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| TRAVEL NEWS - Libya Visa |
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16 Feb (TBA) Libya stops visas for European states
Libya has stopped issuing visas to citizens from many European nations, in apparent retaliation for alleged Swiss measures against the Gaddafi family.
Diplomats say Libya has barred people from the Schengen zone - which includes 25 European countries. Reports say the measure is already in force at Tripoli's main airport.
The move follows an extended row that began with the arrest of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son and daughter-in-law in Switzerland in July 2008 under charges of mistreating two domestic employees The charges were later dropped.
Libya then halted oil exports to Switzerland, withdrew billions of dollars of assets from Swiss banks and put two Swiss businessmen working in Libya on trial for visa violations and other offences.
At the weekend a Libyan newspaper reported that Switzerland had drawn up a visa blacklist that included Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and his family. The paper said the North African country would take "severe measures" in response.
The Schengen zone consists of 25 countries which have abolished mutual border controls. They include 22 of the 27 European Union member states, plus three others, one of which is Switzerland.
A senior European diplomat has confirmed to the BBC that European embassies have been officially notified by Libyan authorities of the ban on entry-visas for citizens from Schengen zone countries.
A German foreign ministry spokesman described the move as "regrettable".
EU members UK, the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria are not part of the Schengen zone.
Italy and Austria are some of the Schengen zone countries investing in Libya's oil sector. Italy in particular has been enjoying a new-found friendship with Libya since it agreed to compensate for its colonial past.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Kenya wildlife |
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 11 Feb (TBA) Drought hit Kenya restocks wildebeest
Thousands of wildebeest and zebras are being moved across Kenya to restock areas devastated by drought.
Reports say the animals will be moved to Amboseli National Park, where many herbivores have died and starving lions and hyenas have begun to attack cattle.
In August 2009 Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said Kenya was losing 100 lions each year as herders killed them in retaliation for attacks on their cattle.
Wildlife rangers are using helicopters to herd the animals into enclosures and load them on to lorries in a month-long operation.
A Kenya tour operator said the operation is one of the largest relocations of animals ever in Africa.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) spokesman Paul Udoto said restocking the park was is one way of restoring the balance between carnivores and herbivores as well as reducing the lion and hyena attacks on livestock.
The rangers hope to catch 4,000 zebras and 3,000 wildebeest by the end of the month.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Zimbabwe Tourism |
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17 Jan (TBA) Zimbabwe tourism sector bids for $510m IMF 'windfall'
Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has called on the authorities to treat it as a productive sector so that it can benefit from the US$510 million "windfall" from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as preparations for this year's World Cup in South Africa gain momentum.
The June-July soccer extravaganza will be the first event to be held on African soil since the inception of the World Cup in 1930. Africa can only get another bite at the cherry in 2034.
Last year, the IMF gave member countries Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocations to bolster their reserves ravaged by the global financial crisis. Zimbabwe has said the funds will be deployed to the productive sector.
Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister told stakeholders last week the sector was hopeful it will be allocated the funds so that it makes adequate preparations for the soccer showcase.
"We have held discussions as late as yesterday (Thursday) for this industry to be treated as a productive sector to the extent that it can be funded from the SDR allocation," Mzembi said.
The industry is working on the budget to be presented to the Sports, Tourism, Image and Communication taskforce next Wednesday.
Analysts say the World Cup in South Africa is seen as a make or break for Zimbabwe's tourism industry. The country's ability to boost tourist arrivals will be put to the test as well as its preparedness.
Zimbabwe's tourism industry, once the backbone of the economy, declined by 22% in 2008 due to the political violence associated with the run up to the June 27 presidential election run-off and the cholera outbreak.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - British Airways |
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 26 Jan Falling sterling hits British Airways
British Airways expects to make an operating loss of about £150m in its 2008/2009 financial year, due to the fall in the value of sterling and the deteriorating economic outlook.
The airline said non-fuel costs were now expected to rise by 8%, compared with an earlier forecast of 5%.
Furthermore, British Airways is also expected to make an operating loss of £50m in the final three months of 2008.
The warning today sent BA shares down 6.6% to 137 pence in afternoon trade.
BA said it expected revenue to be up at least 4% from the previous financial year, adding that passenger traffic was in line with the market.
Fuel costs are expected to be largely unchanged at around £3bn as the lower price of aviation fuel is offset by the weak pound, it added. The decline in sterling makes aircraft leasing, which is paid in dollars, more expensive.
Air traffic control and airport charges have also become more costly for the airliner which will announce its third-quarter results on 6 February.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Cameroon |
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 02 Dec Cameroon creates gorilla park
Cameroon has created a new national park aimed at protecting the critically endangered Cross River gorilla, the world's rarest.
Takamanda National Park, on the border with Nigeria, is home to an estimated 115 Cross River gorillas. The total population of the subspecies is thought to be less than 300.
The news follows a recent meeting of 10 governments with gorilla habitats, in Rome, which debated the protection of the primates. The Gorilla Agreement was finalised in June, and brings together all the countries where the various species and subspecies are found.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) helped establish the Takamanda park, and believes it will help curb the hunting and forest destruction that have brought Cross River numbers to such a minuscule level.
"The government of Cameroon is to be commended for taking this step in saving the Cross River gorilla for future generations," said Steven Sanderson, president and CEO of WCS. "By forming this national park, Cameroon sends a powerful message about the importance of conservation."
Two years ago, with most gorilla populations falling, environment groups and concerned governments initiated a process designed to bring all the countries where the animals live into a new conservation deal.
The Gorilla Agreement, formulated under the UN Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), is the result.
