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.
30 August 2018
New Atta Members this month - August
Rainbow Tourism Group - South Africa - www.rtgafrica.com Tallis Journeys - Australia - www.tallisjourneys.com Africa Conservation Travel – Zimbabwe - www.africaconservationtravel.com Matetsi Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe - www.matetsivictoriafalls.com
Read More29 August 2018
West Coast, Table Mountain National Parks to get new gate access technology
As of November 2018, South African National Parks (SANParks) will be introducing new gate access technology at Table Mountain and West Coast National Parks; which will also enable streamline ticket purchases and quick access for visitors. The roll-out of the new gate system coincides with the introduction of differential conservation fees at Table Mountain National Park which offers South African residents and Southern African Development Community (SADC) national reduced rates.
Read More29 August 2018
Atta Financial Update: 29.08.2018
Executive summary: Red sky at morning, investors take warning Calamitous (a more than commonly plain and unmistakable reminder that the affairs of this life are not of our own ordering) is probably too strong a word for the peer-to-peer lending sector in China – but not far off. The summer has been particularly gruelling for peer-to-peer lending companies in China. The Peterson Institute recently reported that total outstanding loans in the industry collapsed to less than RMB 1 trillion in July from 1.3 trillion a month before, and many lending platforms have run into serious trouble since the beginning of June.
Read More28 August 2018
Tanzania Pass $1.7 Million Budget to Beef Up Tourism
Government agency Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has given the green light for proposed $1.7 million funds allocation to spice up the country's fastest growing sector. The industry has raked in millions of returns for the Government and had a positive economic impact on the country's GDP. Tourist arrivals in 2016 had soared by 12.9% to reach 1.2 million. The marketing strategy has panned out well for the sector.
Read More28 August 2018
Tourism database planned to boost revenue growth
A tourism resources database is being developed to inform future private and public sector investments to boost arrivals and higher revenue growth. It’s proponent, Tourism Research Institute (TRI) said it is focusing to grow tourist arrival numbers from 1.3 million to 2.5 million with revenues rising from the current Sh99 billion to Sh175 billion in the next five years.
Read More23 August 2018
Air Seychelles Joins The Seychelles Tourism Board To Celebrate Seychelles Month
Air Seychelles, the national airline of Seychelles has joined the Seychelles Tourism Board in Johannesburg to celebrate destination Seychelles during the month of August and September.
Read More23 August 2018
Rwanda makes a move on European market with new air agreement
Rwanda has signed a bilateral air service agreement with Italy, in a bid to increase and ease travel between the two nations.
Read More22 August 2018
Ethiopian Airlines invests in new Zambian national carrier
The Zambian government and Ethiopian Airlines have formalized an agreement to form Zambia Airways. Zambia’s Industrial Development Corp. (IDC) Group CEO Mateyo Kaluba, and Ethiopian Airlines’ Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam signed documents in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Aug. 19 setting out their positions as shareholders of the new national carrier.
Read More22 August 2018
Application for Membership - The Retreat and Heaven
The Retreat and Heaven 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 More21 August 2018
Nina Maritz Architects completes shipwreck-themed timber cabins in Namibia
Namibian architecture firm Nina Maritz Architects has completed new shipwreck-themed timber cabins on the beach in the Skeleton Coast National Park of Namibia for travellers and tourists as a new destination.
Read More21 August 2018
Delta begins Kenya Airways codeshare service from August 2018
Delta Air Lines last week commenced codeshare partnership with Kenya Airways, covering the latter’s service between Kenya and Europe, as well as selected routes beyond Nairobi. Planned codeshare service commenced on/around 15AUG18.
Read More20 August 2018
The importance of the MICE industry and business events in South Africa
What is MICE and how does it impact our economy? During the Meetings Africa conference 2018, it was pointed out that business tourism contributed an astonishing R115bn to the South African economy. These business visitors generally spend more than the usual leisure traveller.
