Turning tourism upside down — a future where tourists have to qualify to visit other countries
Covid-19 changed the face of the tourism sector forever. While visitor levels are starting to recover in most regions, the pandemic has shifted the way people think about travel and the world. While there were economic costs to the moratorium on travel, the lack of tourists also brought a reprieve for chronically over-touristed regions. Many […]
From a celebration of Brenda Fassie to Big Fun Art, five ideas to keep the tourists rolling in
As tourism reinvents itself in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, countries need to capitalise on their natural advantages and existing infrastructure to create unique visitor experiences and attractions. From its dark skies and gravel roads to clean, fresh air and quiet spaces, South Africa has natural assets in abundance that could be leveraged to promote tourism, […]
SA’s visitor attractions admissions strategy too heavy handed
Visitor attractions, like all other products in the tourism value chain, have had a difficult time over the past 18 months. The African Association of Visitor Experiences & Attractions recently completed the first benchmark study of visitor attractions in SA. It found that 66% of attractions were closed for three months or more in 2020. […]
Wild Life Tourism Futures Book Review
My review of “Wildlife Tourism Futures” has been accepted in the Journal of Tourism Futures. Considering that by 2050, 68% of the world will live in urban areas, what is perceived as “wild” may be different as to how we perceive it today. An exploration of the socio-human aspect of wild-life tourism is crucial as […]
Life after lockdown: Enterprises need to plan for physical distancing and a cashless economy
China has ended lockdown in Wuhan, the city where the novel coronavirus first appeared, but it has become clear a return to “normal” life is not on the cards for that city — or indeed anywhere. After 10 weeks in lockdown, residents of Wuhan are reeling, with the New York Times reporting that re-opened businesses are facing difficulties in […]
Three social megatrends that are shaping the future of tourism
In his State of the Nation Address in June this year, President Ramaphosa outlined a bold aim to increase South Africa’s economic growth through tourism, stating “we will make good on our ambition to more than double international tourist arrivals to 21 million by 2030.” Globally, tourism is on the rise and peak tourism demand […]
The woman, the art, and the science behind Cape Town’s tourist attractions
She probably has an accurate idea of what you ordered in the restaurant or where you posed for that selfie. Lehmann has a unique understanding of the consumer’s experience of an attraction. “My passion is attractions management,” she says. “I believe in the incredible power of attractions – they are the number one reason why […]