Among other things, member governments have pledged to ensure suitable habitat is protected, co-operate with each other, restrain the spread of the Ebola virus, raise awareness of gorilla conservation and minimise conflict between the animals and human populations.
A coalition of groups, including the UN Environment Programme and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums, has declared 2009 the Year of the Gorilla in an attempt to raise awareness about the animals still further.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Egypt |
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 12 Nov Egypt discovers ‘new’ pyramid
Archaeologists in Egypt say they have discovered another pyramid - the country's 118th so far - from the sands at Saqqara, just south of the capital Cairo.
Experts say the 4,300-year-old monument probably belonged to the queen mother of King Teti, the founder of Egypt's Sixth Dynasty, several hundred years after the building of the famed Great Pyramids of Giza.
But they say the monument - which lies next to the previously-found pyramids of King Teti's two wives - is likely to have been looted by tomb raiders a long time ago.
All that remains of the pyramid is a square-shaped structure. The site is already known as one of the most famous burial grounds for rulers of ancient Egypt.
A senior Egyptian official said the 16ft-high (five-metre) remains originally stood about three times that height. In the coming weeks, experts expect to enter the burial chamber.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Air Zimbabwe |
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 05 Oct Air Zimbabwe back in the air
Air Zimbabwe flights are back to normal, following a strike last Friday by pilots over pay and conditions, according to the airline management.
David Mwenga, the air Zimbabwe manager in the UK said strike action had only been effective for three hours. “The disruption was caused by some pilots reporting sick,” Mwenga said. “Service is back to normal on all our routes.”
A former pilot with Air Zimbabwe told Newsreel that the aggrieved pilots may have resorted to being 'sick' because the country's laws make it difficult for airline employees to strike.
Since 2003 Air Zimbabwe, which flies to 17 destinations using a fleet of 7 aircraft, has been struggling financially. In February 2004 the airline was temporarily suspended by IATA over unpaid debts.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Zimbabwe |
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 04 Oct Air Zimbabwe pilots go on strike
Air Zimbabwe pilots on Friday went on strike in a row over pay and conditions, marking the first walk-out by the airline's pilots in almost ten years.
The strike action has already disrupted travel plans of over a thousand travellers, after the airline was forced to cancel both its short and long-haul flights.
Management at the alirliner said they had suspended flights with immediate effect because its pilots were sick. They said all Friday and Saturday flights had been cancelled and the situation would be reviewed later.
A former pilot with the airline told Newsreel that the aggrieved pilots may have resorted to being 'sick' because the country's laws make it difficult for airline employees to strike.
Since 2003 Air Zimbabwe, which flies to 17 destinations using a fleet of 7 aircraft, has been struggling financially. In February 2004 the airline was temporarily suspended by IATA over unpaid debts. On numerous occasions the airline has been saved at the last minute by the Reserve Bank, which has bailed it out with cheap loans.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Kenya |
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 03 Oct Kenya black rhino numbers on the rise
Kenyan wildlife received a boost this week with the release into the wild, of captive-bred black rhinos.
The operation, the first of its kind in Kenya in more than 25 years, has been hailed as a landmark step by wildlife conservationists.
Black rhino population in Kenya fell from an estimated 20,000 in the 1970s to around 530 today.
The dramatic decline was mainly due to poaching and loss of habitat, forcing wildlife experts in Kenya to breed the animal in sanctuaries.
The Kenya Wildlife Service, which has been working with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to revive rhino numbers, says it is now confident enough about the survival of the animals to begin releasing them back into the wild.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Zimbabwe Rhino |
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 25 Sept Rhino poaching on the increase in Zimbabwe
A breakdown in law enforcement against rhino poaching and horn smuggling in Zimbabwe is threatening the success of more than a decade's work bringing rhino populations back up to healthy levels, according to the World Wide Fund.
Rhino poaching has been increasing throughout Zimbabwe including in the Lowveld Conservancies in southern Zimbabwe, home to three-quarters of the country's surviving rhinos and host to a rhino conservation project involving WWF, the Parks and Wildlife Management Authority of Zimbabwe, the private sector and several other conservation agencies including the International Rhino Foundation.
Since January 2000, approximately 70 rhinos have been killed in the Lowveld conservancies, and the losses are now rapidly mounting,” said Raoul du Toit, Lowveld rhino conservation project manager for the Lowveld Conservancies. “About 20 rhinos were shot in the Lowveld during 2008, which points to how this problem is escalating, Prior to 2000, for a period of seven years, there was no rhino poaching whatsoever.”
When the poaching first flared up, it was linked to the unplanned occupations of sections of the Lowveld Conservancies by subsistence farmers and primarily involved rhinos getting caught in wire snares that were set out to catch wildlife for meat consumption.
Now the poaching has reached commercial levels, with poachers not only killing rhinos in snares but also shooting them for their horns, without taking the meat.
“WWF and other non-government organisations involved in rhino conservation maintain very constructive relations with the Zimbabwean wildlife authorities,” says du Toit, “But there is growing frustration over Zimbabwe’s poor performance in law enforcement for rhino crimes, which inevitably gives rise to concerns about corruption.”
Although a few poachers from Zambia have been arrested and convicted after cross-border raids into National Parks in northern Zimbabwe, not a single Zimbabwean poacher has been convicted during the current wave of internal rhino poaching.
The few Zimbabwean poachers arrested, have subsequently been released on bail, (equivalent to a few American cents), and have then absconded, or have evaded prosecution in the courts.
Typical of the problem is the recent release of a gang of four Zimbabwean rhino poachers who admitted to killing 18 rhinos in five different areas of central Zimbabwe, including a semi-tame group of black rhinos slaughtered in their pens at Imire Safari Ranch.
