News
31 January 2019
Zimbabwe and Zambia in Joint Wildlife Conservation Programme
Zimbabwe and Zambia have launched a joint $5,5 million Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme (SWMP) to be implemented over a period of five years. The project, being implemented with the assistance of development partners, aims to reduce the pressure of hunting wildlife by promoting, under the auspices of Community Conservancies (CC), sustainable use of wildlife.
Read More31 January 2019
Smart toys that can help save the planet
In a novel approach, park wardens are placing sensor-embedded collars on herbivores such as impala, zebra and antelope, species that spook easily and run when poachers are in the vicinity. Their movements set off the sensors, connected via the IBM Cloud, alerting rangers to the threat.
Read More30 January 2019
How a South African industrial site is providing a safe haven for wild cats
The fact that human activities have had catastrophic consequences for some species is undisputed. But there are also instances where wildlife has befitted from human interventions, such as raccoons and coyotes that flourish in urban areas. This is because they can exploit resources like food and low levels of competition from other species that are less able to adapt.
Read More30 January 2019
Kevin Pietersen reveals mission to save wildlife in new podcast
A new podcast will follow former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen’s mission to save endangered species. The Ashes winner is battling to spare the lion, leopard, rhino and elephants from slaughter in his native South Africa. For the podcast, Pietersen is joined in his home and in the Kruger National Park by BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Sarah Brett.
Read More29 January 2019
Ghana is raising the bar for Africa’s leisure tourism
“Continued economic growth in many African countries is driving greater interest in the continent from a tourism perspective but it’s interesting to see that Ghana, in particular, is proving increasingly attractive as a leisure tourism destination,” says Wayne Troughton, CEO of specialist global hospitality and tourism consultancy, HTI Consulting.
Read More29 January 2019
Application for Membership - Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps
Honeyguide Tented Safari Camps 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 More28 January 2019
Ethiopian Airlines expands flights to United States
In an attempt to better connect the United States with Africa; Ethiopian Airlines, is set to open new destinations, adding frequencies and shifting gateways as of the summer of 2019. “The new US network is aimed at giving passengers travelling between the US and all over Africa the best possible connectivity and shortest routes, whether they are travelling for leisure, business or government work. Accordingly, Washington D.C. flights will be increased from current daily to ten weekly flights,” said Ethiopian Airlines.
Read More28 January 2019
The Flipflopi sets sail towards Tanzania
After 3 years of determination, resilience and passion from the plastic revolution community, the Flipflopi crew have set sail from their Kenyan home in Lamu, launching their first overseas expedition towards Tanzania.
Read More25 January 2019
Welcome to the new Atta Advisory Board
As you will all know we held nominations in December 2018 for the new Atta Advisory Board, which was confirmed and approved on 16th January 2019. The Advisory Board will take office for a period of two years, it consists of elected and co-opted members of the association and is responsible for the conduct, future growth and strategic vision of the association.
Read More25 January 2019
1st Africa Showcase scheduled for Southern Europe
Africa Showcase breaks new ground this month as the popular roadshow prepares to host events in Madrid, Paris and Milan. For the inaugural edition in Southern Europe, twenty top-quality suppliers from Southern and East Africa have been selected to participate on the roadshow.
Read More24 January 2019
How tourism is impacting economic development in Africa
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has published the latest World Tourism Barometer which covers world tourism rankings. According to the report, international tourist arrivals totalled 1.4 billion (+6 percent) in 2018, 2 years ahead of expected time according to UNWTO‘s prediction in 2010 that the 1.4 billion mark will be achieved by 2020. Meanwhile, Africa recorded 7 percent increase in 2018, clearly above global average.
Read More24 January 2019
Central & Eastern Europe Roadshow in March
Houston Travel Marketing & Travel Advance Prague are once again combining to organise their 8th annual Spotlight on Africa & Indian Ocean Island roadshow from March 25th -29th . The roadshow will include Prague, Budapest and two cities in Poland - Warsaw & Krakow.
Read More23 January 2019
Global travel ‘megatrends’ outlined in new report by WTTC
Travel industry leaders will need to manage companies that are able to pivot quickly in response to new customer demands and expectations, the next revolution in data capabilities and heightened business risks. The call comes in a new ‘megatrends’ report issued by the World Travel & Tourism Council, which predicts eight billion air travellers by 2037.
Read More23 January 2019
KTB heads to India and Spain to market destination Kenya
Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) will be leading local travel trade partners on marketing missions in India and Spain as the country seeks to grow tourism numbers to 2.5 million by 2022.
