#Africa Tourism Association News Updates from across the continent

NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2 0 1 9

TRAVELLERS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THEIR SPEND IN AFRICA

African travellers could increase their spend by 27% during the next year if they’re able to move more freely in the continent. This news has been revealed at the AFRAA Annual General Assembly in Mauritius.

THE TOP 20 AFRICAN COUNTRIES THAT OFFER EASY ACCESS TO LOCAL TRAVELLERS

Travelling across Africa is getting easier according to the findings from the 2019 Africa Visa Openness Index

DURBAN CONSTRUCTS AND UNVEILS THE LONGEST PROMENADE IN AFRICA

The longest promenade in Africa, situated on the Durban shores has officially opened. The promenade underwent an extension project, costing R380-million.

INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BRANDS TARGET SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

From high-end business hotels in Luanda to sprawling leisure resorts near Victoria Falls, the diversity of properties in the sub-Saharan African hotel industry is growing.

HOW UNITED AIRLINES’ NEW NON-STOP FLIGHT FROM THE US TO CAPE TOWN COULD CHANGE SOUTH AFRICA TOURISM

"…the anticipation for take-off is growing since it shaves so much time off of travel time to the bottom edge of the continent."

SIERRA LEONE’S TOURISM POTENTIAL BOOSTED BYY OTPYM FILM: "MICHAELA’S MAP: SIERRA LEONE"

Sierra Leone’s tourism potential boosted by an international documentary film

AFRICA NEEDS TO MAKE CONSERVATION A GROWTH INDUSTRY

"If leaders continue to look at African conservation as a charitable cause, it is doomed. As a growth industry…there is still hope for a sustainable future driven by the very young population on the continent."

EGYPT IS THE WORLD’S 4TH FASTEST GROWING TOURIST DESTINATION: AFAR MAGAZINE

AFAR, an award-winning travel magazine, ranked Egypt fourth among the world’s 10 Fastest Growing Tourist Destination

IS YOUNG DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURS LEADING AFRICA INTO A NEW ERA
“Boosting the digital economy in developing countries will require a new way of thinking, including from entrepreneurs,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi says.

INVESTING IN WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVING PEACE, SECURITY IN AFRICA
A country can achieve sustainable peace and security only if women are included said Monde Muyangwa, Director of the Wilson Center’s…

TOGO OPENS GROUND-BREAKING ARTS CENTER IN FORMER COLONIAL PALACE

Togo has opened its first major contemporary art and culture centre. Palais de Lomé, housed in a restored colonial-era palace, is the only contemporary art centre in Africa to be fully financed by the state.

MANUFACTURING IN AFRICA COULD TRANSFORM THE FASHION INDUSTRY. BUT WHO WOULD BENEFIT?
African manufacturing is on the rise. With the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) now in its operational phase, the continent is poised to take on more production in the midst of global trade wars and rising wages in China.

WATCH

A NAIROBI NEIGHBORHOOD ABLAXE WITH COLOR, DESIGN AND CREATIVITY
In this suburb of Nairobi, the ubiquitous rust-red dirt is kicked up and splattered onto the banana tree leaves by the intense rains that sweep across the hills. Here, away from the capital, there is space for designers to set up workshops and, green and lush, it offers inspiration…

AFRICA’S BIGGEST MUSIC STARS ACCORDING TO CNN.COM
CNN compiled a list of Africa’s biggest music stars. The list includes the likes of Burna Boy , Sho Madjozi, Mr Eazi among others..

AFRIMA UNITES AFRICA AS BURNA BOY, WIZKID, TIWA SAVAGE, OTHERS SHINE
"At the event, which united Africa as one, some of the winners’ acceptance speeches brought tears and emotions…"

AS AFRICAN ART THRIVES, MUSEUMS GRAPPLE WITH LEGACY OF COLONIALISM
“It’s changing the narrative that I hear often in the United States, and that’s the narrative that Africans can’t pay or don’t have resources to support their own cultural sector,” Ashamu says. “There are plenty of resources. There is wealth, and it is being invested in the museum and cultural sector."

#AFRICACOM: WHY ‘AFRICAN TIME’ IS NOW FOR AFRICAN STORYTELLING, BY AFRICANS
Yolisa Phahle, CEO of general entertainment at the MultiChoice Group, presented the final keynote session of the second day of AfricaCom 2019. As "a South African who lives and breathes the African dream," she explains why they’re retelling possibly the greatest African story of all time, with global appeal.

FIFA ANNOUNCE PLANS TO RAISE $1BN FOR AFRICA
"We want to bring it (Africa) to the highest of heights and show the world the outstanding talent and amazingly gifted players your continent possesses," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino in Lubumbashi

‘SPORTS IS THE NEXT BIG THING’: RAPTORS PRESIDENT MASAI UJIRI
Toronto Raptors president Masai Ujiri has some blunt messages for African leaders: build more arenas, stop shuffling their agriculture ministers into the sports minister’s job and fight harder against corruption.

THE BARRIER-BREAKING ‘ATLANTICS’ HERALDS MATI DIOP’S ARRIVAL
Mati Diop has always lived in Paris but as a French-Senegalese woman whose family is from Dakar, she’s long been acutely conscious of another, unlived existence for herself in Africa. And it’s there that her life as a filmmaker has largely resided.

CHINA AND NOLLYWOOD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THEIR FIRST MAJOR FILM COLLABORATION
Chinese entertainment group, Huahua Media, is joining forces with Nigerian filmmakers to produce the first major China-Nigeria film. Huahua signed a deal to co-produce 30 days in China, with Nigerian comedian Ayo Makun, popularly known as AY.

ONE GHANAIAN CHEF IF PLACING NEW AFRICAN CUISINE ON THE GLOBAL MAP
Atadika, now a chef and chocolatier, is the first African to be nominated for the Basque Culinary World Prize 2019, granted to chefs transforming communities through gastronomy.

TOURISM OF TASTE; FOODIE EXPERIENCES ON THE RISE IN SOUTH AFRICA
The growth has been attributed to an improvement in authentic, curated experiences for travellers who are part of this niche, seeking cultural experiences through food.