“The lack of enforcement and increased poaching pressure in Zimbabwe now threaten to reverse the excellent trends in rhino populations of recent years,” said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF-International’s Species Programme. “WWF calls on the authorities in Zimbabwe to take much stronger action against the internal poaching networks or the recent progress made in rhino conservation in Zimbabwe will be lost.”
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Egypt |
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 22 Sept European tourists kidnapped in Egypt
Eleven European tourists have been kidnapped in Egypt, along with eight other local people while making an off-road tour of the southern part of the country.
Reports said the abduction, near the Gilf al-Kebir plateau, was carried out by tribesmen or bandits and involved five Italians, five Germans and a Romanian. They were taken along with eight Egyptian travel guides and drivers.
Gilf al-Kebir is a giant plateau famous for its prehistoric cave paintings.
Egypt's tourism minister Zoheir Garana said a ransom of up to $6m (£3.24m) had been demanded and negotiations were under way. A ministry statement said: "This is an act of banditry not of terrorism."
Travel analysts say the incident could dent Egypt's reputation as a safe destination for foreign tourists and deliver a blow to an industry that brings in $8bn a year.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Somali |
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 03 Sept French tourists hijacked off Somali
A vessel carrying an unspecified number of French tourists has been hijacked off the Somali coast.
The seas off Somalia have some of the highest rates of piracy in the world. Attacks against fishing boats, cargo ships and yachts have surged in recent months and foreigners, who can be exchanged for large ransoms, are frequent targets.
Sources close to the pirates have confirmed the hijacking to the BBC Somali service. "It is from France but we don't know whether it is a yacht or cruise ship," Andrew Mwangura, head of the East Africa Seafarers' Assistance Programme, told the press. "We don't have details but it seems there are some tourists on board."
Reports say a delegation of officials from the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland has gone to Eyl port to investigate the report. In April, French commandos made six arrests in a helicopter raid against pirates after they freed a French yacht's crew.
Somali has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered from continual civil strife.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News: Zimbabwe |
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 09 June Zimbabwe loses US$7m in tourism
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke has revealed that the country lost US$7 million in tourism revenue from the Japanese market, following the review of Zimbabwe’s security risk by Tokyo.
According to Kaseke, Zimbabwe lost around 4 000 tourists who had planned to visit Victoria Falls between 15 April and 31 May 2008.
The loss translates to about 12 000 bed nights as the average stay per visitor is three nights.
"If this is translated to tourism receipts, including earnings from food and beverages, activities such as those common in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe lost about US$7 million from the Japanese market alone in those 45 days," Kaseke said.
He added: "This is a sad situation indeed, but as the tourism promotion organ of the government we will do everything in our power to redress the situation."
In April, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised Zimbabwe’s risk level from the previous Level One to Level Two.
Japan classifies destinations in four levels in terms of security risk. Level One, being the lowest, is not prohibitive but merely requires Japanese nationals who visit destinations in that category to exercise due caution while on holiday.
Level Two requires Japanese to consider the necessity of their travel and is prohibitive.
According to a travel analyst, once a destination has been classified in Level Two all tour operators, travel agents and individual travellers are expected to cancel their travel arrangements to such destinations.
Level Three requires an outright cancellation of all travel to the affected destinations while Level Four requires the immediate evacuation of Japanese nationals from the destinations.
Kaseke said during April and May, Zimbabwe experienced group cancellations by tour operators from Japan who had planned group tours, not only to visit Zimbabwe but Southern Africa as a whole. The group tours were to visit Victoria Falls, Cape Town and Chobe in Botswana.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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 20 Mar Super jumbo Airbus A380 has landed
The world's biggest passenger plane, the Airbus A380 super jumbo, (pictured) which touched down at Heathrow airport on Tuesday, after its first commercial flight to Europe, is being lauded as the most comfortable aircraft ever invented, by flight enthusiasts.
The plane, which can carry up to 471 passengers will start regular flights to Heathrow in December, under the aegis of the Dubai-based carrier, Emirates. Australian carrier Qantas is also expected to use the super jumbo to fly to London.
In the future, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will be flying the A380 at Heathrow, where both Terminal 3 and the new £4.3 billion Terminal 5 can take the new aircraft.
Passengers will sit in three classes - first, which has 12 luxury suites with 23-inch TV and cinema screens and double beds; business, where 60 people can enjoy flat-bed sleeping; and economy where nearly 400 passengers have seat-back screens and more room than rival aircrafts.
The aircraft's huge wings are manufactured in Broughton, North Wales, and Filton, Bristol, while the super jumbo is powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.
Analysts said although the Airbus A380 doesn't fly any higher, faster, or farther than airplanes that are out there now, it will make its mark in high density markets and as a niche player - for instance, Virgin Atlantic intends to put a casino on board.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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 18 Mar Kenya seeks beaches mark of quality
Kenya is seeking international certification to enable its beaches to keep abreast with reputable tourist destinations in other countries.
Ecotourism Kenya, which is spearheading the campaign, says the mark would help improve beach management and raise overall standards.
The organisation is aiming to win a Blue Flag certification, becoming the third country in Africa to do so after South Africa and Morocco.
"We want to see some of Kenya's beaches certified with the Blue Flag," said Ms Judy Gona, the chief executive of Ecotourism Kenya.
Many tourists, especially from Europe, see the mark, which is offered by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (FEEE), as a guarantee of quality and safety.
Under the Blue Flag award system, beaches seeking certification must comply with proper bathing water quality. Beaches also must also be efficiently run by management committees for environmental issues and have regular audits.
Beaches must also be cleaned regularly and have waste disposal bins and proper sanitation facilities for visitors.
