New business opportunities as Reunion Tourism expands
AS REUNION TOURISM GROWS DO NEW SERVICE PROVIDERS ENTER THE SCENE (Posted 12th December 2013) As Reunion Tourism has used the year 2013 to reinvent itself and rebrand, showcasing the magnificent attractions this French Indian Ocean island has to offer to visitors, has the island’s tourism sector also started to benefit from the positive spotlight […]
Kwita Izina nominated for global UNWTO award
RWANDA’S KWITA IZINA IS AFRICA’S ONLY NOMINEE FOR UNWTO’S ULYSSES AWARDS (Posted 12th December 2013) Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s annual festival of and for the gorillas, held every year in June in Kinigi, outside Musanze, at the entrance to the Volcanoes National Park, has emerged as Africa’s only nominee for the coveted UNWTO Ulysses Awards in […]
Prohibitive work permit charges expose a reluctant partner
DO TANZANIAN OFFICIALS MAKE A MOCKERY OF THE EAC SPIRIT? (Posted 11th December 2013) ‘Tanzanian diplomats must be very accomplished in misleading their audience across the East African Community because every time they profess to the East African Community’s unity and togetherness they smile but reality is 180 degrees the other way and they know […]
Foundation stone laid for new domestic terminal at Mahe’s international airport
SCAA ANNOUNCES NEW DOMESTIC TERMINAL FOR MAHE’S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Posted 11th December 2013) The impressive performance by Air Seychelles’ domestic services, which offers over 20 daily departures between the international airport on Mahe and the aerodrome of the second largest island of Praslin as well as charters to other islands across the entire archipelago, has […]
To Mock or Not To Mock …
PRACTICAL JOKE OR PLAIN MOCKERY? (Posted 10th December 2013) Kenya Airways has reportedly been taken to court by their former corporate communications manager over an alleged incident at the end of the Kenya Airways sponsored safari marathon a few weeks ago. A source close to the airline has confirmed that Kepha Bosire had during the […]
UCOTA news for December 2013
The Uganda Community Tourism Association has established itself as not just the voice of community tourism initiatives, publicizing news and information from across Uganda, but has also promoted ways and means for local communities to benefit from tourism activities in a meaningful way. Homestays is one such initiatives, giving visitors the opportunity, like in conjunction […]
New Emirates country manager for Uganda
EMIRATES APPOINTS NEW COUNTRY MANAGER FOR UGANDA (Posted 10th December 2013) Emirates, Dubai’s award winning national airline, have announced the appointment of Mr. Thani Abdulla Al Ansari, as their new Country Manager for Uganda. Thani, according to the information received, joined Emirates in 2011 as a Commercial Trainee where he took on various roles as […]
New regional tourism master plan launched in Nairobi
IGAD LAUNCHES REGIONAL TOURISM MASTER PLAN (Posted 10th December 2013) After nearly three years of preparation, 2 regional workshops (Addis Ababa in June 2012 and Kampala in October 2012) and several national consultative workshops, private and public sector interaction on national and regional level and a peer review, was yesterday the IGAD – short for […]
RwandAir confirms delivery date for next new plane
RWANDAIR CONFIRMS DELIVERY DATE FOR NEW Q400NEXTGEN FOR END FEBRUARY 2014 (Posted 09th December 2014) RwandAir, Rwanda’s national airline, has just confirmed that the delivery of yet another brand new Bombardier aircraft, a Q400NextGen, is due by end February 2014. The new next generation turboprop aeroplane will be offering passengers a two class option, with […]
Gorilla Doctors get a boost with Dr. Jan Ramer’s return to Rwanda
Rwanda has welcomed Dr. Jan Ramer back over the weekend who already served a stint with Gorilla Doctors between 2009 and 2011. Here is her blog story about getting ready, looking back and looking forward. Welcome ‘home‘ to the Land of a Thousand Hills Jan, Musanze and Kinigi are ready for you … Dr. Jan […]
Latest scam – Visa for free but admin fee of over 70 Dollars?
KENYANS SUBJECTED TO VISA RIP OFF (Posted 10th December 2013) Kenyans started to reacted sharply to news that they now have to pay a private contractor a massive 5.850 Kenya Shillings for a Visa to South Africa, which purportedly is supposed to be free for tourists visitors staying up to 30 days. South Africa maintains […]
Poor understanding by politicians the main factor for Kenya’s tourism woes
KENYA’S WOES – MADE BY POLITICIANS (Posted 10th December 2013) More and more tourism stakeholders from across Kenya are starting to voice their disquiet, worries and at times outright disillusionment with their country’s politicians just days before the 50th Independence Golden Jubilee Celebrations with some now openly demanding that the ‘head in the sand’ attitude […]
And another one for good measure – this one from the ‘Chui’ at Diani …
Coastweek — The Grand Finale to a great night was a huge cake presented by the Parc Hotels team to their ‘’boss of all bosses’’ – President and Owner of Parc Hotels Italia Helena Malm Chincherini next to Chris Modigell who is very pleased to have a sold out and fully booked Horizon Restaurant with […]
Uganda Wildlife Authority’s November Newsletter
As part of the series to bring deeper insights to my readers, by reposting interesting blog articles or by sharing newsletters I get, here is the latest from the Uganda Wildlife Authority – enjoy the read! STUDY SHOWS AMAZING WILDLIFE POPULATIONS ON SOUTHERN BANK A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) using Game […]
Protea Hotels widen Uganda portfolio with new hotel in Hoima
PROTEA SET TO ADD FOURTH PROPERTY IN UGANDA (Posted 09th December 2013) Usually reliable sources in Kampala have confirmed late last week that Protea Hotels will manage a new hotel in the town of Hoima, which is also the seat of the Bunyoro Kingdom and located in a part of the country where much of […]
Out of Town: Kikoy Festival 2013, Dec. 14 2013 @ Mombasa Continental Resort
Kenya@50 is gearing up and the coming days, this weekend included and of course next weekend too will see a flurry of activities, official and private … Happy 50th Birthday to Kenya and have a great celebration to all my Kenyan friends.
