TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYApril 11 2018 I No. 2489

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FEATURECOACH TOURS

There’s a tour style for everyone

FEATURE

Exciting options for adventure seekers

NEWSNCL

New commission for agents

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Turkish Airlines is to buy at least 50 wide-body aircraft and is also expanding its network with a new route to Freetown, Sierra Leone, its 52nd African destination. Pictured here is Turkish Airlines new gm – Johannesburg, Adem Ekmekci. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

New fraud screening product could save millionsCandiCe May

TRAVELPORT has teamed up with ACI Worldwide, a leading provider of electronic banking and payment solutions, to launch Travelport Authorize Plus, an intelligent fraud control and settlement solution for its airline and agent customers to reduce industry losses.

According to Iata, the global airline industry incurs losses of $1bn (R12bn) annually from fraudsters using stolen, compromised or fake credit card details to buy airline tickets. Dinesh Naidoo, group operations director of Serendipity

Worldwide Group, says the South African travel agent industry alone loses millions of rands per year.

Otto de Vries, ceo of Asata, says he has seen genuine commitment from all stakeholders in the travel industry to mitigate fraud. Commenting on the new solution, he says, “Any product that helps to manage fraud and benefit airlines, agents and the trade should be applauded.”

Travelport Authorize Plus is an airline-driven product, meaning that agents can only make use of it on tickets bought on airlines that have implemented it. Once it is

Long-haul LCC lands in Cape Townhilka birnS

JOON, the new low-cost carrier of the Air France KLM Group, has chosen Cape Town to launch

its second long-haul operation, with the first of three weekly frequencies from Paris-Charles de Gaulle touching down in the Mother City on April 3.

Joon launched only in December last year, and its first long-haul service was introduced on March 25 with a daily Paris-Cairo flight.

Speaking at press briefing in Cape Town on April 4, ceo, Jean-Michel Mathieu, said Joon was taking over the Cape Town route from Air France, whose thrice-weekly Cape Town service had become unprofitable

because of stiff competition from Emirates. As a low-cost carrier, Joon would be able to operate the route more efficiently because of its lower overheads, including a leaner management structure and faster

turnaround and therefore greater productivity of aircraft equipment. In addition, a change of aircraft from Air France’s A330 with 208 seats to Joon’s A340-300 with 278 seats meant a 25% capacity growth on the route.

Jean-Michel said Joon would operate three frequencies during the European summer and five during the European winter on the Paris-Cape Town route. The main aim was to become a feeder to Air France’s hub in Paris. Travel agents will be able to book Joon under the Air France code.

Joon flights have a three-class configuration. Business class features 30 two-metre-long lie-flat seats, HD touch screens, audio reduction headsets and full service haute cuisine. Premium economy has 21 seats – 49cm wide with 99cm leg-room – a comfort kit, welcome drink and starters and desserts inspired by business class. Economy class has 227 seats with

78cm legroom, latest generation touch screen, USB port and two full meals. Trips can be personalised by choosing from 70 seats available on a paying-option basis.

Jean-Michel said Joon differentiated itself by offering what he termed a “new generation travel experience”, featuring “personalisation options, competitive pricing, different levels of comfort and a wide set of choices”. “For example,” he said, “Joon offers one-way or round-trips with à la carte fares, with or without baggage, that you can modify or not for an experience completely adapted to your needs.” A special 20% discount applies to Joon fares

To page 16

To page 16

Taking Turkish to new heights

“As a low-cost carrier, Joon will be able to operate the

route more efficiently because of its lower overheads.”

2 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: tnw@nowmedia.co.za Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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NCL announces new agent commissionCandiCe May

NORWEGIAN Cruise Line (NCL) will start paying travel agents

commission on cruises booked after June 2 using future cruise credits issued by the cruise line.

This new commission

brings NCL in line with Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines. Royal Caribbean originally began protecting commissions on credits due to the turbulence brought on by the hurricane season last year.

Royal Caribbean then started paying the new

commission on April 1 after it re-evaluated the structure of commissions when clients redeem future cruise credits. Carnival Cruise Lines said it introduced the change to ensure it continued to provide profitable opportunities for its hard-working travel agent partners.

HWT to incubate strategic developmentsSarah robertSon

HARVEY World Executive Travel will act as incubator for the group, testing out new technologies and strategies before implementation is rolled out to the entire HWT group.

The branch relocated to the BidTravel head office premises in Girton Road, Parktown, last month, placing

it close to the consortium’s management team.

Harvey World Executive Travel is the only BidTravel-owned Harvey office and is one of the group’s larger branches.

“The relocation will enable us to test run new initiatives at our flagship store and to successfully adapt them to suit an SME business model before rolling them

out across the Harvey group,” said Lidia Folli¸ceo of BidTravel.

Anneke Jordan, gm of Harvey World Travel, confirmed that the first technology incubation had already begun, with plans to roll out the new developments to the rest of the group toward the end of April, should it prove successful.

Gulf carriers, FlySafair eat into SAA market shareteSSa reed

OVER the last five years, SAA has lost considerable market share – 23, 45 and 71 percentage points in the domestic, regional and international space respectively.

In the domestic space, SAA’s loss of market share has coincided with the entrance of FlySafair and market share gains by Mango. Regionally, Ethiopian Airlines and Air Namibia have seen market share gains and

internationally, Qatar and Emirates have achieved considerable gains.

SAA’s loss in revenue for the year ending March 2017 has been partially attributed to this loss of market share. Other factors cited include currency fluctuation and Brent crude prices.

The airline reported a R5,6 billion loss for the period, more than three times the R1,5 billion reported the previous year.

For the record

In the April 4 issue of TNW, in the article ‘International Cape Town bookings in freefall’, we incorrectly implied that international arrivals to Cape Town were in decline. This is not the case as arrivals are on the increase. It is forward bookings for Cape Town that have declined. We apologise for the error.

Helen Johnston selects the top specials from Travelinfo

Travel Vision. Fabulous Las Vegas offer from R18 306pp sharing. Offer includes return flights departing Johannesburg, approximate taxes, return transfers and four nights at the Circus Circus Hotel. Valid between April 22 and May 17. Mozambique Tourism. Diamonds Mequfi fly-in package from R20 990pp

sharing. Offer includes return flights departing Johannesburg, approximate taxes, return transfers and seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast, lunch, dinner, selected drinks, 30-minute windsurf lesson and more. Valid until June 30. Beachcomber Tours. Early booking offer from R14 380pp sharing.

