News
30 November 2018
Rwandair adds A330 Harare / Cape Town service Nov 2018 – Jan 2019
Rwandair from late-November 2018 is further expanding capacity on Kigali – Harare – Cape Town route, as the A330 aircraft operates this route from 28NOV18. The A330 is scheduled to operate this route 4 times a week until 14JAN19, replacing 737-800. WB110 KGL0820 – 1100HRE1145 – 1445CPT 330 x246 WB111 CPT1600 – 1900CPT1945 – 2230KGL 330 x246
Read More30 November 2018
Benin & Seychelles ranked Africa’s most visa-open nations
Benin has ended the year in the top spot of the Africa Visa Openness Index Report 2018, after it opened up its border to all African travelers. The West African country introduced a visa-free policy for all nationals of African countries, joining Seychelles in the category of most visa open nations on the continent.
Read More29 November 2018
Application for Membership - Next360
Next360 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 More29 November 2018
New Atta Members this month - November
Loin de la Foule - European Based Travel Specialist - France Safari.com - African Based Travel Specialist - South Africa Helicopter Horizons - African Based Travel Specialist - Botswana Mojhi, Inc - North American Based Travel Specialist - United States VIVID Travel - UK Based Travel Specialist - United Kingdom NAC Helicopters Cape Town – Transport - South Africa Journey Beyond - African Based Travel Specialist - South Africa African Sun - Accommodation Suppliers - Zimbabwe Lankester White Safaris - UK Based Travel Specialist - United Kingdom Handpicked Africa (re-joined) - UK Based Representation - United Kingdom Exclusive Touch Africa - African Based Travel Specialist - Zimbabwe
Read More29 November 2018
Ethiopia overtakes Dubai as top feeder of air traffic to Africa
Travel consultancy ForwardKeys said the Addis Ababa airport had increased the number of international transfer passengers to sub-Saharan Africa for five years in a row, and in 2018 had surpassed Dubai, one of the world’s busiest airports, as the transfer hub for long-haul travel to the region.
Read More28 November 2018
Charter flights to Kenya's coast this December to give tourism a boost
A number of charter flights are expected to land at the coast in December. The increase is a major boost to tourism that has been slowly picking up following several travel advisories by the European markets. Already, TUI Netherlands and TUI Belgium have started operating direct flights to Mombasa five years after they suspended their operation due to insecurity at the coastal region.
Read More28 November 2018
Airbnb delivers opportunity, not direct threat, to South African hotel industry
“Whilst Airbnb is undoubtedly gaining a portion of hotel guests, that portion isn’t nearly enough to unseat traditional lodgings. Furthermore, not only are companies like Airbnb delivering real income and employment to local communities, they’re also helping to bolster national tourism economies,” Wayne Troughton, CEO of specialist hospitality and real estate consultancy firm, HTI Consulting comments, “and proving beneficial to second tier destinations such as Durban, Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay and George.”
Read More27 November 2018
Cape Town tidal pools get revamp in time for the holidays
Cape Town - The Glencairn and Soetwater tidal pools have received a multimillion-rand upgrade - just in time for the summer beach season. This is just the latest coastal improvements by the City’s Park and Recreation Department.
Read More27 November 2018
Application for Membership - Ashnil Hotels
Ashnil Hotels 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 November 2018
Cape Verde airline in takeover bid
Cape Verde’s national carrier is the subject of a takeover bid from Icelandair with the aim of developing the islands as a tourist destination and airline hub.
Read More26 November 2018
Cape Town hotel rooms remain cheaper than last year, despite the Western Cape recovering from drought
Cape Town’s hotel rooms are 4.3% cheaper than they were a year ago despite the local tourism industry seeing signs of recovery, a new report by the provincial investment agency Wesgro shows. Meanwhile, SA Tourism indicated international travel to South Africa from South America saw an impressive 10% growth compared to a year ago, with Argentinian arrivals growing by 29%.
Read More26 November 2018
Application for Membership - Rare Earth Retreats
Rare Earth Retreats 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 More23 November 2018
WTTC welcomes Botswana Tourism Organisation as new Destination Partner
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) welcomes Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), as its newest Member and the first Destination Partner from Africa.
