Seychelles to host ICTP launch at World Travel Market
SEYCHELLES TO HOST ICTP LAUNCH AT WTM The launch of the International Council of Tourism Partners when all signed up members will be revealed to the international media at the World Travel Market, is taking place on November 08th at the Seychelles stand AS550 at 16.00 hrs, hosted by the Seychelles Tourism Board. Seychelles, a […]
Rwanda aviation news – Second brand new B737-800 now enroute to ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’
FERRY FLIGHT UNDERWAY FOR SECOND RWANDAIR B737-800 RwandAirs second new bird is now in the air enroute to its final destination Kigali, after a formal handover ceremony at Boeing in Seattle. As was the case with the first B737-800 a few weeks ago, RwandAirs chief pilot Capt. Babis is the pilot in command and will […]
African conservation news – Another ton of blood ivory seized at Chinese border
ANOTHER TON OF IVORY SEIZED IN VIETNAM ENROUTE TO CHINA The words deafening silence come to mind when the official response to petitions and pleas by global conservation organizations to the Chinese government is described over the countrys deplorable record in illegal ivory and rhino horn trade. In the cross hairs for the past two […]
Kenya tourism and conservation news – Museum Society all set for ‘Know Kenya Better’ week
KENYA MUSEUM READY FOR KNOW KENYA MORE WEEK As the hashtag line #TembeaKenya finds ever more followers amongst the tweep community in Kenya, with live reports from their travel across the country tweeted in and then re-tweeted by Magical Kenya and Kenya Wildlife Service, was the Kenya Museum Society busy to put final touches on […]
Kenya news update – Will new roads, bypasses and flyover bring salvation to Nairobi’s traffic congestion?
INVESTMENTS IN NEW ROADS AND BYPASSES WILL IMPROVE LIFE QUALITY IN NAIROBI A regular deep throat source in Kenyas capital city of Nairobi has told this correspondent that governments ongoing efforts to improve the road network in and around Nairobi will yield big results in the next 3 5 years, when quality of life in […]
Kenya news update – Police announce first arrests, seize arms and explosives
FIRST ARREST IN BLAST CASE YIELDS WEAPONS AND EXPLOSIVES The Kenya Police was able to give good news overnight that a first arrest has been made in connection with the ongoing search for the culprits in the dual grenade blasts, which have rocked Nairobis streets two days ago. I am not authorized to give official […]
Uganda aviation news – Travel agents lock horns with Gulf Air in absence of offices and GSA
GULF AIR OFF TO ROCKY START IN KAMPALA A recent seminar for a very select group of agents and press conference for equally select media representatives by Gulf Air in Kampala seems to have served little purpose other than exposing the state of un-readiness, as emails obtained by this correspondent between travel agents and the […]
Ethiopia aviation news – Singapore new ET destination from November by codeshare
ETHIOPIAN STARTS CODESHARE TO SINGAPORE Effective 01st of November will Singapore Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines commence a codeshared flight connection between Addis Ababa and Singapore, adding a new destination for both airlines. The daily flights will route via Dubai, from Addis served by ET on a codeshared basis, and passengers destined to Singapore will then […]
Weekly roundup of news from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region, Fourth edition October 2011
TOURISM, AVIATION AND CONSERVATION NEWS from the Eastern African and Indian Ocean region A weekly roundup of reports, travel stories and opinions by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang H. Thome Get daily breaking news updates instantly via Twitter by following @whthome or read the daily postings on my blog via: www.wolfganghthome.wordpress.com Many of these articles then also […]
