April 2011
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Hello
COMPETITIONS
SA Destination Awards
We're preparing to launch the SA Destination Awards and we'd really appreciate your help.
One of the more difficult debates has been over the definition and criteria, for the purpose of this competition, of what a "Destination" is. One needs to differentiate between destinations and attractions. One needs to recognise that a destination is about getting there as well as the attractions you find when you get there. A destination is not just an accommodation establishment. Great destinations always demonstrate effective team play between public & private sectors and the local community.
Most of the info about the Destination Awards will only be published when the competition is announced, but we have put a few pages up now -- visit the Introduction, How it all started and, the one we want your input on -- "What is a destination?"
If you have registered on CapeInfo and are logged in, you'll be able to leave your comments on each of the pages.
BLOGS
 Anyone who knows Cheryl Mulder Verbruggen will know her passion for tourism... and the thorough professionalism that goes with it. CapeInfo is delighted to welcome her as a blogger at Magic happens daily...
She and husband Robert have joined the trek of successful city people to small country towns - Montagu in their case. It's this influx of not-always-welcome energy and professionalism into sometimes-sleepy hollows that makes these towns so fascinating and vibrant!
Have a look at what she has to say at Magic happens daily...
DIRECTORY
Activity Holidays
It was only after CapeInfo was asked to help an English website based in France that we discovered the importance of activity or special interest holidays. Yes, we've always known about them but we never realised just how popular they are.
So we've added Activity Holidays as a directory category on CapeInfo. The sub-categories we've added so far are art, children, cookery, culture & history, equestrian, farmstay, fishing, golf, language, safaris, walking and wellbeing. Not all are populated with content yet but we hope they will be soon. If we've missed any important sub-categories, please let us know.
Activity holidays are those that offer an activity or special interest as the most important part of a package.
DIRECTORY
Not just Cape... not just South Africa...
We all know the importance of regional tourism to South Africa -- the majority of tourists to SA are from neighbouring countries. And it is a symbiotic relationship. Some years back, upcountry accommodation establishments asked if they could list on CapeInfo because Cape Town is such a strong global brand. Well now we are starting to see increasing numbers of establishments beyond our borders. Here's a taste:
BLOGS
If tourism authorities responded to this, we missed it!
South Africa dropped five places in 2010 – from 61 to 66 – in the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index released by the World Economic Forum at the Global Tourism Forum 2011.
Read more in Spaniard in the Works.
DIRECTORY
Directory search
CapeInfo's extended directory search now does much more. Apart from filtering the search by category or location, you can now also select accommodation establishments which are child, disbility or pet friendly, offer bicycle rentals or birding, and a whole range of other criteria. You'll find the link under Directory in the main navigation.
There are two other interesting links there too -- Most popular entries and Recently updated entries.
NEWSLETTERS
CapeInfo's free events & special offers newsletter. It's sent out weekly, drawing from content in our What's on section. You can subscribe here.
DIRECTORY
If you have content on CapeInfo...
Please check that your content is up-to-date. Important items to check are:
- Do you have an Icon photo which appears in the category and search listings? Without one, you won't attract the attention you could.
- For accommodation establishments: Have you completed the Facilities & Services Checklist and the price range? Many people use these in searches and your establishment won't be found if you you haven't completed them.
- Activity holidays -- remember that Activity Holidays are those that offer an activity or special interest as part of your package. Having a golf course in your town on its own does not allow your establishment to be included in this category.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you need Help...
Before you shoot off an email, please have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions (they are under the Help navigation tab). We can get much more done if we don't have to answer the same questions over and over again.
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