TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYJuly 20 2016 I No. 2407

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FEATURE

How to cope with lengthy check-ins

NEWSORTIA DELAYS

No more biometrics for SA travellers

NEWSDURBAN

More direct flights coming?

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eTravel hit its R1bn turnover target for its financial year, ending June 30. Pictured here celebrating its big achievement is ceo, Garth Wolff. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

eTravel hits target!natasha schmiDt

TWELVE years ago, Garth Wolff, ceo of eTravel, set a target of R1bn turnover for the ITC group.

Last month, the group achieved that target – with one day to spare – hitting R1,007bn. The company’s year-to-date sales (July 2015 to June 2016) were up 8% from R933m.

eTravel is bucking the trend. As the market remains

depressed, the ITC group has seen consistent growth over the first half of the year. In January and February, the group saw unprecedented growth, with sales up 19% and 20% respectively. Sales took a dip in March (-0,5%) as a result of the Easter holidays but were up again in April (15%), May (5%) and June (14%).

“In 2004 eTravel generated R198m for the 12 months

Bullseye!

To page 2

Agents fight POS issueDebbie baDham

AGENTS are escalating the issue of airfare point of sale (POS) by raising

the matter with airlines in an attempt to move from POS to point of commencement.

Maria Pereira, leisure manager of XL Sandown Travel, says the POS issue has become a constant area of discussion. “Agents have to hope clients aren’t aware of it because if they search online they will find cheaper fares.”

“I had an instance when a client requested a quotation on a Gulf carrier from London to SA in business class,” says Yumna Kharodia, md of Sweet Life Travel. “The system quoted a ridiculously high fare and when I went on to the airline’s website, I could access a fare that was a few thousand rand cheaper.”

David Pegg, md of Sure Viva Travels, says he is seeing more airlines releasing different class seats in markets outside SA. The problem, agents agree, is that clients are finding cheaper deals online, meaning they often lose the sale or are left to bear the brunt of a disgruntled client who thinks their agent is trying to rip them off.

“This is a huge issue at the moment and one that just gets worse with the exchange rate,” says Candice May, supply and product manager for Travelstart. She says it is a particular problem for OTAs who are competing with metasearch engines, which are usually based in Europe and have access to European inventory.

Candice says Travelstart has alerted the airlines to the problem, requesting that they take this issue up with their head offices. “Earlier

this month, we highlighted the urgency of the problem for the third time.” She says the issue affects the whole industry, including local airline offices, as they are losing sales to their European counterparts.

While British Airways says it has strict rules about POS abuse and will address this where and when it occurs, agencies are still bypassing these rules (TNW November 26, 2014) and creating office IDs overseas to access different fares. Travelstart says it conducts weekly checks and reports any irregularities to the airlines.

Club Travel has developed a solution to answer some of the challenges of POS restrictions. Md, Wally Gaynor, says the group saw it was an issue 18 months ago and implemented eGlobal Fares. “This lets us go

To page 16

Ghana delays visas on arrivalDorine reinsein

GHANA’S visa-on-arrival policy for African citizens has not yet been implemented, contradicting newspaper reports that the West African country had started issuing visas on arrival from July 8.

A spokesperson for the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, told TNW that travellers still needed to apply at the Ghana Embassy or High

Commission in their country of residence for a visa prior to travelling to Ghana. “We haven’t received any official documentation as yet, which is why we haven’t implemented the new measures. Travellers are still advised to apply for a visa prior to travelling to Ghana. People who arrive without a visa do so at their own risk,” he said.

Only in cases of emergency, can travellers ask for a visa on arrival, according to

the GIS spokesperson. However, a request for this

‘entry permit’ has to be filed by the Ghanaian host on behalf of the traveller with the Director of Immigration in Ghana. If granted, the ‘emergency entry permit’ is valid for only 14 days.

The High Commission in Pretoria also told TNW that the much-anticipated visa on arrival for AU citizens had not been implemented.

To page 16

2 n Wednesday July 20 2016 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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Top web stories

DHA stops biometrics for SA travellers TNW pick: Govt calls for TMC bids Travel Counsellors launches first consumer app African passport – new e-passport will pave the way TMCs must prioritise sustainability

eTravel hits target!ending June 30, 2004, and at that stage I believed so strongly in the future of the ITC model that I put my goal down on paper and told the group that by 2014 eTravel would become a billion-rand entity,” says Garth.

He attributes this success to the years he and his staff – particularly management – have spent honing the ITC model and “doing this right”. “You cannot underestimate the value of your intellectual property. Through consistency, simplicity, and constant communication we’ve learnt from mistakes and fine-tuned our business

practice to ensure we offer a professional service specialising in what we do best.”

This is the reason eTravel has seen ITCs return to the group, looking for a full suite ITC partner rather than just a ticketing solution, says Garth. “Independent agents who thought they could earn more by partnering with a ticketing solution provider have realised that the support a true ITC model offers is critical.”

And not only in terms of back office and administration. For example, when Gateway2Travel SA hotel booking engine went

bankrupt in April, eTravel assisted ITCs who had been left out of pocket. “Even though Gateway was not a preferred partner, we stepped in and paid 50% of our ITCs’ debt to hotels, amounting to over R500 000,” says Garth.

Going forward, eTravel will continue to invest in its ITCs, says Garth. “It’s not about the numbers any more. We’ve created a business with substantial buying power and we will continue to share our success with our ITCs.”

To celebrate reaching its R1bn target, eTravel will host a ‘Billion Bash’ party in Cape Town later this year. n

From page 1

Durban courts carriers for direct flightsDarise Foster

MORE international airlines are considering launching

direct flights out of Durban.Two airlines in India and

two in the UK are in talks to launch direct flights to Durban, according to Dube Tradeport air services specialist, Keith Green. Dube Tradeport is responsible for driving route development for Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

Keith told TNW that while conversations were “looking positive at this point” he could not mention which airlines had been approached.

