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.
31 October 2017
IIPT to honour “Global Ambassadors of Peace Through Tourism” at WTM London
The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism has chosen 6 outstanding people from the world of travel and tourism to honour as the “Global Ambassadors of Peace Through Tourism” at the World Travel Market, London. Dr.Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of UNWTO will be conferred the IIPT lifetime achievement award as a “Global Man of Peace.”
Read More30 October 2017
Rwanda tourism industry eyes Asia market
Rwanda Development Board has for the first time participated in ITB Asia, one of Asia’s leading travel trade shows that was hosted last week in Singapore.
Read More27 October 2017
Rhino poachers wipe-out Eastern Cape private game reserve's entire herd
Wildschutsberg Game Reserve owner, Greg Harvey is outraged, following the killing of his entire rhino population in the last two weeks on the private game reserve in the Eastern Cape.
Read More27 October 2017
Application for Membership - Steenberg Hotel & Spa
Steenberg Hotel & Spa has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More26 October 2017
Rwanda: Tourism and Hospitality Establishments Get Star Grading
Rwanda currently has three five-star and seven four-star hotels up from two five-star and four four-star establishments in 2012.
Read More26 October 2017
7 African Summits. 7 Causes. 7 Weeks? Challenge accepted
THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN: In 10 days a team of 9 environmentalists, journalists and mountaineers will attempt a new world-first: summiting 7 mountains in Africa, back-to-back, in 7 weeks.
Read More26 October 2017
New Atta Members this month – October
It gives us a great pleasure to announce new members who joined us in October:
Read More25 October 2017
Technology crucial in changing, advancing the tourism industry
Technology has eradicated borders and tedious admin in the tourism space. Businesses have had to continuously adjust to the ongoing advances that have a direct impact on both their profitability and visibility in the marketplace.
Read More25 October 2017
Namibia's desert elephants under threat
Two of the only five remaining mature Desert Elephants bulls that occupied the Ugab region of Namibia have recently been hunted.
Read More24 October 2017
South African Tourism targets Nordic region with inaugural roadshow
Contributing over 60,000 arrivals to South Africa between January and July this year, the Nordic region - Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway - has grown in terms of the value and volume it presents.The potential of this region to yield tourism arrivals will contribute to South African Tourism reaching its five-in-five goal to attract five million tourists in and around South Africa in the next five years.
Read More24 October 2017
Atta Financial Update 24.10.2017
Executive summary for the week of 17-Oct-17 to 24-Oct-17 (week 43) Bitcoin is heading to $10,000, CNBC survey says.
Read More23 October 2017
Robben Island turns to the sun for power
Robben Island has gone green with a solar energy microgrid, which will produce almost 1m kWh of electricity annually. The system comprises a photovoltaic farm, a lithium-ion battery storage facility and smart controllers to ensure a seamless electricity supply, while significantly reducing the island’s fossil fuel consumption.
Read More23 October 2017
Rhinoceros injures poacher in rare fight back against hunters in the illicit trade
In a rare case of turning the tables against its attackers, a rhinoceros injured a suspected poacher in Namibia.
Read More20 October 2017
Rwanda President to be honored with World Tourism Award for Visionary Leadership
HE Paul Kagame, President, The United Republic of Rwanda, will be honored with The World Tourism Award 2017 for Visionary Leadership on November 6, 2017, on the opening day of World Travel Market London, at the Excel Center. HE Kagame will be honored at the annual World Tourism Awards ceremony, celebrating its 20th Anniversary, co-sponsored by Corinthia Hotels, The New York Times, and Reed Travel Exhibitions. Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor and world-renowned travel expert, will host the Award presentation.
Read More19 October 2017
Joburg's Apartheid Museum to host new UN Day exhibition
Brand South Africa and the United Nations will host a six-month exhibit at the Apartheid Musuem from 19 October 2017 to 31 April 2018. The exhibit will highlight the contribution the UN made to South Africa's struggle for freedom, which was one of the 51 founding members of the UN in 1945.
Read More19 October 2017
Application for Membership - Ngamiland Explorations
Ngamiland Explorations has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More19 October 2017
Food Festival Brings New Aroma Over Stone Town
THIS year's Stone Town Food Festival has just ended amid repeated appeal for culture and local foods in relation to the tourism industry around the globe. Organisers say the festival was a success and the turnout was impressive.
Read More18 October 2017
Air traffic disruptions expected in #Nairobi on 20th of October 2017
A NOTAM, short for Notice to AirMen, has been issued by the Kenya Airport Authority for Friday the 20th of October for two of Nairobi’s main airports. Jomo Kenyatta International will suffer a closure to all traffic, inbound and outbound, between 11.00 hrs and 12.00 hrs noon while Wilson Airport, arguably the busier of the two aviation facilities, will have to shut down between 09.00 hrs and 14.00 hrs.
