37 and counting as another E190 is set to join the Kenya Airways fleet
37AND COUNTING AS KENYA AIRWAYS GETS ANOTHER E190 IN SKY TEAM LIVERY This weekend will see the arrival of fleet aircraft number 37 at the Kenya Airways base in Embakasi / Nairobi, another Brazilian built Embraer E190, with the difference that the livery will reflect the airlines membership in Sky Team, one of the worlds […]
Brussels Airlines offers 50 percent rebate on fares to Uganda for Golden Jubilee celebrations
BRUSSELS AIRLINES OFFERS 50 PERCENT REBATE ON 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY Brussels Airlines, the airline with the longest uninterupted service record to Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, has announced that for those wishing to join Independence Day on the 09th of October this year, their flight on the 06th of October from Brussels to Entebbe, and […]
Kigali’s International airport set for a further 15 Mio USD upgrade
MORE WORK TO BE DONE AT KIGALIS KAMEMBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT It was learned overnight that additional work worth some 15 million US Dollars will commence in October this year at Kamembe International Airport in Kigali. Growing passenger numbers, as a result of the network and fleet expansion by RwandAir and the operation of additional flights […]
Houston Marketing’s Spotlight Workshops promote inter African travel
SPOTLIGHT WORKSHOPS RETURN TO FEATURE EAST AFRICA IN CAPETOWN With over 75.000 South Africans travelling to East Africa every year on business and on holiday South Africa has become one of the most potent African market places for inbound operators in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. As a result of personal experiences of visiting Eastern […]
Seychelles’ tourism private sector leader reiterates validity of crucial issues raised last week
SEYCHELLES TOURISM PRIVATE SECTOR RAISES SAME CONCERNS, VALIDATES ISSUES (Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St. Ange and Louis DOffay, Chairman of SHTA) Following a recent article in which the concerns of the Seychelles private sector were expressed, and questions asked about a number of pressing and increasingly controversial issues vis a vis Air […]
9 / 11 remembered as the clock strikes the very moment right now
11 AND COUNTING 9/11 REMEMBERED Today the 11th anniversary of the most heinous terror strike ever will be remembered by the families and friends of the thousands of victims who lost their lives when two hijacked aircraft struck New Yorks Twin Towers, another struck the Pentagon and one was brought down in Pennsylvania after passengers […]
Turning 75 years the Aberdare Country Club gets a new lease of life
THE ABERDARE COUNTRY CLUB REBORN AT 75 The silence of the African night was suddenly shattered by the eerie cries of some peacocks, waking me from my sleep in the deep of the night. It was cold, very cold, but still I went to the window, lifted the curtains to see outside and noticed shrouds […]
Ferry boat sinks but crew safe after successful rescue mission
FERRY BOAT SINKS BUT CREW RESCUED In what has been termed a miraculous escape amongst the maritime fraternity on the Seychelles was the three man crew of the ferry boat Le Cerf rescued after their vessel sank in a storm while returning to base in Mahe. Owned by Masons Travel, one of the Seychelles leading […]
Guilty as charged for Nabutola, Achieng and Muriuki earns them jail terms
GUILTY AS CHARGED FOR FORMER TOURISM LEADERS Time has finally ran out for the trio of accused, Ms. Rebecca Nabutola, a former Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary, Dr. Achieng Ongonga and one Duncan Muriuki over a case which emerged against them in 2008, when they found themselves in the dock over allegations of unauthorized use […]
Kenya Airways plans for low cost carrier come under public scrutiny
JAMBO JET FATE IN BALANCE AS OBJECTIONS ARE DUE TO BE HEARD Kenya Airways plans for the launch of their own low cost airline, Jambo Jet, will reportedly be subjected to public scrutiny, as the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority has invited the public and competitors in the airline industry to submit their comments, observations and […]
Egypt Air resumes flights after strike, for now …
EGYPT AIR RESUMES FLIGHTS, FOR NOW Egypt Air has for now resumed flight operations from Cairo, including flights to the Eastern African destinations like Nairobi and Entebbe, after representatives of striking cabin crew and government reached a temporary understanding, however according to information received only holding until the weekend. If at that time the airline […]
New Entebbe highway project takes next step
COMPENSATION GUIDELINES FOR NEW ENTEBBE HIGHWAY LAND SIGNALS PROGRESS The Uganda National Roads Authority has now published the approved guidelines for compensation procedures, as the new highway project from the city to Entebbe gathers momentum. Approved by the last parliament in its final session, the new highway will link Kampala by dual carriage from the […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition September 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome You can get your daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also cross load or […]
A year on and maritime safety is still as big a concern as ever in Tanzania
A YEAR ON FEAR AND APPREHENSION PREVAIL It is exactly a year today that the MV Spice Islander I sank between the Zanzibari islands of Unguja and Pemba, taking, according to a report by the commission of enquiry, at least 1.529 people with it to a wet grave. At the time, many promises were made, […]
Seychelles Tourism Academy launches the region’s first e-Learning course
SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMY LAUNCHES ON LINE TOURISM COURSE In what surely is another First in the Indian Ocean has the Seychelles Tourism Academy launched their first online tourism course, now available through www.seychellestourismacademy.edu.sc and partnered by the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth. The launch of the eLearning Sustainable Tourism Course at the […]