“We have been trying to attract a direct London service for a while now and we are speaking to two carriers in that regard. Similarly, travellers are struggling to find convenient connections to India from Durban since SAA’s

discontinuation of flights to Mumbai from Johannesburg, so we are in conversations with two airlines on a potential direct Durban-India route,” says Keith.

An industry authority told TNW that Jet Airways was considering flying from India to Durban, but a representative from Jet Airways denied this: “At this moment we have no plans to fly to Durban.”

Norwegian is also rumoured to be one of the airlines considering flights to Durban.

Last year the airline said it was considering flights from Copenhagen to Cape Town and Durban as well as flights from London Gatwick to Cape Town (see TNW October 28, 2015). “Norwegian has secured a UK Air Operating Certificate, which will help open up access to bilateral traffic rights to a range of new routes including South America, Africa and Asia. Detailed planning for

Norwegian UK is now under way but at this early stage, no decisions about specific new routes have been made as yet,” said a spokesperson for Norwegian.

ANC MEC for economic development and chairperson of the ANC in KZN, Sihle Zikalala told TNW talks were being held with airlines in Angola and Namibia to launch direct flights to Durban.

Since Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways, Proflight Zambia and Turkish Airlines launched direct flights to and from the city, international passenger numbers at King Shaka International Airport had grown significantly, said Keith.

In March this year, international passenger numbers grew by 23% compared with March 2015. April 2016 saw growth of 25% compared with April 2015 and in May, passenger numbers grew by 30% compared with May 2015. n

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4 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

DHA scraps biometrics for SA travellers Debbie baDham

SOUTH AFRICAN travellers are no longer required to have their biometrics captured when flying in

and out of South African airports. Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi

Gigaba, announced that the recent roll-out of the biometric system for all passengers, creating up to three-hour delays for both outbound and inbound travellers, had been updated. “As soon as the system reads a South African passport it now picks up that biometrics are not needed,” he said.

Minister Gigaba said that, during the roll-out of the system, it came to the

attention of the Department of Home Affairs that there were not sufficient personnel to process the movement of all passengers with biometrics.

He also said that the processing of South African travellers’ biometrics had been an oversight as the information was superfluous because it was already contained in their ID documents.

According to the Minister, the system is now running smoothly and travellers are no longer experiencing delays.

The department is, however, advising travellers to proceed through security gates as soon as they have checked in for their flight, in order to avoid congestion at immigration counters. n

Trafalgar recently invited members of the trade to the launch of its 2017 USA and Canada brochure at Hard Rock Café in Sandton. The new brochure includes Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and Central America and invites travellers to explore everything from the Big Apple to the Grand Canyon. It also includes 31 new Be My Guest experiences such as tales from the South, a barbecue on a Texan ranch and meeting a crayfish expert in Maine. Agents can secure a 10% discount for clients if they book and pay by the end of November. Md, Theresa Szejwallo is pictured here with (from left) Khuliso Nwendamutswu (Una Leisure Travel Agency), Jeffrey Nkuna (Flight Centre) and Edgar Sadiki (Computicket Travel). Photo: Debbie Badham

Howdy, pardners!

TGCSA to unveil new grading criteriaTHE Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) is currently reviewing its grading criteria, with new criteria expected to be unveiled in November.

Darryl Erasmus, TGCSA chief quality assurance officer, told TNW that the council had begun to engage with industry associations as part of its reviewing process.

Associations the council has approached include the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (Fedhasa) and the Youth Travel Association.

Darryl said feedback thus far included the fact that travellers were insisting on WiFi. “It actually speaks to South African Tourism as well, because at SA Tourism we’re all about enabling international but also domestic travellers, to experience authentic South Africa and share it – and what better platform than social media to share those experiences.”

On the other hand, Darryl said WiFi was still quite expensive in South Africa so it would have to be decided at what point in the star grading process

it was made compulsory. Other concerns that will be raised

with the industry include whether boutique hotels and hotel apartments should form part of their own category, and the possible introduction of superior levels within the five-star grades.

In addition, Darryl said the Tourism Analytics Programme launched at Indaba allowed them to monitor service levels of all product across South Africa, whether they were graded members or not, using online guest reviews. “We basically scrape all these online platforms, such as TripAdvisor and Expedia, we aggregate all of the scores and all of the comments and we give establishments an average of those scores.”

He said the global trend was towards accreditation in terms of quality assurance and actual assessment and then monitoring service levels using online guest reviews. “It may be that you qualify for three star but, according to the online guest reviews, you’re operating at two out of five and through the commentary we are able to drill down into the service issues.” n

LCC to launch CPT-VFA flights? Tessa ReeD

AFRICAN carrier, fastjet, is looking at launching flights between Cape Town and Victoria Falls.

Richard Bodin, fastjet coo, told TNW the route was still in the early phases and flights would be launched in the fourth quarter of this year at the earliest, although a later date was foreseeable.

According to Richard, the airline’s routes from Johannesburg to Zimbabwe continue to see growth, especially its flights to Victoria Falls. The airline flies a double-

daily service to Harare and to Victoria Falls three times a week. It also services Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania.

However, Richard pointed out that, despite strong passenger demand, a strong dollar had negatively affected the airline’s revenue. As a result, it had trimmed down frequencies on marginal routes and there would be little in the way of new routes until next year, said Richard. He added that there were other destinations the airline was contemplating for new routes, but declined to give details on these. n

Book Avis Van Rental on TravelportTRAVEL agents can now book Avis Van Rental on Travelport, removing the need for agents to make bookings directly through the Avis Van Rental website or Avis Reservations Call Centre.

“This first-time offering from Avis Van Rental ensures convenience and ease of booking from the fleet of 4x4s and bakkies. Travel agents no longer have to navigate out of Travelport to the Avis website or call centre,” says Rebone Motsatsi, executive commercial for

Avis Budget Southern Africa.Travel agents who make any Avis

Van Rental bookings on qualifying discretionary rates through the Travelport platform will be rewarded through ClubRed, as part of Avis’s launch competition. The competition will run over a five-week period from July 1 to August 5. Every week, two agents with the most checked-out rentals booked through Travelport will each receive 100 ClubRed Roses. n

New airline eyes Cape Town-Gaborone-London route BOTSWANA-registered Kalahari Airways is looking to launch a route between Gaborone and Gatwick as well as Gaborone-Cape Town from November 1.

