News from ATTA
News from ATTA consists of a combination of news from the African continent with relevance to African Tourism along with news about ATTA for the benefit of our members.
23 December 2013
Kenya airport & routes
Kenyan president launches construction of new international airport terminal Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned the construction of a new 55.5 billion kshs (£400 million) terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport that will handle 20 million passengers annually and enhance its status as an East African hub. Construction of the state-of-the-art facility will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by 2017. The terminal will span 178,000 square meters and w…
Read More20 December 2013
UK Airport Departure Tax (APD)
Atta has been lobbying government for some time on the outrageous APD tax which is seriously damaging outbound tourism from UK. The APD is an excise duty which is charged to passengers travelling on flights from the UK. The recent statement concerning the APD on flights to the Caribbean, which is lumped into the highest tax band that makes travel to the region more expensive than travelling from London to the United States, clearly demonstrates that the UK government has no i…
Read More19 December 2013
Rwanda promotes new tourism program targeting East African Community
KIGALI, Rwanda – With the inauguration of the18-month EAC marketing program coinciding with the recent announcement at the World Travel Market in London by the governments of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda which introduced the East African single joint visa, Rwanda is launching a new tourism program. This month the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) is launching an extensive new tourism marketing program to promote Rwanda among the East African Community (EAC). The new EAC visa will take effect on…
Read More19 December 2013
VAT on Tourism Services in Zambia
The Zambian Government has legislated that all tourism products be standard rated for VAT (16%) as of the 1st January 2014. All bookings in place and any new booking made before the 1st January 2014 will be VAT exempt. Operators will need to supply the Authorities with a booking reference, email of confirmation or a proof of payment of the deposit in order to ensure these bookings do not get taxed unneccesarily. Park Fees, Conservation Levies and Flights will remain VAT exempt.
Read More18 December 2013
Kenya tourism pushing for more visitors from Nigeria
The Kenya Tourism Board yesterday announced that they are now launching a major marketing campaign in Nigeria to have more visitors from that country come for safaris and to enjoy Kenya’s beach resorts. The following statement was released and is shown below: Kenya has kicked off massive tourism marketing campaigns in West Africa by launching travel trade training sessions in different regions of Ghana and Nigeria. Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) says the two countries have shown all the indic…
Read More17 December 2013
Kenya to grant travel visa on arrival for African Union citizens.
Like Rwanda did in January this year, will Kenya follow suit and begin to grant visa on arrival to all citizens of the African Union member states, come January 2014. President Uhuru Kenyatta, among many other announcements of significance, made the declaration yesterday as he addressed the nation from Kasarani Stadium, where the main celebrations of Kenya’s 50th anniversary of Independence from Britain took place.
Read More12 December 2013
The Cape Leopard Trust "Miles for Cats" Appeal
From Atta’s Responsible Tourism Advisor Helen Turnbull Are you an individual or corporate company with a surplus of Air Miles credits and no chance to use them? The Cape Leopard Trust needs your help. We have launched an exciting new project in Namaqualand that will see us working with local farmers and communities to motivate them to farm in harmony with nature and with predators while enhancing South Africa's food productivity. Our research will include the need to capture an…
Read More10 December 2013
"Made in Chelsea" goes on Safari
MADE IN CHELSEA GO ON SAFARI TO JEMBISA Jembisa Private Bush Home in South Africa recently played host to the cast of Made in Chelsea whose safari adventures were broadcast for the first time last night on UK’s E4 channel. Chosen for its secluded setting in its own private game reserve this small and stylish safari lodge provides the ultimate house party hideaway. The show will be broadcast again on Wednesday 11 December on E4 at 23.05 and can be vie…
Read More09 December 2013
New Markets for Zanzibar
A new promotional drive involving public and private sectors have been launched to lift up Destination Zanzibar as more than sun, sand and sea destination. Destination Zanzibar functions to help businesses thrive in a competitive tourism market by offering strategic trade solutions. To begin with the initiative aims to market Destination Zanzibar to the Gulf States, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. The forum works as a stepping-stone to penetrate new m…
Read More06 December 2013
This Week at Atta HQ
Good morning, and welcome to December on a very sad day for all of Africa. Our thoughts and prayers go to the people of South Africa following the death of their beloved President Nelson Mandela last night. (see Atta home page and obituary) As you all know by now, the Atta Christmas Networking Event took place in Cape Town last night. There was a huge turn out of 135 and we would like to thank our generous sponsors We Are Africa, SATIB Insurance Brokers, Painted Wolf Wines and S…
Read More06 December 2013
Microsoft billionaire to fund Pan African elephant survey
One of the founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen, has expressed his grave concern for the fate of Africa's elephants by adding his financial weight to their protection. His family trust will fund an Africa-wide survey to establish how many elephants remain. This follows on an agreement by the Clinton Foundation to provide millions of dollars for anti-poaching programmes in Africa and President Obama's decision to have the US stockpile of illegal ivory crushed so it cannot be reused. The Pa…
Read More06 December 2013
Rwanda tourism launches Musanze Cave Experience
‘Musanze Cave Experience’ is being launched in Rwanda and opens up two of several caves for tourism purpose. The Musanze caves offer an insight and better understanding of the geological history and development of the earth and in particular in this part of Rwanda with its prehistoric volcanic past. The local community should benefit from this new product as business is expected to flourish near the cave entrance and exit. Local investors have already shown interest to build hotels…
