News
24 June 2019
Atta launches Sustainability Charter at Experience Africa, June 2019
AttaIn their role as the voice of African tourism, Atta, (The African Travel and Tourism Association) is deepening its commitment to sustainable practices by publishing the Atta Sustainability Charter at Experience Africa, 2019. It was estimated in 2017 that 9.3 million jobs, 2.6% of all the employment in Africa, were generated by direct employment in the tourism industry. Many of these jobs are in rural areas where there are no alternative sources of employment. In addition to employment, tourism has a positive impact on economic, social and environmental sustainability and in many cases is a positive force for the conservation of wildlife.
Read More21 June 2019
Airbus is ready looking towards pilotless jets
AttaFrance - Christian Scherer, the chief salesman for Airbus says his company already has the technology to fly passenger planes without pilots at all — and is working on winning over regulators and travelers to the idea. Scherer also said that Airbus hopes to be selling hybrid or electric passenger jets by around 2035.
Read More21 June 2019
Endangered Eastern black rhino from Flamingo Land to be released in Rwanda
AttaA rhino who spent her early years in a North Yorkshire zoo will soon run free in Africa as part of a major conservation project. Flamingo Land, in North Yorkshire, has been working with African and European groups to transfer its Eastern black rhino, Olmoti, along with four others from European zoos, to the Akagera National Park in Rwanda where they will be released. Olmoti arrived at Flamingo Land as a calf in 2015 and in November last year she was taken to a safari park in the Czech Republic to be socialised with the four other rhinos who will be released into Akagera on Sunday.
Read More20 June 2019
UTB partners with FUFA to promote brand Uganda on the local and international scene
AttaUganda Tourism Board (UTB) has today entered into a Ugx200m sponsorship agreement and partnership with FUFA (Federation of Uganda Football Associations) as the official tourism partner. The two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding; which will see both parties work hand in hand to promote brand destination Uganda at both the domestic and international scene. The partnership gives UTB rights to brand Destination Uganda at local and international games in which the Uganda Cranes are participating as well as work with the players in destination marketing campaigns.
Read More20 June 2019
A four-year ox-cart ride across Madagascar: Q&A with Alexandre Poussin
AttaWhen discovering a new country, most travelers are inclined to take the path well-trodden: a train ride, a road trip, perhaps a bike tour. French explorer and writer Alexandre Poussin, 49, and his wife, Sonia Poussin, 47, are not those people. The couple and their two children recently completed a four-year journey around Madagascar on foot and by oxcart. The couple is no stranger to long walking expeditions. Between 2001 and 2004 they traversed the African continent from Cape Town in South Africa to the Sea of Galilee in Israel, covering almost 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles). Their Madagascar trip, dubbed Madatrek, was different: this time they brought along their daughter, Philae, now 15, and son, Ulysse, now 12.
Read More19 June 2019
Hyenas have a bad rap—but they’re Africa’s most successful predator
AttaThe most successful hunter in all of Africa is intelligent and loving, forming intricate social bonds that rival those of primates. Cubs of the alpha female inherit the rank immediately below hers, similar to a monarchy. The king of the jungle, you might say? Nope. We’re talking about the hyena... Because of habitat loss and widespread hunting, striped and brown hyenas are classified as near-threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature
Read More18 June 2019
Nyeri goes online to attract tourists to heritage sites, Kenya
AttaThe Nyeri county government is going online to shore up tourism numbers and advertise heritage sites in the county. Already, the county, with help from the National Museums of Kenya, has completed mapping tourism and heritage sites and released a documentary video and book. The film will be uploaded to YouTube with a link to county’s www.nyeri.go.ke website. Search engine optimisation will be used to target key customer groups. Key tourist attractions include the Aberdare ranges, the Mt Kenya ecosystem and the Italian War Memorial Church, which houses the remains of more than 600 prisoners of war.
Read More18 June 2019
RwandAir Flights to China 'Will Spur Trade, Tourism'
AttaRwandAir, the country's national carrier, has officially begun operating weekly commercial flights to the Chinese city of Guangzhou, the third largest city in the Asian country. And there is optimism that the new flight destination will significantly spur trade and tourism, as well as encourage both Chinese and Rwandan investors to make business trips. Benjamin Gasamagera, a Rwandan businessman who trades in goods from China, told The New Times that the flights will make it easier for people like him to travel and do business between the two countries.
Read More17 June 2019
New Initiative to Boost Tourism Along Kivu Belt, Rwanda
AttaPeople seeking to visit Kivu Belt region can now easily explore a great number of tourism attractions in five districts that are adjacent to Lake Kivu. This has been made possible thanks to the launch of a Kivu Belt Destination Management Unit that aims to attract more local, regional and international visitors to the area. This is part of a joint effort by a coalition of private and public tourism and hospitality actors established by Rwanda Chamber of Tourism in partnership with German Society for International Cooperation (Gesellschaft Internationale Zusammenarbeit: GIZ).
Read More17 June 2019
Tanzania and Kenya: an Idyllic Setting for Nature and Wellness Retreats
AttaCombining a once in a lifetime safari with a holistic and wellness retreat in Kenya and Tanzania gives you the chance to experience nature first hand, where you get to see wild animals in their natural habitat, spend time away from your smart devices and a chance to meet with the locals. All these added benefits in the wild plus the benefits of a wellness retreat is why wellness tourism is on the rise both globally and in Africa. From 2015 to 2017, it grew by 6.5%, twice as fast as general tourism. In Africa alone, wellness tourism is expected to grow by more than 11% by 2022 per year. Some of the top destinations in Africa where Wellness tourism is growing is Kenya and Tanzania.
