The first phase of a major refurbishment programme at The Victoria Falls Hotel has been completed. The programme was launched in 2021 and the first phase has involved extensive work in the bedrooms and suites of two of the hotel’s wings, the south ‘hammerhead’ and the central block. The refurbishment focused on the hotel’s unique historic…
Airlift into Cape Town will increase when Air France returns to the Mother City with its seasonal flights on October 27 after being absent for almost a year. The airline had to cancel its seasonal services to the city last November when, after just a month, Omicron hit the world. The Paris to Cape Town…
Loapi Camp, a new camp in Tswalu Kalahari, is currently under construction and is set to open in 2023. The camp’s six individual tented safari homes, each functioning as a stand-alone, independently run minicamp. There will be four one-bedroom homes and two two-bedroom homes, spanning over 300sqm and over 400sqm respectively. With at least 100m…
Ultra, South Africa’s biggest electronic music festival, is set to return in March next year following a three-year hiatus. The festival will be held in Cape Town at the Kenilworth Racecourse on March 10, and in Johannesburg at the Nasrec Expo Centre on March 11. The 2020 edition hosted international acts Afrojack, DJ Snake and Steve Aoki, as well…
Some 20 years have passed since Brussels had regular passenger flights to South Africa. Perhaps it indicates the nature of the market, the myriad one-stop options, and the lack of priority among the few airlines able to serve it. That has changed, with Air Belgium now linking Brussels to Johannesburg and Cape Town. Air Belgium to South…
Tourism is one of Uganda’s top foreign exchange earners bringing in more than $1.5 billion annually. Over 1.5 million foreigners flock into the pearl of Africa to catch a glimpse of wildlife and other tourist attractions like the mountains and rivers. However, little has been done to harness earnings from festivities especially those in the…
The Government of South Sudan and African Parks have signed a ten-year renewable Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Boma and Badingilo National Parks, including the wildlife corridors and proposed extension zones – an area that is well over three million hectares. The signing of the MoU is expected to strengthen the long-term protection of ecosystems…
Recognising the need to reach tourists from across the globe on various platforms, South African Tourism will host an ambitious familiarisation trip (MegaFam) trip involving 840 carefully selected people from varied backgrounds across all continents, time zones, linguistic and cultural regions, professions and social standing. Acting CEO of SA Tourism, Themba Khumalo, said the country’s destination-marketing…
Wesgro, the Western Cape trade, tourism and investment development agency, has calculated that 1.5m two-way seats will be available in Cape Town from various airlines between November 2022 and March 2023. This will take the total number of available seats to 93% of 2019 levels. The injection of seats is a major relief to trade…
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) downgraded Namibia from Level 2: Moderate Risk to Level 1: Low Risk on September 19. To be listed Level 1: Low Risk, a destination must have had 49 or fewer new cases per 100 000 residents over the past 28 days. The CDC also downgraded three other…
Exhibitor registrations opened today (Monday, September 19) for Meetings Africa 2023 – held from February 27 to March 1 – on the official website for the business events trade show held annually in Johannesburg in the first quarter of the new year. This was announced last week by Acting CEO of South African Tourism, Themba Khumalo, at the…
Come December, Cape Town will have a host of US flights. For the South African summer season, Western Cape agents will find themselves with many, many more choices to offer US-bound Cape Town clients (and those in Jo’burg). Delta Air Lines begins its new seasonal ‘triangular’ route, Atlanta-Johannesburg-Cape Town-Atlanta. On December 2, Delta will begin…
Rwanda’s population of endangered Mountain gorillas – a major contributor to the country’s tourism industry – has grown by 26% over the past six years, and another 20 baby gorillas, along with a new gorilla family, were recently christened at the country’s 18th annual Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony. The globally recognised conservation event was attended…
A World Bank grant of US$400 million to revitalise sections of the longest road corridor in the country, the N1 North-South highway, is expected to be of major benefit to tourism in the region. The World Bank approved the grant to support Mozambique’s Safer Roads for Economic Integration project, which seeks to improve road connectivity,…