Furthermore, to get certification, a beach should have lifeguards, first aid equipment and safe access. The beach area must also have enough supply of portable drinking water and must have a map indicating different facilities in the beach.
Currently, Kenya's public beaches lack basic facilities, an issue which stakeholders in beach tourism will be keen to address when they meet in April to discuss steps towards acquiring the Blue Flag certification. Other countries outside Europe with the certification include Jamaica, Chile and Canada.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Gorrila project |
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 20 Feb Project to save mountain gorillas launched
Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have launched a project to save mountain gorillas and improve security around their habitats.
The 10-year conservation project, which was launched in the Ugandan capital, Kampala today, will focus on greater security and ways of discouraging local communities from destroying the region's forests.
Furthermore, local communities will be given a share of the money made from gorilla-trekking permits. Tourists pay $500 each for a permit to track the animals, raising $5m annually for the three countries.
Addressing the press during the launch of the project, Moses Mapesa, head of the Uganda Wildlife Authority said: "For the first time, the three countries have decided to protect the great apes which are threatened with extinction and insecurity in the region."
The first four years of the project are being funded by the Dutch government at a cost of $6m.
The three central African states are home to mountain gorillas, now listed among the world's most endangered species.
Environmentalists estimate that there are around 700 gorillas left in the world, with their numbers being diminished by poaching and the destruction of the mountain forests - their natural habitat.
The Virunga mountains which connect Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the heartland of these great apes.
A 2004 census estimated that 380 mountain gorillas lived in the Virunga national park and surrounding region, while around 300 live in southwest Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest reserve.
In July 2007, five gorillas were killed inside the Virunga national park, in what appeared to be a senseless killing, since their bodies were left behind. The finger of suspicion was pointed at the rebel forces loyal to the dissident Congolese general Laurent Nkunda who controls large areas of the park.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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22 Jan SA tourists trapped in cable car
More than 30 tourists were today trapped in a cable car in mid-air for more than three hours, near the top of Table Mountain in South Africa, following a power cut.
Reports said hundreds of others were stranded at a cafe on Cape Town's famous landmark having gone up on a "sunset special".
The ride in the cable car is normally a five-minute journey, while it takes at least two hours to climb to the summit.
A spokesperson for Table Mountain Aerial Cableway told the press that a power cut at about 2000 local time (1800 GMT) had caused two cars to jump out of alignment.
Passengers in a lower car were rescued - the first such emergency operation since it began operating almost 80 years ago.
But the tourists near the top of the mountain were left stranded until the problem was fixed at about 2320. Several hundred tourists were stuck at the top of the mountain waiting for the cable car to start working again.
A source in the South Africa Tourism said: “Power cuts have been experienced across the country over the past week. I hope this is a wake up call for the government. Tourism is a foreign currency earner for South Africa and we don’t want to give the industry a bad name through such incidents.”
Last year President Thabo Mbeki admitted that officials of the power utility company Eskom had warned his government about the need to invest in new infrastructure to meet increasing demand in electricity.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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09 Jan Kenya riots hit tourism sector
Kenya's tourism industry, which brings in around US$900m (£455m) a year and attracts more than one million visitors a year, has taken a hit after four days of rioting and ethnic clashes, sources said.
With the UK and other western countries warning against all but essential travel to Kenya, the number of European tourists choosing Kenya during the winter, is anticipated to be significantly lower. Analysts said the disruption of the tourist sector threatens to derail one of sub-Saharan Africa's rare economic success stories.
"The impact on tourism depends on how quickly there is a restoration of normal conditions," one analyst said.
However, the trade body, ABTA, said UK tour operators have so far received few cancellations. Tour operators are also encouraged by the fact that Kenya’s main safari and resort areas remain unaffected by the violence,.
But there have been reports that holidaymakers were held back after their flights landed at Mombasa's Moi International Airport while tour operators arranged armed convoys to escort buses to hotels.
Kenya's economy has weathered travel warnings and steep drops in tourist numbers before.
In 1998 holidaymakers avoided Kenya after the US embassy bombing in Nairobi and the Mombasa attacks in 2002, and the economy would likely survive any drop in tourist numbers.
"The Kenyan economy is in a position of strength. Tourism flows have been strong so there will be room to withstand any temporary downturn," said another analyst.
However, a political observer said if political violence continues, economic disruption could affect the country's thriving horticulture and agriculture sectors, which represents a quarter of the country's gross domestic product.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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30 Nov Cameroon gorillas return home
Four rare gorillas are being flown from South Africa to Cameroon, five years after they were illegally smuggled to Taiping Zoo in Malaysia.
The Malaysian authorities returned the four Western Lowland gorillas to South Africa in 2004 and they have since been kept at Pretoria Zoo. The International Fund for Animal Welfare said the "Taiping Four" will now be taken to a wildlife sanctuary.
The male and three females were sedated before being put into giant crates.
"Africa's wildlife is disappearing from the earth right in front of our eyes," Ifaw's Christina Pretorious told the press. "The return of the Taiping Four sends a clear message that Africa wildlife is worth fighting for - that international law must be upheld."
Tinu, Izan, Oyin and Abbey, all six years old and weighing about 100kg each, are to be transported to the Limbe Wildlife Sanctuary in south-west Cameroon. There are believed to be fewer than 100,000 Western Lowland gorillas in the wild. Their status was recently upgraded to critically endangered.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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31 Oct Tourists drawn by Tanzania volcano
Tanzania’s Mount Oldonyo Lengai has become more attractive to tourists and researchers since a volcano erupted there last July, according to authorities.
The country’s Tourism ministry said although the volcanic eruption was dangerous it has put the area in the spotlight and the number of people touring the area had increased.