Read More14 June 2019
Excitement as World’s Only White Giraffe in Kenya Gets Pregnant
AttaThe Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) on Monday took to social media to share the great news of the rare white giraffe in Kenya that is expecting a second calf. According to KWS, the white Giraffe is based in Ilshaqbini Hirola Sanctuary, Ijara Sub-county in Garissa is the only one of it’s kind in the world.
Read More13 June 2019
Ethiopia internet blackout enters third day, SMS service suffers
What started on Tuesday with the total block of internet access in Ethiopia is in its third day, according to internet rights monitoring group, NetBlocks.
Read More13 June 2019
Tanzania Government pledges support for Karibu-Kilifair
AttaThe Government of Tanzania has announced plans to support the Karibu-KiliFair tourism exhibition to expand. The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Natural Resources Costantine Kanyasu revealed this during the recently concluded tourism show in Arusha. Speaking as a special guest at the recently concluded Karibu KiliFair travel show, the Minister said, government recognize the role of the private sector towards the development of the tourism sector. Minister Kanyasu commended the organisers for merging the two travel fairs Karibu Fair and Kili Fair into one.
Read More13 June 2019
Routes Africa 2019 to be held In Kenya
AttaRoutes Africa, the intra-Africa route development forum, will this year be hosted by the Kenya Airports Authority. Routes Africa, which returned to the aviation event calendar last year with a successful event in Ghana, will take place this year in Mombasa in Kenya as part of a long-term commitment by Routes to help develop new routes to, from and within the continent. To be held 8-10th December at the PrideInn Paradise, Shanzu Beach in Mombasa, Kenya, the event will be the 13th Routes Africa. As the region’s most long standing aviation forum, the event has been bringing airlines, airports and tourism authorities together to discuss air services to, from and within Africa for over a decade.
Read More13 June 2019
FCO Travel Advice Update - Uganda
FCO: Uganda Travel Advice - 8:01pm, 11 June 2019: Summary and Health section – On 11 June 2019 the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed an Ebola case in Kasese District in western Uganda. This development reflects the fact that the DRC outbreak is still uncontrolled. Ebola containment strategy is based around contact tracing and vaccination of contacts. Instability and unrest is making this impossible in DRC, with a high proportion of new cases still unconnected to previously known cases. Spillover across the Ugandan border was felt to be only a matter of time, and sadly this has now occurred in a 5 year-old child. The Ugandan authorities have been anticipating this possibility for some time, and have been looking out for imported cases. Further imported cases may follow, but the likelihood of local transmission within Uganda, and onward spread, is deemed very low.
Read More12 June 2019
2019 Atta Media Award Nominees Shortlist
AttaThe 2019 Atta Media Awards are a celebration of the journalism that inspires us about Africa. We want to recognize creative and inspiring content and thank the media for their ongoing support of the continent. Today we are delighted to announce our shortlisted award nominees. The winners will be revealed on Wednesday 26th June at Experience Africa.
Read More12 June 2019
MBA in Conservation scholarships available for the continent’s brightest women
AttaThe African Leadership University’s School of Wildlife Conservation in Kigali is looking to award 8 scholarships to passionate women in conservation as part of its 2019 MBA for Conservation Leaders. The MBA for Conservation Leaders combines world-class business education with cutting-edge training in leadership and conservation management. The program prepares mid-career, high potential conservation leaders for the next stage of their profession.
Read More11 June 2019
World Cricketers converge on Ol Pejeta Conservancy for the fifth year in a row
AttaThis weekend, cricketers from across the globe will converge on Ol Pejeta Conservancy for a three day tournament in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife conservation areas to commemorate the life of Sudan, the last known male northern white rhino, and to raise awareness of the plight of his near-extinct species. Established in 2015, the Last Male Standing Rhino Cup will see close to 200 cricketers come together over three days in June on a ground surrounded by wildlife and shadowed by the snow-capped Mount Kenya, to support Ol Pejeta Conservancy and rhino protection campaigns globally.
Read More11 June 2019
Application for Membership - Vomba Tours & Safaris
AttaVomba Tours & 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). We are a family owned and operated boutique tour company based in Mpumalanga,RSA that delivers outstanding adventure travel experiences. Inspired by the beauty of our landscape, the richness of the wildlife and deep local culture,we offer efficient private airport transfers, authentic Kruger Park safari drives, sightseeing and Cultural tours.
Read More10 June 2019
Sao Tome and Principe: Two intriguing island destinations no-one can locate on a map
AttaThis is no ordinary jungle. The island of Principe – half of the West African nation of Sao Tome and Principe – is a Unesco-listed biosphere reserve, a place where vividly coloured kingfishers and raucous African parrots flit through the trees while turtles nest on the pristine beaches. Its natural landscapes are the major selling point for a country trying to kickstart a tourism industry. Its major drawback? That would be the fact that few people have ever heard of Sao Tome and Principe, let alone know where it is. Paradoxically, however, that drawback may be precisely what draws a particular breed of traveller. Well-heeled voyagers who have been there, done that, will be intrigued at the idea of exploring a place that no one can locate on a map.
Read More