This short travelogue follows the discovery of a set of images taken during a trip a relative took whilst on holiday in South Africa in 1957. His handwriting was even worse than mine, so I am unfortunately not able to identify specific locations or people. He traveled from Germany by boat, calling in at Cape Town, … Continue reading A road trip in the Free State and neighbouring Lesotho
It’s time to look beyond the membership fee for new opportunities in the travel and leisure industry. It's time for tourism businesses to really engage and start promoting their destination first, their product second. Why then, should DMO’s now support the businesses who supply into their destination offer? We are all so inter-connected these days … Continue reading Isn’t it time small #tourism businesses looked beyond the DMO membership fee?
Another week, another World Travel Market and each year I can’t fail to notice the footprints of some geographical areas continue to shrink, and the quality of stands gives off a tired and ‘must-we-be-here’ vibe. But there are still lots of growing footprints with big-ticket stands, some with intimidating fortress-like walls into which only the … Continue reading Fewer platitudes would reassure potential visitors about the safety of your destination
To come in under the radar, you have to harness the energy, insights and influence of your local businesses to build the brand with you. You are the enabler, not the controller. For a brand to have an identity that consumers use and trust is the holy grail. But you need to have marketing muscle … Continue reading Brand Building. By Stealth
Origin: early 21st century: blend of glamorous and camping = glamping.How fickle is the camping consumer? Has glamping really become a leisure habit, or is it a trend heading south?I have done my fair share of mainly conventional camping in the UK and abroad, the sight of a tent peg doesn’t turn me cold, but strangely when … Continue reading Cotton sheets, or sleeping bag? Has glamping really become a leisure habit, or is it a trend heading south?
The High Commission of South Africa in London is the diplomatic and public face of South Africa in the UK and has one of the best addresses in town - right on Trafalgar Square. I have visited many times, and it certainly feels like stepping into a time capsule that takes me back to a … Continue reading Just because the lady loves flowers.
I have long wanted to return to Hogarth’s House and the lovely spring weather drew me westwards, along the river path from Hammersmith towards the pretty village of Chiswick, a mere six miles from Charing Cross.London in the springtime; coats left at home, pink cherry blossom, LBJ’s (little brown job’s) busy in the warm sunshine, … Continue reading Marooned beside London’s ugliest roundabout, sits a handsome 18th century house
I sometimes wonder if visitors who are in east London think they are there by accident, or have been mistakenly sent there by their friends or hotel concierge who are playing some sort of cruel joke. I tend to find myself on a busmans holiday whenever I set off on a day trip and this … Continue reading It’s all about location location location.
Ever since I started in the tourism business, trade shows have been an integral, if misunderstood part of the communications landscape. On the one hand you were excited because it meant getting out of the office for a few days with the occasional bonus of not having to travel to Birmingham - and on the … Continue reading Just what is the point of Travel Trade Shows?
There are some parts of the world where crime flourishes, and gun crime in particular. This article is not about the rights and wrongs of gun ownership, but the impact it has on international tourism which is vital for job and wealth creation in all participating destinations. As an ex-pat living in the UK, I have read … Continue reading Gun Crime and Tourism – reality vs perceptions
Mary Tebje 