A total of R537 million (€32.4m) has been earmarked for investment in tourism infrastructure projects by the Department of Tourism. This was highlighted by the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi–Ngubane, during her Budget Vote address to the National Council of Provinces yesterday (June 1). “To effect the implementation of these projects, the Department entered into a partnership…
The World Bank says it has approved $150 million for a project to help increase access to high-quality broadband internet services in Tanzania. It’s one of a number of Tanzanian projects receiving World Bank financing that are aimed at improving not just connectivity but rural roads and the learning environment. The Digital Tanzania Project (DTP),…
Travellers from South Africa will be able to visit the Seychelles from Tuesday 1 June onwards, after being barred from accessing the island nation since the start of 2021. In a bid to reinvigorate the island’s embattled tourism industry, which is responsible for 65% of its GDP, the Seychelles announced the full reopening of its…
Portman Square Limited has signed an agreement with Marriott International to debut the Four Points by Sheraton brand in Uganda. The development is expected boost the continued gradual resurgence of the local hospitality industry and bookings currently at 28% from a near zero at the height of the lockdown last year. Scheduled to open in…
Uganda Airlines is set to make its maiden flight to South Africa’s capital Johannesburg. The flight will enhance connectivity to and from the airline’s current network which includes Nairobi , Dares salaam , Kinshasa Juba, Mogadishu Bujumbura , Zanzibar , Mombasa and Kilimanjaro. Ochieng also says as UTB, they are equally interested in ensuring proper…
South African Tourism and United Airlines will host a Zoom webinar today at 11am ET to discuss the return of United Airlines to South Africa and re-opening of the destination. There is no need to sign up for the webinar, you can join using the following link at 11am ET on Thursday 27 May. https://finnpartners.zoom.us/j/99147902720?pwd=YTlOUzAvSDl3QU9sNzAzRVdjQ1NPdz09…
Sun City Resort, just a two-hour drive from Pretoria, is now open daily for day visitors after months of gradually easing access. Guests can take a quad bike or mountain bike through the Letsatsing Game Park or get lost in the largest permanent maze in the Southern hemisphere, The Maze of the Lost City. The…
Kenya Airways and Airlink have signed an interline agreement that will extend the airlines’ reach in the Southern African and the East African regions respectively. The new agreement will offer customers travel to over 40 cities across Africa. Under this latest agreement, Kenya Airways customers flying to South Africa will be able to connect with…
Rawan Dakik became the first Tanzania woman to successfully reach the last peak of Mount Everest (8,850meters). Rawan was the only Tanzanian in the list of those who made to the World’s highest peak. Apart from Rawan the other 22 climbers who made it alongside Rawan were from USA, Sweden, Nepal, South Africa, Canada and…
Bird Island, Seychelles will be opening on 15th July 2021. Our opening comes with some exciting changes to our accommodation as we evolve with these unprecedented times. The island now features 6 two-bedroom villas and 1 three-bedroom villa, in line with our move to become a self-catering establishment. Each villa comprises of a newly built…
While most aviation companies have felt the heavy impact of the Covid-19 outbreak, some entrepreneurs in the space have taken the crisis as an opportunity to embark on new ventures. One of the most notable in recent months is Nigeria’s Green Africa Airways, a brainchild of a serial entrepreneur Babawande Afolabi, which has announced it…
The Nest Collection – a new hospitality management solution for owners and managers of boutique accommodation establishments – launched this month. Its aim is twofold: to bring together a bespoke collection of distinctive, individual, boutique properties to create a quality travel ecosystem, and to offer an array of solutions for those properties to help them…
United just added another popular African city to its long-haul route map! On Friday, the carrier began year-round service between Washington, D.C. (IAD) and Accra, Ghana (ACC). United 996 departs IAD at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, returning at 11:45 p.m. as United 997 the following day. It’s the first of two routes…
The Biden administration said on Thursday it was lifting Ebola-related travel restrictions for U.S. visitors who have recently been in Guinea, effective Friday. In March, the Department of Homeland Security ordered that travelers who had been in Guinea and Democratic Republic of the Congo within the past 21 days had to fly into one of…
