Industry opens purses for Mozambique

THE industry has responded positively to the Travel Industry Initiative for Mozambique Relief. Now Media Disaster Fund have recorded donations totalling over R21 500. Last week Now Media md David Marsh and Travel Industry Golf Club chairman Jose Cruz, who initiated the fund-raising drive, met with Mozambique's High Commissioner, Armando Alexandre Panguene, to advise him of the initiative. Now Media thanks those companies listed below for their contributions: * Travel Industry Golf Club * Paarl Travel * Now Media (Travel Now's parent company) * Dynamic Travel * Rennies Forex Isando * Rennies Bloemfontein * Mr Davids & Family (AATB) * Rennies Head Office * Skylink Travel * Rennies Safmarine CPT * Rennies Travel (CPT-Inhouses) * AA Travel Guides * Rennies Travel TSD * Inyoni Travel & Tours * Rennies Safair * Rennies Montclair * World Leisure: Food & blankets Meanwhile, tourism operators involved with Mozambique believe that misrepresentation of the current situation in the country is causing irreparable damage to the tourism industry. Says Vikki Gimson, manager of Mozambique Connection: "The situation in certain areas is extremely serious, but the damage is localised to specific areas only - in particular Gaza province and its capital Xai Xai. The misleading impression given by the press is that the whole of Mozambique is under two metres of water and that everyone is in grave danger of contracting malaria, cholera, yellow fever or typhoid." Vikki, whose company is marketing weekend getaway specials in March suited for relief workers, states there are areas largely unaffected by the adverse weather conditions, without threat of serious diseases. Although the main road is impassable, flights from Johannesburg via Maputo can still reach popular tourist destinations such as Inhambane and Vilanculos. "To help the people of Mozambique, we should not only be donating funds but also encouraging business as normal wherever possible," she points out. (Michelle Colman)