Offer includes return flights departing Johannesburg, approximate taxes, return transfers and five nights’ accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Valid between July 23 and September 28. The Holiday Factory. Zanzibar early-bird discount from

R15 200pp sharing. Offer includes return flights departing Johannesburg, approximate taxes, return transfers and seven nights’ accommodation with all meals and selected drinks daily. Book by April 30. Valid for travel between April 1 and June 30. Fly to Kimberley on Airlink. Fly between Johannesburg and Kimberley

from R460 (one way, excl. taxes).

SA twist added to Venice cruiseCRUISES International has partnered with South African chef, Jenny Morris, to offer the seven-night Jenny Morris Food Cruise, departing from Venice on October 26.

It will include seven nights’ accommodation on board

Oceania’s five-star Marina; all meals, speciality coffees, waters and soft drinks; two exclusive cooking demonstrations by Jenny Morris; a welcome bottle of champagne in the room on arrival; pre-paid gratuities and

a cocktail function with Jenny Morris and special guest, Kurt Darren.

The cruise will visit Naples, Ravenna, Rome, and Venice, in Italy; Messina, Sicily; Corfu, Greece; Kotor, Montenegro; and Zadar, Croatia.

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4 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

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Virgin Australia plans SYD-HKG flightsVIRGIN Australia plans to operate a daily return service between Sydney and Hong Kong from the middle of this year, subject to approvals. The flight will be operated by an A330-200, featuring Virgin’s award-winning business class, ‘The Business’. The service will connect with Virgin Atlantic Airways’ Hong Kong-London service.

Etihad announces second daily Rome serviceETIHAD Airways has added a second service to Rome on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tuesday and Thursday flights will be added from May 1 bringing the service to twice daily. Etihad has also confirmed that flights between Abu Dhabi and Entebbe were cancelled from March 25 following an assessment of the route’s performance. In other news, the airline’s baggage policy is now weight-based rather than number of bags, excluding Africa, the US and Canada. Delta reaches Boston milestoneDELTA Air Lines will launch a daily Las Vegas service from Boston in October, its 50th non-stop destination from the airport. A B737-800 will be used on the route, with 16 seats in first class, 36 in Comfort+, and 108 in economy. Delta will also operate a daily, flight from its Salt Lake City hub to El Paso, Texas, starting October 1.

A snapshot of the week's airline news

Hilton cuts comm for groupsCandiCe May

HILTON Worldwide will reduce standard hotel booking commissions

on group bookings made by travel agents and meeting planners at its US and Canada hotels from 10% to 7%.

Bookings made before October 1 will still receive the 10% commission. Partners will still be able to negotiate different deals with Hilton.

Hilton’s decision follows Marriott International’s announcement last month

that it would reduce commissions on group bookings at its US and Canada properties on March 31.

Marriott’s commission cut does not apply to travel agents outside the US, but Hilton’s does. In a statement, Hilton said the reason for the commission cut was to reduce costs

for the hotel owners and a need to reinvest in their properties.

Lois Graham, head of meetings and events at BCD Travel, says Hilton’s announcement is not entirely surprising considering Marriott’s last month. “With large hotel brands citing distribution costs growing faster than group revenue channels, we do expect that other hotel groups will follow suit in due course, especially for properties in the US and Canada, where the trend seems to be at the forefront.”

Trafalgar introduces Harry Potter-themed tourSarah robertSon

TRAFALGAR has launched a Harry Potter-themed tour with a once-off departure on August 19.

Wicked Spells and Wretched Secrets is a 13-day tour priced from R48 607 per person sharing, which travels from London through Oxford, Cheltenham, the Lake District, Glasgow and Edinburgh, taking in various film locations, studios and souvenir shops linked to the popular children’s films.

Tour highlights include a visit to Platform 93/4

at Kings Cross Station in London, Hogwarts Great Hall, which was filmed at Oxford University, and a guided tour of Malham Cove where Harry and Hermione hid from Voldemort. Trafalgar has noticed a growing trend of clients showing interest in ‘set-jetting’ tours recently and often promotes existing tours as options for movie buffs to visit many of the locations where their favourite films were shot. The growing popularity of this market inspired Trafalgar to launch its popular Highland Trail

through Scotland, which was inspired by the popular Outlander series, and now to launch Wicked Spells and Wretched Secrets.

Other Trafalgar tours visiting filming locations of the up-and-coming movie season, include the WW1 and WW2 Battlefields tour that visits many sites from the movie, Dunkirk. The Castles and Kilts Experience visits the Lake District where Beatrix Potter was inspired to create Peter Rabbit, and the Best of the Italian Lakes tour visits the region where Call me by your name was filmed.

Travel enterprises score well in transformationOVER half of travel enterprises with a B-BBEE certificate are at level one or two, while, on average, travel enterprises have 40% black and 25% black female ownership.

These are some of the insights from a study conducted by Grant Thornton and commissioned by Asata.

The study also found that large enterprises had achieved the Tourism B-BBEE scorecard target

for black women across all levels of management.

Achieving total black participation, according to the study, particularly at middle and senior management levels, requires more focus. However, the proportionately high percentage of black and black female personnel at junior management/travel consultant level was seen as a positive indicator for the manager pipeline.

“We are extremely encouraged by the report’s findings that indicate that travel enterprises have largely achieved excellent scores on their Tourism B-BBEE scorecards. While the positive results have exceeded our expectations, we recognise that further transformation is still required for the travel industry to reflect South Africa’s racial demographics,” says Otto de Vries, Asata ceo.

To the point

The Capital Hotels and Apartments opened The Capital On The Park, in Sandton on April 1. It has 75 standard rooms; five studio apartments; 125 one-bedroom apartments; and 100 two-bedroom apartments. The conference room can accommodate 500 delegates and there are four boardrooms, and a multi-functional room. Dining includes the Grab and Go deli, a champagne bar, a coffee shop, a restaurant, alfresco dining on the deck, and 24-hour in room dining. It will also have an in-house convenience store.

“Bookings made before October 1 will still receive the 10%

commission.”

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6 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 54 hotels across all SA provinces. Here is the latest news in domestic tourism.

Sha’p-sha’p: (Sharp-sharp) (a) A South African term used to express

our good health and well being.

New mega venue opens in KZN

SIBAYA Casino & Entertainment Kingdom has opened a new

expansive, multi-purpose venue, Sun Park.