Ceo, Denis Coghlan, told TNW the airline would start the licence application with the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) shortly. ‘’The routes are freely available to any Botswanan airline that qualifies,” he said. “It is a very expensive exercise. However,

all that is required is that we comply with the Civil Aviation Act. Once we are compliant, the CAAB will issue our Aircraft Operating Certificate and the requisite Air Service Licences for the Gaborone-Cape Town route and the Gaborone-London route.”

Denis said the airline would operate from Cape Town to London and stop for 30 minutes at Gaborone each way to allow pick-up and

disembarking of passengers.Denis first started

discussing his plans for the route in 2013. At the time, he told TNW he had started contemplating the launch of flights after British Airways ceased operations on the Gaborone-London route. Flights were expected to launch in early 2014, but didn’t take off.

However, he is confident flights will launch in November

this year. “There are no CAAB licensing issues to prevent a successful start-up on November, 1. “The director, Air Services Licensing, has indicated that he will approve our licence without delay once we are in compliance.” The airline plans to use two leased Boeing B747-400 aircraft.

The Kalahari Airways flight will leave Cape Town at 09h15 and arrive in Gaborone at

11h00. It will then depart from Gaborone at 11h30 and arrive in Gatwick at 19h30. The return flight will depart Gatwick at 21h45 and arrive in Gaborone at 09h45 next day. It will depart Gaborone at 10h15 and arrive in Cape Town at 12h00.

Frequencies are planned for Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Kalahari Airways is currently not offering any flight service as it is not yet licensed. n

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6 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 52 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.

Sun City welcomes new ride

SUN City’s Valley of Waves reopened on June 25 after its

annual winter maintenance and visitors have a new ride to try.

Manufactured by WhiteWater, the slide plummets 17m straight down, sending riders sliding at more than 60kph before being swept upwards into a near-vertical loop.

G forces pin riders as they slide up, over and then down before crashing into the splashdown lane.

“The slide is an exhilarating experience, from the moment you stand in the launch capsule, facing forward and arms crossed. Anticipation peaks as you wait for the trap door to open below, sending you into an intense vertical free-fall into the loop with

speeds that will leave you breathless,” says Colin Jonkers, Sun International group retail manager.

This is the second new slide to be installed in the past 12 months and forms

part of the upgrade of Valley of Waves, which has also included the opening of the gastro-pub, The Brew Monkey, as well as the new fast-food arena with the Food Factory.

New dates for The Blue Train THE Blue Train has announced its 2017 departure dates to and from Hoedspruit and has updated its schedule accordingly.

The train will depart Pretoria at 15h00 on March 17, July 7 and August 11, arriving in Hoedspruit at 10h00 the following morning.

Departure from Hoedspruit on March 18, July 8, and August 12 is at 15h00, with arrival in Pretoria at 10h00

the following morning.On March 17 and July 7

capacity from Pretoria to Hoedspruit, and also for the return service, is a maximum of 52 guests.

There is no suite for disabled travellers, meaning it is not wheelchair friendly.

The train will be able to accommodate a maximum of 80 guests on August 11, and also on the return service on August 12, and is partially wheelchair

friendly, with a conference car and suite for disabled travellers.

The Blue Train will also offer tailor-made charters for strategic meetings, product launches, VIP cocktail parties, VIP breakfasts, lunches and dinners, and weddings. Charters are not limited to the options mentioned and are dependent on rail networks’ compatibility with the Blue Train’s technology.

The new slide sends riders hurtling down at over 60kph.

Soft refurb for Hluhluwe hotelPROTEA Hotel Hluhluwe & Safaris on the KZN North Coast is undergoing a soft refurbishment. The hotel will continue to trade during the upgrade, with minimal disruption to guests, and work will be completed by the end of this month.

“This new refurbishment will complement previous upgrades to the rooms done three years ago.

This time our focus is on the public areas of the hotel – the restaurant and reception area,” says Danny Bryer, director of sales, marketing and revenue management at Protea Hotels.

The property features both three-star hotel accommodation and superior deluxe three-bedroomed self-catering thatched lodges.

Curiocity comes to DurbanTHE five-star Curiocity Durban ‘poshtel’ will be housed in the art deco Ambassador House in the Rivertown triangle, an area being developed by Propertuity, founders of Johannesburg’s Maboneng district.

A ‘poshtel’ is a merging of the backpackers/hostel concept with a budget boutique hotel model.

It will offer 100 beds – 50% dormitory-style accommodation and 50% private and luxury rooms, some with en-suite bathrooms.

Facilities will also include a restaurant, bar, communal spaces, an outdoor yoga facility and outdoor cinema. Free WiFi will also be available.

Bheki Dube, owner of

Curiocity Durban, says: “We will be offering public art walkabouts in and around the city, cycling tours that explore interesting facets of Durban and surfing excursions to some of its top surfing hotspots.

“We will also be partnering with Durban tour operators that offer unusual experiences in the city.”

He says the hostel’s prime location near the Durban International Convention Cente means that conference organisers will be able to combine conferencing with activities offered at Curiocity Durban, such as yoga classes or team-building experiences.

Bheki is currently looking at a second hostel location in Johannesburg. n

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 20 2016 n 7

NEWS

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Local is lekker! City Lodge Hotels has 52 hotels across all SA provinces. Here is the latest news in domestic tourism.

When clients trade TMCs for ITCSA growing number of corporates are choosing ITCs to manage their travel. Darise Foster reports.

MORE corporates are bringing in dedicated ITCs to handle their

travel, rather than using TMCs, experts say.

Some corporates are bringing in travel consultants who previously worked for traditional travel agencies, then setting them up as in-house ITCs contracted to the corporate, Club Travel md, Wally Gaynor, told TNW.

A number of corporates are choosing to have a TMC fulfil all international travel then assign an in-house ITC to handle domestic travel though an online booking tool, while others opt for ITCs to fulfil all travel bookings, says Club Travel franchise director, Jo Fraser. According to Jo, an increasing number of corporates are choosing ITCs.

