Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) is a non-profit organisation that promotes and encourages fair and responsible business practice by South African tourism establishments. The organisation issues a certification programme that backs tourism establishments that meet the criteria.
South Africa is visited in hordes by tourists from all over the world. With tourist destinations like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, South African tourism has become a sort of phenomenon. Many look for cheap flights tickets to South Africa that land at any of its many airports to explore the myriad of the country’s attractions and charms. In such a blossoming tourism scenario, it becomes relevant that a certain organisation takes care of the working of tourist-oriented businesses and look into different aspects of it like fair wages and working conditions, fair purchasing, fair operations, equitable distribution of benefits and respect for human rights, culture and environment. This is where Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa comes into picture.
Tourists who book flights to South Africa and choose to stay or use the services of an FTTSA-certified establishment will make sure that their holiday travel is going to benefit local communities and economies. It will also ensure that the establishment you are dealing with is operated ethically and in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa has won many accolades with the most recent one being the winner in the 2010 Africa Investor Tourism Awards under Best Sustainable Tourism Investment category.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Qantas Strikes to Impact 10,000 passengers on Friday
More than 10,000 passengers are to be affected as Qantas Airways cancels 70 flights amid another series of strikes by its ground workers. Qantas says the rolling strikes have cost the airline A$68 million so far.
Qantas Airways cancels 70 flights as the ground workers at airports all across the country decide to go on a strike.
The cancellation of 70 Qantas flights will affect more than more than 10,000 passengers on Friday.
If one looks at the cumulative figure of passengers who have been affected by the recent months of industrial action at Qantas Airways, then the number hovers around at a staggering 70,000! Past few months have indeed been quite troublesome for Australia’s national carrier with months of strikes by unions representing aircraft pilots, mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers.
Unions have apprehensions regarding the airline’s plans to move jobs offshore. Pay and work conditions are some other concerns of the unions.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce urges unions to put “more realistic” demands on the negotiation table.
“We urge the unions to stop this, to put to the table more realistic demands and to think about the jobs they're endangering around the country," he told the Nine Network.
"We've always said we want to do anything that will stop this disruption happening to our passengers - again I apologise to those customers that have been impacted by this."
On the other hand, unions questioned the ‘fat pay cheques’ of the management. "Engineers, like many other employees at Qantas, can't understand why plans to offshore jobs and sack 1000 people are being rewarded with cash bonuses and fat pay cheques to the CEO and management," Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA)’s federal secretary, Steve Purvinas was quoted by news websites.
Qantas Says Strikes Have Cost A$68 million
The protracted labour dispute has cost Qantas A$68 million so far. The airline is loosing a further A$15 million per week in revenues. The situation has become really serious for the airline with a massive decline in the advance bookings on carrier’s flights.
With the peak holiday travel season of Christmas drawing near, travellers are getting wary of booking with Qantas Airways. Especially, travellers who make advance bookings in order to net cheap flight tickets are apprehensive as no one with cheap flight tickets would like to face a cancellation at the time of journey.
Qantas said that the industrial action, taken up by the engineers', pilots' and Transport Workers' unions, has cost the airline more than the Chilean volcanic ash cloud.
"This drawn-out and co-ordinated industrial campaign by these three unions is now having a major impact on Qantas," Joyce said in a statement on Friday.
"$68 million is a significant impact on the company and the costs will continue to rise."
"In comparison, the impact on Qantas from grounding aircraft during the recent volcanic ash cloud was $49 million."
Qantas Airways cancels 70 flights as the ground workers at airports all across the country decide to go on a strike.
The cancellation of 70 Qantas flights will affect more than more than 10,000 passengers on Friday.
If one looks at the cumulative figure of passengers who have been affected by the recent months of industrial action at Qantas Airways, then the number hovers around at a staggering 70,000! Past few months have indeed been quite troublesome for Australia’s national carrier with months of strikes by unions representing aircraft pilots, mechanics, baggage handlers and caterers.
Unions have apprehensions regarding the airline’s plans to move jobs offshore. Pay and work conditions are some other concerns of the unions.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce urges unions to put “more realistic” demands on the negotiation table.
“We urge the unions to stop this, to put to the table more realistic demands and to think about the jobs they're endangering around the country," he told the Nine Network.
"We've always said we want to do anything that will stop this disruption happening to our passengers - again I apologise to those customers that have been impacted by this."
On the other hand, unions questioned the ‘fat pay cheques’ of the management. "Engineers, like many other employees at Qantas, can't understand why plans to offshore jobs and sack 1000 people are being rewarded with cash bonuses and fat pay cheques to the CEO and management," Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA)’s federal secretary, Steve Purvinas was quoted by news websites.
