After five years, I recently went ‘home’ to Durban to see my family. I say ‘home’ in inverted commas because the concept to me is always more a feeling than a place. And whilst I can honestly say I loved growing up in Durban, my last 20 years in the Western Cape have felt more like home.
As any expat will tell you though, leaving one place behind for another means missing family. With my father’s advancing age there was an urgency to experience a real hug, not a virtual one, and to chat about all things legacy related. Keeper of knowledge and sentimentality is my father, and we (ok me) devoured the perusing of old photographs of ancestors gone before and lovingly remembered. Like the postcards from 1915 sent by my great-grandfather who was interned at Fort Napier, then a prison for those assumed to be enemy subjects. They were well treated here, and some beautiful woodwork pieces came out of that time that still form part of our lives. I have a beautiful wooden glove box, now over 100 years old, that is a prized possession.
Life often comes full circle, and I took the advantage of attending a reunion of old school friends. I am sure you have noticed that when you are with old friends that have known you since youth, there is less explaining to do. Where we come from is all part of our story, a puzzle piece to who we are. There are many sayings that discourage looking back, but often, looking back truly does remind us just how far we have come. We are quick to gloss over just how much has been achieved and how resilient and wiser we have become in that process.
The theme of looking back was recently explored at the SATSA Conference where stories were shared including a reflection on the resilience of the tourism industry during the pandemic. During one of the panel discussions, the history of mankind in Africa was discussed and the words ‘brushing back of time’ and ‘standing on the shoulders of our ancestors’ resonated with me. Of course, there was also much looking forward to the future with a sense of optimism.
All of this had me thinking of our individual tourism stories as we share milestones and meaningful anniversaries. Looking back to your origins and the journey along the way is integral to who you are now. Celebrate your organisation’s history – the triumphs and the hard times – and share your history with your guests and clients. They are now part of that story, and will understand you better as a result. Together, you can craft a future with care. Look back, learn lessons and look towards creating a lasting legacy.
Mindful Musings
What the world was musing over this past week
Celebrating the Legacy of Tourism
It’s officially Tourism Month in South Africa. Aligning with the UN’s Tourism Day on 27 Sep, this year’s theme is “Tourism and Peace”. Minister Patricia de Lille announced the expansion of this theme in South Africa in her recent speech. “We have decided to expand the theme to “Tourism and Peace – 30 years of connecting people, places and culture”.
Snowy Times
As Spring arrives and flowers finally begin to bloom, Capetonians are feeling hopeful that the worst of winter is behind us. If that is so, it sure went out with a bang. Adventurer Matt Ashwell was up early and recorded snow on Table Mountain last week.
Music’s Massive Attack
An experimental and impactful approach was taken at the Massive Attack music concert. This British Band vowed to do things differently to lower their carbon emissions at their day long concert in Bristol. They even brought in compost loos and no urine would go to waste!
Green Goodness?
Guacamole? Nope, just a new dessert-filled chocolate bar. Gives new meanings to getting your greens in every day with this pistachio and knafeh filled delight making waves on TikTok.
Photo credit: Fix Dessert Chocolatier (Dubai)