This trend is gathering momentum because corporates find it is a good way to save costs, says GBTA chairman, Howard Stephens. “By hiring in-house, dedicated

consultants, the corporate feels the consultant is part of the family and the two parties build that relationship.”

And it’s this personalisation that corporates seek, says Travel Counsellors SA gm, Mladen Lukic.

“Corporates know that large TMCs are workflow-based entities and, as such, would never be able to offer personalisation because that immediately kills their process,” he says. “But corporates want each of their staff members to be treated as an individual rather than to be treated as an invoice line item, and they see personalisation as a benefit for their travel programme.”

The corporate ITC trend is picking up and will continue to do so in the future, says Garth Wolff, ceo of eTravel.

“The biggest drawback, however, is that ITCs are typically seen by corporates as ‘potentially dangerous’ due to previous incidents of

rogue ITCs, etc. This is why it is important to differentiate between ITCs, which are backed by host companies, and ITAs, independent ticketing agents who are not backed by anybody,” Garth says.

But, says Vanya Lessing, ceo of Sure Travel, when deciding whether to take on the management of their own travel, corporates should consider the cost of the skill required to deploy travel technology and business tools, which are constantly evolving.

“Corporates should also consider the process alignment, data consolidation into integrated reports for management at different levels, as well as duty of care for their travellers,” she says.

Risk assessment tools are fairly big investments from a cost and skill perspective, says Vanya. “However, the greatest cost could be that of negligence, if the process is not managed by a skilled professional.” n

Uganda launches online visa applicationsTHE Ugandan government has introduced an online visa application system with effect from July 1.

Travellers intending to visit Uganda for tourism, business, study, medical or other reasons are required to apply and obtain a visa online. Types of visas that can be applied for online include multiple-entry, diplomatic and official, ordinary, East Africa tourist visa and transit visa.

Throughout July, it will still be possible to get visas on arrival. However, travellers will have to go through the electronic application

process at the port of entry. After July, all visa applications must be made online.

Applications should be submitted at https://visas.immigration.go.ug/.

The decision taken on the application will be sent electronically to the email address provided by the applicant. If approved, an approval letter will be sent as an attachment to the applicant’s email. Travellers will need to print the approval letter and present it together with a valid passport/travel document at the port of entry. n

To the point

The registration of passports for electronic use at Abu Dhabi International Airport is now compulsory for all passengers. The Abu Dhabi Airports Company recently launched its new Smart Travel system, which involves a five-step process: self check-in, self bag drop, e-registration, e-border gate and self boarding. Abu Dhabi Airports says this will decrease processing times at the airport by up to 70%.

8 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

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Why niche is niceIn an increasingly competitive marketplace, specialising can give agents an edge. Debbie Badham reports.

MORE competition is reducing agents’ slice of the travel pie and

there’s a risk that financial returns could become smaller for those who sell a broad range of products. With this in mind, specialising is the way to go, say industry experts.

With consumers comparing many different quotes from a number of agents when travelling to popular destinations such as Thailand or Mauritius, selling niche products can be a differentiator for agents, says Chrissa Karanastasis, luxury cruise and travel expert at Cruise Corner.

Specialist agents also have the advantage of having developed strong relationships with a specific set of suppliers. There are a whole range of benefits that come with the contracts the agency has with its suppliers, says Adele Walters, owner of Road Travel, which specialises in luxury travel. This includes the connections the agency has abroad.

However, there are also a number of unique challenges that come with being a specialist, says Adele. Most significant is the need to be constantly on top of your game and know the product you are selling inside out.

“You have to be the best at what you do,” she says.

Penny Bannerman, owner of Curious Traveller, says with the advent of social media, some niche products have become standard, so to keep ahead of the pack agents have to be seen at every possible trade show and must find and keep up with new niche products.

When looking to specialise, commitment and investment of time are key. Penny says it has taken her 20 years of attending trade shows to build relationships with the “best tour operators in the markets” she operates in. She says making sure you

connect with the owners of the companies is important.

In line with this is the commitment to choosing a specific area to specialise in and sticking with it. Penny says it’s important to realise that you can’t be everything to everybody. “Choose a specialisation that is an interest or passion.”

She adds that specialising is not for the faint-hearted and that it can take up to two weeks to get one booking because of the smaller demand. VIP clients want their agents to go the extra mile, Penny adds. This might involve, for example, securing a table at a very exclusive

restaurant in Italy. “Hand-crafted, experiential tours take longer to put together and it also takes longer to get quotes.”

Once agents have chosen their niche, they need to find ways of circumventing the challenges that come with their chosen area of specialisation, especially if they’ve chosen an outlandish destination, says Penny. She says agents must be able to advise their clients of the destination’s particular travel requirements, such as, for example, in Cuba travellers can’t use credit cards that can be traced back to a dollar-based company. n

Gauteng Tourism revamps app Max Marx

GAUTENG Tourism’s travel app, the Gauteng Travel Guide, is undergoing a complete redesign with a new look, new features, updated content and an enhanced user experience.

The latest version is expected to be available in app stores from the end of this month. It will offer users the most up-to-date information on more than 500 points of interest in Gauteng, such as attractions, nature reserves, historic sites,

hotels, bars, clubs and shopping malls. It will also offer in-app mini guides of Soweto and other areas of interest.

Francesco Stemmet, project manager at Tourism Radio, developer of the app, says this latest version also introduces one-touch functionality, making the app easier to use. “In the app’s previous incarnation, users had to touch three different buttons to access information about one place of interest.”

A new blog button will enable users to access

Gauteng Tourism press releases and blogs from within the app, which will also have new sharing functionality, with users able to share information on any of their social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Whatsapp.