Qantas Says Strikes Have Cost A$68 million
The protracted labour dispute has cost Qantas A$68 million so far. The airline is loosing a further A$15 million per week in revenues. The situation has become really serious for the airline with a massive decline in the advance bookings on carrier’s flights.
With the peak holiday travel season of Christmas drawing near, travellers are getting wary of booking with Qantas Airways. Especially, travellers who make advance bookings in order to net cheap flight tickets are apprehensive as no one with cheap flight tickets would like to face a cancellation at the time of journey.
Qantas said that the industrial action, taken up by the engineers', pilots' and Transport Workers' unions, has cost the airline more than the Chilean volcanic ash cloud.
"This drawn-out and co-ordinated industrial campaign by these three unions is now having a major impact on Qantas," Joyce said in a statement on Friday.
"$68 million is a significant impact on the company and the costs will continue to rise."
"In comparison, the impact on Qantas from grounding aircraft during the recent volcanic ash cloud was $49 million."
ANA's 787 Dreamliner Completes First Commercial Flight
Boeing 787 Dreamliner completed its first commercial flight on Wednesday. All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight flew from Narita to Hong Kong and took four hours to reach the destination. The jet will return back to Japan on Thursday.
Boeing’s much awaited 787 Dreamliner landed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, creating aviation history. The aircraft took off from the Tokyo's Narita International Airport in the early afternoon and landed in Hong Kong after approximately four hours.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Flight NH7871 was greeted in Hong Kong with great enthusiasm, reflected by traditional dance and music performances. World’s first charter passenger flight of Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been delayed for more than 3 years and the development would surely bring a sigh of relief from both Boeing’s as well as ANA’s quarters. The aircraft will return to Japan on Thursday.
Around 250 passengers boarded the historic flight of the airline. The list of passengers included a number of journalists as well as several Boeing and ANA executives. All Nippon Airways held a lottery for its frequent flyers to offer a chance to the travellers to buy tickets on the 787 Dreamliner. Some seats were auctioned off for charity.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner is understood to be 20% more fuel-efficient than regular airliners and is also 30% cheaper to maintain. Budget travellers who prefer booking cheap flight tickets will perhaps have better chance with the Dreamliner as the fuel efficiency is more and maintenance costs are low. Apart from the brighter prospects of netting cheap flight tickets, Boeing 787 also promises a much comfortable journey to the travellers.
All Nippon Airways has announced its plans to launch domestic flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Nov. 1st. Long-haul flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt will follow the domestic operations.
All About Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Boeing 787 Dreamliner is built of lightweight materials that promise better fuel efficiency. Boeing 787 is the first commercial jet aircraft made mainly of plastic-composite materials.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be a ‘game changer’, if some of the industry experts are to be believed. Boeing hopes to reinvent travel experience for the passengers on medium and long haul flights. The aircraft features larger windows, improved lighting, and air pressure and humidity that are much closer to that on the ground.
Boeing 787’s Delivery Schedule
With a total order of 55 Dreamliner aircraft, All Nippon Airways is the biggest customer of the Boeing 787. So far, the airline has received two jets and it is scheduled to get another nine by the end of March. ANA hopes to bring its tally of Boeing 787 to 20 by the end of March 2013. As per reports, the Boeing 787 will generate fuel savings worth as much as 10 billion yen ($126 million) a year for the carrier.
Boeing has Dreamliner orders from carriers like Air China, British Airways and Delta Air Lines. Japan Airlines has more than 30 787s on order, while United Continental will be the first U.S. carrier to fly the 787.
Boeing’s much awaited 787 Dreamliner landed in Hong Kong on Wednesday, creating aviation history. The aircraft took off from the Tokyo's Narita International Airport in the early afternoon and landed in Hong Kong after approximately four hours.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Flight NH7871 was greeted in Hong Kong with great enthusiasm, reflected by traditional dance and music performances. World’s first charter passenger flight of Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been delayed for more than 3 years and the development would surely bring a sigh of relief from both Boeing’s as well as ANA’s quarters. The aircraft will return to Japan on Thursday.
Around 250 passengers boarded the historic flight of the airline. The list of passengers included a number of journalists as well as several Boeing and ANA executives. All Nippon Airways held a lottery for its frequent flyers to offer a chance to the travellers to buy tickets on the 787 Dreamliner. Some seats were auctioned off for charity.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner is understood to be 20% more fuel-efficient than regular airliners and is also 30% cheaper to maintain. Budget travellers who prefer booking cheap flight tickets will perhaps have better chance with the Dreamliner as the fuel efficiency is more and maintenance costs are low. Apart from the brighter prospects of netting cheap flight tickets, Boeing 787 also promises a much comfortable journey to the travellers.
All Nippon Airways has announced its plans to launch domestic flights with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Nov. 1st. Long-haul flight from Tokyo to Frankfurt will follow the domestic operations.
