Kenya tourism news – Coast tour operators demand a ‘pay as you use’ fee for preferential ferry services
COAST TOUR OPERATORS DEMAND FERRY VIP SERVICES ON PAY AS YOU GO BASIS The recent introduction of VIP services for tourist vehicles, to obtain priority boarding for vehicles for instance on transfers from or to the airport or on a tight schedule leaving for safaris, has been widely hailed as progress and a step long […]
The Seychelles Tourism Academy – set to become a Centre of Excellence in Africa
SEYCHELLES TOURISM ACADEMY, SET TO BECOME AN AFRICAN CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (Front left is Mr. Peter Moncherry who oversees the project of transforming STA into an African Centre of Excellenc) Big plans are afoot at the Seychelles Tourism Academy to turn the institution into not just a source of national pride but to catapult it […]
Rwanda aviation news – Qatar Airways counting down to commence Kigali flights
QATAR AIRWAYS COUNTS DOWN TO KIGALI FLIGHTS It is now a week to go until Qatar Airways, the worlds 5 star airline, will commence operations to Kigali. The airline is extending their daily flights between Doha and Entebbe to the Rwandan capital and the aircraft used will be an Airbus A 320 operates in a […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean island, Second edition March 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on Facebook where the articles also cross load or read the daily […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – KQ announces time table for share rights issue after CMA grants final approvals
KENYA AIRWAYS AND CAPITAL MARKET AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE SHARE ISSUE DATES An elaborate presentation by the Chief Executive and Group Managing Director of Kenya Airways, Dr. Titus Naikuni, rang in the countdown towards the 30th of March, when the new share issue will be formally launched in the market, following the final approvals last Friday by […]
Southern Sudan tourism – Boma National Park gets new headquarters but is country ready for tourism?
BOMA NATIONAL PARK GETS NEW HEADQUARTERS Last weekend saw the inauguration of the long in the making national park headquarters of Boma, catapulted to fame by the inclusion in the National Geographic series Great Migrations. Over 800.000 animals follow an annual migration pattern in and out of the park, with these figures for long dismissed […]
Of lounges and lounges …
OF LOUNGES AND LOUNGES As a frequent traveler I use airport lounges where available and hotel lounges where on offer for guests staying on Executive or Club Floors or using suites. For those in the know, the lounges in the Gulf region are legend, in particular of course the First Class and Business Class lounges […]
East African aviation sources condemn CASSOA’s attempt to dig private sector for income
CASSOA UNDER FIRE OVER EXTORTIONATE FEE DEMANDS The East African Communitys Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency has come under severe criticism by a broad section of aviation and tourism stakeholders for their demand to load already mountainous surcharges and fees with a further 0.70 US Dollars to finance their operations. The agency, swift […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – CMA and KQ to hold joint press conference Monday morning at the Nairobi Serena Hotel
KENYA AIRWAYS SHARE RIGHTS ISSUE ANNOUNCEMENTS IMMINENT Kenya Airways and the Capital Market Authority will hold a joint press conference on Monday morning at the Nairobi Serena Hotel, to provide information on the way forward for the long awaited share issue, which is aiming to raise some 250 million US Dollars for the financing of […]
Tanzania conservation news – WWF fires a dozen staff over allegations of misappropriation of funds
WWF SACKS A DOZEN STAFF OVER FRAUD ALLEGATIONS The Tanzanian branch of the respected World Wide Fund for Nature has reportedly dismissed a dozen of their staff including to senior managers over allegations of misuse of funds and installed a caretaker management team to oversee the process of investigations and of a forensic audit. Information […]
Al Shabab hits Nairobi bus stop with grenade attack, 4 dead and over 40 injured
AL SHABAB SYMPATHIZERS SUSPECTED TO HAVE CAUSED CARNAGE Kenyas determination to pursue Al Shabab terrorists deep into Somalia and joining AMISOM, the United Nations and African Union peace keeping mission in that war torn country, has, inspite of visibly increased vigilance across Nairobis public places, office buildings, shopping centres and hotels, cost the country dearly […]
Kenya aviation news – KQ responds with third flight to Mahe as Ethiopian at the verge of commencing their own flights to Seychelles
KENYA AIRWAYS RESPONDS TO ETHIOPIAN COMMENCING SEYCHELLES FLIGHTS Kenya Airways has seemingly responded quickly to the news that Ethiopian Airlines will effective beginning of April begin to fly four times a week between Addis Ababa and Mahe / Seychelles, with the announcement that by mid April a third weekly flight will be introduced between Nairobi […]
Cheli & Peacock set to add, improve during low season
CHELI & PEACOCK MAKES WAVES WITH INNOVATIONS (Cheli & Peacock Impressions from Kenya | Pictures courtesy of P & C) One of Kenya foremost collections of fine safari camps and beach resorts, award winning Cheli & Peacock, has just released updates on developments in several of their properties. New additions and changes to tent sizes […]
Ethiopian aviation news – 3 weeks and counting to the inaugural flight to Seychelles
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES SET TO COMMENCE SEYCHELLES FLIGHTS IN 3 WEEKS While recently in the Seychelles it was confirmed that Ethiopian Airlines will be commencing 4 weekly flights between Addis Ababa and Mahe from the beginning of April, adding a second connection through a key African mainland hub after Kenya Airways flights via Nairobi. The fact […]
Mauritius tourism news – Talks with airlines at ITB crucial to bring in more tourists
MAURITIUS TALKS TO AIRLINES AT ITB A regular source from Mauritius has send impressions from the just concluded ITB, the worlds largest global tourism trade show, to share some news about what the islands large delegation has accomplished. Our official met with airlines flying regularly from Germany to Mauritius and to explore how in the […]