Initially the app will only be available on IOS and Android platforms with updated versions for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets. A Microsoft Windows-enabled version will be available by year-end. n

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flights from Johannesburg to Zanzibar, approximate taxes, return airport-hotel transfers, seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast and dinner daily. Valid for travel between September 1 and October 31. Beachcomber Tours. Mauritius – Early-bird rates from R14 420 per person

sharing. Offer includes flights from Johannesburg (incl. taxes), return transfers, five nights’ accommodation with breakfast and dinner daily, land and motorised water sports. Thirty-day advance purchase applies. Valid from July 23-September 29. El Al Israel Airlines. Jerusalem city break from

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10 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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A brief look at this week’s hotel news

&Beyond to open new Zim property&BEYOND’S Matetsi River Lodge and Matetsi River House will open in August in the Matetsi Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe. Matetsi River Lodge will open nine suites and its main guest areas on August 1 with the remaining nine suites available from September 1. The lodge has two intimate camps, each with nine river-facing suites, including two family suites. Matetsi River House will open from August 15. The private villa has four bedrooms, its own kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a veranda overlooking the Zambezi and a sparkling pool. It also comes with a complement of staff, including a dedicated guide, private vehicle, chef and butler.

London Holiday Inn one of Europe’s biggestINTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) plans to rebrand the Kensington Close Hotel in London as a Holiday Inn following the signing of a deal that will see it operate under a franchise agreement between IHG and Kensington Close Hotel Limited. The deal includes the rebranding, making the 694-room hotel one of the largest Holiday Inns in Europe. The hotel also comprises 12 meeting rooms, a health club and spa.

Knysna hotel adds rooms, boosts conferencing PREMIER Hotel Knysna – The Moorings in the Western Cape is increasing its room complement from 64 to 88 rooms. “We are adding additional room inventory and enhancing our conferencing facilities in response to the growing demand for availability at the property, particularly amongst international guests,” said gm, Brandon Schafli. A total of 24 new standard rooms will be added to the hotel’s existing 14 two-bedroom villas, six two-bedroom suites, 20 one-bedroom suites and 24 deluxe rooms. “The improvements to the conference venues will result in the hotel possibly having the biggest conference centre on the Garden Route,” added Brandon.

PillowTalk JNB still tops for Virgin Hilka Birns

WITH its 20th anniversary in South Africa approaching

in October, Virgin Atlantic has recommitted to serving Johannesburg daily, a route that is achieving 92% load factors year-round, making it one of the most successful in its global network, says SA country manager, Liezl Gericke who spoke to TNW at a recent event.

Liezl says up to 70% of outbound seats are sold to corporate customers in mining

and banking. Up to 85% of travel on the route is point-to-point travel between OR Tambo and Heathrow, with onward USA connections holding huge potential for the airline.

Virgin will continue to use the B787-9 Dreamliner on the route, in a three-class configuration (Upper class, premium economy and economy). WiFi, at a fee, is also available on all flights.

New arrival times of 07h55 at Johannesburg mean inbound travellers can connect more easily domestically and regionally, while Virgin’s joint

venture with Delta offers seamless connections to more than 200 destinations via Heathrow.

While other airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa are increasing their capacity to Cape Town, Virgin Atlantic has no plans to reinstate flights to the Mother City, says Liezl.

She says scarcity of slots at Heathrow, seasonality of the Cape route and the high cost of operating two aircraft, all contribute to the route being less viable than shorter transatlantic flights that are able to turn around faster. n

Zurich partners with Nedbank ZURICH Insurance Company SA has signed a preferred travel insurance partnership with Nedbank. Zurich will be the provider of travel insurance to Nedbank, SAA Voyager and American Express cardholders.

Through the partnership, Nedbank cardholders will benefit from access to a range of travel options. In addition

to the travel insurance cover for situations such as medical emergencies, baggage theft, flight delays and cancellations, notable aspects also covered include visa rejections, missed events, travel supplier insolvencies and hazardous sporting activities.

“We are confident that our comprehensive travel

insurance offering and seamless service experience will further bolster the services currently enjoyed by Nedbank’s customers. We look forward to continue delivering our efficient services and enhanced benefits to our rapidly increasing customer base,” says Anriëth Symon, head of travel at Zurich Insurance. n

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 20 2016 n 11

Heightened security and larger traffic volumes at US airports are here to stay, but agents can suggest some great coping mechanisms, writes Michelle Colman.

Lengthy check-ins – what to advise your clients

THE crowds of travellers at US airports are greater than ever this North

American summer, a situation that is compounded by the increasingly strict security precautions.

“TSA’s primary focus is the current threat environment, as the American transportation system remains a high-value target for terrorists,” says Michael England, national spokesperson for US Transportation Security Administration.

Michael says the rise in checkpoint wait times is fuelled in part by a 7% hike in travellers, many of them with carry-on bags packed to or exceeding the bag’s capacity. “Our strong economy means air carriers are enjoying record travel volumes, which is resulting in larger than normal volumes of travellers at our nation’s airports – some with double-digit increases over last summer.”

Authorities aware of the growing discomfort of

transiting airports have introduced measures to help. One is the TSA Pre✓, an expedited security screening programme for which travellers can pre-register. However, while there are allied programmes for UK, German, Dutch, Mexican (Global Entry) and Canadian passport holders (Nexus), South Africans are not included.

The TSA has accelerated the hiring and training of

relevant staff, and boosted overtime resources and canine usage to manage the high summer travel volume. While the security body has requested additional screening equipment, Michael points out that this is not necessarily an answer, as at many airports, terminals have already reached capacity in terms of screening equipment.

All round, there is a call for travellers to arrive earlier at airports, factoring in at least two hours to clear security for domestic flights. TSA advises that an uncluttered carry-on bag is helpful.

Similar measures have been taken by airlines like Delta, which codeshares with SAA to Atlanta. “With the peak summer travel season upon us, Delta has implemented a number of changes at its US hubs to ease the journey through the airport,” says Jimmy Eichelgruen, sales director for Africa, India and the Middle East.

“We have hired additional

agents at 32 airports, including Atlanta, to help customers clear security more quickly, thus reducing wait times. Atlanta is also one of the airports at which we have invested in automated passport control kiosks, which allow eligible international customers [US, Canadian and eligible visa waiver programme travellers] to submit their own customs declaration forms and biographical information, helping them clear customs more quickly,” he says.

