Zimbabwe’s Matetsi Game Reserve awaits opening of new lodge

MATETSI RIVER LODGE SET FOR AUGUST 01ST OPENING (Posted 10th July 2016) Following a recent visit to Zimbabwe for the Sanganai 2016 World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo, did opportunity arise to meet a number of stakeholders from locations right across the country. As a result did information come to light now that a new lodge, […]

What’s new at Campi ya Kanzi? Read on to find out …

Website The Camp Air Safari The Maasai Beliefs Media Rates Location July 2016 There have been so much happening at Campi ya Kanzi that we do not know where to start telling you about it all! Announcing our 2017 rates…The Yoga retreat…The coming Ethiopian air safari… Lions entertaining us every single night (and chewing on […]

Stalled Likoni ferries – the bane of South Coast tourism

FERRY FAILURES PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF US ANTI TRAVEL ADVISORIES (Posted 10th July 2016) ‘Just a few days ago I complained to you about the latest US travel advisories which had named Likoni and the ferries as a hot spot. Today have two ferries again stalled and left thousands of traders, wananchi and even […]

Seychelles comes out as top Indian Ocean holiday island

TRAVEL & LEISURE READERS NAME SEYCHELLES TOP ISLAND DESTINATION (Posted 10th July 2016) It is no doubt scenes and vistas like the one shown which have impressed the readers of one of America’s foremost travel publications, Travel & Leisure, when they voted the Seychelles as the Indian Ocean’s top holiday islands, ahead of Mauritius and […]

More news updates from the Porini Safari Camps

Jake Grieves-Cook, one of Kenya’s tourism trademark names, once again shares stories from the Porini Camps which are worth reading! Also part of his latest news is an HD video about what is happening in the bush around the camps. Enjoy! An Update from Gamewatchers Safaris This week guests staying at all our Porini Camps […]

President Kagame opens new Kigali Convention Centre

KIGALI’S RADISSON BLU HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTRE NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN (Posted 09th July 2016) Coinciding with Rwanda’s Liberation Day celebrations, the day when the then RPF drove the last remnants of the killer regime out of the country, was yesterday afternoon the new national convention and exhibition centre opened by President Paul Kagame. This follows […]

Flights to Juba uncertain today after gunfire rocks the city again

LACK OF SALARIES BLAMED FOR RENEWED UNREST IN SOUTH SUDAN’S CAPITAL (Posted 09th July 2016) Both of South Sudan’s political principals were caught at the Presidential Compound yesterday evening as renewed violence rocked the city of Juba. With them are reportedly a number of journalists who had come for a press conference and were trapped […]

Kenya Airways moves into restructuring phase in earnest

KENYA’S NATIONAL AIRLINE AIMS TO LEAVE TURBULENCES BEHIND (Posted 08th July 2016) Kenya Airways over the past few months embarked on a determined exercise to map out the financial turnaround of the airline, dubbed ‘Operation Pride‘. Today does phase one go underway being part of the more painful exercises, to streamline staff deployment. Operation Pride […]

UNWTO top post bid has clear frontrunner after RETOSA endorsement

Updates and comments on activities by UNWTO, WTTC, PATA, ETOA, ICTP and other global organization leading the global travel & tourism industry www.worldtourismwire.com 07 JULY 2016 Zimbabwe tourism minister clear front runner for top UNWTO position after RETOSA endorsement July 8, 2016 Following the earlier endorsement by SADC, the Southern African Development Community, of Dr. […]

Mauritius leaves RETOSA

MINISTERIAL MEETING IN BOTSWANA REGRETS MAURITIUS’ TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP (Posted 08th July 2016) News that the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius had terminated the membership in RETOSA, the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa, were discussed during the just concluded 07th Ministerial Meeting of RETOSA in the Botswana capital of Gaborone. The ongoing board meeting […]

RETOSA endorses Mzembi candidacy for UNWTO Secretary General

MZEMBI NOW CLEAR FRONTRUNNER TO SUCCEED UNWTO’S DR. TALEB RIFAI (Posted 08th July 2016) Following the earlier endorsement by SADC, the Southern African Development Community, of Dr. Engineer Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has now RETOSA, the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa also thrown its support behind Dr. Walter’s candidacy […]

Top Tips for savvy travellers

As the week slowly draws to a close does Lillian Gaitho take a look at how to make travel easier … Top Tips for the Millennial Business Traveler From a conference in Accra to a high power luncheon and workshop in Cape Town, and a weekend with family back home; nothing says ‘global village’ more […]

EATP Highlights and New Perspectives

News updates from the East Africa Tourism Platform, in short EATP EATP Highlights and New Perspectives Share Tweet Forward Jambo, It is with great pleasure that I extend heartfelt greetings to the readers of the second issue of the East Africa Tourism Platform Newsletter. As the third EATP Executive Board Chairman, I would personally like […]

Arkia set for return to Kenya

ISRAEL CLEARS ARKIA FOR KENYA FLIGHTS (Posted 07th July 2016) The just concluded visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has yielded instant results on several fronts, all benefiting Kenya as a country and the Kenyan tourism industry. While in Nairobi, where host President Uhuru Kenyatta correctly addressed the visiting PM as coming from Israel […]

Heard of Galdessa and Galdessa Private?