Read More18 October 2017
Zambia Tourism set to host 2018 Travel Expo
The main aim of hosting ZATEX is to drastically expand the tourism client base for destination Zambia by not only having quality trade and media attend the show but by also arranging for face to face interaction with industry stakeholders and decision makers. The Zambia Travel Expo gives attendees a competitive advantage in the industry because they get to sample the various tourism products that the country has on offer through product familiarization tours.
Read More17 October 2017
Atta Africa Financial Update 17.10.2017
Executive summary: Nigeria and South Africa are expected to lift sub-Saharan regional growth next year once their central banks cut rates to boost Africa’s largest economies.
Read More16 October 2017
Sustainable practices, initiatives vital for greening the hotel industry
According to Michele de Witt, director of Horwath HTL South Africa, implementing sustainable thinking practices is necessary in the hospitality sector and vital to driving operational efficacy and boosting cash flow.
Read More16 October 2017
St Helena welcomes world!
The first regular commercial flight landed at St. Helena Saturday, opening the small British island in the South Atlantic to the world after centuries of isolation. Around 100 islanders came out to the airport to watch the historic landing of the Embraer 190 jet which came from Johannesburg.
Read More16 October 2017
Application for Membership - Next Destinium
Next Destinium has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More13 October 2017
Fastjet releases Mozambique schedule
Fastjet has released its flight schedule operations to Mozambique. The low-cost carrier confirmed that, effective 3 November, it will launch scheduled services from Maputo to Nampula, Beira and Tete, with fares starting from MZN 5,274.
Read More13 October 2017
Ethiopia launches e-visa service for African and international MICE participants
Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs Main Department, in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines Group, launched an E-Visa service for African and international participants of meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) in Ethiopia. The service enables participants to issue their visa, book, pay and check-in their flight with Ethiopian Airlines - all online.
Read More12 October 2017
African countries urged to reduce inter-flights costs to boost tourism
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Tuesday, expressing concern about the high airfares in Africa, asked African countries to open up their air spaces by reducing the taxes on inter-country flights to boost the tourism industry. He said Ghana was collaborating with other West African countries to facilitate movement within the sub-region as part of the continental initiative to facilitate visa-free movement in Africa.
Read More12 October 2017
Rwanda Offers Rich Potential for Tourism Investment – PM
Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente has made a case for regional and global investors to consider Rwanda as an investment destination, specifically tourism-related. Ngirente was speaking at the opening of the Africa Hotel Investment Forum, yesterday, at the Kigali Convention Centre.
Read More11 October 2017
Tanzania to host key tourism expo
DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's public tourism body said on Tuesday it will host an in-door International Tourism Expo, known as the Swahili International Tourism Expo in the east African nation's commercial capital Dar es Salaam.
Read More11 October 2017
Atta Africa Financial Update 11.10.2017
Executive summary: Emerging market stocks reached fresh six-year highs this week, seemingly buoyed by optimism over global growth and company earnings.
Read More10 October 2017
Kenya unveils plan to turn around tourism
The Kenyan cabinet has approved the National Tourism Blue Print 2030 as part of efforts to help turn around the industry. The key pillars are product development, marketing, investment and infrastructure development.
Read More10 October 2017
South Africa. Entry Regulations. Reminder to parents travelling with children
There are continued report of parents travelling with children being denied boarding at their airport of departure for South Africa. The confusion is over the small, “short Birth Certificates” which are unabridged and do not hold both parents’ details. These are not acceptable in this case. Recently British Airways refused boarding to parents with two children, going on £8,000 safari, as they only had the small unabridged short certificates with them. They were denied boarding and could not go on holiday. As cancellation fees were enforced they were only able to recoup a fraction of the amount paid for their holiday.
Read More10 October 2017
Application for Membership - Orbis Expeditions
Orbis Expeditions has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More10 October 2017
Application for Membership - Wayfairer Travel
Wayfairer Travel has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More10 October 2017
Change at Atta HQ
At Atta’s East African Networking event in Kenya on Thursday, CEO Nigel Vere Nicoll announced that the Board of Atta have appointed Chris Mears to take over the role of Chief Executive of the association, effective January 1st 2018. At the event Nigel recalled that exactly 35 earlier his relationship with Africa began when he launched Signet Hotels, a division of Abercrombie & Kent at the same location in Nairobi. Atta was founded in 1994 and Nigel has been at the helm for the last 21 years.