Read More20 August 2018
Uganda: A Peek Into Uganda's Tourism Marketing Strategic Plan
Uganda is a gifted country, with variety to showcase to a tourist so much that if half of its tourism potential were to be realised, its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would immensely catapult economic development over and above its currently leading sectors.
Read More17 August 2018
KenyaAirways appoints Catherine Kamau as Head of Marketing
Catherine Kamau has joined Kenya Airways as Head of Marketing, a position which since the departure of Chris Diaz, KQ’s Director of Marketing a year and a half ago was not substantially filled.
Read More17 August 2018
City of Johannesburg to host 2019 SA Brand Summit
The City of Johannesburg and Gauteng province have been confirmed as the joint winning destination to host the South Africa Brand Summit Awards - inaugurated in Cape Town in May 2018 - at The Maslow Hotel between 6 and 7 June 2019. This follows a detailed process to choose the host city.
Read More16 August 2018
New Tourism Board for Ethiopia
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, has appointed a new National Tourism Board. It will fill the void left by the sacking of the board by the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Hirut Woldemariam in April.
Read More16 August 2018
Tanzania Plans Beach Management Authority to Boost Tourism
The government of Tanzania plans to develop beach tourism as a drawcard. This statement was made by Hamisi Kigwangalla, minister, natural resources and tourism. Kigwangalla said mainland Tanzania could learn from its island neighbour, Zanzibar.
Read More15 August 2018
Tanzania Tourism Board gears up for Swahili Int'l Tourism Expo
The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has announced the official plans for this year’s Swahili International Tourism Expo (S!TE), taking place between October 12 and 14 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam.
Read More15 August 2018
Vic Falls tourism boom excites international markets
THE resort town of Victoria Falls is inundated with inquiries from Zimbabwe's major tourism source markets keen on directly investing into the tourism sector, an industry official has said. Zimbabwe's source markets include United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Germany, South Africa, among others.
Read More14 August 2018
RwandAir launches new routes as air traffic numbers rocket
According to projections from Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure and affiliated institutions, the number of people visiting or transiting through Rwandan airports is expected to increase to over one million this fiscal year, as the national carrier prepares to launch five new destinations.
Read More14 August 2018
Malawian Airlines service increases from July 2018
Malawian Airlines since last month expanded frequencies on various routes, mostly in effect from 14JUL18. Planned frequency increase as follows.
Read More13 August 2018
Kenya's Government Banks On Wildebeest Migration to Boost Tourist Arrivals
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary, Najib Balala has launched a campaign seeking to promote the wildebeest migration in Maasai Mara.
Read More13 August 2018
Zanzibar courts tourists from Southeast Asia
Zanzibar is courting Indonesian businesses to invest in the island’s tourism industry.
Read More13 August 2018
FCO Update: Rwanda travel advice 13 August 2018
Latest update: Summary and Health section – revised information; the Rwandan government has put in place screening procedures for Ebola at all entry points including land borders and at airports
Read More10 August 2018
Zim Records 12% Rise In Tourist Arrivals
Zimbabwe received a total of 2 422 930 tourist arrivals in the year 2017, a 12% rise from the previous year, largely due to the renewed confidence in the tourism sector by the international community, a cabinet minister has said.
Read More10 August 2018
Rwandair increases Europe service in Dec 2018/Jan 2019
Rwandair during winter peak season schedules additional frequency on Kigali – Brussels – London Gatwick route, o board Airbus A330 aircraft. The 4th weekly flight will be operating on Fridays, from 14DEC18 to 17JAN19.
Read More09 August 2018
F1 coming to Africa as Zimbabwe announces plans to launch Vic Falls Grand Prix
Motor sport including formula 1 could soon be coming to Zimbabwe after an investor expressed interest in developing the sport’s facilities in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
Read More09 August 2018
UnionPay establishes closer ties between Chinese, SA tourism
Accommodation, tour operators, tour guides and activity service providers were recently invited to attend a business breakfast session at the Vista Marina Restaurant, V&A Waterfront, to engage in a discussion between UnionPay International and Cape Town-based tourism industry players where the benefits of attracting the Chinese market were highlighted.