Air Uganda on course to become Uganda’s national airline
GOVERNMENT TO INVEST IN AIR UGANDA – FINALLY (Posted 07th December 2013) President Yoweri Museveni and His Highness the Aga Khan have reportedly reached an agreement during a meeting in Paris on the sidelines of a security conference the president is attending, that the Government of Uganda will acquire a stake in Air Uganda, which […]
Uganda Tourism gets UNWTO and UNDP support
UNWTO AND UNDP SUPPORT UGANDA’S TOURISM INDUSTRY THROUGH NEW PROJECT (Posted 07th December 2013) The United Nation World Tourism Organization, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme are engaged in a new one year programme benefitting the Uganda Tourism Board and the private sector alike. Emphasis is on the sustainability of tourism businesses and […]
Not all lost for East Africa’s tourism sector inspite of gloomy VISA survey
INTEREST IN EAST AFRICA WANING CLAIMS VISA REPORT (Posted 07th December 2013) An extensive survey carried out by VISA, the results of which are now reaching the public domain, has little good prospects for 2014 for some of the East African countries, with the exception of Tanzania and Zanzibar which were ranked fourth and fifth […]
Uganda’s South West – now clearly ‘en vogue’
GORILLA HIGHLANDS LAUNCHES POCKET GUIDE AND VIDEO MAP (Posted 07th December 2013) At a UNWTO / UNDP supported tourism workshop in Kampala this week, organized by the Uganda Tourism Board, did participants have the opportunity to see the latest two private sector initiatives to promote Uganda’s South West, a new pocket guide by www.gorillahighlands.com and […]
Weekly roundup of ATC News from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, Second edition December 2013
AVIATION TOURISM & CONSERVATION NEWS EAST AFRICA A weekly roundup from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome You can get your daily news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthomeor join me on www.facebook.com/WolfgangHThome where the articles also ‘cross load’. […]
It is Swahili Fashion Weekend …
The long awaited date has finally come calling … it is Swahili Fashion Weekend … All the best to the designers and full house to the organizers over the next three days at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Dar es Salaam. SWAHILI FASHION WEEK , East & Central Africa’s Largest Fashion Platform, is NOW here […]
Uganda’s parliament signs off on loans for Entebbe airport expansion
PARLIAMENT APPROVES FOREIGN LOANS WORTH 450 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR CAA (Posted 06th December 2013) Uganda’s Civil Aviation Authority, presently still regulator as well as airport manager, a dual function which will in due course be split it is understood from usually reliable sources, has made a major advance towards commencing the long awaited expansion […]
More taxes will kill coast tourism for sure say senior stakeholders in Mombasa
MOMBASA COUNTY ACCUSED OF KILLING TOURISM WITH NEW TAXES (Posted 06th December 2013) Only a week after the Mombasa county government demanded a 500 Kenya Shilling bed tax from all hotels and resorts, per month, not per year, have the same officials now also demanded a tax on each tourist vehicle of 3.500 Kenya Shillings […]
Nairobi Governor: STOP THIS AIRPORT PROJECT AT ONCE
NAIROBI GOVERNOR’S ATTEMPT TO STOP JKIA CONSTRUCTION EARNS HIM ‘NAMES’ (Posted 06th December 2013) ‘But not a better airport’ is clearly missing from Kidero’s election manifesto, as the Nairobi Governor yesterday set the course for a head on collision with the central government and President Uhuru Kenyatta, who earlier this week presided over the ground […]
It is all about Reunion Tourism these days …
REUNION TOURISM HITS THE MARKETING TRAIL (Posted 06th December 2013) Vanilla Island Organization founder member Reunion is pulling out all stops these days to widen their reach and open up new markets for tourist visitors to the French Indian Ocean island. The latest initiative focused on the Swiss market, from where 7 travel agents were […]
Safarilink set to showcase ‘new bird’ at Tusker Air Show
SAFARILINK’S NEW CESSNA GRAND CARAVAN TO MAKE GRAND ENTRY ON INDEPENDENCE DAY (Posted 06th December 2013) Safarilink’s 8th brand new Cessna Caravan EX was handed over to Kenya’s premier safari airline yesterday at the Cessna factory in the United States. The state of the art aircraft is presently being fitted with ferry fuel tanks to […]
Kenya celebrates ballooning over the Mara with a 3 day festival
HOT AIR BALLOON FESTIVAL GOES UNDERWAY TODAY OVER THE MASAI MARA (Posted 06th December 2013) The sky over the Masai Mara Game Reserve, which is once again – and quite unseasonally – filled with the wildebeest migration, returning for a second time this year due to drought conditions in the Serengeti, will be the playground […]
Nairobi plunged into darkness by major technical fault in the Kenya Power system
NAIROBI PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS BY KENYA POWER’S INCOMPETENCE (Posted 05th December 2013) Kenya’s capital city of Nairobi was plunged into darkness last night and has, as this report is uploaded, been off the power grid for over 5 hours already, causing untold misery to Nairobi’s residents without access to an inverter home system or a […]
Holiday Inn set to open at Mauritius’ airport as IHG gets voted global top brand
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS EMERGES AS GLOBAL SUPERBRAND AT WTA 2013 CEREMONY (Posted 05th December 2013) The InterContinental Hotels Group’s InterContinental Hotels & Resorts brand was recognized last weekend at the global World Travel Award Ceremony in Doha as ‘The World’s Leading Hotel Brand 2013’, and notably for the 5th time in a row and the 7th […]