Constructed in response to a growing demand on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal for a versatile facility to

stage large events, Sun Park features a semi-permanent, flexible structure built around a grid that can be arranged into multiple configurations.

It incorporates a marquee structure and deck, offering the facilities and support services of an indoor events

venue with the flexibility of an outdoor space. The Sun Park grid spans 2 400sqm and the marquee, 1 759sqm. There is also a large grass area on the east side of the structure. The infrastructure offers water, electricity, WiFi, an office and storage space.

Sibaya Sun Park has opened on the KZN North Coast. Photo: Sun International

Fossil footprints discovered in Western CapeLAST month saw the discovery of late Pleistocene hominin tracks along the Cape south coast.

The research team, led by Dr Charles Helm, discovered up to 40 tracks in the form of natural casts on the ceiling and walls of a 10-metre-long cave. He

estimated that the tracks were made around 90 000 years ago by what was most likely homo sapiens, when the shoreline was probably 2km out.

Considered the West Coast equivalent of the Cradle of Humankind, the fossil site will add to South Africa’s positioning as a

must-see destination for heritage tourists.

Globally, South Africa is positioned as a place of great heritage significance, says Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, and “will no doubt become one of the treasures in our heritage chest”.

FlySafair ups capacity FLYSAFAIR will increase its overall capacity by just over 25 000 seats a month after adding two new-generation Boeing 737 800s to its fleet.

The new aircraft were scheduled to enter service last month and late April, and will see the airline’s B737 800s increase to five, upping the fleet

total to 14 aircraft.The first new aircraft

is already loaded on the airline’s schedule and will operate on the Johannesburg-Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg-East London, and Johannesburg-Cape Town routes, as well as the Johannesburg-Durban route on weekends.

Amphibious wheelchairs improve beach accessTO CREATE awareness and make local beaches universally accessible to people with disabilities, the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa has donated amphibious wheelchairs to four coastal municipalities in the country.

The wheelchairs’ unique design lets them move easily on the sand, as well as enter and float in the ocean, giving visitors with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy local beaches.

The main objective is to create awareness and achieve universal access to Blue Flag beaches through improved infrastructure and amenities.

The City of Cape Town, Overstrand, Bitou and Kouga municipalities were identified as recipients for the chairs, based on their existing disabled access to beaches and on their commitment to making their Blue Flag beaches useable for all people.

Kulula.com introduces on-board card paymentsKULULA.COM has followed FlySafair’s lead in introducing on-board card payments.

The new cashless transaction service is

available on all kulula.com’s flights. It accepts all Visa and MasterCard products, meaning that payment can be made with either a credit or debit card.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday April 11 2018 n 7

WHO IS CLAUDETTE THORNE

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Turkish Airlines goes direct to AqabaTurkish Airlines has added direct flights, three times a week, from Istanbul to Aqaba in Jordan. Aqaba becomes Turkish Airlines’ second direct destination in the country, supplementing the regular service to the capital, Amman.

Aqaba, Jordan’s port city and its famous window on to the Red Sea, is popular with tourists and holiday makers.

There is a special offer for Miles&Smiles members* for Turkish Airlines’ trips to Aqaba, completed by 11th June 2018, of a 25% reduction in the miles needed to redeem either award tickets or upgrades.

To view the flight schedules please visit www.turkishairlines.com. * Turkish Airlines reserves the right to make changes in this regard.

All times are in LMT.

All times are in LMT.

Aqaba flight times as scheduled from March 19th

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival

TK818 Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays

IST 22:00 AQJ 23:50

TK819 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

AQJ 00:45 IST 04:20

Aqaba flight times as scheduled from March 30th

Flight No. Days Departure Arrival

TK818 Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays

IST 22:00 AQJ 00:50

TK819 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

AQJ 01:45 IST 04.20

ADVERTORIAL

Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 54 hotels across all SA provinces. Here is the latest news in domestic tourism.

In the latest Who Is… Tessa Reed chats to acting country manager for Travelport, Claudette Thorne.

WITH four degrees and further studies on the horizon,

a passion for travel and a relentless drive to persistently outperform herself, it’s not surprising that Claudette Thorne, acting country manager of Travelport, has managed to scale the heights of the travel technology industry. She describes herself as an eternal academic and wildly ambitious. It shows.

Claudette attributes a lot of her achievement to her parents and in turn says that her greatest achievement will be to impart half of the knowledge and love that her parents gave to her, as a mother one day.

She grew up on the West Rand and is the daughter of an engineer and a business analyst – parents who instilled in her a desire for learning. She has two older brothers, making her the baby of the family and the only girl.

“Initially, when I finished school, I wanted to become a flight steward,” she says. “I have always had a passion for travel. As a family we travelled extensively. Every school holiday, my parents would take us somewhere different.”

But Claudette finished school early and was too young to join an airline. “My mum said to me: ‘Look you have to go and study something’,” she explains. “That was the beginning for me.”

Talent on the hockey field landed Claudette a scholarship and she completed a BCom in Communication Management, followed by an Honours in Marketing Management and a Masters in Business Management, specialising

in finance and operations. She spent time working and gaining experience before deciding she wanted to develop her leadership skills. She then went back and studied a Masters in Business Leadership.

Claudette’s career began in the mining sector, but it was surely inevitable that she would find herself in travel.

She started in logistics in the mining sector before moving to one of the mining houses. It was Claudette’s reluctance to relocate when an

employer decided to move its offices that led to her first foray into the travel industry.

She decided to put out her CV and, at the time, the Worldspan distributor was looking for someone with African exposure, which she had through the mining company, and so she made the move. Worldspan is a provider of travel technology and content and a part of the Travelport GDS business.

“At the time, some of the people I met in the travel industry said: ‘Be careful, because travel is

like a bug that bites you and you will never leave’,” she says. She spent about 18 months in the industry before returning to the mining industry. Even if she didn’t know it at the time, she had been bitten.

Claudette had been working in the mining sector in West Africa when she decided to come back to South Africa. “I was looking for something to do and I didn’t want to get into mining in South Africa, so I reached out to some of my travel colleagues and then joined the travel industry again.”

That was just over four years ago. “Elements like operations, marketing, and sales can be applied across industries,” she says.

She registered for a doctorate last year, but has put that on pause to focus on her new role. She says while some people question the point of having a PhD in the travel industry, it’s always been on her list. “At my very first graduation I saw someone get on stage with that red cloak and I just said to myself: ‘I have got to have that one day’.”