A spokesman for the ministry said Tanzania has installated special equipment to determine volcano eruptions at Longido, Engaruka and Ngare Sero and Ketumboine.
31 Oct Uganda Lodge receives eco award
Uganda’s Rainforest Lodge in Mabira Central Forest Reserve, has been awarded best ecobusiness of the year. Environmental Alert, which gave the award noted that the lodge is co-existing with the forest without causing any harm to it, yet at the same time providing jobs to the neighbouring community.
The government had plans to give away Mabira forest to an investor for sugar cane growing but has now abandoned the plan after intense international and local pressure from civil society groups.
31 Oct Rwanda gears for cultural tourism
Rwanda is trying to diversify its tourism potentials by relaunching cultural tourism. Addressing a workshop at Novotel Hotel in Kigali yesterday, Joseph Habineza, the Sports, Youth and Culture minister said Rwanda has the market for cultural tourists but needs to add value.
Habineza said there was general concern that Rwanda's tourism industry is not fully exploited and that there is need to discover more products and services to supplement gorilla tourism in the country.Rwanda projects to earn $31m-about Frw17 billion from cultural tourism by 2010.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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19 Oct ITT shuns Zimbabwe bid to host AGM
ZIMBABWE’S bid to host Britain's Institute of Travel and Tourism (ITT)'s 2008 annual general meeting (AGM) in Harare, has been thwarted due to the current political situation.
In a letter to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) ITT disclosed that it was turning down Zimbabwe's bid because of the country's contentious political situation; adding it could not be associated with the promotion of the country as a safe holiday destination.
The decision comes in the wake of another snub to Zimbabwe's invitation to the ITT's two seminars, as well as a "kind invitation to ITT members to have drinks on your stands", during the World Tourism Markets (WTM) expo to be held in the UK next month.
Sources said ITT took the decision on the basis that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office had also advised against travel to "certain parts of the country."
The ITT said the rapid deterioration of the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe meant that it could not work with the ZTA to promote the country.
"There has been a general increase in the level of violent crime and a serious deterioration in the economy and infrastructure," the ITT said in a letter to the ZTA. "I'm sorry that things have come to this and ITT is more than happy to promote Zimbabwe when things change."
ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke, confirmed the ITT's snub to the ZTA's invitations, but added that he would "not lose sleep" due to the ITT's decision.
"We can only feel pity for our friends at the ITT who have decided to feed on poison under the assumption that if they feed on poison themselves it is Zimbabwe that will die," Kaseke said. "That assumption is of course wrong, it cannot be like that and no miracle can do that, only he who feeds on poison shall die, we cannot die on their behalf."
"They wanted to host their annual conference here next year but they have said they will no longer come because they have failed to overcome the
volcanic and earthquake-like pressure they have taken from their media," Kaseke said.
More than 70 buyers from the UK alone have cancelled their participation at the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo, which will kick off in Harare tomorrow. ITT, which was founded in 1956, aims to develop and maintain professional standards throughout the travel industry for the benefits of members.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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19 Sept Tourism boost for Mozambique after cyclone
The tourism industry in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane has recovered after being severely hit by the 'Favio' cyclone last February, according to reports from the country’s Tourism ministry.
Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana, who visited the districts of Vilankulo, Inhassoro, and Govuro last week said that most tourist resorts have already been fully rehabilitated and have resumed their activities, while others are in an advanced stage of reconstruction.
Sumbana also revealed that the government has granted US$10m to support the reconstruction of tourism infrastructures in Inhambane, particularly in the private sector. This money is to be refunded within in three years, free of interest.
The government received a $5m loan from the World Bank to build a protection fencing wall at the Vilankulo coast, to prevent invasion of the sea water.
Furthermore, Sumbana said an investment of $80m was recently approved by the government for the building of five star hotel at the Pomene beach, in the Massinga district, with a capacity for 200 beds.
The southern part of the province, especially the Inharrime and Zavala districts, are also becoming popular resorts, with the Zavora and Canda beaches as the most sought after by a number of tourism operators.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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01 June Zimbabwe de-horns rhino ‘to deter poachers’
ZIMBABWE has started dehorning all of its rhino in an effort to deter the poaching of one of the world's endangered species, according to a report in the state controlled newspaper, The Herald.
The rhino population in Zimbabwe stood at around 2,000 in 1980, but rampant poaching in the 1980s saw the number dwindle to 370 before climbing to the current level of 789, according to conservation group Save the Rhino International. Rhino sightseeing in Zimbabwe remains one of the most popular requests by the ever decreasing numbers of tourists, according to game keepers.
Save the Rhino International said a programme undertaken by the government to put the rhino in protection zones in national parks and private conservation areas had helped save the animals from cross-border poaching.
Henry Madzikanda, chief ecologist for Zimbabwe's Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, told the press that rangers and other officials would now spend the next two weeks dehorning rhinos.
There is a ready market, especially in the Far East, for rhino horns, which, like elephant tusks, are used mostly to manufacture jewellery, figurines and tourist trinkets.
"We want poachers to know that if they kill any rhino in Zimbabwe, they will not find any horns. We are keeping them all in highly secured places for our future generations," Madzikanda was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
Zimbabwe is home to some of Africa's largest game reserves, but local conservation activists say rhino, elephants and other species are at risk from trophy hunters and rampant poaching by those who are struggling to survive the economic hardships gripping the southern African nation.
