Whale shark open sea aquarium planned for Kenya coast
EAST AFRICAN WHALE SHARK TRUST TO SET UP OPEN WATER AQUARIUM The world’s largest whale shark aquarium in Atlanta / Georgia will be dwarved by a new open sea aquarium due to open around March next year, which will be about 100 times bigger, according to sources at the Kenya coast. The enclosure is said […]
Emirates now in sales drive for Dubai Shopping Festival in January
EMIRATES TURNS TO JANUARY DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL PROMOTIONS While reiterating Emirates’ latest destination, the award winning national airline of Dubai is now flying 5 times a week to Lyon in France, a regular source at the Emirates office in Kampala has moved the focus beyond the Christmas and New Year holidays to the annual Dubai […]
Vipingo Ridge organizes holiday season flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport
VIPINGO RIDGE GETS DAILY FLIGHT FROM NAIROBI’S WILSON AIRPORT Vipingo Ridge has announced that with effect from 21st December a daily afternoon flight will operate from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport to Vipingo Ridge, the unique coastal getaway gated community spread over 2.500 acres of land. Leaving Wilson Airport at 4 pm daily the flight will reach […]
Seychelles presents the 2013 Marketing Strategy
NEW MARKETING STRATEGY PRESENTED TO STAKEHOLDERS Following the ‘inhouse’ strategy sessions last week at the Hilton Labriz and interaction with stakeholders on the direction the tourism marketing strategy for 2013 is to take, was the new policy paper formally presented to the public over the weekend, while at the same time also celebrating UNWTO’s announcement […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Third edition December 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 […]
Mauritius invests nearly 60 million US Dollars in new naval ship
MAURITIUS TO GET OWN NAVAL ASSETS TO KEEP TERRITORIAL WATERS SAFE The visit of an Indian navy ship in Port Louis has been used to announce that Mauritius will be getting an own ocean going patrol vessel by 2014, boosting the capacity of the National Coast Guard significantly. The new 60 million US Dollars worth, […]
7 rhinos killed in 7 days raises red alarm levels in Kenya
KENYA’S CONSERVATION FRATERNITY GOES INTO CRISIS MODE AFTER 7 RHINOS KILLED Reports about the killing of 7 rhinos and several elephant over the last week has thrown Kenya’s conservation fraternity into a crisis mode, with some already claiming that South Africa’s rhino killing spree – more than 600 rhinos have been poached this year in […]
Precision set to add Mbeya once Songwe Airport reopens
PRECISION AIR COMMITS TO MBEYA AHEAD OF REOPENING OF SONGWE AIRPORT The expected re-opening of Songwe Airport in Mbeya (MBI), due to take place before the end of the year after a prolonged period of reconstruction and modernization, has already seen Precision Air, Tanzania’s leading airline, to commit scheduled flights to the destination, widening its […]
GVTC meets in Kigali to discuss critical gorilla conservation issues
GREATER VIRUNGA TRANSBOUNDARY COLLABORATION SET FOR KIGALI MEETING The three wildlife management organizations from Rwanda, Uganda and Congo DR will this weekend meet in Kigali for their biannual meeting, following the previous one earlier this year in Kampala. High on the agenda for the Rwanda Development Board’s Tourism and Conservation Department, the Uganda Wildlife Authority […]
South Sudan demands photo permit fee of 50 US Dollars
TOURISM SECTOR CONDEMNS PHOTO PERMIT REQUIREMENT AS ‘DESPERATE MEASURE’ East African tourism stakeholders were swift to condemn the South Sudan government’s enforcement of an old rule, introduced ages ago by the former slave master regime in Khartoum before independence but never enforced until now, that tourists visiting the country, require a photo permit if they […]
Exploring East Africa by overland bus is a low budget option for more and more
BUDGET TOURISTS INCREASINGLY TAKE TO OVERLAND BUSSES TO EXPLORE EAST AFRICA The softening demand for holidays in Eastern Africa from the main ‘producer countries’ in Europe, suffering from economic woes and downturns, has brought focus back on a group of travelers often overlooked, often ignored and often belittled by the mainstream tourism fraternity. Yet, these […]
Mauritius’ St. Regis finally opens
ST. REGIS MAURITIUS FINALLY OPENS ITS DOORS Long awaited has the St. Regis Mauritius finally opened its doors, adding a new dimension of bespoke luxury to the islands’ already impressive list of top rated resorts. Comprising 172 suites and rooms the resort is located at a prime location near the Le Morne UNESCO World Heritage […]
Sauti Za Busara just two months away
SAUTI ZA BUSARA GETS READY FOR 10TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION The 10th edition of Sauti Za Busara, East Africa’s most popular performing arts festival held on the spice island of Zanzibar, is gearing up as final preparations are now underway for the February 14 – 17 event. It has not been lost on the festival organizers […]
Likoni ferry crossing to cost more
LIKONI FERRY SEEKS 30 PERCENT TARIFF RISE PROMPTING STAKEHOLDER OUTRAGE Proposals by the management of the Kenya Ferry Services, operating the ferries between the Mombasa island and the southern mainland at Likoni, to raise their charges by 20 percent come January 01st and a further 10 percent by midyear 2013 have met with stiff resistance […]
Ethiopian announces Madrid flights for June 2013
ETHIOPIAN ADDS MADRID TO LIST OF NEW 2013 DESTINATIONS Star Alliance member Ethiopian Airlines has announced plans to add Madrid to their list of new destinations, starting with initially three flights per week from 15th June 2013 onwards. All flights will be operated via Rome FCO as the total number of flights to the Italian […]
