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South African Tourism Inspires New Ways at WTM 2013 -  2014 milestone year: 20 years of democracy & Cape Town as World Design Capital

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South African Tourism – WTM – The Highlights

  • Stand AF500
  • South Africa celebrates 20 years of democracy in 2014, by showcasing that culture and heritage are at the core of its tourism offering
  • South Africa recognised as a global player in design and the arts – Cape Town designated World Design Capital for 2014, and Johannesburg celebrates last week’s opening of MOAD – Africa’s first design museum, within its inner-city Maboneng Precinct
  • South Africa reports an overall tourism growth in 2012 of 10.2% - more than two and half times the global average, with a 4.2% growth of arrivals out of the UK alone
  • South African Tourism’s Ubuntu Awards are back – annual awards return in an updated format on the evening of Monday 4th November, celebrating new and innovative ways of promoting South Africa as a compelling destination to the consumer. Awards ceremony to take place at Madison Cocktail Bar (One New Exchange),7.30pm for 8.00pm
  • SA Tourism Fashion Show and Silent Disco on stand (Tuesday 5th, 3.30pm to 4pm) - join SA Tourism’s CEO Mr Thulani Nzima and South Africa’s Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, for fashion show featuring couture from some of the country’s most celebrated fashion designers, whilst dancing to the beats of a silent disco
  • Design expert and Senior Contributing Editor at Wallpaper*, Nick Compton, teams up with SA Tourism to celebrate the World Design Capital accolade and champion South Africa as a world leader in design, through a designated Twitter competition. The winner will be announced on Thursday 6 November. Follow @GoToSouthAfrica, @NickPCompton and @KallawayTraVPR for more details
  • For media interviews with SA Tourism’s Executives or to attend SA Tourism Events at WTM contact:
    Susannah.Glynn@kallaway.com; 07712 182 920

     Daniela.Marchesi@kallaway.com; 0797 3300059

South African Tourism is gearing up for a busier than ever WTM this year, with a major focus on South Africa’s culture and heritage tourism offering.

Senior executives from the Ministry of Tourism in South Africa, including Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, CEO Thulani Nzima and Chief Marketing Officer Jan Hutton will visit the stand during the show’s first two days.

2014 heralds a milestone year for South Africa. Next year near will mark 20 years since Nelson Mandela became president, heralding the beginning of democracy in the country with celebrations taking place nationwide on 27 April (Freedom Day). Also in 2014, South Africa’s Mother City – Cape Town – will take on the coveted mantle as World Design Capital; this will be a first for both Africa and the southern hemisphere.

As a focal point for the international design community in 2014, Cape Town will use the spotlight to highlight the creativity of the city and South Africa through a year-long programme of events and projects that will help nurture designs and bridge historic gaps. Events and initiatives will include: the international design fair Guild by Southern Guild, which will be the first showcase of global, limited edition contemporary African design; Infecting the City, a public arts festival; as well as a range of workshops and summits. Further details will be announced as celebrations draw closer.

Adding to South Africa’s design credentials, last week – 24th October – saw the opening of MOAD, Africa’s first Design Museum located within the heart of Johannesburg’s most exciting transformation – the Maboneng Precinct. Maboneng Precinct is a neighbourhood fuelled by some of the world’s most creative minds such as William Kentridge, bringing people back into the city to live, work and play. As a pan-African cultural hub, MOAD’s inaugural event will be Southern Guild’s annual exhibition, Native Nostalgia – which will feature mixed media works from across the continent reflecting upon the past. MOAD has four scheduled exhibitions to run within its first year (details to be confirmed).

South Africa’s arts and culture scenes have been two of the greatest areas of growth for the country in the last two decades. This, combined with a rich cultural heritage and a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit, provides a truly exciting and unique offering for visitors, at a time when the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) research suggests that 40% of global tourists actively seek culture and heritage experiences.

Fashion Show and Silent Disco and Tourism Minister’s speech

Celebrating the country’s design and creativity, a fashion show and silent disco will take place on-stand on the afternoon of Tuesday 5th November from 3.30pm. Models will showcase couture interpretations of South Africa’s eight World Heritage Sites from four of the country’s most celebrated fashion designers - David Tlale, Marianne Fassler, Thula Sindi and Nkhensani Nkosi – whilst dancing to the beats of a silent disco.