Kenya aviation news – Now KAA follows KCAA to demand higher fees and charges
AIR CARGO OPERATORS OPPOSE NEW KAA CHARGES Attempts by the Kenya Airport Authority to milk operators as an aviation source put it, follow hot on the heels of similar attempts by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority to raise fees and charges. If KAA could produce a good product, if they had kept pace with demand […]
Kenya breaking news – Second blast rocks Nairobi in the space of 18 hours
SECOND BLAST IN NAIROBI KILLS ONE, INJURES MANY Nairobi was stunned by a second attack yesterday evening, this time taking at least one life and injuring at least 13 other innocent bystanders following an attack at a bus terminal. A major security crackdown was already underway following a similar incident in the early hours of […]
African conservation news – Ivory, burn or sell – The controversy rages on
IVORY BURN OR SELL, THE CONTROVERSY RAGES ON The white gold as ivory is also known, is living up to its billing as the price of the contraband commodity has shot through the proverbial roof in recent years, and keeps climbing. This development has fueled the greed of potential sellers of ivory just as the […]
Kenya breaking news – Grenade attack on bar leaves 14 injured, no details available on motives or perpetrators
AT LEAST 14 INJURED FOLLOWING A GRENADE EXPLOSION AT MWAURAS BAR Kenyans will be waking up to shock news that an apparent grenade attack on a local bar in Nairobi has left at least 14 injured, some of them seriously. The attack occurred around 3 a.m. when the bar was already closed but patrons inside […]
Kenya news update – Reactions to US Embassy warning on terror alert
ANTI TRAVEL ADVISORIES SETTLING OLD SCORES OR NEW SCORES OR WHAT Reactions from Nairobi were swift and mostly acid over the warning issued by the US Embassy to their nationals living in Kenya over the increased if not imminent risk of a terror attack, and none was complimentary as could be expected: A case for […]
Tanzania aviation news – Seneca 3 crash at JRO claims pilot’s life
ARUSHA CRASH BLAMED ON INEPT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MECHANISM The crash outside Kilimanjaro International Airport last Thursday night, in which the pilot was seriously injured and one apparent trainee pilot killed, has been attributed by aviation sources to inept air traffic control mechanisms, after the Seneca 3 apparently ran out of fuel. A regular aviation […]
Kenya tourism news – Magical Kenya Travel Expo another success story
MAGICAL KENYA TOURISM SHOW A TOTAL SUCCESS First feedback from Nairobi tells the story of the tourism industrys delight with the KTB brainchild Magical Kenya Travel Show which showcased the countrys tourism attractions from the coast to the lake and all the national parks, game reserves and monuments in between. Aimed at the regional and […]
Rwanda tourism news update – Congo Nile Trail to be formally launched on November 04
FORMAL LAUNCH OF CONGO NILE TRAIL ON 04TH NOVEMBER (Picture courtesy of RDB Tourism and Conservation) The latest kid on the block by Rwanda Tourism, the Congo Nile Trail, is set to be formally launched on the 04th of November in the resort town of Gisenyi on Lake Kivu where the Rwanda Development Board Tourism […]
Mauritius news update – CCTV installations launched by Prime Minister to improve safety and security
CCTV CAMERAS TO MAKE PORT LOUIS AND GRAND BAIE SAFER FOR TOURISTS None other than the Mauritius Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolan launched the islands latest innovation of CCTV surveillance yesterday, which will considerably improve safety and security for both locals but also for tourists visiting the island. The capital Port Louis will have 272 […]
Kenya news – Classic Safari Rally set for November 18th to 28th.