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| TRAVEL NEWS - Travel News |
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01 Feb SA ’still safe’ despite murder of historian
South Africa should still be marketed as a safe tourism destination, according to the country’s deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad. He made the comment in connection with the murder of world-renowned historian David Rattray, 49, in his KwaZulu-Natal home last Friday. Expressing his shock, as Rattray’s muder continued to make headlines at home and abroad, Pahad said it was a reflection of the "sort of violent crime taking place in some parts of our country". However, he said he did not believe it would affect all tourism to the country. "Obviously the killing of somebody of a high profile will strengthen perceptions abroad of the crime situation of South Africa," he said. " South African Tourism CEO Moeketsi Mosola said: "An incident such as this has significant, and appalling, negative consequences for everyone." He added that Rattray's death had deprived the local tourism industry of one of its greatest champions. "David was one of those rare people who had both an amazing understanding of our past as well as a vision for our future," said Mosola. The chief executive of the Tourism Business Council of SA, Mmatati Marobe, said: "There is no doubt that the industry suffers not only a huge personal loss from this senseless act of violence, but also a much longer-term loss due to the international reporting on crime in South Africa, specifically against tourists and tourist attractions." Industry sources said the concerns of the tourism bosses came amid reports that three busloads of tourists had already cancelled their visits to the KwaZulu-Natal battlefields. Despite the tourism industry's fears, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism said it was too early to say what impact Rattray's murder would have on foreign tourists. Spokesperson Riaan Aucamp said: "Obviously, no government would wish for this kind of thing. Our best efforts are being directed toward ensuring that this kind of thing does not happen." Mosola said that all tourism stakeholders were working extremely hard to make South Africa a safe destination to visit.
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30 Jan Tourists will ‘swamp’ North Africa
The next decade will mark an unprecedented rate of growth in the tourism market in North Africa, according to a study by the UN Environment Programme’s Mediterranean Action Plan. The study says by 2025 the number of international and national tourists visiting the South and East Mediterranean region will reach around 48 and 49 million respectively per year. This constitutes about a quarter of international tourists and almost half of all national tourists to the Mediterranean as whole. Such rapid development may have unforeseen and negative consequences on biodiversity and the environment of this region, the study projects.
The need to foster a sustainable form of tourism in north Africa was underlined by the first workshop on Sustainable Tourism which took place in Libya November 2006. The workshop provided a platform for discussions between the Libyan tourism and nature protection sectors with the ultimate objective of developing national and local policies for sustainable development of tourism.
It was organised by the Environment General Authority of Libya (EGA), the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, the IUCN Business and Biodiversity Programme, the WWF Mediterranean Programme Office (WWF MedPO) and the Regional Activity Centre for Cleaner Productions of UNEP MAP (RAC-CP). The Italian Ministry of Environment co-funded the workshop.
Some 60 international and national participants representing government agencies, NGOs, scientists, business, international organisations and research institutions active in conservation, tourism and development shared good practice initiatives from many countries, identifying the necessary steps for implementing an effective sustainable tourism strategy and action plan. The workshop generated specific recommendations addressing inter-agency and inter-sectoral cooperation, institutional capacity building, planning and implementation processes, and public awareness needs.
Tourism management in coastal and marine protected areas was a main focus of the workshop, as these areas are expected to experience the highest level of structural development.
Analysts say with the Libyan landscape featuring a high diversity from desert environments to coastlines, it could be a major asset for a tourism development that would benefit local communities and conservation aims, as many experts highlighted. Case studies from Egypt , Greece , Jordan , Malta and Turkey in addition to experiences from Libya were presented, together with current tools and expertise from international organisations such as UNESCO, UNDP and UNEP. IUCN is collaborating with Libya and the EGA, both IUCN members, to help assess marine biodiversity, in order to best manage these areas.
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01 Jan Virgin in alliance talks for cheap flights
Richard Branson's Virgin airlines is in discussions with AirAsia's Tony Fernandes and EasyJet's Stelios Haji-Ioannou, a Greek-British tycoon, to form what will be the world's first low-cost global network. A report in Malaysia’s The Star newspaper said the alliance will be based in that country and will cover long-distance routes for cut-rate fares.
According to the newspaper, the new joint venture will first fly between Kuala Lumpur and Manchester in Britain and Amritsar in India. Furthermore, the newspaper said future flights may cover Hangzhou near Shanghai and Tianjin near Beijing in China.
Fares on the long-haul network will be as low as US$27 for destinations in China, while Fares to Britain will be between US$83 and US$695, about half the price of a ticket on a regular airline.
AirAsia started operating in 2001 with just two planes. Currently the airline has a fleet of 50 aircraft and flies to destinations in Southeast Asia and China. Virgin Atlantic's network covers the United States, Hong Kong, South Africa, the Caribbean and Australia.
EasyJet, which started in 1995, was one of the first low-cost carriers in the world to sell tickets on the Internet. It flies 224 routes between 67 key European airports including Britain.
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Dec 27 Tunisia lures medical tourists
Tour operators and hoteliers in Tunisia said plans to lure more tourists on high budgets by improving quality and diversifying away from the traditional beach market, will include Medical tourism.
Tunisia already enjoys a positive reputation as a popular sun-and-sea destination boasting ancient Roman ruins in Carthage as well as cosy resorts along the sandy coastline.
Over the past decade or so tourism in Tunisia has become a major foreign currency earner and the second biggest employer after the farming sector. Last year 6.4 million holiday-makers who visited Tunisia brought in around US$1.98 billion.
According to Tunisia statistics the average holiday-maker in the country spends around 300-400 euros during their stay. Medical tourists, by comparison spend around 2,500 to 4,000 euros during their stay – hence plans to lure more of this category of tourist into the country.
"There is a growing European fad for plastic surgery in Tunisia. It could become a hub for medical tourism," said a spokesman of the Soukra Clinic in Tunis.
