Fully fledged strike now looms large at Kenya Ferry Services in Mombasa
COAST TOURISM BRACES FOR FULLY FLEDGED FERRY STRIKE The ongoing negotiations between Kenya Ferry Services’ management and the union representing the staff of the sole transport link between the island of Mombasa and the south coast, including the fancied resorts along the Diani Beach, appear to be going badly, according to a usually well informed […]
First time for everything as Uganda’s Great Lakes Safaris heads to ITB Asia in Singapore
UGANDA MAKES INAUGURAL APPEARANCE AT ITB ASIA Uganda’s Great Lakes Safaris, which won top recognition in the country recently as the best recognized tourism brand amongst the Ugandan Top 50 corporates, will be heading to Singapore to attend ITB Asia for the first time, seeking to promote Uganda the Pearl of Africa. Details of how […]
Tanzania’s Vice President to open UNWTO Conference in Arusha on Sustainable Tourism
UNWTO CONFERENCE IN ARUSHA TO BE OPENED BY VICE PRESIDENT The tourism conference organized by the UN’s World Tourism Organization on sustainable tourism management in African national parks and protected areas in Arusha from October 15 – 18 will be formally opened by Tanzania’s Vice President Dr. Mohammed Bilal next Monday. Over 400 delegates from […]
The Letter That Never Was … or was it after all?
THE LETTER THAT NEVER WAS, OR WAS IT The Kenyan government is at pains to explain away an alleged letter written to Kenya Airway’s second largest shareholder KLM by someone within the government framework, claiming intent to exercise greater control over the airline since the shareholding rose, after the share rights issue of April this […]
President Michel inaugurates memorial site as Ethiopian launches rebated travel from France
SEYCHELLES PRESIDENT INAUGURATE MEMORIAL SITE President James Michel has earlier this week inaugurated a monument, dedicated to an event 150 years ago, when a landslide killed scores of people, amounting to a over one percent of the 7.000 strong population living on the archipelago at the time. The president unveiled the mural wall, located according […]
Serena extends free wifi to resorts and safari lodges
SERENAHOTELS EXTENDS FREE WIFI TO RESORTS AND LODGES Changing times and trends are often lost on corporate entities, some of which still consider social networks the domain of their staff wasting company resources while at the same time hugely underestimating the power and influence of what a well planned presence on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and […]
ATCL attempts another return to the skies
AIR TANZANIA PROMISES ‘WE WILL FLY YOU AGAIN FROM THIS FRIDAY‘ Air Tanzania’s Acting Chief Executive, Captain Milton Lazaro, yesterday announced in Dar es Salaam tha the airline would resume operations with their leased B737-500 this Friday, now that the discussions with the Dubai based lessor have apparently been ended. The airline will attempt to […]
Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association warns of job losses
Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association Mombasa & Coast Tourist Association (MCTA) promotes inbound and domestic tourism to the Kenya coast region, and holds that tourism is a major force for the coast regions economic and social development via expansion of foreign exchange earnings, gross domestic product and employment. TUESDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2012 Tourism Industry Stakeholders […]
Malindi take off mishap spares passengers lives
MALINDI TAKE OFF MISHAP SPARES PASSENGERS LIVES The failed take off attempt yesterday, Tuesday 09th October, by a South African registered twin engined aircraft, registered as ZS-SSY, spared the lives of 8 passengers, some of whom however were reportedly injured during the accident. For no immediately available reasons the aircraft, while on its take off […]
Kenya Airways launches code shared flights to Seoul
KENYA AIRWAYS SIGNS FULL CODESHARE WITH KOREAN AIR An announcement over the weekend from Nairobi gave details on the code share agreement now signed by The Pride of Africa and SkyTeam alliance partners Korean Air. The flights will leave Nairobi three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and connect Kenya’s capital to Seoul […]
Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to exceed growth forecasts
RWANDA’S TOURISM REGISTERS UNABATED GROWTH Information made public yesterday in Kigali show a continued strong sectoral growth for the tourism sector in Rwanda, which besides exports of tea and coffee continues to form a backbone for the country’s economy. Tourism receipt figures given by the Minister of Trade and Industry Francois Kanimba, presently stand at […]
Turkish now eyes Seychelles after announcing Maldives flights
TURKISH CONSIDERING SEYCHELLES IN AFRICAN EXPANSION DRIVE The Seychelles Investment Forum in Turkey, which just concluded last weekend, also saw intense talks with Turkish Airlines being held over the possibility of commencing flights from Istanbul to Mahe. Turkish, a member of global industry leader Star Alliance, has been aggressively rolling out global destinations and is […]
Burundi’s capital Bujumbura set to get a ‘DoubleTree by Hilton’
HILTON BRINGS DOUBLE TREE BRAND TO BURUNDI Information was confirmed over the weekend that following the signing by Serena Hotels with the Burundian government to take over the Hotel Source du Nil, a second major brand will come to the capital Bujumbura. Hilton Hotels have taken on the former Novotel, a 130 suite and room […]
KLM adds 2 more high season flights for Kilimanjaro
KLM ANNOUNCES ADDED FLIGHTS TO KILIMANJARO FROM DECEMBER KLM will add a further two nonstop flights between Amsterdam and Kilimanjaro / Tanzania between December 27th this year to March 10th 2013 as a result of sustained demand for travel to the gateway for the country’s Northern safari circuit. Both flights will according to information received […]
Ethiopian Airlines delays use of B787 on route to Johannesburg till December
B787 TROUBLES PROMPT ETHIOPIAN TO POSTPONE DEPLOYMENT TO SOUTH AFRICA Inspite of having now two B787 ‘Dreamliner’ on their fleet, Ethiopian Airlines has reportedly once again postponed the deployment of the aircraft on the route to Johannesburg. Due to start earlier, then in late October the B787 is now only expected to operate the daily […]