Stay calm, be prepared!So, what advice can the travel consultant offer the traveller? At the very least, there’s the question of attitude. “Passengers should see this as a positive attempt to ensure that they enjoy a safe journey. Fortunately, the USA visa procedures are smooth and speedy,” says John Ridler, PR and media manager for Thompsons Holidays.

Trafalgar md, Theresa Szejwallo, agrees: “There is

no point in getting angry or upset. Rather just be well prepared. Don’t have anything metallic on you, take your shoes off before you get to the check point and don’t keep any liquids, gels or aerosols, besides those in approved quantities, in your hand luggage.”

Most basic is ensuring documents are in order. “Security precautions are standard and strict at all US Customs and make no exceptions according to foreign nationality,” cautions Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager at Travel Vision.

Durban-based Travel Counsellor, Nicole Barrett, is a US travel veteran, having visited many times. “Online check-in is so helpful for clients. That way they don’t have to worry about what seats they are going to get and are able to drop their bags off in the bag drop queue, as opposed to standing in the long check-in lines,” she says.

How to beat the queuesNicole Barrett offers her top tips: I usually get to the

airport about two hours before my flight, and in the bigger international airports I would recommend three hours. Definitely have at least three hours in between connecting flights within the US. If you are travelling to

JFK in New York and

are connecting on a Jet Blue flight, you can use a special queue at customs. Immediately before you enter the customs hall, an airport employee hands out orange passes and once you’re in the customs hall, you go directly into the Jet Blue Airways queue. Many airlines flying

internally in the US don’t

include checked bags in their fares, and can charge as much as US$25-$35 (R364-R510) per checked bag. Southwest Airlines’ baggage allowance is two free checked bags. Its fares are reasonable but must be booked on the airline’s website. Jet Blue also has reasonably priced fares (not standard fares) that include

baggage. If these can’t be found on Galileo, they’re just as easy to book on the Jet Blue website. Go through your database

and note which clients have passports under the visa waiver programme. Advise them in advance – even if they have no imminent plans to travel to the US – to update their passports in case of future travel.

Newsflash

Thompsons Holidays is hosting Disney workshops for agents. “This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about Disney and to gain skills in selling the product,” says John Ridler. Interested agents should diarise these dates:

Cape Town: September 13Durban: September 14Johannesburg: September 15 (two sessions)

Annemarie Lexow

12 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

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East Coast vs West CoastIT’S important for agents sending travellers to the US to recognise whether their client would be better suited to East or West Coast travel.

According to Travel Vision’s Annemarie Lexow, the East Coast is all about big cosmopolitan cities, history and culture, appealing to singles, business travellers and families. From New York, the sunny climes of Florida are a short flight away. The East Coast is also the point of departure for Caribbean cruising, with most ships travelling from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.

The West Coast is about scenic road trips, national parks and an amazing coastline. It’s great terrain for the nature lover and second-time travellers keen on self-drive, Annemarie says.

“However we often find that clients combine East and West Coast destinations with Orlando – for example, New York-Washington-Orlando-Los Angeles-Las Vegas,” she comments.

For Trafalgar’s Theresa Szejwallo,

the difference between the two coasts is about old and new America. “The East Coast was colonised by the British and the Dutch long before the West Coast even had a whisper of settlers and those in search of their fortunes, and it still has strong ties to the United Kingdom and Europe. But both are quintessentially American. Their foods, traditions and identity are strongly American.”

While the West Coast is further away, it affords travellers the perfect opportunity to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios

and then travel in fabulous, sunny California, says John Ridler of Thompsons.

“Those that choose the East Coast have the larger Walt Disney World theme park and Universal Studios to explore and they can then extend their holiday in Florida.”

Travel Counsellor Nicole Barrett points out the big difference in the weather, with winters on the East Coast experiencing a lot of snow while the West is relatively mild.

West Coast must-dosTravellers can rent a car and travel up Highway 1, the old coastal road, to San Francisco via Hearst Castle, Carmel, Monterey and Salinas, suggests John. “Or travel south to San Diego and even to Tijuana in Mexico.”

In San Francisco Nicole recommends taking a bike ride or walking over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. “On the other end is Sausalito – it's very much an Italian town. Catch the ferry back, which costs about $10 (R146) per person.”

Theresa says there are tours to Alcatraz Island off San Francisco day and night. “The night tours are the creepiest. The tours need to be booked weeks, sometimes months in advance.”

Trafalgar’s San Francisco & Wine Country Delights guided holiday is priced from R32 300pp twin share. A local specialist takes guests through the Farmer’s Market and Fisherman’s Wharf before the group joins a second local specialist who hosts a real Insider’s Experience of Haight-Ashbury, letting guests walk in the footsteps of Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and The Grateful Dead.

There are many attractions to choose from on the Las Vegas strip, says Nicole. She says the Mirage Hotel has the Dolphin and Lion Habitat where you can swim with the dolphins.

“New York New York has a fantastic piano bar and a rollercoaster that

goes around the whole hotel. Stratosphere Hotel has a few thrill rides at the top of the hotel, and one can also bungee jump off the top as well. Paris Hotel has the Eiffel Tower experience and the best views of the city.”

San Diego’s Old Town, just south of Mission Valley is known as the birthplace of California and teems with a lively, authentic atmosphere, boasting 17 museums and historic sites, including the Whaley House, which tops Travel Channel's ‘America’s Most Haunted’ list,” says Annemarie. “Quaint boutiques, colourful art galleries and festive theatres populate Old Town. Mexican cuisine is the speciality served in the many cantinas.”

Annemarie also recommends taking a trip to Yosemite National Park in the Yosemite Valley and explore the Mammoth Lakes. “Or head for Santa Cruz County and look out for elephant seals, sea otters and grey whales. Or just watch the people along the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.”

For an overview of the Canyonlands, Trafalgar’s ‘Best of the Canyonlands’ offers rugged natural beauty, superb sunsets and the always impressive Grand Canyon. This eight-day guided holiday covers Colorado, Utah, Arizona and Nevada and includes Insider Experiences such as the local specialist who walks guests through the geological life of the canyon and its formation.

