A ‘Guest Performance’ by Fouad Diouman, VP Planning and Marketing at Arik Air
The Indian Ocean Islands – Our travel and tourism sector: the perfect cyclone Fouad Diouman a Mauritian by birth and today the VP Planning & Marketing for Arik Air Limited based in Nigeria. He published an interesting article in the L’Express Newspaper of Mauritius and we are reprinting the article with permission of the Fouad […]
Fly 540 Tanzania halts flights to Kilimanjaro, Mwanza and Zanzibar
FLY 540 TANZANIA HALTS MWANZA, KILIMANJARO AND ZANZIBAR FLIGHTS A regular aviation source from Dar es Salaam has passed on information, that Fly 540 Tanzania will halt their operations from Dar es Salaam to Kilimanjaro and Mwanza but also Zanzibar, effective tomorrow, 13th of October until further notice. The short notice is bound to further […]
ATCL scrambles to resume flights to beat FastJet to the door to the skies
FASTJET SET TO START TANZANIA OPERATIONS AS ATCL SCRAMBLES TO FLY AGAIN At the recently concluded ‘World Routes’ meeting in Abu Dhabi did senior staff of new kid on the block ‘FastJet’ tell the media that their first route will be from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi, supposed to be with three daily frequencies using […]
Tanzania is at it again – Applies to CITES to sell 100 tons of ivory
TANZANIA’S NEW ATTEMPT TO SELL BLOOD IVORY DRAWS INSTANT OBJECTIONS ‘This time we want to get absolute support from neighbouring Kenya, unlike in the past’ was part of Tanzania’s deputy minister for natural resources and tourism Lazaro Nyalandu opening salvo when he announced that they would once again apply to CITES for a one off […]
Kenya’s tourism arrivals drop as latest January to August figures are published
FALLING NUMBERS EXPOSE KENYA GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO SUPPORT TOURISM Kenya’s tourism stakeholders, knowing what is going on better than anyone of course, have for a while been shaking their heads in frustration when hearing their tourism minister Danson Mwazo talk about new records being set for arrivals and revenues this year. Either misinformed, or outright […]
2 tourists and 3 locals die in accident on Mombasa – Nairobi highway
TOURISTS DIE ON MOMBASA – NAIROBI HIGHWAY It has now been confirmed by a regular reliable source from Mombasa that the victims were a Swiss / German couple who stayed at a South Coast resort and had booked with a Diani beach operator. Condolences are expressed to relatives and friends of the deceased. Sad news […]
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 […]