Getting to know Claudette Claudette has lived in

or done business in 24 African countries. If she could be president,

she would change the way the elderly are treated. “In South Africa, we treat prisoners

better than we treat the elderly.” She trains a lot and is

frequently at the gym. Like many of her

colleagues, Claudette is a golfer but it’s actually a sport she picked up

to spend more time with her ageing father. Claudette is a sand

and surf kind of person who likes island living while on holiday, preferably without mobile connection.

The eternal academic

“Some of the people I met in the travel industry said: ‘Be careful, because travel is like a bug that

bites you and you will never leave’.” Claudette Thorne

8 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

Adventure enthusiasts should consider India as a serious contender. Debbie Badham asks the experts what’s on offer for adrenalin seekers.

The adventure travel scene heats up

TRAVELLERS are increasingly recognising India as a hub of

adventure activity. With its landscape of diverse extremes and unique cultures, it’s not difficult to see why.

In fact, assistant director of India Tourism, I.R.V. Rao, reveals that there was about a 4% increase in adventure travellers from across the world last year.

Despite the growth in numbers, there is still significant opportunity for agents to promote and sell India as a more off-the-beaten track destination, says Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager of Travel Vision. She points out that India is still primarily known as a drawcard for ethnic travel and, for first-time travellers, its famous Golden Triangle.

However, the country has a lot more to offer, says Annemarie, with

everything from trekking in Kashmir Ladakh to religious excursions in Varanasi and food experiences to tempt travellers.

Indeed, India is popular for everything from white-water river rafting to scuba diving, rock climbing, paragliding, motor biking and skiing, says Rao.

The following are some particularly popular options.

The great trek With peaks of 4 950m at the Ganda La Base Camp and up to 5 150m at Shang Sumdo, trekking in Ladakh in northern India is a must for adventure travellers, says Annemarie.

Adventures in the snowFor avid skiers, Gulmarg near Srinagar, the northernmost city in India, offers the best experiences with great facilities and good slopes, recommends Rao. “Our institute in Gulmarg

conducts short-term training courses for adventure lovers,” he adds.

Water activities with a twistThere’s also a great deal on offer in the way of water activities, with white water rafting in Rishikesh in the northern state of Uttarakhand, a great option for those seeking an adrenalin rush, says Dinesh Naidoo, group operations director, Serendipity Worldwide Group.

For something a bit more unusual he recommends that travellers try walking over the frozen lake at Zanskar in Ladakh or climbing the frozen waterfall in Spiti Valley, which lies in north India. The highly unusual niche sport of ice climbing is actually a form of mountaineering, except that climbers are traversing icefalls, frozen waterfalls and cliffs covered with ice. Just getting to one of these

waterfalls is considered an adventure in itself.

High up or down below Travellers to India can also find high adventure activities ‘in the air’. Among the top options, says Dinesh, are paragliding in Goa, southwestern India, and bungee jumping in Rishikesh.

If travellers are interested

in heading off the beaten track and going where few others have gone before, they can take advantage of the caves in Meghalaya in northeast India, says Dinesh. The nine longest and deepest caves in India are located in the state and there are still a number of unexplored and partially unexplored caves in Meghalaya.

Air Mauritius offers more options to IndiaAIR Mauritius has increased its capacity on routes between South Africa and Mauritius, providing travellers connecting through to India with increased options.

The airline currently offers fast and convenient connections via Mauritius to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. It flies to Mauritius from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

From April 1, Air Mauritius now operates a fourth flight between

Durban and Mauritius, meaning the airline operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It operates its Airbus A340-300 between Cape Town and Mauritius twice a week, effective March 28. The wide-body aircraft is used on new overnight flights on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Travellers bound for India are offered a free stopover in Mauritius on all non-connecting flights with Air Mauritius. This includes accommodation at a four- or five-star

hotel, airport transfers and selected meals.

“We have also recently reduced the YQ tax on our India routes, making us one of the most cost-effective options to India, in both economy and business class,” says Carla da Silva, regional general manager: Southern Africa and Latin America.

The airline’s fares start from R5 284, including taxes, to India from all South African points, and R22 500 in business class from all South African points.

India

The Spiti Valley is home to the frozen waterfall.

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Top ideas for tamer tastesNOT every traveller in search of adventure is a fan of adrenalin-pumping activities. Some are simply looking for off-the-beaten-track

experiences in an exotic location, and India’s diverse offering caters perfectly for all types of adventure seekers.

Book it!

RwandAir is offering great fares from Johannesburg to Mumbai, starting from R4 300 return, including taxes. The special is valid until June 30, subject to availability and change. The airline currently offers one of the quickest connections to India. Flights depart from Johannesburg at 16h40 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, arriving in Kigali at 21h50. The flight from Kigali to Mumbai departs the next day at 00h35, arriving in Mumbai at 11h05. The return flight from Mumbai to Kigali departs at 01h45 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Kigali at 05h15. The flight from Kigali to Johannesburg departs at 09h15 on the same day, arriving in Johannesburg at 14h14.

INDIA

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Beach to backwaterThe beaches of Goa are a good option, advises Annemarie, and says Arambol is known for its paragliding and dolphin viewing. “The shady palm trees and soft sands of Palolem Beach, also known as Paradise Beach, provide a great backdrop for dolphin cruises and picturesque sundowners at one of the many beach bars lining the water.”

For a more unusual

water experience, travellers can cruise the backwaters of Kerala in the south of the country, in a handmade masterpiece houseboat, adds Annemarie. The backwaters are one

of the most popular tourist attractions in Kerala, and are home to a number of unique species of aquatic life, including water birds, frogs, and animals such as otters.

A houseboat cruise is an unusual way to see Kerala.

A touch of cultureTrekking in the Himalayas is another popular option for travellers looking for softer adventure experiences, says SWG’s Dinesh Naidoo. While a trek through the Himalayas with its high mountains and deep gorges might well be associated with extreme adventure, travellers can

also engage in treks that focus on culture and scenery. Altitude aside, the walks are perhaps easier than many might imagine.

For cultural encounters with a difference, Dinesh recommends camel safaris in Jaipur and elephant rides up Amber Fort, also

in Jaipur. Adventure travellers often head to India for religious encounters, says Annemarie. “A visit to Varanasi or northern India, which features the likes of Dharamsala and is known for sightings of the Dalai Lama, will fulfil all of travellers’ expectations and more.”