South African Airways (SAA) aims to resume flights in July or August, but the restart date will depend on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses and whether the airline can resolve a pilot dispute, its chief executive said on Friday. State-owned SAA, which was put into administration in December 2019, has not flown commercially since September,…
The UAE and The Seychelles have announced the establishment of a new travel corridor for vaccinated holidaymakers, said Emirates news agency Wam. From Thursday, people will not have to quarantine on arrival in either country as long as they have a recognised vaccination certificate approved by the health authorities in the two nations. All travellers must continue…
A new wellness resort, Kisawa Sanctuary, has launched on Benguerra Island, Mozambique. The 14 bungalows, which include grouped bungalows, accommodate two people each and have their own beachfront, private infinity pool and day area, with an outdoor kitchen, cabana and a dedicated service team. Grouped bungalows feature larger swimming pools, decks and day areas. The…
Sky Bird Travel & Tours’ tours division, Sky Vacations, has added three new North Africa tours to its exciting collection of tour packages. Sky Vacations’ expertly crafted itineraries are known for delivering the best and most diverse experiences a destination has to offer, and it’s no surprise that people are reaching for its packages to…
Zimbabwe President, Emmerson Mnangagwa says the city of Victoria Falls has now achieved herd immunity following the vaccination of over 77 percent of its residents in the ongoing countrywide mass COVID-19 vaccination programme. Statistics released by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care show that more than 19 243 people, against a target of 25 000, had received…
A new airline, Skylink Airways, has been established with the aim of filling the vacuum left by South African Airways (SAA). AeroTime Hub reported that Skylink Airways was founded by South African entrepreneur Clarence Andrea Steyn. Steyn told Aero Telegraph he has received backing from Russian and South African investors and has started hiring former SAA…
Only about two dozen trees from the Karomia gigas tree exist in its wild Tanzanian habitat. Its new flower is a hopeful sign for its survival. As far as the plant scientists at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis know, the tiny purple-and-white flower that recently grew in their greenhouse has never before been…
South Africa has taken steps to end its multimillion-dollar lion-breeding industry, which supplies cubs for tourism, lions for trophy hunts, and bones for traditional medicine. In a statement on May 2, Barbara Creecy, the minster of South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, acknowledged the “view that the captive lion breeding industry did not contribute…
Tourism players are upbeat following heightened negotiation between Kenya and Tanzania that aims at bolstering trade between the two nations. Stakeholders said that apart from Kenya which has been cooperating with Uganda and Rwanda on tourism, Tanzania has had a frosty relation with Kenya. They said the recent state visit by Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan to…
City of Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato, has approved a R3.9bn (€229.6m) expansion to the V&A Waterfront’s Canal District. The mixed-use development will lead to the creation of at least 1 100 jobs during the construction phase. This announcement follows the recent approval of the R14bn (€824.1m) mixed-use Harbour Arch Development, which will include the construction…
Ultimate Safaris has shown incredible talent and innovation in bringing to life camps that stand apart from the rest, and their newest, Onduli Ridge, lives up to their high standard. The planning for Onduli Ridge was undertaken with the intentional absence of engineers, architects and interior decorators, allowing nature and its boundaries to determine the camp’s…
In an exclusive interview with the Seychelles News Agency on Monday, the head of state of Seychelles – President Wavel Ramkalawan – said the island nation remains a safe destination for visitors and that the archipelego’s world-leading vaccination campaign has proven to be effective. President Ramkalawan said the Seychelles – 115 islands in the western…
The Table Mountain Aerial Cableway (TMAC) has launched a private cable car service. The new offering is ideal for those wishing to have an extra level of social distancing and privacy when hosting their event, special occasion or private group on top of Africa’s leading tourist attraction. “Our commitment has been, and will always be,…
In a press statement dated 30 April, The Republic of Uganda has announced that Americans who have received their full COVID-19 vaccination and are asymptomatic will be allowed into the country without the need for testing on arrival.