“The difference between the two

coasts is about old and new America.”Theresa Szejwallo

Suggest a walk or a bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.

The East Coast is all about big cities, history and culture.

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14 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

TNW7706SD

Enjoy a Broadway Show in New York, suggests Annemarie. “But then venture out to the Hudson Valley and Long Island, famous for its scenic landscapes, golf courses and one of the USA’s oldest wine-producing regions. Or a bit further north into Portland, Maine, better known as a foodies’ paradise with its farm-to-table dining concept.”

A recently returned client of Nicole’s said New York’s Chelsea market was one of the best she had ever been to. “You can grab some takeaway and then do the walk over the High Line, a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.”

When Visiting Chicago Nicole recommends Untouchable

Tour, Chicago’s original gangster tour where travellers get to experience Chicago as it was during the 1920s and 1930s.

In Boston, Nicole says The Freedom Trail is a must-do. “You walk the city and stop at 16 historic sites. Going on to Harvard campus is also a must. At the statue of John Harvard in Harvard Square, take a photo holding his left foot – it’s said to bring you luck.”

Theresa says on Trafalgar’s ‘Great East Coast Cities’ tour guests spend two nights in Boston, three in the Big Apple and two nights in Washington DC in a discovery of the great American cities. “Central

Park, Broadway, the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial and Harvard University are on offer, along with a huge helping of East Coast culture.”

Travellers should not underestimate the rich history and scenic beauty of Georgia and South Carolina, notes Annemarie. “Savannah charms visitors with its pedestrian-friendly historic district and the trees draped in Spanish moss. A short drive from Savannah is Charleston with its meticulously preserved pre-Civil War architecture.”

For Florida, John suggests a visit to Cape Canaveral, taking a Disney cruise or even travelling by car to Miami and the Florida Keys.

Chicago’s Untouchable Tour revisits the era of the 1920s.

Top Disney experiencesNO TRIP to the US is complete without a true Disney experience. TNW asked members of the trade for their top Disney rides and activities. Here’s the list of favourites: The Haunted Mansion is

a spine-tingling journey through a mansion with all its ghosts and ghouls, suited to all ages; For thrills, Big Thunder

Mountain Railroad, an indoor/outdoor train roller coaster or Splash Mountain, a water ride with big drops, are worth a try. The Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain can all be found at the Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida and Disneyland, California;

Project Tomorrow: Inventing the Wonders of the Future is a time travel experience into the future, with games and interactive displays. Located at Epcot Centre, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida; The 44m-tall Tree of Life

is the iconic symbol of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, with 300 animals carved into its massive trunk. At night it lights up in a stunning visual display. It is located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida; At Shark Reef older kids

and adults can snorkel over a man-made reef among sharks and stingrays and other sea animals. Located at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida.

Tips from the trade Delta’s daily non-

stop flights from Johannesburg to Atlanta conveniently connect to Orlando. The airline offers 17 flights a day from Atlanta to Orlando. For visitors to Walt

Disney Resort in Florida, recommend stays of five days to a week, along with the Park Hopper ticket option, so that

they are not limited to one park a day. For clients staying longer

than a week, try to upsell Magic Your Way park tickets from base tickets, to include the addition of Water Park entry. At Walt Disney Resort,

the MagicBand wristband can be used as a room key, ticket pass and

credit card. An advantage of staying

in the theme parks or at affiliated Disney hotels are shuttle transport and the convenience of having purchases delivered to the client’s hotel room. Include a meal plan

to save your clients money and high-season queues. n

TNW7612

Imagine long strolls on Waikiki Beach and sunset cruises...Visit volcanoes, coffee plantations, national parks,

astronomical sites and the Waimea Canyon on the islands.

Date: 5Augusttill9December2016(fixedFridaydepartures)Price: from R67 040 ppsIncluded: FiveStaraccommodation Daily breakfast Inter-islandflights English speaking guide on each of the islands

Contact us: Email: info@travelvision.co.za Tel.no:(011)4088000

Island hopping in Hawaii...Honolulu – Kona – Kauai – Maui

East Coast must-dos

QUICK READ FOR BUSIEST PEOPLE Wednesday July 20 2016 n 15

JOBS

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

7719

E-Marketing – S/Suburbs, Cape Town Quantex Recruitment Group Creative mind wanted to take control of web presence for luxury tour operator! Relevant marketing qualification & working experience essential. Email: lee@quantex.co.za

Inbound consultant – Johannesburg North Professional Career Services Will be responsible for the bookings for a large UK tour operator. FIT experience essential. Min 5 years’ in senior role. Email: jeancv@pcs-sa.co.za

MICE Project Manager – Cape Town Lee Botti & Associates South. Incentives house seeks experienced travel expert for their dynamic team. Oversee projects from start to finish. Salary R 30 000. Email: malikam@nowjobs.co.za

National Sales Leader – Randburg Flight Centre - Corporate Traveller To recruit, build, lead and manage the largest new business sales force in the country of 40 business development manager’s. Email: lauren.grobbelaar@flightcentre.co.za

Senior FIT Consultant – Johannesburg North Equity Connections cc Liaise with international agents, plan, design, cost itineraries. Must have in-depth in-bound knowledge with minimum six years’ experience. Email: equitycon@mweb.co.za

Senior Inbound Consultant – Hyde Park Wendy’s Travel Personnel Experienced inbound consultant to handle busy account for leading inbound tour operator! Excellent salary plus performance based commission structure! Email: wtp@icon.co.za

Conference Co-ordinator – Cape Town Quantex Recruitment Group Innovative candidate wanted to manage conferences & events. Experience with government & large corporate accounts essential. Large work volumes & tight deadlines! Own transport. Email: bridget@quantex.co.za

Senior Leisure Consultant – Cape Town Professional Career Services Min 5 years’ selling holiday packages in retail leisure travel. Amadeus. Knowledgeable on fares and ticketing. Must have own client base. Email: nonocv@pcs-sa.co.za

