June 14 2017 I No. 2449 SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY Special cover commemorating Air Mauritius 50 years of flying TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY AIR MAURITIUS celebrates Air Mauritius is set to debut the first of its six new A350-900s on major routes, including Mauritius to Johannesburg, on November 18. TNW8175SD NOTE FROM CARLA 50 and fabulous! Air Mauritius celebrates 50 years of South Africans to paradise than any Air Mauritius has also added two flying on the 14th of June 2017. other leisure program in the country. Airbus A330-900neo aircraft to its The company has played a major role current order of the six Airbus in our lives for half a century while Our partners A350-900 aircraft. Furthermore, fulfilling its mission as the national Air Mauritius is upgrading the cabin airline of Mauritius. 50 is indeed a huge milestone that interiors of its existing fleet with a Air Mauritius was established in June translates into hard work, perseverance view to meet customer expectations 1967 and its first flight took to the skies and true success. This has all been and to consolidate its status as the on the 13th of September 1972 with a achieved because of the entire value leading regional airline. Piper Navajo to Rodrigues. chain that makes our business We are delighted that the Today Air Mauritius flies to 27 successful and our customers our A350-900 will be flying to South destinations across the European, heartbeat. I would like to thank Africa with the first flight African, Asian and Australasian the travel trade, our tour operators, expected in November 2017. continents. corporate customers, Kestrelflyers and This is very exciting news valued employees for their passion and and we certainly want all African growth commitment over the years. our loyal and valuable partners to experience I am very proud to say that Air Mauritius New beginnings our new island in the sky. has invested in and affected a growth Thank you for your strategy on the African continent. Today, Over and above our Big 50, Air ongoing and invaluable we fly to Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Mauritius is celebrating a year of growth support over the Town, Maputo, Dar es Salaam and and further investment. In 2017 Air years and making Air Nairobi. Mauritius will take delivery of its Airbus Mauritius a carrier of South Africa has been instrumental in A350-900s. The A350-900 product choice and excellence! generating incremental revenue through allows Air Mauritius to enjoy operating establishing long-term partnerships and efficiencies and technological innovation, Warm regards, friendships. Our Travel Smart Program while offering an excellent passenger was born in 2010 and has taken more experience and greater comfort. Carla da Silva The Air Mauritius Johannesburg team celebrates 50 years of flying. Wednesday June 14 2017 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS TNW8163SD NEWS REPORT FEATURE STRICTER VISA CONTROLS WORK CONDITIONS SURVEY INDIAN OCEAN DESTINATIONS US launches social media requirement Earning less, the same or more? More affordable Maldives INSIDE Page 2 Page 5 Page 8 R60 000 cash incentive The big 50! kicks off training 60 000 in cash and completing Travelinfo regular ongoing product several hundred Workshops by the end of July training, most travel agents Rthousand rands worth will go into the draw. will soon reach the peak of incentive prizes will be on The new Travelinfo of five-star status where the table following the launch Workshops system credits they have earned 2400 of Travelinfo’s 24/7 product workshops completed since points over the preceding training classroom this last July. Consultants can 12 months, said Travelinfo’s month. see how many points they’ve divisional head, Linda van Cash draws of R10 000 accumulated by looking at der Pol. a month for six months will their training dashboard found By just completing one start from July. on the home page menu of workshop a month, they will Sixteen suppliers, ranging Travelinfo under “Workshops”. be able to keep this status. Air Mauritius was established in June 1967. The airline from airlines to car hire, have Reports on each “All consortia to which we had it's first flight on September 13, 1972. On June put up workshops which consultants’ progress will have presented the concept 14, the airline turns the big fifty! To celebrate this earn consultants 200 points be mailed to all branch have been enthusiastic milestone, Air Mauritius is offering return flights from for each one completed. managers and consortia about the idea of on-demand Johannesburg to Mauritius for R5 650 inclusive of taxes. Agents can earn up to 50% managers every month. training in easy modular form. The fare is valid for travel till November 30 (excluding bonus points for completing From August, the number of Product knowledge is vital school holidays) and is subject to availability. Pictured, a workshop that is one of points needed to be included for the future of the industry ready to party, are (from left) Carla da Silva, regional their travel groups’ preferred in the cash draw will be and most have indicated they manager for Southern Africa and Latin America, and suppliers. increased each month by 200 will be making it part of their Wouter Nel, sales and marketing manager for Southern All consultants that have points until it reaches 2400. consultants’ key performance Africa of Air Mauritius. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl accumulated 1400 points The idea is that through areas,” she said. Govt business – Treasury responds to “agents’ concerns” TARYN NIGHTINGALE Agent A asks: What became provision for a framework released in April. Agent D asks: How many of the National Tender? contract (where a tender The recommendations departments have actually IN A BID to get clarity on It was scrapped and goes out to market and serve as guidelines, which adopted the use of lodge issues regarding the National replaced by “minimum bid then top bidders form part departments must incorporate cards? Travel Policy and the tender specifications” which are of a framework of which into their own policies. From Treasury can merely advocate process for TMCs that Treasury’s guidelines to tenderers must select October 1 this new policy the use of lodge cards, but wish to service government how departments should go potential bidders). must be enforced. cannot enforce it. Legislation departments, TNW held out to tender. Departments in the PFMA gives the an exclusive interview with Agent B asks: What about the Agent C asks: How far need to have the flexibility to decision-making power to the Treasury last week. National Travel Policy? has Treasury come with tailor their tenders according accounting officer of each TNW asked agents to Departments have until standardising payment to their travel needs. Also, department on how payments submit the questions and legislation in the Public September 30 to adopt processes? must be fulfilled. issues they wanted Treasury Finance Management Act Treasury’s recommendations Treasury is still in the process to address. (PFMA) doesn’t make outlined by the framework of doing this. To page 2 TNW8192SD NEWS Book your 2018 Japan US tightens visa requirements Cherry Blossom Tour now! HE US government has “Any additional visa see travellers favouring approved plans to ask restrictions will always have destinations which have TUS visa applicants for a discouraging effect on a simpler visa application details of their social media prospective travellers. When process,” she adds. use backdating five years. the UK introduced visas for Other industry players Authorities can request email SA travellers a few years ago, say some travellers will addresses, phone numbers we saw a massive drop in welcome the added • China • Tibet • Nepal • Vietnam • Cambodia • Laos and 15 years of biographical numbers to the UK.” security. “Whilst perhaps • Myanmar • Japan • India • Sri Lanka & beyond information via a new She adds that the US is not controversial, every country Contact details: Tel: 010 001 9998 | [email protected] questionnaire, Form DS-5535. a hugely popular destination has a right to protect its wendywutours.co.za The rule applies to for SA travellers currently as borders. This policy should TNW7762 “immigrant and non- the distance is a deterrent. do exactly as intended and immigrant visa applicants Megan D’Arcy, product make it more difficult to enter ® who have been determined to manager USA of kulula the US for those that have Rubes By Leigh Rubin warrant additional scrutiny in holidays, says she doesn’t questionable track records,” connection with terrorism or foresee an immediate drop says Jonathan Gerber, other national security-related in leisure travel to the States director of TAG Travel. visa ineligibilities,” the State as the additional information Vicky Steinhard, product Department said. Only about appears to only be required manager of Pentravel, agrees 0.5% of visa applicants are for people who do not pass and says: “These checks expected to be affected by the initial vetting process. should make it safer for the rule. “Should a stage be reached tourists travelling to the US. The new restrictions could where these (and other I feel the impending laptop impact travel from SA, says possible new requirements) ban may affect travel choice Theresa Szejwallo, md of become compulsory for more heavily, both the leisure The Travel Corporation. all applicants, we could and corporate markets.” Govt business – Treasury responds From page 1 At the time of contracting Treasury has good faith Agent E says: Departments agents can stipulate what the that departments have don’t pay within 30 days as SLAs should be, if charging competent people in stipulated in the PFMA. What for duplicate invoicing is one decision-making positions. monitoring tools are in place of them, agents must state In its bid specifications, to ensure compliance? that.