Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/319926
B M & T ••• March/April 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 40 CAPETOWNISTHEWORLD DESIGNCAPITAL2014 Cape Town's Year as World Design Capital 2014(WDC2014)givesthe Travel Trade Fresh Ideas and Itineraries to Promote in 2014. It offersvisitorsanunprecedentedopportunitytoseeandexperience therealbeatingheartofCapeTown.AwardedtoanAfricancityfor the first time,it's a fitting reflection of how design has become a powerfulwaytomakingcitiesmorecompetitive,livableanddesir- able places to visit and explore.A we ll-established and desirable destination,WDC2014offersnewexperiencestothosevisitorswho arelookingtoexplorebeyondthebeachesandmountains. Theofficialprogramencompassesayear-longprogramofsig- nature WDC2014 events including a Design House Exhibition in November 2014, a seven-day event that will see international exhibitorsshowcasingthebestdesignsfromtheirowncitiesaswellasnumberofnewdesigntoursrunningthroughout2014. Highlight s include: •"Urban Design and LivabilityWalkingTours"offered by Future CapeTown •"InsiderWalkingTours"developedforvisitorsbyoneofCapeTown'strend-settingtourcompanies,CoffeebeansRoutes. •"Public Spaces Walking Tours" where visitors can meet and interact with the designers behind some of Cape Town's most beautiful public spaces. Visitors to Cape Town will also be able to enjoy exploring the urban scene at Albert and Sir Lowry Roads in Woodstock, The Fringe and the City Centre, as well as the popular Winelands. F R O M T H E M O T H E R L A N D EASTAFRICACOMMUNITY&LAREUNION/SOUTHAFRICAVISACHANGESTABLEDATTHE AU(AFRICANUNION)MINISTERSOFTOURISMMEETINGHELDINSEYCHELLES The AU (African Union) Ministers of Tourism meeting in the Seychelles heard the innovative developments adopted by Kenya, UgandaandRwandaintheEastAfricaCommunityandbytheIndianOceanVanillaIslandofLaReunionforSouthAfricanpass- port holders with regards to the much talked about VISA questioninAfrica. The Ministers of Tourism meeting in Seychelles was the opportunity for the Kenya representative atthemeetingtospell out the recent agree- ment by Kenya, UgandaandRwandaforauni-visaagreementamongstthemselvesofferingfreeaccessacrossthebordersofthethreecountries withjusttheonevisa.ThisinnovativeapproachwastodayprovingtobeawelcomedinitiativebyTourOperatorsandtouristsalike. ThesameinnovationwastakenbytheIndianOceanVanillaIslandofLaReuniontowaiveforthefirsttimeevervisasfor SouthAfricanpassportholders.Thisapproachisseenasoneoftheresultsoftheworkingsofthe Vanilla Islands Organisationand thatofitsCEO, Mr. Pascal Viroleau.TheislandofLaReunionwasseentobesufferingwithitstourismindustryasitwasimple- mentingtheFrenchImmigrationregulationsasapplicableinFrance.ThevisaexemptioninnovationbytheVanillaIslandofLa Reunionistodaybeingseenasabreakthroughtoboosttheisland'stourismindustry.Anotherspecialvisaarrangementisalso beingfinetunedforChinesepassportholdersaslongastheChinesetouristshavebookedapackagethathasstartedwithasec- ondVanillaIslandsuchastheSeychellesandMauritius. VISApolicyhasalwaysbeenseenasachallengeontheAfricanContinentandsuchbilateraloftripartiteagreementsisseen asapositivemoveforAfrica. Alain St.Ange,theSeychellesMinisterresponsibleforTourismandCulturealsousedthemeetingtoreiteratethattheSeychelles hasaNOVISApolicyandeveryonewaswelcomedtotheislands."Wearefriendsofallandenemiesofnoneandassuchnoone requiresavisatovisitSeychelles"saidMinisterSt.AngeoftheSeychelles. •Pg_38-50.qxp__BMT_pg86-162 5/20/14 5:49 PM Page 40