News from two very special camps on the banks of the Galana River, just above the Luggard Falls. Read on to learn more about them … Special accommodation deals are available at the moment, so just contact them for details … Have a look at our videos, they will give you an excellent idea of […]

Diani Beach Touch Rugby – This weekend in Diani

For those who made it to Diani, enjoy … For those who did not, mark your calendar for the 2017 event … DIANI BEACH TOUCH RUGBY Friday 8th – Sunday 10th July Forty Thieves Beach Bar #DBTR16 @dianibeachtouchrugby www.dianibeachtouchrugby.co You are invited to the 8th Diani Beach Touch Rugby Tournament The 8th edition of the […]

Alfajiri Villas July News Letter

A little help for some good friends with an outstanding hospitality reputation and record is surely permitted, yes? And why not look up the sister properties on the Galana River / Tsavo East just above the Luggard Falls, Galdessa and Galdessa Private? July News ALFAJIRI VILLAS DIANI BEACH OUR PRIVATE VILLAS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR […]

54 percent of the illegal rhino horn trade are attributed to China and Vietnam!

Get all the latest RhinoNews from across the world … July 2016 54% of all rhino horn seizures worldwide involve Chinese and Vietnamese nationals China and Viet Nam have long been labelled the two biggest markets for the rhino horn trade, but now the extent of Chinese and Vietnamese involvement in the market has been […]

UNWTO Global News Update

UNWTO and the World Committee on Tourism Ethics launch the UNWTO Ethics Award The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the World Committee on Tourism Ethics (WCTE) have launched the UNWTO Ethics Award. The Award will recognize companies committed to making their business more responsible and sustainable through the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics […]

News from ‘further down south’ … as always courtesy of Gill Staden

The latest edition of the Livingstone bi-Weekly is out and I hasten to let you all enjoy some news from Zambia, where I just spent a week, neighbouring Zimbabwe, where I was two weeks ago and other countries in the region like Namibia, Botswana and more … And don’t forget to click on the video […]

Only in the Seychelles …

TOURISM AND CULTURE MINISTER VISITS HOTELS ON PRASLIN UNANNOUNCED (Posted 07th July 2016) Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture was on Praslin Island calling on hotels both large and small, and without prior notice. The Minister who promotes the concept of ‘staying connected‘ with the trade said after this Praslin visit […]

Beach Touch Rugby Tournament Diani 2016

All there is to know for competitors and spectators of Diani’s latest sports extravaganza … Taking place this weekend is the Diani Touch Rugby Tournament outside the Flamboyant / Forty Thieves compound. Don’t miss it … Flights are available from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport on Safarilink and Air Kenya and from JKIA with Jambojet, unless one opts to […]

Brexit business outlook for the youth travel industry

WYSE Brexit Survey summary Dear Industry Colleague, Thank you to those who shared their opinions and concerns about the possible impact of the United Kingdom’s ‘Brexit’ from the European Union on business in the youth travel industry. Overall, the outlook from the youth travel community is pessimistic, with 45% saying that they believe business prospects […]

EATP’s Carmen Nibigira to speak on East Africa joint Visa at Accra Weizo

ATQnews.com a member of Travel Media Group. This is the online platform for African Travel Quarterly (ATQ), the first Travel magazine in West Africa which solely focuses on travel and tourism issues. It started publishing offline about 10 years ago. ATQnews.com features reports that cover a wide range of topics within the travel Copyright © […]

Tune Hotels ready to open their first property in Kenya

NAIROBI WELCOMES TUNE HOTELS’ FIRST PROPERTY IN EAST AFRICA (Posted 07th July 2016) The countdown is now on for the official opening of East Africa’s first Tune Hotel, a growing global low cost hotel brand. On the 18th of July, just eleven days from now, will the Westlands based new hotel, located on Raphta Road, […]

Enjoy some humour, besides information, from the latest Amadeus EA news letter

Eid Mubarak On behalf of us all at Amadeus East Africa, we wish you and your loved ones a blessed Eid. How Amadeus Sell Connect Allows Travel Agents to Unleash Their Business. Amadeus Selling Platform Connect has been created by travel professionals for travel professionals. We sat down with two travel agents who have been […]

Tanzania’s tax folly begins to hit

REACTIONS ARE SWIFT AND HARSH AS TOURISTS BEGIN TO CANCEL TANZANIA TRIPS (Posted 07th July 2016) European tourists enjoy consumer protection second to none when it comes to their rights and Tanzania is about to find out how they and their tour operators react to the folly of slapping VAT on tourism services. Tanzania’s Finance […]

Mauritius reels in South African visitors

NEW LEADERSHIP – NEW SUCCESSES AS MAURITIUS BECOMES MAGNET FOR SOUTH AFRICANS (Posted 06th July 2016) After crossing the 100.000 visitor mark last year has South Africa become one of Mauritius’s key source markets for tourists, a trend continuing in 2016 inspite of the weakness of the South African Rand. South Africa remains among the […]