Phenomenal foodie toursAnother adventure option, comments Annemarie, is a real food tour. “They say that in India the

food and language change every 200km. So travellers headed from Delhi in the north

to Goa in the south will have much to explore and experience, travelling over 1 900km.”

Festival fun

Scenic bike ride

India is well known for its vibrant events and festivals. Travel Vision’s Annemarie Lexow recommends the Holi Colour Festival, an important

spring festival that typically takes place at the end of winter. Participants celebrate by spraying one another with coloured powder.

Holi is an important festival at the start of spring.

RwandAir offers good connections to Mumbai.

“Many tourists travel on bike from Manali to Leh in Ladakh when the road opens between mid-July and October each year,” says

India Tourism’s I.R.V. Rao. The scenic tour is said to cover some of the most picturesque highways in the world.

10 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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COACH TOURSCoach tour operators have done much to deliver a quality product to South Africans, and continue to adapt to preferences, discovers Chana Boucher.

Touring styles reinvented“THE days of ‘if it’s

Tuesday, it must be Belgium’ are

long gone,” says Theresa Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar SA. When reinventing and revitalising coach touring, she says the term ‘guided holidays’ was coined as this was what clients were really looking for.

“Trafalgar has refined the

different ways in which we meet guest expectations. We offer different travel styles to suit their needs. A guest may be looking for a guided holiday that offers longer stays, later starts and more free time. Our Leisure trip style is the perfect match.

“Guests looking to explore a region in more detail will be well served by our Regional Explorers, which take in one or two countries in depth,” she explains.

Similarly, Alet Steyn, gm of Asian specialist, Wendy Wu Tours, says: “We used to offer Classic fully inclusive tours only, but we realised that every traveller is different, so we developed different touring styles to help clients see Asia in the way that suits them best.”

Now, Wendy Wu clients can still see the highlights of the region on a Classic fully inclusive tour, but also get in-depth insights of Asia on an Immerse Yourself tour or experience it in luxury with the Exclusive Collection. “Clients could also choose a private tour or an Asia river cruise if group touring isn’t for them,” she adds.

Janine Pienaar, sales and marketing manager of Globus Family of Brands, says itineraries are designed based on demand and consumers’ travel preferences. “Every year we introduce new tours designed for the true traveller,” she adds.

Debunking mythsThe consultant who thinks coach tours are for older people, itineraries aren’t

flexible and groups comprise more than 40 passengers, couldn’t be more wrong, according to Alet. Wendy Wu’s Immerse Yourself tours, for example, consist of smaller groups of 18 passengers, feature more free time with fewer meals included, leaving passengers to explore at their own pace, or take up a choice of optional excursions on days at leisure. “These tours are popular with younger travellers looking for more active and authentic cultural experiences like cycling, rafting, hiking and visiting local families and homestays,” says Alet.

“One of the major misconceptions is that we only travel using a bus,” says Theresa. “We don’t. There are no buses to be found. We only use luxury coaches equipped with reclining seats, air-conditioning, audio visual systems, WiFi, charging stations for electronics, comfortable leg-room, excellent viewing from panoramic windows and

highly qualified drivers who know how to navigate the areas we travel through safely and with ease. We also use water taxis, trains, ships and more to get our guests from A to B.”

Janine adds that people incorrectly think there’s no free time on a coach tour. “With Cosmos Holidays we have mastered the balance of including must-see sites and allowing clients enough time to explore on their own.

“Having said this, there are clients who prefer not to explore on their own and rather have the major attractions included; this is where Globus Holidays comes in.”

Carlos Luis, Flight Centre Travel Group’s supplier relationship leader, agrees. “Guided holidays and coach tours are often perceived as inflexible with large groups of passengers. The reality is different and travellers are starting to see the benefits of escorted tours, especially in terms of safety and reliability.”

Unique selling pointsTheresa highlights that Trafalgar’s guided holidays offer experiences that the ordinary man on the street can’t put together on his own. For example, travellers get to explore centuries-old Italian art followed by dinner in the Vatican “with no crowds because the last of the tourists have left the building”.

Other benefits, she says, include getting to skip the queues “like the ultimate VIP at all iconic favourites” and never having to worry about luggage, or producing passports and credit cards at check-in. “Our team will see that luggage is taken care of and delivered to your hotel rooms. Check-in is smooth and hassle-free as the travel director has already taken care of this long before the coach arrives at the hotel,” says Theresa.

Inge Dobihal, md of Austria Connection, says coach tours are great for travellers who want all aspects of their trip taken care of. They don’t have to worry about the day-to-day plans, getting from point A to B, getting to train or bus stations, organising sightseeing tours and so on.

“Another advantage is there will be a tour director who one can ask questions and have interesting conversations with on the destinations. This applies especially to our Kompas and Atlas tours, which primarily cover destinations most passengers are rather unfamiliar with. One great plus point in this respect is that the tour directors of all our coach tours are from an

Theresa Szejwallo

Carlos Luis

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday April 11 2018 n 11

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COACH TOURS

Eastern European country,” adds Inge.

Theresa says Trafalgar offers real opportunities to connect with locals. “The Be My Guest lunch and dinners offer a real taste of culture. For example, in Ireland our guests visit the Barrtra Seafood Restaurant for lunch, but before they tuck into a single bite they’ll join the coastal foraging excursion along a beach near the Cliffs of Moher, with a horticultural expert to collect the produce.”

Wendy Wu Tours also offers authentic experiences. “Be it learning a local craft, practising an old tradition, dining on local flavours or meeting local families in their community, clients have the chance to really get under the skin of a country and its culture to see a lifestyle so different to our own,” says Alet.

She points out that coach tours offer great value as they are fully inclusive of airfare, taxes, meals, visas, accommodation and touring

detailed in the itinerary. Karen Lewis of Club Travel

Corporate, says there has been an increase in demand for coach tours. “I have especially seen an increase in travellers between the age of 40 and 60 as they see the prices of the tours.” She says costs are normally better than a tailor-made trip. A selling point is also the chance clients get to meet new people.

Carlos says, with all the information available to travellers, making sure they are including all the highlights in their trip can be overwhelming. “Touring companies do all that homework for you. Their product experts scour the globe for unique experiences that showcase all the flavours of a destination so that you ensure, with your limited time, you’re seeing as much as you can and the best experiences.”

Further, he says the buying power of the touring companies usually means passengers benefit from great hotel rates and special treatment.