Read More08 August 2018
AirZimbabwe Board of Directors dissolved and administrators called in
Hot on the heels of the now concluded General Election in Zimbabwe, which saw President Emmerson Mnangagwa returned to office, are news emerging from Harare that the board of the national airline has been dissolved and Grant Thornton been appointed as administrators of the state corporation.
Read More07 August 2018
SA Express will soon be taking to the skies again
Domestic flights in South Africa should be back to full complement with the reinstatement of SA Express which offers a feeder network to domestic flight destinations.
Read More07 August 2018
Application for Membership - Matetsi Victoria Falls
Matetsi Victoria Falls 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 August 2018
FCO Update: Uganda 06 August 2018
Latest update: Health section – addition of information on health screening measures at some airports and border crossings due to Ebola outbreak in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Read More05 August 2018
Communique on the state of tourism in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) would like to inform all valued tourists from both the domestic and international markets that, notwithstanding the post-election violence witnessed on 01 August 2018 in the capital city, Harare, Zimbabwe remains a safe destination for any travel. The incidents of protests that occurred in parts of the Central Business District (CBD) and the south eastern areas of the capital city were quickly brought under control through the timely intervention of the police with the assistance of the army.
Read More03 August 2018
Tanzania: Isles Unveils Team for Tourism Festival
For four days, from this coming October 17, the first "Zanzibar Tourism Show and Awards", will take place on the Isles. It has also been confirmed that the event will be inaugurated by President Ali Mohamed Shein.
Read More03 August 2018
South Africa to introduce new visa policies for Chinese tourists
South Africa will introduce new visa policies to attract more Chinese tourists, said South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom in a recent pre-recorded video message.
Read More03 August 2018
FCO Update: Zimbabwe 03 Aug 2018
Latest update: Summary – an increased police and military presence is likely following a violent protest on 1 August in the Harare Central Business District; during the post-election period, political gatherings and demonstrations may occur; these can be unpredictable, and may turn violent; you’re advised to exercise caution and avoid any political gatherings or demonstrations
Read More03 August 2018
FCO Update: Namibia 03 Aug 2018
Entry requirements section (Travelling with children (under 18)) – addition of information on immigration rules relating to travel with children
Read More02 August 2018
Tapping into data for enhanced tourism experiences
It's no secret that technology is changing the way in which we do tourism. It's possible to research, plan, pay for and execute a trip using little more than a mobile device. Large tourism enterprises across the globe are snapping up apps, business solutions and more to ensure that they're part of the digital revolution, but are these emerging technologies translating to an excellent visitor experience?
Read More02 August 2018
Tour du Rwanda: Teams start jetting in today
Foreign teams set to compete at the upcoming 10th Tour du Rwanda will begin arriving in the country today as the annual UCI Africa Tour race nears kick-off.
Read More01 August 2018
FCO Update: Zimbabwe 01 Aug 2018
Latest update: Summary – as of 1 August, a demonstration is moving through the Harare Central Business District, with reports of shots fired; this is an ongoing, unpredictable situation and you’re advised to avoid the area until the crowd has dispersed; during the post-election period, political gatherings and demonstrations may occur elsewhere; these can be can be unpredictable, and may turn violent; you’re advised to avoid any political gatherings or demonstrations
Read More01 August 2018
Rwanda targets $74 million from conference tourism
Rwanda is looking to nearly double its revenues from conference tourism, Clare Akamanzi, the chief executive of Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has said.
Read More01 August 2018
FCO Update: South Africa 01 Aug 2018
Latest update: Entry requirements section – updated information and advice on the acceptance of UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs) for entry to South Africa; ETDs are generally accepted for entry into South Africa on emergency medical grounds only
Read More01 August 2018
Application for Membership - Africa Conservation Travel
Africa Conservation 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 More