Read More22 January 2019
New platform to promote cultural tourism in Rwanda
As Rwanda’s tourism sector continues to grow by leaps and bounds attracting more international visitors, cultural enthusiasts are looking at how best to cash in on cultural tourism. One of such initiatives is Ikobe Arts, a cultural platform, which was launched over the weekend, that seeks to promote and expose Rwandan culture and traditions to tourists.
Read More22 January 2019
Application for Membership - Tusker Trail
Tusker Trail 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). TUSKER TRAIL has been operating high-end Kilimanjaro climbs for over 42 years. Our sales office is located in the US, and our climbing operation is open year round in Moshi, at the foot of Kilimanjaro. We employ 12 full-time guides, all who have been guiding solely for Tusker for the past 12-19 years. The guides are all High Altitude First Responders and guide at an international level. Our camp gear is custom manufactured, designed for the demanding elements of Kilimanjaro's extreme mountain environment.
Read More21 January 2019
Cableway welcomes the 28 millionth visitor
It’s International Cable Car Day today and what better way to celebrate than with the arrival of Table Mountain Cableway’s 28 millionth visitor, a milestone that took the attraction less than a year to add the latest million. The Cableway’s Managing Director Wahida Parker said the rate at which the latest million was achieved was as a result of a consistently high visitor numbers throughout 2018, and a successful peak season.
Read More21 January 2019
Key tourist sites in Ghana to receive a facelift
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has announced that key tourist sites in the country will receive a facelift within the short to medium term this year. The announcement comes at a time the CNN has ranked Ghana forth out of nineteen countries as top destinations in the world to visit this year.
Read More18 January 2019
Laura Morrison drives a 1958 Morris Minor from Scotland to Cape Town
A woman from New Zealand has finally arrived in Cape Town after a gruelling journey by car from Aberdeen in Scotland to Cape Town. Her epic journey took her through the UK, Europe and Africa.
Read More18 January 2019
FCO Update: Zimbabwe 18 January 2019
Latest update: Summary – updated information and advice on widespread disruption in many areas of Zimbabwe in the week beginning 14 January
Read More17 January 2019
Uganda targets 1m more tourists in 2019
The tourism industry’s growth last year leapfrogged other sectors, helped in part by an increase in the number of tourists and incomes. Riding on that growth, government has announced that it is going to focus more of her energies on attracting an extra one million tourists both locally and internationally. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda received 1.8 million tourists in 2018, up from 1.4 million in 2017. In 2017, the 1.4 million arrivals injected about $1.4 billion into the economy. This contributed to about 10 percent of the GDP.
Read More17 January 2019
Flamingo Land helps create vitally important nature reserve in Africa
Following on from Flamingo Land’s Udzungwa Forest Project (UFP) and its well documented successes, the company has reached agreement to create a 26 square kilometre nature reserve, with multiple parties, including the Tanzanian Government and Rainforest Trust, four local villages and a sugar company.
Read More16 January 2019
Uganda to introduce wildlife protection as a subject in schools
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWCEC) has pledged to assist schools in teaching pupils about wildlife protection and animal preservation. This initiative is aimed at being adopted as a new subject within the country’s educational curriculum.
Read More16 January 2019
Africa by Toto to play 'for all eternity' in Namib desert
Namibian-German artist Max Siedentopf has set up a solar-powered sound installation in the coastal Namib Desert to play the soft-rock classic on a loop. He has chosen an undisclosed spot in the desert to set up six speakers attached to an MP3 player with the single track on it and promises that it will run 'for all eternity'. 'I … wanted to pay the song the ultimate homage and physically exhibit 'Africa' in Africa,' Siedentopf told NPR. 'The Namibian desert — which is, with 55 million years, the oldest desert in the world — seemed to be the perfect spot for this.'
Read More16 January 2019
Statement on Kenya Security Situation 16 Jan 19
On 15 Jan 2019 Tuesday at approximately 15:00hrs Kenyan time, gunmen breached security controlled gate at a Nairobi building complex located in the Nairobi suburb of Westlands that houses a hotel (The Dusit D2) and several office premises including restaurants. According to a Kenya Police statement, the group of armed assailants attacked the complex in what is now believed to be a terror attack.
Read More15 January 2019
Experience Africa buyer registration now open
We are thrilled to announce that Experience Africa 2019 is now open for buyer registration! Taking place from the 24th - 26th June 2019 at our stunning Canary Wharf venue, Experience Africa is your essential platform to meet with a diverse range of key African suppliers. As Europe's only 3-day tradeshow dedicated to Africa, we are the one-stop event for generating new business to Africa!