Quo Vadis Uganda Tourism as the country celebrates 50 years of Independence
TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS SEEK ASSURANCES OVER UTB AND TOURISM MINISTRY Recent meetings of leading tourism stakeholders, coming together to discuss the Ministry of Tourism’s sectoral review and strategize over the future of the sector and how to finally send it soaring, have privately and in some cases publicly expressed their concerns if not outright dissent over […]
Rising sea levels a clear and present danger to the Seychelles and other small island countries
RISING SEA LEVELS A THREAT TO SEYCHELLESBEACHES AND SHORE LINES Information has been received from the Seychelles that the government is spending millions of Rupees on the fortification of beaches and shorelines along the most vulnerable stretches of the main island of Mahe, to keep the rising sea levels caused by climate change eat away […]
Planned Likoni Ferry strike likely to disrupt tour itineraries, airport transfers and life in general
LIKONI FERRY USERS BRACE FOR STRIKE Although not formally on strike yet did Sunday’s operations of the Likoni ferry suffer major delays, when at one stage only one of the larger ferries was operated, causing extensive back log and disrupting weekend plans of Mombasa residents wanting to go to the southern mainland or in reverse […]
The Duke of Kent expresses concerns over environmental degradation in Uganda’s Murchison’s park
PRINCE EDWARD DECRIES MURCHISONS DEGRADATION HRH Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, who is representing Her Majesty the Queen and the British Government on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Uganda’s Independence held tomorrow, 09th of October, has returned to Uganda, where 50 years ago he was the one handing over the instruments […]
KALPA advised pilots to resume full duties at Kenya Airways, restores ‘Goodwill’
KENYA AIRWAYS FLIGHTS RETURN TO NORMAL Kenya airways pilots under their union, the Kenya Airlines Pilots Association (KALPA) have reinstated goodwill with immediate effect, with the management of Kenya airways after consultations and agreement on the dispute on interpretation of some operating procedures. Goodwill is when pilots are voluntarily available to work for certain hours […]
Another Antonov crash rocks Sudan aviation circles
ANOTHER ANTONOV CRASH ROCKS SUDAN Information is emerging from Khartoum that the Sudanese Air Force has lost an Antonov aircraft of unknown specific type earlier today. The plane reportedly developed engine trouble about an hour’s drive out of Khartoum at Jebel Aulia, loaded with supplies and about 20 troops destined for deliver at Al Fasher […]
MCTA explains drop in occupancy at coast resorts
A guest feature today from the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association on the causes of occupancy drops at the Kenya coast, often reported about here and often disputed and challenged – so hear it from the mouth of the horse … Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association
Are Boeing and Qatar Airways reading from the same hymn sheet over B787 deliveries?
BOEING REACTS TO QATAR AIRWAYS CRITICISM BY ANNOUNCING B787 DELIVERY Media reports in recent days about the ‘refusal’ by Qatar Airways to take delivery of the first batch of their ordered 60 – 30 firm orders and 30 options – B787 Dreamliners appear to have rattled Boeing to the point of rushing to the media […]
KALPA’s withdrawal of ‘goodwill’ causes flight delays for Kenya Airways
KENYA AIRWAYS HIT BY FRESH STRIKES (Impression of the ordered B787 Dreamliner) Suspicions of a politically inspired ‘pay back’ are rising as Kenya Airways is experiencing further flight delays, after KALPA, the Kenya Airline Pilots Association, has withdrawn the ‘Goodwill’ consent under which pilots voluntarily agree to be on call when off duty, should they […]
Festival Kreol ‘Ante Portas’
FESTIVAL KREOL JUST THREE WEEKS AWAY The 27th edition of the Seychelles best known cultural feast, the Festival Kreol is now just 3 weeks away before it kicks off on the 26th of October. Other Creole islands like Mauritius, Rodrigues and La Reunion will be joined by newcomer Mexico, for the first time ever represented […]
Kikwete fails to convince Canadian media on Serengeti Highway plans
KIKWETE AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN SERENGETI HIGHWAY PLANS While in Canada for an official state visit did President Kikwete find himself in a tight spot, when challenged by the media over the hugely controversial Serengeti highway plans, his government had floated in 2010. The road would cut the migration route of the wildebeest towards […]
Lupita Island Lodge ownership challenged by Tanzanian government
INVESTORS RATTLED OVER CHALLENGE TO THEIR OWNERSHIP The Tanzanian government has challenged the ownership of the Lupita Island Resort which according to information available on the internet is owned and managed by Tanzania by Firelight, a top of the scale safari and lodge operation founded in 1989 by Tom Lithgow and his wife Belinda. Lupita […]
Boeing delivers second B787 to Ethiopian Airlines
ETHIOPIAN TAKES DELIVERY OF THEIR SECOND B787 DREAMLINER Only days after having to make an unscheduled engine change on the airline’s first B787 Dreamliner, did number two of 10 on order arrive in Addis Ababa yesterday, a regular source close to the airline in Addis Ababa confirmed. Three more B787’s are due to be delivered […]
William Kibet Kiprono appointed as new KWS CEO
NEW KWS CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED IN RECORD TIME News are just breaking from Nairobi that Mr. William Kibet Kiprono has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Kenya Wildlife Service. This follows only two days after the board had appointed Peter Leitoro, Director in charge of Security at KWS, as Acting Executive Director. […]
Likoni Ferry services halted by accident
LIKONI FERRY SERVICES HALTED AFTER ACCIDENT News breaking from Mombasa speak of a heavy truck loaded with oil products having crashed into the ocean at the Likoni ferry crossing about an hour ago, causing the suspension of already fragile operations following the go slow of the staff. The brewing dispute which also spread into the […]