Kenya news – Nairobi InterContinental hosts International Women’s Day function, raises funds for girls primary school
INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL HOSTS NAIROBIS WOMEN WHO IS WHO FOR THEIR DAY The International Womens Day was celebrated at the InterContinental Hotel Nairobi in great style, when the Who is Who of Kenyas professional women came together, not just to celebrate but also to raise funds for the Mbagathi Girls Primary School which put portraits of […]
TripAdvisor’s Best Beaches 2011 leaves out Seychelles as mechanism discriminate smaller destinations
TRIP ADVISOR BEST BEACHES 2012 CLUELESS AS SEYCHELLES OMITTED FROM TOP 25 Not being a mass tourism destination is to our disadvantage here for us said a regular source close to the Seychelles Tourism Board, saying it is hard to get the required numbers in a global contest where bigger destinations like Florida or Turkey […]
La Digue – where live stands still, well almost …
LA DIGUE IT IS A WAY OF LIFE If the Seychelles truly are Another World as one of their tag lines reads, the island of La Digue deserves its own for sure. I asked my guide from the Seychelles Tourism Board, born and raised on La Digue, what made her home island so special, what […]
Seychelles delegation set to attend Miami’s Sea Trade Convention
SEYCHELLES HEAD TO MIAMI FOR SEA TRADE CONVENTION Encouraged by the gradual return of cruise ships to the classic Indian Ocean circuits, which has traditionally included the Seychelles, will a delegation from Victoria head to Miami next week to participate in the Sea Trade Convention which takes place between March 12th and 15th. Glynn Burridge […]
La Reunion capitalises on Carnival Festival exposure
LA REUNION CAPITALISES ON VANILLA ISLAND CARNIVAL FESTIVAL EXPOSURE The Tourism Board of La Reunion, represented in full force at the ITB in Berlin with a number of private sector stakeholders, is making the most of the recent exposure gained from being co-host of the Carnival International de Victoria on the Seychelles, where the island […]
Rwanda conservation news – Government launches compensation fund for wildlife damage
NEW WILDLIFE LAWS PERMIT COMPENSATION AT LAST Sources at the Rwanda Development Board Tourism and Conservation, have confirmed that they can now start to process claims for loss of property, damages and injuries by people living near national parks, should they suffer from marauding wildlife. The Rwandan government has last week set up a special […]
Seychelles tourism breaking news – Alain St. Ange appointed Minister of Tourism and Culture and Elsia Grandcourt promoted to CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board
CHANGES AT STB AS ALAIN ST. ANGE IS APPOINTED MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND CULTURE (Alain St. Ange, seen here during an interview last year) Elsia Grandcourt, hitherto Deputy Chief Executive at the Seychelles Tourism Board, has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer, following the elevation of Alain St. Ange to the position […]
Seychelles aviation breaking news – D-Day for Air Seychelles as launch of Abu Dhabi flights imminent now
AIR SEYCHELLES LAUNCHES ABU DHABI FLIGHTS This Sunday is a big day for friends, staff, management and board of directors of Air Seychelles, when the airline is commencing operations to Abu Dhabi. Initially the airlines B767-300 will serve the route twice a week in conjunction with Etihad, which in turn is operating four flights a […]
Weekly roundup of news from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, First edition March 2012
AVIATION, TOURISM AND CONSERVATION NEWS from Eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. A weekly roundup of breaking news, reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome, join me on Facebook where the articles also cross load or read the daily […]
East African aviation breaking news – Turkish commences twice weekly flights to Mogadishu
TURKISH BREAKS NEW GROUND WITH MOGADISHU FLIGHTS A Turkish Airlines Airbus A340 landed yesterday in Mogadishu to a warm welcome by members of the Transitional Federal Government and representatives of AMISOM, the United Nations / African Union forces providing protection to the airport and the capital at large, after driving the Al Shabab terrorists out […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – Share rights issue for Kenya Airways due to be launched next Monday
KENYA AIRWAYS SHARE RIGHTS ISSUE LAUNCHES ON 12 MARCH Next Monday will be the long awaited start of Kenya Airways share rights issue, which has been in the making for several months now and received all company internal approvals via board resolutions and AGM votes, before securing the required regulatory approvals from the financial market […]
Seychelles news update – Work started on wind power plant at Ile de Port
SEYCHELLES GOES GREENER While on the Creole island paradise of the Seychelles to cover the Carnival International de Victoria for eTurboNews, opportunity arose to also see the site chosen to construct the Seychelles first windpowered electricity plant. Mentioned here a few months ago, when the initial MoUs and contracts were signed between the Seychelles government […]
East African aviation news – Qatar announces across Eastern Africa that their first B787 is now on the production line
QATAR AIRWAYS FIRST B787 NOW ON PRODUCTION LINE Ahead of the inauguration of Qatar Airways latest route into Africa on the 21st of March to Kigali, via an extension from their daily Doha Entebbe flight, has news emerged that the airlines first B787 Dreamliner 5 of a total order of 60 such aircraft (firm orders […]
Quo Vadis Southern Sudan
QUO VADIS SOUTHERN SUDAN We knew it would not be easy but we had hoped it would not be so difficult for us. The regime in Khartoum is the main cause for these hard times now, they first blocked our trade and what we used to buy from Khartoum and ship up the Nile and […]
Mauritius news update – Planetarium planned at the Rajiv Ghandi Science Centre
PLANETARIUM PLANNED FOR MAURITIUS Information was received from Mauritius that funding has been secured to construct and equip a planetarium on the island, supposedly the first in this part of the world, which when complete will be open for research but also local and tourist visitors interested to see the stars of the Southern Hemisphere. […]