The signing ceremony of the codeshare agreement took place at Turkish Airlines’ Headquarters in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines CEO, Mr. Bilal Ekşi and Air Seychelles Acting CEO, Mr. Sandy Benoiton signed the agreement with the attendance of senior officials from both sides. Commenting on the agreement, Turkish Airlines CEO Mr. Bilal Ekşi stated; “We are pleased to sign this codeshare agreement with Air…
Amapiano fans have been travelling from far and wide to visit the home of the rapidly growing genre, South Africa’s tourism board has found. According to South African Tourism ACEO Themba Khumalo, the genre has bolstered travel within the country with an influx of African American tourists heading over from the States. “One of the reasons people travel to a destination…
African Travel, Inc. has appointed Norma Spadola as its new northeast regional sales manager. She will be responsible for strengthening relationships with travel advisors and implementing strategic sales plans with partners. “We are so pleased to have Norma Spadola as our new regional sales manager given her strong travel advisor relationsips and extensive career experience…
Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu, told the media that “the South African tourism sector is poised for a tremendous bounce back and positive growth after from the the first half of the year (2022) show a staggering 147% in arrivals reaching an impressive 2,285,746.” Sisulu was speaking in Johannesburg during a media briefing where she presented the…
The airline reported a 79% revenue growth for its fiscal year ended July 30, even as profit grew by 90%. This information is according to a tweet by Mamo Mihretu, the CEO of Ethiopian Investment Holdings. According to Mr Mihretu, the state-owned airline “posted $5 billion in revenue this financial year, a 79% growth compared to…
South African Airways (SA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has confirmed it is in preliminary discussions about taking over the South African franchise of British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) but has declined further comment due to the delicate nature of the talks. “The nature of such discussions contains commercially sensitive information. As soon as both parties are ready to share, we will…
Authorities in Kenya have amended some COVID-19 international travel measures as of Sept. 7. Among the adjusted regulations, all arriving travelers above the age of 12 years will be required to show proof of either COVID-19 vaccination or a negative PCR test conducted no more than 72 hours before departure. Those with COVID-19 certificates must…
Ethiopian Airlines is to add three flights a week on the Addis Ababa-Johannesburg route from November 1. The additional flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, complementing the current double-daily schedule. Plans are to make this third flight daily as well, should the uptake warrant it. Flight ET849 will depart Addis Ababa at 15h30…
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), in partnership with Jakada Holdings, will host the second annual Mpumalanga Tourism Expo at the Riverside Mall on September 24-25. The Expo is geared to provide a platform to showcase tourism products and services to the domestic and international markets. Xolani Mthethwa, Founder and CEO of Jakada Holdings,…
One of South Africa’s most iconic hiking trails, the Tsitsikamma trail (sponsored by forestry company MTO) in the Garden Route, has undergone a major upgrade to provide an even better experience for local and international visitors. Timber overnight huts, including two-man A-frame units and larger six-person huts, have been built, and existing huts have been…
Airlink launched the first-ever scheduled direct air service between Cape Town and Maputo. The first flight departed from Cape Town on time at 17h10 and arrived in Maputo at 19h40. The first return flight departed Maputo at 06h10 this morning and landed in Cape Town at 09h00. Airlink is operating its 37-seat Embraer 135 twin-engine jetliner to…
he US is solidifying its position as South Africa’s top international source market, recording 28 207 arrivals in June – more than double that of the UK in second place (12 301 arrivals). According to the latest Tourism and Migration Statistics from Stats SA, a total of just over 1.7 million travellers (arrivals, departures and transits), passed…
Transnet has completed its investigation into incidents which led to the suspension of the Blue Train service, paving the way for it to resume “imminently”, the parastatal announced on Monday. Transnet spokesperson Ayanda Shezi said management had decided to temporarily suspend the Blue Train’s operations as a “precautionary measure” in February following three serious incidents…
The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced that, with immediate effect, foreign travellers will no longer have to produce a vaccination certificate or negative PCR test result at the country’s ports of entry. According to the Ministry, the epidemiological situation in Namibia no longer supports the requirement, reports The Namibian.