The facility was rolled out by the park authorities in collaboration with the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO). Chris Mears, the chief executive officer for the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), sounded this appreciation in a letter to TATO CEO Sirili Akko, affirming that the opening of the Covid-19 testing centre at Seronera…
The African Union has developed a common continental Covid-19 digital passport for travelers and airlines. It is an initiative by African Union’s lead health agency, the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The technology is known as Trusted Travel, a platform that will enable passengers across Africa to securely and easily verify compliance with Covid-19…
Seychelles Medical Services Pty, a new healthcare company registered in Seychelles opens the first state-of-the-art dedicated Covid-19 testing laboratory in Seychelles. The private facility is the second in Seychelles to provide exit Covid-19 PCR testing services aside from Euro Medical Family Clinic which started their service a few months back, although this one facility has…
Exciting news from Liwonde National Park , as 3 new lion cubs are born and identified in the Chinguni Pride! A statement from the team at the Park stated that they have been working hard to confirm successful breeding in this pride after witnessing multiple mating events. “Tracking lions in the green season, however, isn’t easy, especially as…
Zimbabwean tourism is set for a boost as a new airline is venturing into the Victoria Falls, Botswana route with the maiden flight expected to happen this coming Saturday. Mack Air, a Botswana based airline becomes the latest addition to the assortment of airlines lining up to tap into the Victoria Falls market, which is…
AirKenya has notified the tourism industry that, following a presidential directive and an authorisation by the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority released on May 1, the airline has fully resumed its operations, offering services from its exclusive terminal at Wilson Airport Nairobi, to the following destinations: Serengeti (via Kilimanjaro), Kilimanjaro, Entebbe (via Kisumu), Maasai Mara, Amboseli,…
The business rescue practitioners (BRPs) of South African Airways’ (SAA) have filed a notice of substantial implementation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) that effectively brings to an end the airline’s 17 months in business rescue. Simultaneously, while this took place on April 30, the operations of SAA were handed back to its board.…
Mango is preparing to be placed in business rescue, as it will have no aircraft available for operations from May 1. Acting CEO, William Ndlovu, sent a communication to major travel agencies and tour operators yesterday, outlining the “operational challenges” the airline has, which appear to have been caused by a string of broken promises relating to…
The NamibRand Nature Reserve is the only official Dark-Sky reserve in Africa. The reserve not only protects the unique wildlife of the southwest Namib Desert, but also keeps its light pollution reduced to the point where the Milky Way is visible to the unaided eye. The International Dark-Sky Association, which has recognised the reserve as…
Zimbabwe’s biggest annual trade expo, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair – which includes the tourism sector – will be held in Bulawayo from July 20 to 23. The event was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition will be held under the theme, ‘Showcasing the New Normal for Business and Industry: Realities…
The National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) has approved in principle that tourism sector frontline workers should be prioritised for vaccinations. “We are now waiting on the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) to decide on how and when this will be rolled out,” said Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, speaking to Tourism…
Turkish Airlines has returned to the sandy shores of Seychelles, landing in paradise on the morning of Friday, April 23, 2021. Restarting its COVID-safe international passenger services, Turkish Airlines A330-300 aircraft from Istanbul carrying 171 passengers was greeted by a traditional water salute upon arrival at the Indian Ocean destination. Contributing to the revival of…
A research study in South Africa further evaluating Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine in the field will resume on Wednesday, the health ministry said, after the study was paused over rare cases of blood clots in people given the vaccine. During the pause, it had been established that there is a one in a million…
Leopard Sands River Lodge by BON Hotels is set to open its doors on August 1. The lodge, overlooking the Sabi River, shares a border with Kruger National Park and is located only minutes away from the Paul Kruger Gate entrance to the park. Group Sales Director at BON Hotels, Lindi Mthethwa, told Tourism Update that international tourists…
Malawian inbound operator “Malawian Style” and Zambian inbound operator “Zambia in Style” have now rebranded as “Crafted Africa”. You can learn more at http://www.craftedafrica.com/
The directors of KARIBU-KILIFAIR regret to inform you that the ongoing developments of COVID-19 pandemic in our top source markets, have forced us to postpone the scheduled KARIBU-KILIFAIR 2021 to next year. The new date for KARIBU-KILIFAIR will be June 3-5, 2022. More info here
Boundless Southern Africa, the tourism marketing and investment promotion initiative for Southern Africa’s Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), has developed a new e-learning tool for tourism in the region. The first courses on the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area and the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area are now live online. What is a Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA)?…
APTA’s webinar library continues to be a valuable resource for members looking to share knowledge, stay visible within the APTA community, and deepen engagement around travel to Africa. Corporate members can submit webinars by logging into their APTA profile. From your Dashboard, simply click “Add a Webinar” and complete all required fields. A helpful “how…
Fire crews had largely contained a big wildfire on the slopes of Cape Town’s Table Mountain on Tuesday as the city started to come to terms with the damage caused by what officials described as one of the area’s worst blazes in years. About 90% of the fire had been contained, the Table Mountain National…
United Airlines will launch a daily Newark-Johannesburg service on June 3, subject to government approval. Last year, the carrier suspended its seasonal summer Cape Town flights and also postponed the original launch date of its daily flights to Johannesburg from March 2021 to June this year. United is also adding two new African routes from Washington Dulles, with services to Accra, Ghana, beginning next month,…
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, leading Uganda tour company, Great Lakes Safaris launches a new charitable arm of the business, Great Lakes Safaris Foundation, to provide community support and conservation of wildlife. And an exciting new 20 night immersive ‘Ultimate Uganda’ tour taking in the best the country has to offer. The Great Lakes…
The Seychelles Islands invite visitors around the world to take residence in the little corner of paradise through their Workcation Retreat Programme – a blend of work and leisure in a tropical getaway. The programme entices remote workers with an irresistible offer to relocate their office to the island destination for a long-term escape from…