Read More15 January 2019
The World Travel and Tourism Council announces 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards finalists
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is delighted to announce the 15 finalists for its 2019 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. The 2019 finalists are organised into the following new categories: Climate Action, Investing in People, Destination Stewardship, Social Impact and Changemakers. The Changemakers Award will put a special spotlight on fighting the illegal wildlife trade through tourism, an issue that is also a focus of WTTC with its Buenos Aires Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade launched last year.
Read More14 January 2019
South African ultramarathon welcoming Chinese runners to help save the rhino
South Africa’s Entabeni Safari Conservancy is establishing an ultramarathon to support rhino conservation as poaching for horn continues. Chinese participants are especially welcome, as conservationists hope to change the misconception that rhino horn has medicinal properties.
Read More14 January 2019
The Maasai 'Olympics' helping to save lions' lives
The Maasai Olympic Games aim to convince young Maasai men to play sports, instead of hunting lions, the traditional rite of passage for young Maasais. Kenyan Olympic champion David Rudisha, who is a Maasai himself, told BBC Sport Africa the event is already helping conservation efforts in the area.
Read More14 January 2019
Atta Medical Update: Yellow Fever 14 Jan 19
AttaRecent news reports have raised concerns about yellow fever vaccine safety. It is important to understand the risks and benefits.
Read More11 January 2019
UberASSIST makes Nairobi more accessible to all
Uber has unveiled its specialised cab service in Nairobi that helps riders with disabilities and the elderly to access the city more conveniently. Uber started the pilot of the service dubbed UberASSIST in Nairobi on Thursday last week, more than three years after the giant tech firm unveiled the service globally for the first time.
Read More11 January 2019
Sharing environmental messages through music
For the past three years, National Geographic Explorer Alex Paullin has been traveling through Africa with his non-profit, Conservation Music, to facilitate workshops and bring together communities to create songs about protecting the environment.
Read More10 January 2019
Chinese photographers to promote Rwanda to Chinese tourists
Famous Chinese photographers are in the country to take part in a touristic photography contest with their Rwandan counterparts. Dubbed “Rwanda-China Friendship Cup Photo Contest,” the competition aims at promoting Rwandan tourism in China. Organized by the Rwandan embassy in China with support of the Chinese government, the contest will attract professional photographers from both countries and it is the first time they will be coming together.
Read More10 January 2019
How technology is revolutionising the tourism industry
By 2028, it is estimated that almost 2.1 million South African jobs will depend on tourism. Similar scenarios are playing out across many other African economies. However, ensuring a growing tourism sector will mean constantly assessing fast-moving technological developments that have the potential to change expectations, and create new opportunities—or might not come to fruition. In time, it’s possible that driving itself will be outdated, and faces and fingerprints will replace passports altogether.
Read More09 January 2019
Namibia Wildlife Resorts encourages more intra-African tourism
The government operator of rest camps in national parks, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), in conjunction with Air Namibia embarked on a marketing and networking session in Ghana to lure more West Africans to local resorts. The campaign started late last year.
Read More09 January 2019
7000 tourists expected to flood Walvis Bay, Namibia next week
The Namibian Ports Authority announced this week that come next week Tuesday, five passenger vessels are expected to berth in the port of Walvis Bay up to the end of the month.
Read More08 January 2019
Tourism arrivals in Kenya surpass the 2 million mark
Tourism earnings grew 31.2 percent in 2018 to Sh157 billion, up from Sh119 billion the previous year. Last year's number of international arrivals was 2,025,206, compared to the 1,474,671 in 2017, an increase of 37.33 percent.
Read More08 January 2019
British teenager cycling from Kenya to South Africa to raise money for conservation charity
UK charity the Real World Conservation Trust, which collaborates with a number of Kenyan conservation organisations including the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Save the Elephants, Save the Rhino International and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, is set to benefit from a British teenager’s fundraising cycle trek from Kenya to South Africa.
Read More07 January 2019
Team from British wildlife park prepare to embark on conservation road trip around East Africa
Four young conservationists Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire are preparing to embark on an anti-poaching mission across Africa. Brothers Aaron Whitnall, 27, Tyler Whitnall, 25, and Cameron Whitnall, 23, will be joined by family friend Redmond Bolton, 25, on the three week drive across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda.
Read More07 January 2019
Application for Membership - Freewalker Exclusive Travel
Freewalker Exclusive 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