Category: Africa

Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica As per a statement released by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), the island country’s tourism industry is in a path of growth. The JTB said, Jamaica celebrated an overall market growth of 5.4 per cent for the first six months of the year. Stopover tourist arrivals marked 1.25 million (5.9 per cent more than last year) and cruise arrivals were around one million (4.8 per cent more than last year) The tourism industry earned around USD 1.459 billion from stopover arrivals and USD 100.6 million from cruise tourists. The total revenue from tourism during the ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: News Vision Director General for African Affairs at China’s foreign affairs ministry Wan Li, told a visiting delegation from Uganda that China will encourage more investors to set up businesses in Uganda, if the county would create a better environment to attract more investors. “China and Uganda had a long history of cordial relations for more than 56 years. We are good friends, partners and brothers,” said Li. He praised the hospitality of Ugandan people and said he felt at home, when he was there. Wan Li was responding to the request from the Government spokesperson and head ... Read more

Kenya plans to set up a network of marine museums across the country to enhance tourism. Caesar Bita, Head of Underwater Archaeology at the National Museums of Kenya, told the media that the museums will be located offshore along the Indian Ocean coastline, major lakes and rivers. Kenya’s underwater cultural heritage will be collected, preserved and displayed in the museums in order to boost the tourism sector,” Bita said on the sidelines of the Fifth World Congress of Geoversal Civilization, which runs from July 16 to 21, aims to promote cooperation among world civilizations. The marine museums will also provide ... Read more

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has recently launched a digital TV channel on Instagram’s view-platform IGTV, with an aim to attract tourists to Egypt through online marketing. The channel, “Experience Egypt”, launched on Instagram’s view-platform IGTV, will be broadcast through the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion’s official page, and has been dubbed as the first of its kind in the Middle East. “The Ministry of Tourism is currently looking into launching more promotional campaigns across the most influential and focused platforms to spread its scope across wider populace,” said the ministry in a statement. “The ministry is focusing on important social ... Read more

Photo Courtesy: Tanzania Safari Supremacy The government of Tanzania is planning to establish a beach management authority to improve beach tourism in the East African nation. Hamisi Kigwangalla, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, said, “Beach tourism is not being promoted on mainland Tanzania with its abundant potential.” He was talking in a news conference in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. He said the government will formulate strong strategies to exploit the potential in beach tourism to contribute to the national economy. “The beach management authority will manage and improve all beaches to attract more tourists and investors,” the ... Read more

Kafue National Park, Zambia The Zambian government is planning to restock five of its national parks this year with animals in an effort to enhance the country’s tourism. Howard Sikwela, permanent secretary in Zambian Ministry of Tourism and Arts, said, “The national parks will be restocked with 1,361 wildlife species such as white rhinos, black rhinos, impalas, buffaloes, zebras and hartebeest”. “Though restocking of animals is an expensive activity, we will do it to increase the animal population in our national parks, which will in turn boost tourism in the nation,” Sikwela said. Some of the wildlife species in some ... Read more

The Hashers, a cross border community association in Kabale-Uganda, has launched a new campaign aimed at promoting tourism and trade between Uganda and Rwanda. About 50 members of Kabale hashers group, together with 52 members from Rwanda-Kigaly walkers group, launched the joint group to promote community tourism and healthy living on Sunday, 1st July 2018 Mount Muhavura, on the border between Rwanda and Uganda. Jean Nyamuninga, the president of Rwanda-Kigali walkers group, along with the leader of Ugandan group Richard Shyaka, said that the group shall help in enhancing cross border trade in the spirit of the East African Community. ... Read more

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has announced the country will “very soon” follow Rwanda’s example allowing all Africans to travel to the country without visa. The policy will open up the east African country to African visitors, and it will boost tourism. The plan was announced during a state banquet hosted by Prime Minister Abiy for Rwandan President Paul Kagame who is in Ethiopia on a three-day official visit. The Prime Minister did not give any specific details of the plan to allow visa free travel to all Africans. As part of the visit, President Kagame also visited Hawassa Industrial Park which ... Read more

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced that the central African country has become the official tourism partner of English Premier League giants Arsenal FC. The agreement is signed for three years. The ‘Visit Rwanda’ logo will be featured on the left sleeve of all first team, under-23 and Arsenal Women’s matches in the new season for these three years.  Rwanda will now hold the distinction of being Arsenal’s first ever tourism partner. As per reports, Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams will visit Rwanda and club coaches will host coaching camps to support the development of the game for boys and ... Read more

Uganda is all set to spend a minimum of $1.2 million in order to explore the potential of tourism in country. This whopping amount adds to the $1.5 million spent last year, making the total to $2.7 million. As per World Bank records, tourism is the principal foreign exchange earner for Uganda earning $1.4 billion annually, amounting 9.9 per cent of its GDP and 26 per cent of the total foreign exchange earnings. The government plans to hire three more public relations from Japan, China and Gulf countries to grow Uganda’s tourism prospective. He expects that each firm will receive ... Read more

As per report and expert opinions, sturdy visa regulations are hindering the growth of tourism sector in Africa. The experts also blame the lack of innovative ideas among the service providers as another reason for the sluggish and meagre performance across the continent. The data statistics from Word Travel & Tourism Council reports that out of the 1.2 billion global travellers recorded in 2017, Africa had only 62 million of that. The tourists’ arrivals had lead to 8.3 million jobs last year. The number of jobs is expected to rise by 11.6 million by 2028. Morongoe Ramphele. Deputy Director-General of ... Read more

Kenya is all set to benefit from a new visa regime by South Africa that is aimed at increasing intra-Africa travel. South Africa has announced it will start issuing visas on arrival for travellers from selected countries, including Kenya. The two countries have been involved in critical dialogues that developed into a diplomatic row. Kenya even threatened to introduce a new travel rule requiring South African passport holders to apply for a visa prior to traveling or transiting through the country after the latter refused to reciprocate. South African Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom has, however, said his country is in ... Read more

China has the largest number of outbound travellers. The major share of these travellers were visiting Europe, Asia and America, and now Chinese travellers have found out a new destination. Africa has turned out to be the favourite destination for Chinese travellers and the numbers are substantiating this new found love. South Africa, Madagascar and Morocco are the main favourites of Chinese travellers. It’s supposed that the shift in strategy by African nations played a major role in the greater interest of Chinese tourists along with support from Chinese policymakers. China’s roaring economy, better jobs, and an open strategy toward ... Read more

An earthquake measuring over 6.1 magnitude shook western Japan earlier today. The quake wounded over five people and collapsing buildings and roads. The tremor shook the western Honshu located 96 km north of Hiroshima. Five persons are reported to be injured. No other severe casualties were reported other than damages to properties. Meanwhile, the nuclear power station located nearby the spot, were reported safe by the authorities. Around 150 houses lost regular water supply and electricity. Japan’s unique location at the ‘Ring of Fire’ in the Pacific, is the main reason behind the episodes of volcanos and earthquakes. On 11th March, ... Read more

South Africa, as part of boosting their international tourist arrivals to 40 per cent by 2021, is all about to speed up visa processing and highlight MICE tourism exponentially. “The new policy is as part of attracting over 5 million additional travellers, 4 million international tourists and 1 million extra local holiday trips,” said Derek Hanekom, Minister of Tourism, South Africa. Tourism being the main contributor to the country’s economy, it hopes to bring about 400 billion rand, which is 8 per cent of the overall GDP, that could easily wipe out unemployment. With pristine beaches and picturesque landscapes, the ... Read more