Read More23 November 2018
Seychelles Ocean Festival Begins Today
The Seychelles Tourism Board is proud to be once again spearheading the organisation of the 2018 Seychelles Ocean Festival, the successor to the iconic and long-running SUBIOS (Sub Indian Ocean Seychelles) which, for two decades, played an important role in raising the profile of diving in Seychelles and also sensitising generations of Seychellois and visitors alike concerning the beauty and fragility of the Seychelles marine environment.
Read More22 November 2018
Singapore Airlines expands Johannesburg service in NS19
Singapore Airlines in Northern summer 2019 season is expanding Singapore – Johannesburg service, where it scheduled to operate 10 weekly flights, instead of 7, between 31MAR19 and 25OCT19. In Northern summer 2018 season, the airline operated 10 weekly flights in July and August 2018 only.
Read More22 November 2018
Tourists flock to Kenya's coast as Lamu Cultural Festival kicks off
Hotels and other accommodation facilities in Lamu are gearing up for roaring business as thousands of local and international participants flock into the iconic island for the 18th edition of Lamu Cultural Festival which begins today.
Read More21 November 2018
Air Mauritius files preliminary A350 London service in Dec 2019
Air Mauritius earlier this month adjusted planned Northern winter 2019/20 schedule listing, currently extended until late-Dec 2019.
Read More21 November 2018
Prince Harry to visit Zambia
The UK's Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, will make a solo trip to Zambia next week. Local media reported that Prince Harry would join a board meeting for African Parks, of which he is president, during his short stay. The duke is expected to speak at a special reception to celebrate the UK-Zambia relations at the British High Commissioner’s Residence, according to the Presidency.
Read More20 November 2018
NAS-RwandAir to unveil two new lounges at Kigali airport
NAS-RwandAir Ltd (NASRwandAir) has said that it has completed construction and development of two new airport lounges, which it plans to officially unveil in the next few days. The firm, a joint venture of National Aviation Services (NAS) and national airline RwandAir, is tasked with managing all lounges at the Kigali International Airport.
Read More20 November 2018
International Fairs Directory Scam
A warning to members over the International Fairs Directory / Expo Guide Scam
Read More19 November 2018
Application for Membership - Dream Hotels & Resorts
Dream Hotels & Resorts 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 November 2018
Atta Medical Update: Rabies - 19 Nov 18
An update from Atta Medical Advisor - Dr Richard Dawood regarding the tragic death of a British traveller following a bite from a rabid cat in Morocco.
Read More16 November 2018
China at last gives in to global pressure on rhino horn trade ban
Conservationists can rest easy following China’s decision to postpone restoring the trade on and use of rhino horns and tiger bones, after a decades-long ban, following a global uproar.
Read More16 November 2018
Prince Charles visits West Africa
At 70, Prince Charles demonstrates with his recent tour of West Africa that he has no intentions of slowing down.
Read More15 November 2018
Republic of Congo names new national park, home to gorillas and elephants
The Republic of Congo has officially created its fifth national park, lending protection to great apes, forest elephants and other threatened wildlife. The new Ogooué-Leketi National Park spans 3,500 square kilometers (1,350 square miles), and borders Batéké Plateau National Park in neighboring Gabon. Together, the two national parks form a transboundary protected area covering more than 5,500 square kilometers (2,120 square miles).
Read More15 November 2018
Atta Financial Update 15.11.2018
The Desert Fox The general Erwin Rommel, popularly known as the Desert Fox and known only (probably) to his mum by his birth name little Eugen, was about as distinguished as generals come during WWII. Best known as a tank commander, Rommel was both a great military strategist, and a master tactician. A key to his success was being able to identify the difference between a risk, and a gamble.
Read More15 November 2018
Application for Membership - Exclusive Touch Africa
Exclusive Touch Africa 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 More14 November 2018
Cape Town now an international Trail Running Mecca for tourists
Now in its fifth year, Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) has established itself as a bucket list race for ultra distance trail runners, not only locally but now internationally. The event has grown from one with 200 runners in 2014, to 1750 runners across all four of its races in 2018. With its inclusion in the Ultra-trail World Tour since last year, the event is now attracting some of the top international elite runners and their supporters. Over 300 international entries are confirmed for December, and over 300 further entries are from other parts of South Africa – which is good news for tourism.