Medical tourism is a relatively recent phenomenon in many developing countries. Countries such as South Africa and Egypt with sophisticated medical facilities were the first in Africa to attract European and American tourists who also needed surgery services during their holidays. As the price of cosmetic surgery in Europe and the US soared, more and more people found it cheaper to be treated in Africa.
Tunisia’s health infrastructures is in many respects as developed as Egypt and South Africa. The country has many skilled medical staff - many of whom were trained in Europe and the US. Furthermore, it is a just a short flight from most European capitals. For example, in Europe, former communist countries in the east are luring western customers with cut-price cosmetic surgery and dentistry.
Tunisian health industry officials say the country can catch up fast by offering low prices. Breast enlargement in Tunisia cost around 2,600 euros including the travel. The surgery alone costs double that in France.
Estetika Tour, which was set up in 2004, pioneered medical tourism in Tunisia. The industry is still small - some 200,000 people have plastic surgery in France each year, while Tunisia accounted for just 500 foreign tourists for surgery last year. But Tour operators and hoteliers expect the numbers to grow rapidly.
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Dec 17 African airline crashes get worse
Fatal air crashes in Africa have rose from 5.1 in 1993 to 9.2 in 2005, according to a report in South Africa's Business Day newspaper.
The statistics mark the continent as being 10 times more dangerous than North America, Europe and Asia, and four times more dangerous than Latin America, in terms of aviation safety. Countries where the lives of passengers are most at risk include Sudan, Nigeria, DR Congo, Angola and Kenya. Nigeria has recorded four aircraft crashes between November 2005 and October 2006, which accounted for a loss of 323 lives.
The crashes were variously attributed to malfunctioning engines, poor weather and pilot error. Beyond Nigeria, the Aviation Safety Network notes that Sudan, DR Congo, Morocco, Algeria, Kenya, Sao Tome e Príncipe, Chad and Libya also feature in a list of countries which have had airline fatalities in the year to November 2006.
In all, Africa has suffered about a third of the world's air disasters, despite having less than 4% of its air traffic. In March last year the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) banned 83 airlines from five African countries landing in Europe because of serious concerns over their safety records.
Easa said that even though most of these airlines did not actually fly to any European destinations, the ban was a preventative measure to avoid these airlines being subcontracted by larger carriers and so "sneaking in through the back door".
Analysts said the root cause of the disasters include inept airline management, poor training of pilots, corruption and, perhaps most crucially, the absence of any binding regulation in the industry. The African Airlines Association, Afraa, has also noted that African-grown staff - at least those who can boast some measure of competence and professionalism - are increasingly being lured away by more established and wealthy carriers, particularly from the Middle East.
They suggest that institutions such as the African Development Bank should provide funding to establish training for the continent's most under-resourced airlines to meet these skills shortages.
Last month, South Africa’s Transport Minister Jeff Radebe challenged African countries to invest heavily in aviation, in order to keep pace with international security standards. Radebe, cited an African Development Bank study, which concluded that African countries must invest between $150-billion and $200-billion on aviation to bring them up to international security standards. The African continent has around 500 national airports, 117 international airports and more than 1, 000 airfields.
Radebe said given the increased growth in international economies accruing from aviation it was critical that the industry tightened up its safety and security infrastructure “to enhance growth and development in travel."
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Dec 14 ‘Giant’ conservation park launched
The governments of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe have signed an agreement to establish the biggest conservation area in the world - a massive trans-frontier national park 14 times the size of the Kruger National Park and almost as big as Italy.
The Peace Parks Foundation has described the move as the most significant conservation effort undertaken in Africa in the last 100 years.Named the Kavango-Zambezi trans-frontier conservation area, the park will be situated in the Okavango and Zambezi river basins and will cover an area of 287 132 square kilometres. It is likely to be formally established in 2010.
Commenting after the official ceremony to launch the conservation area in Victoria Falls, Werner Myburgh project manager of Peace Parks Foundation said: "From a conservation perspective, this is the most significant effort in Africa in the last 100 years."
The park will link 36 national parks, game reserves, community conservancies and game management areas. Some of the most notable of these are the Caprivi Strip, the Chobe National Park, the Okavanga Delta, which is the largest Ramsar site in the world, and the Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
Conservationist estimate that the park will have about 250 000 elephants, the largest elephant population in the world, and may reduce the pressure to cull elephant populations.
Myburgh said while the primary function of trans-frontier parks is conservation of the natural environment, there will also be spin-offs on tourism and job creation.
“The main function of such a park is of course conservation, primarily because it creates ecological linkages that cross international borders and allows movement of wildlife across these barriers. It is vital to secure these links. But if managed well, these parks can have major tourist spin-offs.
" For instance, if a tourist is in Zambia and wants to go the Caprivi now, they will have to go through about four international border posts, but once the Kavango-Zambezi is established, tourists could
move there freely," Myburgh said.
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Dec 10 Namibians ‘deprived of beauty of their country’
The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has finally woken up to the fact that it has been neglecting local people in its drive to increase the number of visitors to places of tourist interest.
A travel analyst said Namibia’s wide open spaces and rugged landscapes which are a major attraction for foreign tourists are unknown to the majority of Namibians as marketing efforts are mostly directed at Europe and the US. Around 800 000 foreign visitors visit Namibia a year, according to the latest statistics.
Sources in the Namibian travel industry said NTB, which registers all tourism enterprises and tourism accommodation establishments in the country and markets Namibia internationally as a tourism destination, has realised that it must pay attention to domestic tourism.
One of NTB’s initiatives in this direction has been to invite12 local reporters to the South of the country to see what the sites they and their fellow citizens have been missing, while the foreign press and overseas.