As I walked along the gravel-covered path to my suite at the new safari lodge Lolebezi, which opened in June 2022 in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, my experienced guide scanned the surrounding bushes and winter thorn trees for any signs of wildlife. We almost made it to my room incident-free — until we saw a…
The Uganda Tourism Association (UTA) has called for the establishment of a committee to lead the return of Ugandan artefacts from foreign museums. Herbert Byaruhanga, the President of UTA made the call on Tuesday, 30 August 2022, as he and association members appeared before the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industries chaired by Hon. Mwine…
Low-cost carrier FlySafair has added new features to its WhatsApp business account, allowing passengers to search for their booking and check in for their flight directly with the app. Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair, says the new WhatsApp features are just some of the many ways it is creating a frictionless travel experience from booking…
Nile Air is now offering flights between Cairo (CAI) and Al Ain International Airport (AAN), United Arab Emirates with convenient bus connections to Dubai. Bus service is provided by Nile Air from Al Ain International Airport to Dubai Bus Station (XHB). Itineraries can be booked in your GDS including the bus segment (CAI-DXB). Service operates…
Zambia President Hakainde Hichilema arrived in Tanzania on Tuesday for a 2-day state visit that will see him holding bilateral talks with Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan and later witness the signing of transport, logistics, and tourism agreements between Tanzania and Zambia. While in Tanzania, President Hichilema and the Tanzanian President are expected to discuss…
The Gauteng Tourism Authority has signed a ‘game-changing’ Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Tourism Authority, as one of the outcomes of the inaugural Ghana Week in South Africa, which was aimed at strengthening tourism, trade and investment relations between the two countries. The agreement, signed by Gauteng Tourism CEO, Sthembiso Dlamini, and Ghana Tourism CEO, Akwasi…
Airlink and Federal Airlines have committed to a commercial partnership aimed at ensuring sustainable air access linking key Lowveld airports – such as Skukuza and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport – with popular commercial game lodges in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve and northern KwaZulu Natal. Federal Airlines will expand its air shuttle transfer services to…
Airlink will resume scheduled services between Johannesburg and Richards Bay from September 19. This follows the securing of the necessary resources to accommodate scheduled airline services at Richards Bay Airport after an enforced 20-month hiatus. “We are ready to welcome Richards Bay customers back on board our flights and help reignite growth and economic activity…
Two weeks ago, eTurboNews reported a Nigerian government scam to withhold payment to the Dubai-based UAE airline Emirates. Emirates Airlines on Thursday from September 1, 2022. Emirates said the suspension became necessary following its inability to repatriate its funds from Nigeria. In the 1980th, many western airlines lost millions servicing the Nigerian market due to a similar…
Mount Kilimanjaro is a major tourism attraction for Tanzania, with approximately 35,000 people attempting to scale its peak every year. This week, in what Tanzanian officials called a ‘historic’ event, the “roof of Africa” has been connected to the Internet for the first time. The country’s Information Minister, Nape Nnauye, declared that the national landmark…
Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto has been elected as the country’s next President, the electoral commission announced Monday. Ruto won with 50.49% of the vote, narrowly defeating veteran opposition leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who was contesting his fifth election. He will become Kenya’s fifth President since independence, winning the seat on his…
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 has been confirmed as running from May 9-11, with an additional BONDay (Business Opportunity Networking) being held on May 8. This was highlighted by the African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA), citing a communiqué sent yesterday (Monday, August 15) by the organisers of Africa’s Travel Indaba. ATTA said after a very…
Air Algerie (AH) has announced it will recommence flights and increase frequencies from Algiers to several destinations NEW! Algiers (ALG) – Doha (DOH), Qatar – twice weekly – as of August 4th, 2022 For more information on flights check your GDS. Air Algerie operates to 35 domestic and 44 international destinations, covering 28 countries in…
Zambia may be under the radar by comparison with safari destinations such as South Africa and Kenya, but its commitment to wildlife is impressive. One third of it is devoted to game reserves, some of them the size of Switzerland. What it has long been known for is its mid-range and budget hotel scene. Now…
Mohahlaula Airlines has revealed plans to launch a local Lesotho airline within the next year. The operation will initially service the Maseru to Johannesburg route with plans to extend to other destinations in South Africa. Mohahlaula Airlines is one of two Lesotho companies holding an airline operating certificate (AOC) which allows the company to apply…
Until a year ago, crossing the Zambezi River between Botswana and Zambia was a slow and congested affair. For trucks moving along a key transport corridor, stretching from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Durban, South Africa, the river was an obstacle without an elegant solution. Vehicles would load onto a pontoon,…
Evolve Back Gham Dhao Lodge, on the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana, has recently upgraded and renovated a number of its facilities. The lodge’s airstrip is now compliant with the latest safety landing norms and is licensed for a maximum landing weight of 5 700kg. Visitors can bring their own aircraft or…
All restrictions against COVID 19 are now lifted. No more quarantine. No more PCR test on departure. No more antigen test upon arrival. No vaccination required. Visa for free for 15 days stay.
Two days after Kenya’s general election, officials had yet to announce who is leading the presidential race in East Africa’s regional powerhouse, as confused citizens struggled to make sense of divergent tallies from the media in a nail-bitingly close race. Media houses are compiling results from images of forms that the election commission uploaded on…
The Kafue National Park in Zambia is the latest reserve in Africa (of 89) to join the Unesco World Biosphere Network. The addition of Zambia, along with Georgia in Eastern Europe and Chad in central Africa, was announced recently by Audrey Azoulay, Director General of Unesco, who said: “I am delighted to see three new member…
The Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is seeing huge demand from international visitors, including the South African market and new source markets such as the Middle East. Tourism Update discovered this on a Constance Hotels educational visit to the east coast of the island late last month, with the hotels noting that they were experiencing high…
The 31st of July, 2022 marked the conclusion of the successful translocation of 263 elephants and 431 additional wildlife from Liwonde National Park to Kasungu National Park in Malawi. The translocation was undertaken by Malawi’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) in partnership with African Parks and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in an effort to…