The planned Mwambani Port – Who cares for a prehistoric fish marine park when billions are at stake
THREATS, INTIMIDATION AND DECEIPT SURROUND MWAMBANI PORT DECISION ‘Wait for a little while and you will see something done’ is the quote captured when Tanzania’s Minister for Transport Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe last week talked about the government’s unchanged plans to build a new sea port at the heart of the Coelacanth Marine National Park at […]
Malaysia customs seize record blood ivory shipment
MALAYSIA SEIZES RECORD HAUL OF BLOOD IVORY Information has just come to light that customs and port officials in Port Kelang in Malaysia have confiscated what might be the largest blood ivory haul ever, weighing as much as 20 tons according to sources quoted in Malaysia. The shipment according to the details availed came from […]
Kenya counts losses but looks at the future
KENYA TOURISM TAKES STOCK AS YEAR END NEAR Tourism stakeholders in Kenya are taking stock ahead of the end of the year, with January to October data suggesting an overall ‘loss’ of approximately 2 percent in arrivals compared to the previous record breaking year of 2010. Data received here, and originating at the tourist board […]
Kenya Airways suspends N’Djamena flights
N’DJAMENA FLIGHTS SUSPENDED AS KENYA AIRWAYS STRUGGLES WITH COST BURDEN Kenya Airways has reportedly suspended the twice a week flights to Chad’s capital N’djamena with immediate effect, blaming the halt of low demand and poor forward bookings. Operated until now via Cotonou / Benin, this is Kenya Airways’ third route this year to be suspended, […]
Seychelles Tourism Board at Labriz Hilton Silhouette to develop new marketing strategy
SEYCHELLES TOURISM BOARD HOLDS ANNUAL STRATEGY SESSION All key marketing and sales personnel of the Seychelles Tourism Board have gathered at the Labriz Hilton Silhouette Resort and Spa for a 3 day retreat, aimed to review the market performance vis a vis the current marketing strategy in place and define new targets and objectives for […]
Turkish Airlines’ expansion into Africa continues with Juba as a potential 2013 destination
TURKISH EYES JUBA AS AFRICAN EXPANSION PLANS GAIN MOMENTUM It was learned from a regular source in Juba, South Sudan’s capital city that on the prowl Turkish Airlines has apparently set sights on Africa’s youngest country too, as the relentless rollout of African destinations continues to unfold. Reported here way ahead of the mainstream aviation […]
Rwanda removes advance Visa requirement from January 01st for all African visitors
RWANDA SCRAPS VISA IN ADVANCE RULE FOR AFRICAN NATIONALS In a remarkable departure from common practice among African states has Rwanda just declared that come January 01st ALL African nationals will be issued Visa on arrival, sparing them the often cumbersome and tedious and at time intimidating process of having to apply weeks in advance […]
Massawa Airways gets brand new MA60
MASSAWA AIRWAYS GETS FIRST MA60 (Picture taken from Airliners.Net courtesy of Lihutao) A brand new XIAN MA60 was delivered a few days ago to Eritrean start up airline Massawa Airways, which will now commence flights from the Red Sea port city of Massawa to Asmara and other destinations, according to information received from a source […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition December 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 […]
Reflections on Doha COP18
DOHA’S FAILURE SPELLS DOOM FOR AFRICA Kyoto extended till 2020, resolution package forced through by conference chair, new draft treaty to be ready by 2015 but no funds yet for Africa and small island states to mitigate the sins of the polluters – that could be said in summary about the just ended Doha 2012 […]
Airline alliances look at Africa as African airlines look at themselves
AIRLINE ALLIANCES FOCUS ON AFRICA WHILE AFRICA FOCUSES ON ITSELF, AT LAST While Asia seems to be the present focus of airline alliances, and for good reasons considering the huge growth markets of China and India – the latter rapidly liberalizing now and offering new investment opportunities – Africa remains on the map of all […]
5 days and counting – the CHUI is coming back …
Dear friends and partners of the Chui’s Herewith a first aerial glimpse of the NEW Leopard Beach Resort & Spa due to re-open on December 12th. You will note the four circular ‘’Bomas’’ housing the Kalani Coffee WIFI Lounge, The Horizon Restaurant with enlarged terraces offering increased and much better, magnificent views over the Indian […]
Google is the first of the global big league to step up against wildlife slaughter
GOOGLE COMES TO THE AID OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Google’s Global Impact Award Programme has given the World Wide Fund for Nature, in short WWF, a grant of 5 million US Dollars, assisting in the tracking and protection of endangered species via remote operated drones. The UAV’s could soon be deployed over poaching hotspots, linked to […]
Tanzanian government accused of dilly dallying over fate of MV Liemba
MV LIEMBA’S FATE IN BALANCE AS TANZANIA FAILS TO RESPOND TO RESCUE OFFER (Picture courtesy of Wikipedia) Tourism stakeholders, keen to promote Lake Tanganyika as an additional natural resource area beyond the traditional national parks and coastal beaches, have expressed dismay over reports that the Tanzanian government has failed to respond to an offer from […]
Seychelles Tourism Academy on course with campus expansion
SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION ADVANCES ON SCHEDULE The ongoing construction of state of the art facilities at the La Misere based Seychelles Tourism Academy is reportedly well on schedule, with nearly a third of the present phase 1 construction already completed. Due for completion in March next year, the remodeling and expansion of STA is […]