Maggie Mbako, acting public relations officer at the NTB said the sponsored trip was the first in a series to follow to "educate Namibian journalists about the beauty of their country. If the local media report about the scenic spots, we envisage that more Namibians will travel locally to experience their home country. Up to now we mainly took foreign journalists around to show them Namibia and to make them write in international media."
According to Mbako, the NTB is aware that lodge accommodation is unaffordable for most Namibians.
"There are ideas to offer off-season discounts for Namibians and to embark on a marketing drive directed at the largely untapped domestic tourism potential."
The private sector is however wary of a discount or off-season tariffs for locals, which is practised in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Another reason locals aren’t seen in great numbers at tourist sites is that they cannot afford the levies charged for accommodation .A travel analyst said even the 25 per cent discount for Namibians at all 22 resorts under the management of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) makes a visit to the Etosha National Park, the country's flagship park, a costly exercise.
Daily tariffs for bungalows at Etosha now range between N$500 and N$1 400, apart from the park entrance fees charged per vehicle and per person. Even a camping spot at Okaukuejo or Namutoni costs N$100 per site, plus N$50 per adult and N$25 per child each day.
While some guest farms still offer bed-and-breakfast at N$250 to N$400 a night, the majority of accommodation establishments are in the upper market segment and the luxury class geared mainly for foreign visitors.
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Nov 21 UGANDAN CARRIER TAKES TO THE SKIES
Victoria International Airlines (VIA) a Ugandan flag carrier, is scheduled to fly from Entebbe to Nairobi on November 27 at 7.00 am.
Although the Ugandan government owns only a 20% stake in Victoria, with the rest of the stake being held by South African and Swiss investors, the maiden flight for VIA will represent a special moment for Uganda which has not had a national airline since the liquidation of Uganda Airlines in early 2001.
Aviation analysts said VIA is likely to give competitors a good run for their money with its pricing. An economy class return ticket to Nairobi costs $138, Johannesburg $338 and Juba $278 (taxes included).
Kenya Airways' (KQ) cheapest return ticket from Entebbe to Nairobi is pegged at around $225, while both KQ and South African Airways (SAA) charge $450 for a return ticket to South Africa.
VIA, which will have VB as its airline identification code, will initially operate two Boeing 737-200s, leased from South African aircraft leasing firm, Avstar. The two aircraft have a sitting capacity of 108 passengers with 14 business class seats and 94 economy seats.
VB will fly to Johannesburg three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. The carrier will also fly to the south Sudan capital, Juba, four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
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Nov 20 CALL FOR AFRICA TO INVEST IN AVIATION
South Africa’s Transport Minister Jeff Radebe today challenged African countries to invest heavily in aviation, in order to keep pace with international security standards.
Radebe, who was speaking at the 17th International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers Association, cited an African Development Bank study, which concluded that African countries must invest between $150-billion and $200-billion on aviation to bring them up to international security standards.
"African aviation forms a small percentage of overall international activities, yet represents a high level of accidents at international level," Radebe said.
The African continent has around 500 national airports, 117 international airports and more than 1, 000 airfields.
Radebe said given the increased growth in international economies accruing from aviation it was critical that the industry tightened up its safety and security infrastructure “to enhance growth and development in travel."
Radebe revealed that South Africa’s Air Traffic Navigation System (ATNS) was investigating ways to improve capacity, staffing and infrastructure locally.
"The ATNS has invested R786-million in projects and the continued renewal of infrastructure, radar upgrading ad rescue navigation systems. A further R125-million has been allocated to train 50 new people every year for the next five years," Radebe said.
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Nov 19 ZIMBABWEANS FACE FOREX DILLEMMA
Zimbabweans intending to fly out of the country on business or holiday are facing a dilemma. A new airport handling tax (in US dollars) introduced by Air Zimbabwe last month, will leave most of its potential passengers shaking their heads in bewilderment.
Banks in Zimbabwe are not in a position to dish out US dollars to travellers due to severe shortages of foreign currency in the country. And ironically it is illegal to buy forex from the black market!
According to the new tax, Zimbabweans travelling to China from Harare will be required to pay an extra US$11, on top of the Z$2.5m fare. Those travelling to Dubai will cough up an extra US$8 above the Z$1.3m fare while those travelling to neighbouring South Africa will be charged US$31 on top of the Z$365,000 fare.
Travel industry analysts said for Air Zimbabwe to introduce the US$ charges at the same time as the 300% price hike last October, simply means that flying out of Zimbabwe has become a preserve for the extremely well off.
“I am sure that Air Zimbabwe staff will know when they accept US dollars from their passengers, that they will not have sourced it from the banks,” said one irate regular traveller. “Wiil that make them accomplices to the crime of buying forex from the black market?”
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Nov 12 AIRLINK ‘FRONT RUNNER’ IN BOTSWANA AIR BID
Airlink, a privately owned South African airline, is the forefront of bids to take over the control of state-owned Air Botswana, industry analysts said.
Earlier this month the Botswana Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency revealed that it had received three bids for the airline from Lobtrans, African World Airways, and Airlink. The sale of Air Botswana is part of the government’s plan to release state-owned enterprises to improve performance in the hands of private entities.
Air Botswana carries around 150,000 passengers a year, and around 38% of total air travellers in Botswana. The airline generates around $20m per year. Industry analysts said Airlink has proposed a venture in which the Botswana government or local private investors would retain some shares.
Airlink, which operates 20 aircraft in southern Africa, covers Botswana Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
In 2005 Airlink’s sales reached R650m. Airlink was formed in 1995 and has a 49% share in Zimbabwe Airlink and a 40% share in Airlink Swaziland. South African Airways owns 10% of Airlink.
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