TU News : Namibian border closed to overland tours

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Namibian border closed to overland tours

Tourism Update Online has confirmed that Namibian border posts have been closed to overland tours as drivers are not being issued with temporary work permits to travel into the country. 
 

As a result, tour operators' vehicles are standing stationary at border posts.

 
The Namibian Tourism Board is aware of the situation and is expected to release a statement this morning. Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.
 
If you are experiencing the same problem, then let us know at editor@tourismupdate.co.za.

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TU News : Competition Commission investigates airline collusion allegations

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Competition Commission investigates airline collusion allegations

THE Competition Commission has initiated an investigation against major airlines.

BA Comair, South African Airways, 1Time, SA Airlink, Mango and SA Express for allegedly colluding on prices and pricing strategies to be adopted during the FIFA 2010 World Cup.

The notice issued by the Commission states:

In its application SAA gave the Commission e-mail correspondence between the airlines in which there are indications that the airlines might adjust air fares ahead of the World Cup.

In particular, the e-mail suggests that since there is no indication as to which flights will represent peak demand flights, airlines have the option to either not provide any inventory for sale until such time, or price all inventory at peak time rates until such time as they have greater certainty. This e-mail also suggests that airfares will have to be raised in order to cover various anticipated additional costs.

The Commission will investigate the allegations made by SAA and circumstances surrounding the allegations to determine if the airlines have colluded to increase prices or adopt similar pricing strategies ahead of the World Cup. If it finds that they have, the Commission will refer the case to the Competition Tribunal for a hearing and request an appropriate penalty.

Both SA Express and Comair have responded denying any collusion. SA Express spokesperson Dileseng Koetle says the airline has been involved in discussions, under the auspices of the Department of Transport, regarding capacity requirements for 2010, but added that this was simply to ensure adequate fleet planning.

Comair, said spokesperson Heidi Brauer, has not yet received the complaint from the Commission. "Comair neither practices nor supports any form of collusion and will cooperate fully with the Competition Commission once the complaint has been received."

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TU News : Great White shark warning in False Bay

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Great White shark warning in False Bay

A Zimbabwean man is missing after he was attacked by a shark late on Tuesday
afternoon off Fish Hoek beach in False Bay near Cape Town.

Craig Lambinon, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town's Shark Spotting
Programme, could not confirm an earlier local radio station report which
said the man had been killed. The identity of the man and further details
were not immediately available.

The attack came hours after the City of Cape Town issued a warning about
an increased presence of Great White sharks along the False Bay coastline
between Sunrise Beach and Fish Hoek.

The city's Shark Spotting Programme said it was normal for sharks to hunt and feed along this stretch of coastline at this time of the year. Until this afternoon's attack, there had been no incidents this summer season and sharks had not been seen to come close to beaches or swimmers.

Shark spotters keep watch for sharks and, through a system of various colour flags, alert swimmers and surfers to the level of visibility.

Sirens are sounded when  a shark is spotted.It was not immediately clear
from the report, if this had happened before the attack.

The city, in a statement, earlier in the day, asked bathers and surfers  along the False Bay coast to be cautious and pay attention to the following:
· To always adhere to the safety warnings of the shark spotters.
· To leave the water immediately when shark spotters sound their alarm to
warn of shark sightings.
· To always exercise extreme caution to avoid increasing the risk of a
shark encounter.

The Shark Spotting Programme was introduced a couple of years
ago to reduce the number of shark attacks and shark encounters at popular
Cape Town beaches. It is been funded by the City of Cape Town's
Environmental Resource Management Department (R750, 000 over the past two
years) and the World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF).

For information on recent shark movements in False Bay, visit
www.sharkspotters.org.za <http://www.sharkspotters.org.za>.

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TU News : SA cities make Top 50 for top travel site

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SA cities make Top 50 for top travel site

Both Cape Town and Johannesburg have been named as new entries in Skyscanner's Top 50 destinations for UK travellers.

 

Both cities' sudden popularity is attributed to the country's hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in June and July. The site also offers tips on how travellers can use indirect flights to obtain cheaper rates to visit during the tournament.

 

Johannesburg was placed at 21st position, while Cape Town came in at 33rd.

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TU News : Mozambique declares first marine protected area

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Mozambique declares first marine protected area

Mozambique has declared its first Marine Protected Area (MPA) that now links with the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in South Africa's KwaZulu Natal to create Africa's first transfrontier marine conservation area.

 

This now extends along 300 kilometres of unbroken coastline and pristine beaches from Maputo Bay in Mozambique to Cape St Lucia, the southern boundary of the iSimangaliso Park in South Africa.

 

The Mozambique MPA includes Inhaca and Portuguese islands, and the Maputo Special Reserve, stretching three nautical miles into the sea.

 

Fernando Sumbana, Mozambique's Tourism Minister, said the park was a vital step in protecting marine turtles that nest in high densities along the pristine beaches of the Maputo Special Reserve, as well as other rare or endangered species, marine mammals and ecosystems.

 

Activities such as industrial fishing, fishing on coral reefs or with explosives, and driving of motorised vehicles on theb each are now prohibited. The long-term vision is to create Africa's first trans-boundary marine World Heritage Site and Mozambique is applying for a listing with Unesco.

 

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999.

 

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