendary birding site along the Zululand Birding Route as it provides the southern most location to see species such as Livingstone's Turaco, Woodward's Batis, Southern-banded Snake Eagle and a host of water birds from Pygmy Geese to African Finfoot.

The weekend is specifically designed to get the public involved and out there birding, it does not matter if you are a seasoned "twitcher" or casual beginner - the RBM Birdwatch event is an ideal family weekend out!

To register visit our facebook event by clicking here or email us

34 000 Trees Planted at Zululand's Annual Reed Dance

Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini has joined the Department of Environmental Affairs to launch a Greening Project that will see 34000 trees being planted in Nongoma, as part of the annual Reed Dance, one of the highlights on the Zululand Heritage Route, Route 66.

About 34 000 trees were planted by Zulu-maidens during the Reed Dance. The initiative comes ahead of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - popularly known as COP 17 - taking place in Durban in November. Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini with the Champions of the Environment Foundation plan to raise awareness about climate change through the project. 

Each of the 30,000 maidens who attended planted a sapling – led by Zulu King Goodwill Zwelethini and SA President Jacob Zuma. The trees were all grown by ‘tree-preneurs’ – individuals who support their livelihoods by growing trees and exchanging these trees for food, clothes, bicycles, education support, building materials, JoJo tanks and other goods they need.

More on Cop 17, click here  For more on the Zululand Heritage Route, Route 66, Click here