Read More09 October 2017
R18.1m to develop Dawid Kruiper Rest Camp
The South African National Parks (SANParks) has made available R18.1m for the development of the Dawid Kruiper Rest Camp within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, says Environmental Affairs Minister Dr Edna Molewa. This was agreed to in 2015 by SANParks and the ‡Khomani San.
Read More09 October 2017
Hope in the wilderness: Ugandan summit helps protect land of the giants
The first investment summit held in Africa to pioneer private-sector deals to help protect the world’s most precious wildernesses has been hailed as a “great success” by the Ugandan government.
Read More06 October 2017
South African Tourism announces travel agent roadshows
South African Tourism is running a four-day series of travel agent roadshows in the UK and Ireland next month.
Read More06 October 2017
Evening Standard backs project helping wildlife to flourish in Uganda, the land of the elephants
The Evening Standard is backing a pioneering project to develop and safeguard Uganda’s beauty and biodiversity to benefit the whole of Africa
Read More06 October 2017
Roar returns to Zululand as pride of lions is released
A pride of lions has been set free on a community-owned game reserve in northern Zululand‚ boosting its tourism potential and helping to ensure living space for a species that has disappeared from large parts of Africa in recent decades.
Read More06 October 2017
Application for Membership - Far and Wild Travel
Far and Wild Travel has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More05 October 2017
Qatar Airways W17 Nairobi service updates
Qatar Airways in recent schedule update has extended widebody aircraft operation for Doha – Nairobi route, previously scheduled until 28OCT17. From 29OCT17, Boeing 787-8 will continue to operate 1 of 3 daily flights, as QR1335/1336.
Read More05 October 2017
Table Mountain Cableway turns 88
Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company has been in operation since 1929. Over 26 million visitors later it is celebrating its 88th birthday and the 20th anniversary of the current cable cars.
Read More04 October 2017
Air access made easier in Odzala
Odzala Discovery Camps in the Congo will add a second weekly charter flight on Mondays, from October 30.
Read More04 October 2017
RTG's Vic Falls Hotels Register 13 Percent Growth
Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG)'s hotels based in Victoria Falls -- a colossal tourist destination -- posted a 13 percent revenue growth to $339 000 for the year to June 30, 2017 as the recently unveiled Victoria Falls International Airport continues to hold sway.
Read More04 October 2017
Application for Membership - Namibia-Experience
Namibia-Experience has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More03 October 2017
Visit Zim campaign eyes 3 source markets
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has unveiled a Visit Zimbabwe campaign targeting three markets, in an ambitious bid to grow tourist arrivals.
Read More03 October 2017
Chinese firm set to develop sprawling Tanzania tourist town
Standing as the first town on the Tanzanian coast where early travelers anchored during their discovery missions and Christian religion expansion in Tanzania and Central Africa, Bagamoyo town is rising up again after a Chinese company set a mega-business project going in the area.
Read More03 October 2017
Legal SA: Duty of Care (Doc): The Tunisia Beach Shooting Inquiry & Indemnities (Part 5)
The captioned matter has made waves in the industry as it has been suggested in the inquiry that operators & even venues may end up being liable!! That is a scary thought so I have written a series of brief notes on preventative measures if such a (however remote) possibility were to become reality - this is the 5th of 7 inserts
Read More03 October 2017
Atta Africa Financial update 03.10.2017
Executive summary: A growth engine: trends and outcomes of private equity in Africa. Between 2010 and 2016, general partners invested about US$25.6 billion across sectors that ranged from consumer goods to water and sanitation in Africa (reads a report by Baker McKenzie, et. al.).
Read More03 October 2017
Application for Membership - Aardvark Safaris
Aardvark Safaris has applied to join Atta. Their membership will be approved if there are not any objections lodged within the statutory 10 day period. (See objection procedure below).
Read More02 October 2017
Fastjet making moves to help open skies, drive tourism
Fastjet's reinstatement of its route between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls has seen significant positive movement in bookings. The route was temporarily suspended during the carrier's stabilisation plan implementation period but relaunched at the end of July. Demand for more affordable travel has increased substantially as Fastjet's South African traffic continues to grow along with international connecting travel.
Read More02 October 2017
New hotels boost tourism in Cape Town
Cape Town’s new R700 million City Bowl, owned by Tsogo Sun, has reinforced the city’s reputation as a world-class holiday destination, said group chief executive Jacques Booysen this week.
Read More01 October 2017
Lusaka the venue for the 2018 edition of #ZATEX
The Zambia Travel Expo 2018, in short called ZATEX, will next year take place from the 12th to 14th of April in the capital Lusaka.
Read More