Sell it to solosREPORTS have shown an increase in travellers exploring the world alone. For solo travellers still looking for a way to share their experiences with others, coach tours should be at the top of their list.

“More than one-third of all people travelling with Cosmos are single or travelling alone,” says Janine Pienaar of Globus Family of Brands. Coach tours, she says, enable solo travellers to travel with like-minded people. “You constantly have companions with whom to experience the destinations and make lifelong friends.”

Inge Dobihal of Austria Connection says being part of a group is attractive to single travellers. “They can have company should they wish to and people with whom they can share their feelings about the experiences of the trip.”

One of the reasons Wendy Wu Tours’ Alet Steyn says fully inclusive escorted coach tours are popular with solo travellers is that they feel safer travelling in a group. “We get plenty of great feedback from solo travellers about the friendly and sociable atmosphere for our groups.”

According to Trafalgar’s Theresa Szejwallo, guided holidays are perfect for solo travellers as they offer all the benefits of group travel without any of the negatives. A concern for solo travellers is what to do in the evenings, but Theresa says Trafalgar offers regular evening entertainment and opportunities to dine with fellow travellers.

Making it affordableTrafalgar has attractive solo deals that offer as much as 100% of the single supplement waiver on a range of its most popular trips. It also offers room sharing.

As an alternative to the single room supplement, Janine says Cosmos accepts reservations on a ‘guaranteed’ basis. “We charge

the basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded rooms. If no other traveller has booked on the same basis, we’ll absorb the single room supplement and that traveller will be accommodated in a single room at no extra charge.” But she adds that single travellers who prefer the privacy of their own room can reserve single accommodation.

It’s not just solo travellers who love coach tours. Inge says they are also suited to elderly travellers as they don’t need to worry about carrying suitcases and have peace of mind knowing someone is there to take care of them if necessary.

Karen Lewis of Club Travel Corporate says of the coach tour: “People either love them or hate them – I think it depends on the person’s personality; whether they like being around people or exploring on their own. I think whether you end up enjoying it or disliking it depends on the people you have on the tour with you.” She adds that it is worthwhile for travel agents to sell coach tours, but that they should qualify their clients correctly.

Janine Pienaar

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Top coaching hot spotsACCORDING to tour operators, the following destinations are currently in vogue. Russia: “A popular

destination for South Africans now that visas have been scrapped, but not easy to navigate on your own. This is where a Trafalgar guided holiday really comes into its own,” says Trafalgar’s Theresa Szejwallo. Trafalgar travel directors speak English and Russian, drivers navigate the road systems and clients skip queues at popular sites.

Croatia: “Often not thought of as a guided holiday destination, but with so much to explore, from Zagreb in the north to Dubrovnik in the south, there’s no better way to ensure you see all

Croatia has to offer,” says Globus Family of Brands’ Janine Pienaar.

Morocco: Janine says the diverse country offers so much to see, from the Atlas Mountains and Sahara Desert to the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. “Splurge in the colourful souks or visit a fascinating kasbah – Morocco is best explored in the comfort of a guided holiday, especially if you are a lady travelling solo.”

South and Central America: Destinations such as Peru, Patagonia, Costa Rica and Mexico are excellent guided holiday options, according to Janine. “As English is not necessarily widely spoken in these regions, it would

be best to have the help of a tour director and local guides on hand as you travel around.”

Alaska: “With the Spectacular Alaska! Globus Holidays tour, we have obtained a complimentary upgrade for our guests on the Alaska Railroad that travels through the spectacular Alaskan scenery,” says Janine.

Oberammergau: The famous Passion Play takes place in this German village every 10 years. Janine says: “Join a Cosmos or Globus Oberammagau 2020 tour and be assured of enjoying this awe-inspiring Passion Play with tickets included as part of the tour.”

Did you know?

With Cosmos Holidays you can add a train journey or Alaskan cruise to selected itineraries. Some of the train journeys on offer include VIA Rail’s Canadian, VIA Rail’s Skeena train from Jasper to Prince Rupert, VIA Rail’s Ocean and the well-known Rocky Mountaineer. For an ocean cruise, the options include an Alaskan cruise on Holland America’s ships enjoying ports of call such as Glacier Bay National Park and Sitka.

COACH TOURS

A guided holiday is the best way to see Russia.

An Alaska cruise can be added to some coach itineraries.

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Did you know?

Globus gives you more to sellIN 2018, the Globus Family of Brands celebrates its 90th birthday. Between the festivities, the company is also enhancing its product offering. This year, it introduced nine Undiscovered Italy itineraries focusing on areas outside Rome, Florence and Venice.

It also added more itineraries for popular destinations such as Croatia and Iceland.

In addition, three new seven-day tours for under $1 000pps (R12 300) were introduced: Rome, Florence and Venice; Highlights from Andalusia; and Postcard from Portugal.

Sweeten the dealVALUE for money is one of the strongest selling points in favour of coach tours. To add to the offering, most touring companies include discounts, extras and more, making it a no-brainer for travellers searching for a good deal. Some of these include: Globus offers travel

insurance – SafetyNet Protection – which allows clients to change or cancel their tour without penalties.

Escapes by Globus – Thinner

Crowds, Thicker Wallets. This is a compilation of the best itineraries in Europe, presented during the less-crowded low season to make Europe’s most popular destinations more affordable.

Trafalgar’s discounts include an early booking discount of 5% for Europe and Britain until May 29; 5% discount for repeat travellers; 5% off per person for groups of five to eight people; discounts

of up to 10% for younger travellers and more.

Trafalgar also offers Deposit Protection, so if a guest cancels their trip, they won’t lose their deposit. It is kept on file for up to five years as a credit towards a future trip.

With Austria Connection, travellers can join a tour one or two days late or end the tour a day or two earlier and receive a deduction from the tour price for the unused nights.

Wendy Wu Tours has a ‘seat-and-a-half’ policy on coaches so clients can sit in comfort while touring.

Wendy Wu Tours is offering a Vietnam Impressions 10-day fully inclusive escorted group tour from R28 456pp ex-Johannesburg. Highlights include all meals, a stroll through Hanoi, waking to a Ha Long Bay sunrise (pictured), a cooking class in Hoi An, exploring Saigon, drifting along the Mekong Delta and exploring the Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo: Getty Images

Book it!

COACH TOURS

Venice is included in a new seven-day tour.