EAST AFRICAN SAFARI CLASSIC RALLY 2011 ALL SET TO ROAR The classic version of the Safari Rally will take off from underneath the world famous tusks along Moi Avenue in Mombasa on the 19th November at 3 p.m. in a ceremonial start aimed to attract local and global media attention while the start proper will […]
Kenya aviation breaking news – Plane crash kills two near Nairobi
NAIROBI PLANE CRASH LEAVES TWO DEAD AND ONE SERIOUSLY INJURED A mid afternoon plane crash outside the city of Nairobi, reportedly in the distant suburb of Karen at the foot of the Ngong Hills, has taken the lives of two of three occupants of the stricken craft. The plane of still unspecified make had reportedly […]
Kenya news update – Lamu Cultural Festival ‘very much on course’
ANNUAL LAMU CULTURAL FESTIVAL VERY MUCH ON Tourism minister Najib Balala has rushed to reaffirm in public that the annual and much acclaimed Lamu Cultural Festival will be held as scheduled in November this year, casting aside doubts that recent events and the countrys cross border pursuit of Al Shabab militants would have stopped this […]
Rwanda news – Top marks in latest World Bank report for ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’
RWANDA GETS TOP MARKS FOR DOING BUSINESS WITH The World Banks report on Doing Business has confirmed what is an open secret across Eastern Africa, namely that Rwanda is the country to do business with, now ranked top across the Eastern African region and in third position in Africa, only trailing second placed South Africa […]
Mauritius news – Diwali festival activities and fireworks expected to delight tourists
DIWALI FIREWORKS TO LIGHT UP SKIES OVER MAURITIUS Tourists coming to Mauritius over the coming days are in for a treat as large Diwali fireworks are planned to celebrate this very important Indian holiday on the island. Shows and performances are also on the calendar of events, many of which are local but open to […]
South Sudan aviation news – UN chartered plane suffers landing mishap in Bor
UN CHARTERED RELIEF AIRCRAFT HAS LANDING INCIDENT IN BOR A South African registered Pacific Aerospace 750XL, owned by National Airways Corporation, and leased to the United Nations for relief and humanitarian flights within South Sudan, has yesterday suffered a landing incident in Bor, from where the flight was routed, originating in Juba. According to reports […]
Kenya news update – Hotel bookings remain strong as Kenyan troops hunt down Al Shabab militants
COAST TOURISM SEES NO IMPACT ON BOOKINGS AS KENYA HUNTS MILITANTS Reports from Mombasa tell a story different from what many global media organizations would want their readers to believe as occupancies remain high and forward bookings have remained steady, while Kenya has with the consent of the Transitional Federal Government in Mogadishu crossed into […]
Uganda aviation news – Gulf Air struggling for exposure as Qatar Airways romps up publicity
GULF AIR STRUGGLING TO MAKE IMPACT IN UGANDAN MARKET The imminent launch of daily flights by Qatar Airways and the flurry of media and agency focused activities have prompted lesser cousin Gulf Air to at least try and put on a brave face and finally do some drum beating themselves. Early bird news about Gulf […]
Mauritius hospitality news – Sun Resorts take over the Ambre Resort & Spa on long term lease
SUN RESORTS SIGNS LONG TERM LEASE FOR AMBRE RESORT & SPA It was learned overnight that the 4 star, 298 room and suite Ambre Resort & Spa, owned by Apavou Hotels, has been leased with immediate effect to Sun Resorts of Mauritius. The 20 year deal will see Sun Resorts embark on a major refurbishment […]
Kenya tourism news – KTN features ‘Travel Diaries’ while #TembeaKenya gains Twitter prominence
KTN TO LAUNCH TRAVEL DIARY SERIES TO PROMOTE DOMESTIC TOURISM Kenyas premier private television channel KTN has signed on to a Standard Group sponsored deal to air regular features promoting Kenyas tourism attractions across the country, including some of the lesser known gems which get little exposure so far. On the occasion did Najib Balala, […]
Quo Vadis Wilderness – as the World Population hits 7 Billion
QUO VADIS WILDERNESS AS POPULATION HITS 7 BILLION The annual World Habitat Day this year is celebrated at a time when the global population is expected to cross the threshold of 7 billion inhabitants, all in need of shelter, clothing, food and water, education and jobs, and of course ever more land to live and […]
Kenya aviation news – Kenya Airways moves domestic fares to US Dollars
KENYA AIRWAYS INTRODUCES DOLLAR CHARGES FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS Regular travelers on regional and international flights are used to paying for their tickets in US Dollars, or at least the equivalent in local currency according to the bank rates on the day of the transaction, but following the wild fluctuations of the Kenya Shilling in recent […]
