2011 Could Be A Bumper Year For Travel

Early predictions indicate that 2011 could be a bumper year for travel, with more tourists from the US and UK planning holidays abroad, according to a recent Tripadvisor survey.

In a poll of over 3,000 US-based travellers, 69% said they planned to take international trips next year. What’s more, they also plan to spend more while away, with 36% indicating that they will splash out more on travel in 2011 than they did in this year.

British travellers are also keen to travel long haul in 2011, with 66% of the 6,000 travellers surveyed stating that they plan to take an international trip next year. Over a third plan to spend more on their holidays in 2011 compared with 2010.

The survey also indicated that 2010 had been a year of travel anxieties, altering travel trends for the coming year. Top concerns for the Brits were further strikes but many were also worried about the rises in APD, the air travel tax, as well as the high-profile collapse of travel firms. US travellers are mostly concerned about high carry-on baggage fees, hotels fees and TSA full body scanners but believe 2010 has seen several positive developments for the traveller, including more online travel deals and cheaper hotel rates.

American tourists are also reporting a rise in ‘fake-ations’, where travellers take their work on their trip. Technological advances have led to 59% of travellers in employment being more connected to work than ever before on leisure trips in 2010. Most travellers admit to checking their work e-mail on leisure trips, while 13% call the office to check in. Only 8% consider the remoteness of their destination specifically to avoid connecting with work.

Medical Tourism Untouched In Hermanus

The Medical Tourism sector worldwide is growing exponentially and set to become a $100bn sector by 2012, according to industry research. The sector is growing at a whopping 20-30% annually and is bound to continue its growth pattern in the years to come.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the medical tourism industry is currently a $78.5bn industry [end-2010], catering to over three million patients who travel around the globe for medical care. The Middle East is one of the latent source markets of patients and it is estimated that 20% of healthcare seekers worldwide are from Gulf and Arab states. Significantly, patients from UAE alone spend about $2bn in healthcare travel on an annual basis. As a result, many countries are targeting the region to woo guests and patients to their own medical tourism destinations. Germany, in particular, and Europe, in general, have been a primary medical tourism hubs for hundreds of years and continue to lead the industry today followed by Asian countries such as Thailand, India and Malaysia. Boasting of an excellent healthcare system, high quality, safe and quick treatment.

Germany is considered to be a top destination for patients from all over the world, and particularly from the Middle East, UK and the US. Germany is also an attractive destination for patients from the region, in terms of distance, costs and tourism attractions - thus reinforcing it as a premier medical tourism hub in Europe.Source: ehotelior.com

Travel Stats Are On The Up And Up

StatsSA has released the arrivals numbers for October and, once again, the numbers of tourists, both overseas and regional, have shown increases across the board.

The US market appears to be showing very strong signs of recovery and other core markets are also on the up, including Canada, Australia, China and India. European markets are also showing promising returns with healthy growth over the month in comparison with 2009. The total overseas arrivals grew by 9,7% from 189 932 to 208 276 while African arrivals grew by 13% from 438 756 to 496 071.

The top overseas markets for October 2010 were:
UK, down 2,9% from 40 829 to 39 642
USA, up 22,9% from 19 536 to 24 002
Germany, up 6,8% from 23 300 to 24 895
The Netherlands, down 5,2% from 15 612 to 14 796
France, up 9,8% from 11 834 to 12 995
Australia, up 32,9% from 7 029 to 9 339
India, up 24,6% from 5 047 to 6 291
China, up 73,7% from 3 280 to 5 697
Canada, up 25% from 4 536 to 5 668
Switzerland, up 28% from 3 983 to 5 097

Source: SA Tourism Update

"Where are the Cape Whale Coast Whales" COMPETITION

The "Where are the Cape Whale Coast Whales" Competition ends on at midnight on the 15th December. So visit www.capewhalecoast.co.za and click on "Competition" now.

Enter the "Where are the Cape Whale Coast Whales " Competiton. SMS EUBALAENA AUSTRALIS plus your Name and E-mail Address to 35297 - SMS's cost R3 each.Enter before the 15th December to Win one of the Three Main Prizes!!! Nearly R40,000 worth of Main Prizes to be WON!!!!

Lufthansa Ahead Of Schedule

Lufthansa has confirmed that it will introduce its newest A380 aircraft to Johannesburg six weeks ahead of schedule.

From September 12, the Airbus A380 will depart Frankfurt for O.R. Tambo twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays returning to Germany on Mondays and Fridays. The remaining five days will be operated using the Boeing B747-400.The Airbus A380 has 526 seats in the best and most modern service classes offered by Lufthansa.

The completely revamped First Class, with eight generous seats on the upper deck, promotes a sense of individuality (I'll say). Business Class, with 98 seats on the upper deck, and Economy Class, with 420 seats on the main deck, provide unprecedented comfort and an impressive feeling of space. Lufthansa operate a daily non-stop service between Johannesburg and Frankfurt.

From October 26 until end of March 2011, a further daily non-stop flight from Cape Town to Frankfurt will be added to the airline’s timetable.

Source: SA Tourism Update

It's Not Only Our Whales We Need To Care Fur

International students say no to fur at the Design Against Fur 2010 competition.

The winners of the Europe & International regional competition have been announced. First prize went to Camille Clemmensen, Signe Andersen & Mai Mi Dahmlos Eriksen from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Source: Humane Society International

Where Are The Cape Whale Coast Whales?

In a bold and innovative manner, we at Southern Stroll Marketing have designed a competition to increase awareness and encourage holiday makers to visit the Cape Whale Coast. The competition was created to encompass the entire family, from Grand Daughter to Grand Mother.

The baby whales are up to mischief as usual and playing 'Hide and Seek'. Camo-Charlie is chasing Engine-Ernie and all mayhem is about to break loose. Visit the Cape Whale Coast website often to search for all the clues and keep an eye open for the Cape Whale Coast competition in the YOU magazine as well. Oh dear, Putting-Pat just missed a shot...