14 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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• China • Tibet • Nepal • Vietnam • Cambodia • Laos • Myanmar • Japan • India • Sri Lanka & beyond

Contact details: Tel: 010 001 9998 | reservations@wendywutours.co.za | wendywutours.co.zaTNW8638SD

A coach is not a bus!WHEN promoting chartered coach travel offered by Bidvest Car Rental, Gaynor von Loggenburg, executive: sales and marketing, says agents should remember to explain the difference between luxury coaches and commuter buses.

Consultants should also point out that coach travel takes longer than travel by car, as coaches travel at a maximum of 100 km/h.

Luxury coaches, she says, are ideal for transporting groups in safety and comfort, are air-conditioned

and feature reclining seats, DVD and audio systems, a toilet and fridge on board.

Further, Bidvest Car Rental customers can use their car-rental accounts for coach reservations, and competitive

negotiated rates are in place for all customers.

Coach charters are aimed at companies transporting groups to conferences and/or events, transport for sports teams and supporters, church groups and groups attending funerals, among others.

COACH TOURS

Austria Connection adds 13-day Balkan tourAUSTRIA Connection now offers a 13-day, 12-night Atlas itinerary for clients interested in exploring the Balkans.

The tour, which starts and ends in Croatia and offers guaranteed 2018 departures, features visits to Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Macedonia.

It includes airport transfers, accommodation in three- and four-star hotels (mostly on a half-board basis), local guides for sightseeing tours, entrance fees for various attractions, travel in an air-conditioned motor coach, a tour escort and more.

Some highlights of the tour include city

tours of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Split as well as tours of Unesco sights such as the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Diocletian’s Palace, Kotor and the lakeside resort of Ohrid. There are also visits to the Cathedral of St Lawrence, the Franciscan Monastery, Europe’s third-oldest pharmacy and King Nikola’s Museum.

The prices per person, for double occupancy, are:May 15:- €1 575 (R22 934)June 5: €1 575July 3 and 31: €1 650 (R24 015)August 21: €1 650September 11: €1 650Single supplement: €360 (R5 240).

Explore, rest, repeatAPART from being an easy sell and offering budget-conscious clients great value for money, there’s another reason travel consultants should be selling coach holidays – repeat business.

Coach tours are a great way to gain loyal clients as those who enjoy the structure and experience often return for more. According to an article in The Telegraph, as much as 50% of the business UK touring companies have

seen in recent years has been repeat customers.

The picture in South Africa is similar. Carlos Luis of Flight Centre Travel Group, says there is a definite repeat client base with most touring suppliers. “Guided holidays are very popular among South African travellers and the ratio of repeat business is high. The fact that you [as the agent] have recommended a holiday they’ve enjoyed so much they want to go

on another, bodes well for repeat bookings for you too,” he says.

Most companies, including Trafalgar and Globus, offer discounts for returning customers, which is something worth pointing out to clients when making their bookings or following up on their return.

Carlos adds: “Our repeat clients will receive a discount to book their next trip, which ensures brand loyalty.”

Sell with certaintyANOTHER common perception some consultants may have that could put them off selling coach tours is that the travel dates are not guaranteed as touring companies require a minimum amount of passengers for a tour to go ahead.

But this is not always the case. Janine Pienaar, sales and marketing manager of the Globus Family of Brands, says guaranteed departures are offered

on Globus and Cosmos escorted tours. “The tour is guaranteed to operate, regardless of passenger numbers. We’re dedicated to ensuring a client’s trip is worry- and hassle-free, even when booking,” she explains. Similarly, all Austria Connection’s coach tours offer guaranteed departures, says Inge Dobihal.

For agents’ peace of mind, Trafalgar offers Definite Departures. Theresa Szejwallo says this an

“excellent tool for agents to confidently sell Trafalgar and we’re delighted to announce that a total of 17 countries on five continents are now listed as definite departures”.

She says some of the latest hotspots guaranteed to depart cover Europe (Spain, Scandinavia, Scotland, Portugal and Germany); Asia (China and India); Africa (Morocco); and North and South America (Canada, Alaska, Peru and Costa Rica).

Gaynor von Loggenburg

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Candice May, at candicem@nowmedia.co.za or (011) 214 7330.

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday April 11 2018 n 15

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Write your own salary cheque!Advertising Sales Executive wanted for a daily news website that speaks to professionals in corporate travel procurement and the

meetings, conferencing and events industry.

Travel & Meetings Buyer (www.tam.co.za) is looking for someone who thrives on the challenge of finding and securing new clients and

uncovering business opportunities.

We require: a proven track record in sales and / or the corporate travel industry. B2B sales experience an advantage.

Interested?

Send CV to: careers@nowmedia.co.za

Only short listed applicants will be contacted.

Pick of the week

These adverts were selected from the vacancy section of www.travelinfo.co.za For more details contact jobs@travelinfo.co.za

brought to you by

TNW

7930

Groups Consultant – JNB NorthProfessional Career ServicesInbound tour operator requires a groups specialist who can plan and execute itineraries for clients. Costings. Good knowledge of Southern Africa. Email: jeancv@pcs-sa.co.za

Senior Corporate Consultant – DURLee Botti & AssociatesUtilize your senior experience looking after VIP and Government accounts. Leader in travel seeks your exceptional corporate skills. Email: ericaks@leebotti.co.za

Travel Admin Buyer – JNB NorthProfessional Career ServicesMICE industry knowledge. Liaise with suppliers, DMC’s, airlines and hotel groups. Amadeus experience. International fares & issue/re-issue tickets. Email: nonocv@pcs-sa.co.za

Finance Manager – DURLee Botti & AssociatesTo start immediately. Bcomm honours with minimum 5 years’ financial management experience, preferably in travel. Good package offered. Email: ericaks@leebotti.co.za

Cosimo Brescia, chairman and ceo of XL Sandown Travel, has died suddenly. Cosimo started his career in the car industry, where he worked as a director for Fiat for many years, and fell in love with South Africa during a posting here. He later resigned from Fiat and purchased Sandown Travel in 1983 and remained in the country.

Cosimo loved the work and grew the agency from strength to strength over the years. His greatest passion was to showcase the beauty of South Africa to visiting tourists,

something that he repeatedly went out of his way to do. He also played a key role in the formation of the XL Travel Group and was one of the 13 original members that broke away from Sure Travel in 2004.

