World Travel Market Africa (WTMA) is taking place this week – and alongside it, Africa Travel Week. From 19–23 April, you can indulge all your travel fantasies. Cape {Town} Etc chatted to Chardonnay Marchesi, the General Manager of Africa Travel Week, to get insight into travel in Africa and, more specifically, Cape Town.
1 Cape Town is a popular travel destination already. Do you find this is prevalent amongst African travellers as well?
Yes, it’s very prevalent in Africa. It’s one of the number one travel destinations in the world, it’s affordable and it’s on their doorstep. They don’t need to travel halfway across the world to have it all – we have beaches, bush and adventure here.
2 What do you love most about this city?
So many things! The diversity of cultures – the city has such a European feel to it; the variety of activities, many of which aligns with the different cultures; the food and wine; the scenery; the vast history the city has; and the accessibility tourists have with the different modes of transport (trains, the MyCiti buses, etc). The city is also clean and well looked after – you feel like you’re on a vacation the minute you step off the plane!
3 If you were to advise someone travelling to Cape Town for the first time, where would you recommend they go?
I would say they need to spend two days in the city and use the City Sightseeing bus for a full overview of all it offers. Then they should head to the Winelands and from there, to Hermanus and the Garden Route.
4 Describe the city in three words.
Diverse, gastronomic, extraordinary.
5 If you were to create a souvenir that represents Cape Town, what would it be or look like?
A virtual reality device of the city so I can relive my time here.
6 What’s your favourite Cape catchphrase?
‘The Mother City is wearing her tablecloth’, which refers to the cloud cover over Table Mountain.
7 Three Capetonians we should be following online?
1 Mike Eloff – Life of Mike: @thelawry
2 Jared Ruttenberg – Jared in Cape Town: @jaredincpt
3 Francis Gerbach – Great Grampops: @ggpops
Photography Courtesy image