Archive | April, 2009

Zissu on Twitter

29 Apr

If you find that you simply can’t get regular enough updates via this blog, why not follow us on twitter?

If you’ve never heard of twitter, its a social networking service that works like a micro-blogging system. Posts have to be 140 characters or less, which keeps them down to bite sized chunks – the aim here is regularity, not detail!

We will be tweeting about ZissuTravel.com, our Wiki tourism guides, this blog, press, SEO, the travel industry, local news, and even day to day life at Zissu Travel. If you are an interested party, especially if you are in the hotel, travel or South African accommodation industies, then check it out!

Results are in!

28 Apr

Go to http://www.news24.com/News24/Elections/Home to read all about South Africa’s results!

Election day is here!

22 Apr

Off to the voting polls! This feels like a really important day in South Africa’s history! Somehow these elections just feel really significant…

Sunny SA needs stability after the elections

16 Apr

A rant about politics, stability and South African tourism:

As those of us in the tourism industry know, South Africa’s stability (or perceived stability) bears direct relation to our ability to attract international tourists. And we need those international tourists, for all of our sakes. With Tourism bringing in over 8% of South Africa’s annual GDP, I hope that government will give this sector the attention it deserves after the upcoming elections.

Our national encounter with xenophobia not too long ago demonstrated the travel industry’s susceptibility to public opinion well. With SA’s ominous dominance of international headlines came a decline in visitors. And fewer visitors to sunny South Africa meant that we started to fall shorter and shorter of our previously predicted growth rates.

Traditionally the mining industry, one of the country’s economic strongholds, has been resilient in tough times. Even in the current global economic crisis, no one can doubt that resources will be amongst the first to bounce back. But trying to remain a credible travel destination at a time like this is a tougher job – and yet attracting tourists may be equally lucrative. While resources can only be mined cheaply in so many places, travelers can go anywhere. Tourists don’t have to travel to South Africa, they come here because we make it a pleasure. Travelers can go to any number of places for a good vacation, but what we’re offering is a fantastic holiday, full of varied cultural and natural wonders – all at reasonable rates.

So what will be the deciding factor for your next vacation? Political stability. If an enquiring holiday-maker likes what we have to offer, then the only thing that could drive them away is our political situation. After South Africa’s national elections on Wednesday, lots of power and responsibility will to be assumed by the winning party, and it has to be used wisely. Anyone with a head on their shoulders knows that South Africa needs tourism to grow as fast as possible – and tourism needs stability to put down roots.

IPL proves South Africa's 'can do' attitude

8 Apr

Congratulations to the South African Tourism Ministry for lending their full support to the IPL! This kind of “can do” (‘n boer maak ‘n plan) attitude is what living in the new South Africa is all about. Not only will the IPL bring business to our currently empty cricket grounds during the off-season, but it will also go a long way to instilling confidence in SA’s ability to host a successful Fifa Soccer World Cup in 2010.

There were a number of factors that swayed the choice between Britain and South Africa in our direction, but mostly it came down to the fact that SA acted as if we actually wanted the event, while Britain acted, well… British… But jokes aside, it should have been obvious that South Africa’s predictable weather, welcoming attitudes towards tourists, low production cost and affordable accommodation would sway the vote in our favour.

All South Africans should be excited to be hosting these 59 high adrenalin games, because this is a form of cricket that even the most sceptical sports fans can enjoy. Hopefully the infectious feeling as the games approach will help bring new youngsters with more diverse backgrounds into the game. After all, as the 1995 Rugby World Cup taught us, nothing has the power to unify quite like sport does. When it comes down to it, South Africa simply has to be the best country in the world, so what other choice would there be? :)

Developments at Zissu Travel

3 Apr

As we approach the all important Easter weekend, the team at Zissu Travel would like to release a progress report.

Up till now our marketing efforts to accommodation owners have been focused on the Western Cape with small escapades into other regions such as East London and PE, and the response to Zissu has been wonderful.

Currently 127 suppliers of accommodations have joined the site (some of whom have listed multiple accommodations). This growing community has also joined Zissu Travel in writing over 280 activity guides to South Africa’s best tourism attractions.

Our forecasts show that, from the Easter weekend until our immanent launch at the end of the month, Zissu Travel will attract an additional 400 odd accommodation registrations. This is a conservative estimate based on the fact that we still have to follow 80% of our current leads.

Zissu Travel also expects that by the end of the month the website will contain over 1000 pages of content about South African regions and tourist activities. At launch these pages will be opened to public viewing, and will be maintained as a South African tourism ‘Wiki’, ready to grow into the greatest ever South African travel guide. Accommodation will begin to accept online bookings through Zissu Travel at the same time.

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