Marco Ciocchetti, ceo of XL Travel, described Cosimo as motivated, creative and passionate even in his late seventies. “He did not believe in retirement and was as motivated as a youngster going in to work

every day. He had incredible ideas and loved what he was doing. He will be deeply missed by all his colleagues, friends and family,” said Marco.

Cosimo leaves his wife and two sons,

who are both highly involved in XL Sandown Travel – Bruno works in the inbound division of the company while Nicola works in the retail side. His sons are expected to take over the running of the company.

Cosimo Brescia

Obituary

World Leisure Holidays md, Ramesh Jeenarain, and his wife, Varsha, welcomed a baby boy into the world last month. Pictured here are the new parents with baby Aryan. He was born on March 14, weighing in at 2,55kg.

Hello, Aryan!

To advertise on this page email antheah@nowmedia.co.za

Leanne takes a bowLeanne Muir, sales manager – travel of Tsogo Sun, has resigned after being with the hotel, gaming and entertainment group for 27 years, to follow personal pursuits.

“It has been an amazing adventure working with Tsogo Sun and the travel industry.

“I have met many interesting and fun characters along the way, some of whom have become close friends who I am grateful for. I will treasure all the memories forever. Unfortunately, it is time to

say goodbye – hopefully not forever, but for now,” says Leanne.

Leanne Muir

Appointment Victoria Falls Safari Club has appointed Dionne Mutsonziwa as manager. Dionne has a degree from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. She was previously the food and beverage manager of the Victoria Falls Hotel and, more recently, the manager of Zambezi House – Bar and Canteen. She has also worked in management positions at the St Regis and Grand Hyatt hotel groups in Washington DC in the US.

16 n Wednesday April 11 2018 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

TNW NEWS

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or info@etravel.co.za

TNW7136

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

eTravel is the ITC market leader in South Africa and assists senior Travel Consultants and Travel business owners to realise their dreams. If you have ever dreamt of owning your own travel business or would like to cut costs by doing away with your IATA license and improve your current business efficiencies then you should call eTravel. We run the back office for over 200 Independent Travel Companies and specialise in making your travel business a success by offering the best commissions, overrides & a comprehensive support structure. If you have a client base, 5 years travel consultant experience or already own your own business but want to make more, then contact us! You’ll be amazed at how easy it is!

Contact Tammy on 0861eTrave1 or info@etravel.co.za

TNW7136

Yes No

Have you seen an increase in forward bookings?

Pax are still booking ahead

46%54%

New fraud screening product

Long-haul LCC lands in Cape Town

on the Paris-Cape Town route until April 10 (Code JOON460).

Wesgro Cape Town Air Access project manager, Paul van den Brink, said

Joon was a good fit for the Cape Town market, which saw a 7% increase in international arrivals in January and February this year. He said the French market had grown

by 33% in 2017. On April 4, Joon added

Tehran to its long-haul network. Fortaleza in Brazil follows on May 3, Mahé on May 5 and Mumbai on June 18.

Thornybush has big changes on the horizon with plans for a new six-star tented camp! Keep an eye on TNW for more details. The dropping of the fence separating Thornybush Nature Reserve from Greater Kruger has given more ranging area to the wildlife and changing their movement patterns, resulting in more chance sightings. On the lookout is Nic Griffin, chief executive, Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Collection. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Watch this space!

Home Affairs downtime causes chaos for travellersCandiCe May

DEPARTMENT of Home Affairs (DHA) offices’ systems

around the country have been experiencing severe downtime of late, causing chaos for both travellers and agents who need certain identification or passport documents to apply for visas and book travel.

Reducing downtime is currently at the top of Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba’s, agenda, according to the department.

An industry insider told TNW that one of his clients

had been trying to collect their Smart ID Card at the Newtown office for three weeks. When he last accompanied his client to try and collect the card, the systems were offline again. Over 300 people were lined up outside and a group of outraged customers actually stormed into the office, overpowering the security guards and pushing into others in the queues, before the police were called.

Another source told TNW that their client had visited the Wynberg office five times to renew their son’s passport and four of the five times,

their systems were offline. In both cases, the downtime has prevented the travellers from going ahead with their holiday plans.

Mayihlome Tshwete, spokesperson for the DHA, is aware of the constant downtime at DHA offices all over the country and the extreme delays that it is causing. “The DHA unfortunately cannot do anything when SITA, our IT service provider, is offline. There is currently a weakness in the software network that needs to be fixed to ensure stability and consistency in our systems.”

Booking EU, UK pax? Tread carefullySarah robertSon

AGENTS breaching a new European Union privacy regulation could face fines of up to 4% of annual turnover.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is effective May 25. The law applies to any organisation operating anywhere in the world handling personal data of EU residents and EU passport holders. The UK has indicated its intention to comply post-Brexit.

John Cato and Dr Peter Tobin, consultants at IACT-Africa, explain that organisations outside the EU are likely to be considered data controllers in terms of

the EU GDPR and are required to appoint a representative in the EU who should be an interface to the authorities in the EU. IACT-Africa is able to assist agents in locating each authority. Any breaches of personal information of an EU passport holder should be reported to this representative.

John speculated that initially, international enforcement of GDPR would be handled only in the instance of complaints being raised. These would be investigated by the SA Information Regulators and could proceed to prosecution through the South African courts should remedial action not be taken.

implemented, both airlines and agents can seamlessly track ticketing purchase processes right through to the completion of a journey.

Marco Ciochetti, ceo of XL Travel, says while no airlines have adopted the brand-new product yet, he would, without a doubt, encourage all airlines to implement it. Dinesh agrees.

“All agencies have been victims of credit card fraud at some point,” he says, adding that the product needs to be implemented by the entire airline industry.

The product enhances

Travelport’s existing Card Payment Gateway by integrating with ACI’s ReD Shield platform.

ReD Shield is part of the UP Payments Risk Management solution, which utilises advanced data analytics, adaptive machine learning and customer profiling techniques and is backed by patented predictive models and global fraud intelligence and supported by a team of expert risk analysts.

“The major advantage of combining Travelport Authorize Plus with ACI ReD Shield is that we have built

a fully integrated solution, which applies fraud control management without the need for both our airline and agent customers to do any major development or change their workflow process of today,” says Derek Sharp, senior vice president and md of air commerce, Travelport.

Additional features include dynamic fraud screening of card payments used to purchase air tickets via Travelport-connected agents, the ability to flag and prevent ticket issuance and detailed online management reports of all transactions and status.

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