Financial Manager – Cape Town Lee Botti & Associates South. Vibrant tour operator seeks accounting pro able to handle management accounts, financial statements & VAT. Salary R 26 000. Email: phillipk@nowjobs.co.za

Business Leader – Randburg Flight Centre Travel Group- Cievents To effectively lead and manage the event management team members, understand and implement the ciway throughout the business. Email: jobs@flightcentre.co.za

Senior Tours Consultant – Johannesburg North Equity Connections cc Impress with extensive knowledge of South/Southern/East Africa. Creative itinerary design plus exceptional communications skills needed. Relevant in-bound experience essential. Email: equitycon@mweb.co.za

Based in Bedfordview

Responsibilities• Fares & ticketing

(advanced), incorporating BSP, groups, rebates, refunds

• Travel Trade landscape knowledge

• People Management• Sales Reporting

Provided you meet the above mentioned requirements, email agoddard@airmauritius.com before close of business on Friday, 22 July 2016. Air Mauritius reserves the right to reject CV’s that do not meet the required criteria.

Reservations & Ticketing Team Leader

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Requirements• Honest, reliable and a proven track record• Excellent communication & interpersonal

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Based in Bedfordview

Responsibilities• Compilation, distribution, analysis of sales

data for customer segmentation• Coordination of sales department, support

role to the sales team• Compilation, distribution of all agreements• Marketing & Event management• Revenue budgeting (reporting)• Trade Exchange agreement management• Monthly report consolidation including

revenue budget & customer• Performance reviews for all customer

channels & key accounts• New business & telemarketing

Provided you meet the above mentioned requirements, email agoddard@airmauritius.com before close of business on Friday, 22 July 2016. Air Mauritius reserves the right to reject Cv’s that do not meet the required criteria

Sales & Marketing Support Co-coordinator

TNW7620

Requirements• Honest, reliable & trustworthy individual• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills• Individual must be able to work independently

with a high degree of accuracy & initiative• Strong analytical skills, able to present reports

& data in a clear manner• Good planning skills• Proficient in Excel & PowerPoint an advantage• Flexible team player• Sound problem solving skills• Ability to work under pressure • Financial acumen• Budgeting knowledge essential• Tertiary education preferential

TNW7740SD

16 n Wednesday July 20 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

TNW NEWS

brought to you by eTNW and TRAVELINFO

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UK as popular as everAre more clients interested in visiting the UK due to the devalued pound post-Brexit?

Travellers are always interested in visiting the UK Yes No

46%30%

24%EXIT

Agents fight POS issue

into Globalstar, our partners’ GDS systems in different markets around the world, and access cheaper fares.” He says while it means the agency still loses the income from the GDS and also the credit for the booking (as the ticket is issued by the group’s partner

overseas), it at least keeps the client and the service fee.

Ultimately, as a solution, Travelstart believes the industry should push airlines to move from point of sale to point of commencement, meaning everyone would have access to the same fares and, in so doing, level the playing field. n

From page 1

Ghana delays visas on arrival

The news reports refer to an ‘official statement’ issued by the GIS on July 8, and reportedly signed by Francis Palmdeti, the head of Public Affairs of GIS. The statement indicates that the visa-on-arrival programme will be piloted at the Kotoka International Airport for three months before being extended to other points of entry.

The statement reportedly

reads: “The Ghana Immigration Service wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that, with immediate effect, all African Union (AU) Nationals whose countries do not have a visa-free agreement with Ghana would be able to obtain visas on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport [KIA].

“All AU nationals affected by the policy who arrive in the country must have a passport, valid for at least three months

from the date of entry; they must have a return ticket or evidence of onward travel; they must show evidence of sufficient funds and proof of accommodation before they are granted visas.

“All such visas would be issued for validity of 30 days; they would be subject to the provisions of Section 4 of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573), which applies to all travellers entering Ghana.” n

From page 1

African passport met with scepticism Debbie baDham anD LiesL Venter

TRAVEL professionals are sceptical about the success of the African

Union’s electronic passport, which was launched this month. The initiative aims to give travellers visa-free access to AU member states.

The e-passport was introduced at the AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, held between July 10 and 18. The AU says the first group of beneficiaries of the new e-passport will include AU heads of state and government; ministers of foreign affairs; and the permanent representatives of AU Member States based at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Reports say the passport is expected to be rolled out to all African citizens by 2018.

However, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations, SA, says the roll-out of the e-passport to the heads of state is just the first phase of the initiative and the decision to roll it out across Africa will be based on the

success of this phase. He adds that SA’s decision to participate in this initial stage will depend on the outcome of the summit.

Industry authorities are sceptical about how the e-passport will work.

“Theoretically it makes sense,” says Forum of Immigration Practitioners of South Africa chairperson, Gershon Mosiane. “Practically, I don’t think Africa is ready for this and I am not convinced the AU has the capability or financial muscle to pull it off.”

Gershon says the playing field in Africa is not level and ratifiying and adopting the necessary protocols and legislation necessary for an African passport would take years. “We are simply not ready for it. Of the 54 countries in Africa only 13 have free visa deals with each other. There is no denying that the concept is solid, the EU proves this, but it is questionable how we as Africa will pull this off.”

“I think there is a massive difference between the theoretical idea of the passport and effectively implementing it, taking into account the security

and best interests of an economically attractive country such as SA,” agrees Bjorn van Niekerk, operations director for Intergate Immigration. “I would like to hear more on how they intend to implement this, especially when SA is still trying to deal with a massive amount of illegal immigrants, undocumented foreigners and a system that is not effectively handling refugee and asylum applications.”

Jose Cruz, national executive client services manager of HRG Rennies Travel, says success will hinge on African member states getting their passports fully biometric. He says while quite a few countries are introducing this requirement, even SA passports are not fully biometric yet.

Rod Murphy, commercial projects manager for Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation, says, logistically too many countries and languages are involved. “Getting the new information to the border officials would be a major problem. Just look at hassles at ORTIA every time a change was implemented there.” n