Hain's trumpet a tad tarnished

DESPITE the welcome and encouraging comments made by the UK's junior foreign office minister for Africa, Peter Hain, on his recent visit to South Africa in 'blowing SA's tourism trumpet' saying that - given SA's attractions - the country should be "teeming with tourists", there are still those who wonder just why the UK government's latest frank Travel Advice contains the following under the heading, 'Terrorism':
'We believe that South Africa is one of a number of countries where there is an increased threat to British interests from global terrorism'.
Chief marketing officer of South African Tourism, Owen Leed, said he was aware of the advice and that it was a matter that he would be taking up with the relevant authorities on his next visit to London.
"It's very, very important that we ensure that communications of this sort deal effectively with such information as it has a major affect on how other countries see SA."

(Elizabeth Sheridan)