Read More14 November 2018
Tanzania: Dar to Receive 10,000 Chinese Tourists Next Year
The arrival of roughly 10,000 tourists from China is expected in Tanzania next year. This is thanks to an agreement inked between the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Touchroad International Group of China, which will organise the tours through chartered flights.
Read More13 November 2018
Africa’s longest suspension bridge opens in Mozambique
The drive time from Kwa-Zulu Natal to Mozambique, specifically from Maputo to the South African border near Kosi Bay has been slashed from six hours to about 90 minutes with the opening of Africa’s longest suspension bridge and connecting road network.
Read More13 November 2018
FCO Update: South Africa 13 Nov 18
The Western Cape has suffered a prolonged drought, but the situation has improved. The Cape Town municipal region was most affected but water restrictions were reduced in October 2018. If you’re planning to travel to the area, you should be mindful of water consumption and comply with local restrictions. Further information can be found at the Water Western Cape website and the latest projections on water supply.
Read More12 November 2018
New app taps into Universal Accessibility for travellers
Choosy Loc8or, an app that is changing the way travellers book, search and choose travel, venues and entertainment, aligns the specific needs of a traveller to suitable establishments. This includes those that provide destination-by-dignity by means of Universal Access (UA), as the company believes that travel is for everyone, no matter one’s health, age or physical ability.
Read More12 November 2018
Exhibitor registration is open for Experience Africa 2019!
Taking place from the 24th June to the 26th June 2019 at the stunning Canary Wharf venue, Experience Africa is the essential platform for African suppliers to meet with active UK and European buyers.
Read More09 November 2018
Kenya Tourism Board Hires CornerSun to Step Up North American Marketing
The Kenya Tourism Board has appointed the New York-based CornerSun Destination Marketing to lead marketing efforts in the North American market. CornerSun’s efforts will begin with an American roadshow this December stopping in three cities along the East Coast.
Read More08 November 2018
Air Tanzania to launch China flights in February
Air Tanzania's new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will start flying to Guangzhou in China via Bangkok, Thailand in February next year. Guangzhou is the third largest city in China, after Beijing and Shanghai and one of the world's oldest and busiest trade hubs.
Read More08 November 2018
Atta financial update 08.11.2018
The Great Devourer Could Satoshi Nakamoto have conceived – in his wildest of dreams – that a nine-page manifesto, “The Bitcoin” was going to make him (or her – Satoshi’s true identity is yet to be revealed) a multi-billionaire and kick-off an unconscionable energy-swallowing behemoth.
Read More08 November 2018
Application for Membership - Lankester White Safaris
Lankester White 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 More07 November 2018
Application for Membership - African Sun
African Sun 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 More06 November 2018
WTM 2018: African Tourism Board unveiled in London
A new, multinational-body to promote the hospitality sector in Africa has been unveiled during World Travel Market in London. Created by the International Coalition of Tourism Partners, itself based in Seychelles, Brussels, Bali, and Hawaii, the Africa Tourism Board will seek to enhance the sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel on the continent.
Read More05 November 2018
Ethiopia launches visa-on-arrival for Africa
Ethiopia has launched a visa-on-arrival service for all African travellers. The service, effective from November 1, 2018, aims at making it easy for Africans to visit the country that hosts the African Union (AU) headquarters.
Read More05 November 2018
Famous Selous Reserve starts aerial census for big mammals
Selous Game Reserve is one of Africa’s largest protected areas and internationally recognised as a Unesco world heritage site. Recently confronted with a myriad of environmental challenges it has introduced an aerial wildlife census. Tanzanian wildlife agencies say that this in turn will speed up effective protection and management mechanisms, and the protection of natural resources in the reserve as well as selected communities.
Read More02 November 2018
Ministers to speak at first International Tourism and Investment Conference
Africa and island economies will be the force of the first International Tourism and Investment Conference being held today (Friday) in London.
Read More01 November 2018
African Nation of Djibouti Makes Its WTM Debut
The tiny country of Djibouti has been dubbed one of the world’s least visited nations – but now it wants to change that status by exhibiting at WTM London – the events where Ideas Arrive. Last year it celebrated the 40th anniversary of its independence from France, and is looking to develop its tourism industry as one of its growth sectors.
Read More