Read More06 December 2013
Zimbabwe and Mozambique Sign Joint Marketing Agreement
Zimbabwe and Mozambique have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism co-operation that will result in a dual marketing strategy for their products. The joint marketing strategy is set to promote two destinations by combining the beaches of Mozambique with Zimbabwe’s products. Mozambique's prime tourist attractions include white-sand beaches, pristine coral reefs and luxury hideaways, with just over two million tourists visiting the country yearly. On the other hand, Zimbabwe&…
Read More06 December 2013
Kenya: President Launches Construction of Kenya’s New International Airport Terminal
KTB Press Release: Thursday 5th December 2013, London – President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned the construction of a new 55.5 billion Kenya Shillings (£400 million GBP) terminal at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) that will give the airport an extra handling capacity of 20 million passengers annually and enhance its status as a world-class regional hub. Construction of the state-of-the-art facility will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by 2017. JKI…
Read More04 December 2013
Atta Christmas in Cape Town - Guest List & Santa's Secret Raffle
The guest list for tomorrow's night is swelling with Cape Town’s travel A-List! You can still join us and win these amazing prizes at Santa's Secret Raffle. All proceeds are going to two Uhando charities! 2 nights for 2 people sharing a One-Bedroom Luxury Villa on a Full-Board basis at Zanzibar White Sand Luxury Villas & Spa in Paje 2 nights (for 2 pax) at Camps Bay Retreat *including breakfast by Village & Life Experience two of Africa’s greatest destinations - …
Read More04 December 2013
Single Passport for EAC by 2015
Citizens of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda will be travelling using the new generation East African Passport. The five presidents agreed to launch the new passport by November 2015. The current East African passport is only valid within the five countries and thus holders also had to depend on their respective national passports when travelling abroad. However, the new regional travelling document will be an international one which means is likely to replace national passports.
Read More04 December 2013
KQ increases flights for the December period
Guangzhou CAN 3x weekly non stop on B773 effective 18th November. Malindi MYD frequency increase from 6x to 7x weekly. (12x eff 20Dec). Mombasa &…
Read More04 December 2013
Member's Webinar: Nairobi Tented Camp, Kenya
Date: 9 January 2014 Time: 14:00 GMT Save to my calendar Atta invites you to our member’s webinar about Nairobi Tented Camp which is the only camp within the Nairobi National Park, imagine the excitement of landing in Kenya and being on safari within 20 minutes of leaving the airport. The National Park boasts a wide diversity of game including lion and rhino, why not start your safari from the moment you arrive? The webinar will be presented by Helen Simmans, Marketing Worldwide. Click h…
Read More04 December 2013
Commercial News from Africa
A report detailing key commercial and political activity in Africa for private equity investors by DCE Partners, UK Private Equity advisors to Atta The Rwandan real estate sector. Kenyan private equity firm Fusion Capital, in its first real estate investment in Rwanda, has agreed to finance the construction of a US$34 million shopping complex. The commercial building which is expected to occupy a 30,000 square metre land in Gasabo District. The development will be a dual tower office and…
Read More03 December 2013
Atta Christmas in Cape Town - Final Reminder
A final reminder for the Atta Cape Town Christmas Party this THURSDAY at 17.30 in Camps Bay if you haven’t signed up already. The guest list is swelling with Cape Town’s travel A-List. The aim of the evening is purely to get likeminded travel people together and raise some funds for two worthy Uthando charities. However we do have some guest speakers on the evening who will give us a fascinating insight to their world of travel. Serge Dive (Creator: We Are Africa & Pure Life Ex…
Read More03 December 2013
Uganda scraps VAT on key tourism services
The introduction of an 18 percent VAT charge on upcountry safari accommodation in Uganda had been scrapped. Tourism stakeholders expressed their satisfaction and applauded the efforts of their respective associations, which made repeated representations to parliament and to government to have this tax measure rescinded, as it made accommodation packages of safaris across Uganda more expensive by 18 percent, and foreign tour companies were refusing to pay up as the tax was not included in any e…
Read More03 December 2013
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to establish common currency
The presidents of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda met to sign a protocol for the creation of a monetary union to be established in 10 years. This will be a major change and breakthrough for international trade and tourism alike. The EAC began 13 years ago with the goal of creating a common customs union, market, monetary union and a political federation of East African states.
Read More02 December 2013
Zimbabwe Tourism Update
The Government of Zimbabwe has identified tourism as one of the key enablers to the growth of the sector and will soon avail a $200million loan facility to recapitalise the tourism industry and rehabilitate infrastructure. Zimbabwe is also re-engaging with international airlines to resume flights into the country with at least five international airlines planning to return to the Zimbabwean airspace with more expected to join next year as the negotiation process continues.
Read More02 December 2013
Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to Niamey
Ethiopian Airlines has resumed flights between Addis Ababa (ADD) and Niamey (NIM) in the Republic of Niger. On 20 November the airline began serving the 4,030-kilometre route with four weekly flights. Niamey thus becomes the airline’s 47th destination in Africa.
Read More02 December 2013
Indaba joins forces with We Are Africa
Press Release from South African Tourism & Beyond Luxury Media INDABA and We Are Africa join forces in the most significant development ever in African tourism A meeting of minds redefining tourism in Africa. Introducing “TWO SHOWS ONE AFRICA”, as INDABA and We Are Africa change the face of travel trade shows on the continent. South African Tourism, the custodian of INDABA, is genuinely delighted to welcome and endorse the bespoke travel trade show We Are Africa, in a uniq…
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