Following on, South Africa’s Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk will take to the stage at 3.30pm to address stand visitors. Touching on last year’s outstanding tourism figures, with South Africa reporting a 10.2% growth – with a staggering 4.2% growth of arrivals out of the UK alone, van Schalkwyk will also outline plans for 2014. As well as the nationwide celebrations that will be taking place to celebrate South Africa’s momentous year, from a travel trade perspective INDABA will also be one of 2014’s highlights. For the first time ever, INDABA will be a pan-African travel trade show with exciting changes including a table-top business hub for high-end meetings, digital travel initiatives and speed marketing sessions. The show will take place from 10-12 May 2014 in Durban (www.indaba-southafrica.co.za).

Ubuntu Awards

This year’s WTM will also mark the return of SA Tourism’s annual Ubuntu Awards, with the ceremony taking place on the evening of Monday 4th November at Madison Cocktail Bar (One New Exchange). Now in an updated format, the coveted industry awards will return to the stage with a new and fresh concept that will celebrate new and innovative ways of promoting South Africa as a compelling destination to the consumer. This year’s judging panel will include SAT’s Chief Marketing Officer Jan Hutton, social media specialist and Travel Perspective co-founder Steve Keenan and TTG’s Special Projects Officer, Abigail Challenor.

SAT’s touch-table design goes vertical - Kinetic Digital Stand Activation

In keeping with the innovation shown by SA Tourism to continually find new ways to differentiate its destination marketing through technology, this year a vertical Kinetic Digital Activation will take centre stage.

Featuring user-generated content, the large-scale video will be activated by hand signals. Users will be able to access ideas for travelling in South Africa by standing in front of a projection of the ‘table’ on to a wall – recreating an immersive experience of what South Africa has to offer.

South African Tourism –WTM Schedule at a glance

Monday 4 November 2013

1000 – 1800hrs: South African Tourism representatives available for media briefings

1930 – 2200hrs: Ubuntu Awards ceremony, at Madison Cocktail Bar (One New Exchange, by St Paul’s Cathedral)

Tuesday 5 November

1000 – 1800hrs: South African Tourism representatives available for media briefings

1430 – 1530hrs: Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk does a stand walk-about 1530 – 1600hrs: Catwalk Fashion Show and Silent Disco – showcasing couture interpretations of South Africa’s eight World Heritage Sites from four of the country’s most celebrated fashion designers - David Tlale, Marianne Fassler, Thula Sindi and Nkhensani Nkosi – whilst dancing to the beats of a silent disco.

1530   Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk speech

Wednesday 6 November

1630 – 1800hrs: Tourism KwaZulu-Natal culinary showcase, with dishes including bunny show, boerewors rolls, koeksisters and cold beers

ENDS

Issued by Kallaway on behalf of South African Tourism

For further information contact:

Juan Herrada at SA Tourism

Tel: +44 20 8971 9350   
Email: juan@southafrica.net    
                             

Susannah Glynn and Daniela Marchesi at Kallaway     

Tel: 020 7221 7883

Email: Susannah.glynn@kallaway.com;   daniela.marchesi@kallaway.com

Website www.southafrica.net                                   

Register on our media extranet to browse the latest news releases (from SA Tourism as well as the tourism industry in general), access the news archive and get details of all upcoming tourism industry events (both locally and internationally).

http://mediaextranet.southafrica.net

About South Africa

Nearly half a million tourists from the UK are drawn to South Africa each year, lured by its rich history, vibrant contemporary culture, scenic beauty and wildlife. The country’s iconic attractions include Mvezo, the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, cosmopolitan Cape Town and the 5.2sq mile Kruger National Park. South Africa was the first country in the world to include Responsible Tourism as part of government policy and for almost 20 years has acted as a major driving force for change in the sector. The visitor to South Africa can expect an unparalleled authentic experience, accommodation which is sustainable as it is stylish and affordable getaways which don’t cost the Earth.

About South African Tourism

South African Tourism is the national tourism agency responsible for the marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination.

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Johannesburg South African Tourism Cape Town World Design Capital for 2014