Another new opening date announced for the so called Kampala Hilton
KAMPALA HILTON MORE EMPTY PROMISES OR FOR REAL THIS TIME Officials of the AYA Group have yesterday announced that the hotel, due for completion by October 2007 when the Commonwealth Summit was held in Kampala, would now finally open its doors in March 2013. Full mouthed statements, often bordering the grotesque if not outright incompetent, […]
COMESA Business Forum set for November 13 and 14 in Kampala
COMESA ANNOUNCES DATES OF BUSINESS FORUM FOR KAMPALA SUMMIT Following the hugely successful COMESA Tourism Forum, recently held in Nairobi with participants from the 19 member states, the COMESA Secretariat has just notified the participants of another opportunity to meet alongside the COMESA Summit 2012, due to be held at the Commonwealth Resort in Munyonyo, […]
Seychelles tourism – new challenges as battle lines are drawn
WHATS GOOD FOR ETIHAD MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR SEYCHELLES TOURISM A series of meetings between the tourism private and public sector, taking place over coming days on Mahe, Praslin and La Digue islands, is expected to raise a number of issues, where according to information received while on the archipelago have concern levels have […]
Kenya Airways defies illegal directive and completes staff restructuring
KENYA AIRWAYS COMPLETES STAFF RATIONILIZATION PROGRAMME Though waves went high when Kenya Airways announced their plans a few weeks ago to offer early retirement while embarking in the outsourcing of staff duties predictably did the radical Transport and Allied Workers Union rush to court, besides threatening strike action again, and got the countrys Prime Minister […]
La Digue to get fire station boosting infrastructure for tourism
LA DIGUE GETS MORE FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT The tourism sector on Seychelles and in particular on the island of La Digue has warmly welcomed the news that a dedicated fire brigade station is to be constructed. On the day of leaving the archipelago following a week long fact finding mission it was confirmed that the […]
Kenya’s tourism stakeholders fight back by telling the facts
KENYA HITS BACK AT ANTI TRAVEL ADVISORIES On arrival from the Seychelles in Nairobi a storm of outrage by the countrys tourism industry awaited this correspondent, as the usual suspects of Britain, Australia and France had slapped fresh anti travel advisories on Kenya, unsettling yet further an already brittle situation and the bag of mixed […]
Ethiopian does ‘African First’ double within a month
SECOND AFRICAN FIRST FOR ETHIOPIAN IN A MONTH After taking delivery of Africa first B787 Dreamliner in late August, and then showcasing the aircraft across Eastern Africa to reclaim the spotlight, often dimmed by less than best and possible PR and Corporate Communications, the airline is now aiming at another African first when a new […]
Mauritius’ leading hotel groups pile up major losses as mood turns sour
HOTEL INDUSTRY IN DEEP FINANCIAL TROUBLE AS MARKETING FAILS TOURISM Beachcomber Mauritius has recently released details on their losses suffered for the first half of 2012, said to be in the range of over 170 million Rupees, while the companys main rivals in the Mauritius hospitality market, Sun Resorts, is said to have lost over […]
Precision eyes Harare and Blantyre before the end of 2012
PRECISION AIR NOW EYES HARARE AND BLANTRYE A regular aviation source from Dar es Salaam has over the weekend confirmed that Precision Air, Tanzanias dominant airline, appears set to fly from late this year to Harare via Blantyre, adding two more regional routes to their growing network. Similar to the flights recently launched to Lusaka, […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, First edition September 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome You can get your daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also cross load or […]
Vodacom Tanzania supports Wild Dog project with 450.000 US Dollars
VODACOM GETS PRESIDENTIAL PRAISE FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EFFORTS Even for a large corporation like Vodacom in Tanzania, is 450.000 US Dollars considered serious money and no wonder none other than President Jakaya Kikwete has offered his personal praise and appreciation to the companys CEO Rene Meza at State House Dar es Salaam last weekend. I […]
Zip lining by SMAC Adventures – another first for the Seychelles
ZIP LINING BY SMAC ADVENTURES ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE SEYCHELLES The Constance Ephelia Resort has now started to formally promote one of their new, and very unique, adventure activities, operated within the resort by South African adventure specialist Johan Cronjes SMAC, short for Specialized Multi Adventure Company, which in their own words is Where Paradise […]
Seychelles Tourism Ball 2012 set for the Constance Ephelia Resort
CONSTANCE EPHELIA RESORT SET TO HOST SEYCHELLES TOURISM BALL ON SEPTEMBER 28 While staying at the 5star rated Constance Ephelia Resort it was confirmed that this years Seychelles Tourism Ball will be hosted by the resort, welcoming the entire Seychellois tourism fraternity for the now annual event. Cosponsored by Laurent Perrier Champagne, which this year […]
Kenya Airways’ latest E190 flies into Nairobi to make it 36 … and counting
KENYA AIRWAYS HALF YEAR RESULTS UP AS NEW E190 ARRIVES IN NAIROBI As the Pride of Africa took delivery of their latest Embraer E190 jet yesterday in Nairobi, information has been released that the half year results of the airline, compared to 2011, showed significant growth by about 20.6 percent, driven by increased demand for […]
Emirates keeps up pressure on East African market with continued special offers
EMIRATES BLITZES EAST AFRICAN MARKET WITH YET MORE SPECIAL DEALS While it seemed hard to top the already great offers Emirates has of late put into the market place, like free Visa for East Africans wishing to visit Dubai and special fares to selected destinations, the airline has now published special hotel deals combined with […]