All About Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Boeing 787 Dreamliner is built of lightweight materials that promise better fuel efficiency. Boeing 787 is the first commercial jet aircraft made mainly of plastic-composite materials.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner will be a ‘game changer’, if some of the industry experts are to be believed. Boeing hopes to reinvent travel experience for the passengers on medium and long haul flights. The aircraft features larger windows, improved lighting, and air pressure and humidity that are much closer to that on the ground.
Boeing 787’s Delivery Schedule
With a total order of 55 Dreamliner aircraft, All Nippon Airways is the biggest customer of the Boeing 787. So far, the airline has received two jets and it is scheduled to get another nine by the end of March. ANA hopes to bring its tally of Boeing 787 to 20 by the end of March 2013. As per reports, the Boeing 787 will generate fuel savings worth as much as 10 billion yen ($126 million) a year for the carrier.
Boeing has Dreamliner orders from carriers like Air China, British Airways and Delta Air Lines. Japan Airlines has more than 30 787s on order, while United Continental will be the first U.S. carrier to fly the 787.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Qatar Airways to Launch Flights to Libyan Port City of Benghazi
Qatar Airways will start operating flights to Benghazi from November 1st 2011. Benghazi is Libya's second largest city and is a renowned economic hub of the region.
The airline will offer four flights in a week, non-stop from Doha airport.
This latest launch of Qatar Airways will take the number of destination launches by Qatar Airways to 15 in the current year.
Benghazi, Libya’s north-eastern Mediterranean port city is a key destination for trade and exports with industries like refining, food processing, cement production and tuna fishing scattered all throughout the region. Qatar Airways hopes to serve this segment of the market apart from serving leisure vacationers who go for cheap flight tickets.
Qatar Airways has a well established presence in the region with the airline serving the capital city of Tripoli for few years now. Currently, the airline has abandoned flights to Tripoli due to the political situation. However, the airline hopes to resume the flight services to the Libyan capital soon enough.
The five-star airline will ply an Airbus A320 dual configuration aircraft on the new route. The aircraft will feature 12 seats for travellers who seek the lavishness of the first class and 132 economy class seats fro those prefer booking cheap flight tickets for their travel.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker was delighted with the development and welcomed the new addition to the airline’s wide network. He spoke of Benghazi as a primarily business destination that remains underserved by airlines.
The airline will offer four flights in a week, non-stop from Doha airport.
This latest launch of Qatar Airways will take the number of destination launches by Qatar Airways to 15 in the current year.
Benghazi, Libya’s north-eastern Mediterranean port city is a key destination for trade and exports with industries like refining, food processing, cement production and tuna fishing scattered all throughout the region. Qatar Airways hopes to serve this segment of the market apart from serving leisure vacationers who go for cheap flight tickets.
Qatar Airways has a well established presence in the region with the airline serving the capital city of Tripoli for few years now. Currently, the airline has abandoned flights to Tripoli due to the political situation. However, the airline hopes to resume the flight services to the Libyan capital soon enough.
The five-star airline will ply an Airbus A320 dual configuration aircraft on the new route. The aircraft will feature 12 seats for travellers who seek the lavishness of the first class and 132 economy class seats fro those prefer booking cheap flight tickets for their travel.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker was delighted with the development and welcomed the new addition to the airline’s wide network. He spoke of Benghazi as a primarily business destination that remains underserved by airlines.
Travel Distribution Summit India 2011: An Overview
The 6th annual edition of EyeforTravel's Travel Distribution Summit India was held in Novotel Juhu, Mumbai this year from 12th to 13th of October. The conference was a great opportunity for the travel companies to gain knowledge for spreading their businesses and become unrivalled kings of the tourism industry in India.India’s travel industry is flourishing and has attained great heights in the last few years. The significant reasons for such rising tourism in India are improved infrastructure including better airports, top class transportation facilities, superior technology and economic growth. But what next? Till what time the tourism industry in India will retain this position? Well, this question was the hot topic of discussion at the travel distribution summit India 2011 where the experts gave their views and shared their knowledge about tourism in India.
Millions of travellers booked flights to India to be a part of this significant travel event. Many travel agents and even regular travellers booked advance tickets to grab cheap flights to India to avoid missing the event. It is reported that representatives of several travel related organisations attended this conference including Azran Osman Rani (CEO, AirAsia X), Speaker TBC (IndiGo Airlines) and Sanyukth Sridharan (CCO, SpiceJet) to name a few.
The main topics covered under Travel Distribution Summit India 2011 event are:
- Rising trends in the Indian travel industry.
- Implementing efficient marketing and revenue policies that may help in increasing business and maximizing profits.
- How technologies such as mobiles and Internet are altering the mode of communication for the customers who book tickets via these technologies to plan their holidays.
- How technology is developing and how it can affect the tourism sector for its betterment.
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