New CEO for South African Tourism

Thulani Nzima - new CEO of South African Tourism

South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has announced the appointment of Thulani Nzima as the new South African Tourism CEO.



Van Schalkwyk expressed his delight with the appointment of the new CEO.

‘I am very pleased with Thulani Nzima’s appointment. He not only has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the tourism industry, but his management skills will certainly steer SAT to greater heights,’ he said.

Van Schalkwyk added that the many challenges faced by the tourism industry globally meant that capable, strategic leaders were needed. Leaders who would not only create opportunities for tourism growth, but would take advantage of new opportunities that lay ahead.

‘I am confident Nzima will lead with integrity and courage,’ he said. Nzima's considerable experience in the business world and the tourism sphere, has equipped him with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, a strong vision and vast industry knowledge.

He has held the position of director: sales and marketing at Avis Rent a Car since 2007, where he has been in charge of sales and marketing strategy and all revenue generating business streams. 
 Before joining Avis, he was CEO of South African Travel Centre, a travel agency group. Prior to that he held various management positions at South African Airways (SAA) between 1991 and 2005. His last position at SAA was senior executive manager: South Africa, where he was responsible for sales in the South African market.

Nzima’s term of office at SAT will be 3 years. Van Schalkwyk expressed his gratitude to Tim Scholtz, SAT’s Chief Operating Officer, who acted as CEO pending the appointment of the new incumbent.

Source: SouthAfrica.net Tourism News

KwaBulawayo Tourism Centre Set to Fly

Situated less than a 20 minute drive from Empangeni and overlooking the beautiful uMhlathuze Valley is the The site of King Shaka’s KwaBulawayo Royal Town. This site is recognized by all as being of prime importance in the Zulu Culture and History. It was here that the formation of the Zulu Nation was consolidated. KwaBulawayo was the engine of the Zulu nation’s growth. 

It is fitting that this site is now also being developed as a flagship, world class, community based tourism facility. uThungulu District Municipality in conjunction with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and uMlalazi Local Municipality have been working hand in hand with the Bhekeshowe Community Trust to develop tourism around the site. 

A new tourism concept plan and sustainability plan has been developed  by ETC-Africa which will see the center focused on offering a world class cultural experience,  according to Duncan Pritchard of ETC-Africa; "Our intention is to create a place where tourists, businessmen and anyone visiting the region can come and have an exceptional, authentic cultural experience, traditional meal and leave feeling like it was the most unique and fun thing they have ever done." The business concept for the KwaBulawayo Tourism Centre is modeled very closely on similar products in the middle east and Australia. 

The KwaBulawayo Tourism Centre is also ideally located close to the N2, allowing it to service the passing tour group markets, accessible on  an excellent tar road and in very close proximity to other attractions along the Zululand Heritage Route (Route 66) such as Queen Nandi's Grave, Cowards Bush, Manadwe Cross and Ongoye Forest.

The project is expected to begin full scale development, training and capacity building early in 2012 and aims to be operational by the middle of 2012.  

The Zululand Tourism Experience - A New Umbrella Body For Tourism in uThungulu

After two years of planning and stakeholder engagement, the much anticipated "Zululand Tourism Experience", a new district level tourism association, was launched at the recent uThungulu District Tourism Forum in October.

The Zululand Tourism Experience was initiated as a concept by uThungulu District Municipality following their investigation into  the best tourism institutional framework options for the district. According to Kobus Du Toit, the new chairman and stalwart supporter of tourism in the region; "This Association will act as an umbrella body for promoting, marketing and developing tourism in the region, it gives us all an opportunity to work together for a common cause and finally make tourism happen in the region, this is what everyone has been waiting for!"

The association will be established as a non profit company with a board of directors, including representation from all the current existing associations, routes and tourism organisations in the uThungulu district as well as some specialized portfolios such as marketing, skills development and business, represented by the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The underlying principle of the association is to increase tourism growth in the area through harnessing economies of scale, rather than having 5 or 6 various small associations with small budgets, have a central association where funding can be pooled to make a bigger impact and get the marketing reach that was previously unattainable.

Members will enjoy a host of benefits including international level marketing, exposure in printed materials, websites and a variety of domestic trade shows.

For more information on the Zululand Tourism Experience or to join as a member, please contact Kobus  on landlover@telkomsa.net

Ongoye Forest Special - Stay three nights for the price of two

Ongoye Forest Lodge is a nature lovers haven, from rare and endangered birds to breathtaking mountain bike trails to exquisite scenery ...all within a half hour from Richards Bay or Empangeni.

If you are a Rock Climber, Hiker, Birdwatcher, Mountain Biker or just enjoy the great outdoors and you have not yet been to Ongoye, then you are missing something special!

Book any 2 nights between now and the end of February 2012 and receive a third night absolutely FREE! Accommodation starts at R150 per person per night and includes exclusive use of the entire facility.

For reservations or more information, please click here

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 !