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.
26 February 2021
Vets planning Wild Ride through heart of Africa
ATTA®A team of more than 30 vets will be cycling through Zambia to offer veterinary help, and raise £12,000 for conservation and animal welfare efforts in the country.
Read More26 February 2021
WATCH: Inside Google South Africa and SA Tourism’s new initiative to entice travel
ATTA®Google Arts & Culture and South African Tourism launched South Africa: An Explorer’s Paradise, an online exhibition that showcases the best of the famed destination.
Read More25 February 2021
Budget: Vaccine regime will stimulate travel, tourism
ATTA®The R10bn earmarked by National Treasury for the purchase and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines over the next two years – as announced by Minister of Finance, Tito Mboweni during his Budget Speech 2021 yesterday (February 24) – will go a long way towards stimulating travel.
Read More25 February 2021
Are private rhino reserves the last hope?
ATTA®It’s a sobering thought: If you’re raising a child today, they might never get the chance to marvel at the sight of a rhino at a national park in South Africa.
Read More24 February 2021
ZAMBIA: African park deploys its know-how in the Kafue national park
ATTA®African park will improve the management and protection of Kafue, Zambia's most famous and largest national park.
Read More24 February 2021
New Airlink route connects Cape Town with Walvis Bay
ATTA®Airlink, the privately-owned regional airline, is launching a new direct flight service between Cape Town and Walvis Bay, commencing 2 March 2021.
Read More23 February 2021
Kulula to restart Lanseria flights from April
ATTA®Travellers flying from Johannesburg to Durban or Cape Town will soon have more routes to choose from, as Kulula will be restarting its operations from Lanseria International Airport.
Read More23 February 2021
RwandAir takes another African first with the IATA Travel Pass
ATTA®RwandAir will become the first African airline to trial the IATA Travel Pass to enable safe and seamless international travel. The airline will begin a three-week trial in April for customers travelling between Kigali and Nairobi in Kenya.
Read More22 February 2021
International Travel to Resume from England no earlier than 17 May following taskforce report
ATTA®Boris Johnson said the resumption of international travel, “vital for many businesses which have been hardest hit including retail, hospitality, tourism and aviation”, would be subject to a separate review to resolve “key questions”.
Read More22 February 2021
What's On At The Waterhole?
ATTA®Covid-19 testing in the Serengeti, Save the Future of Travel Lobbying Group update and tourism stats.
Read More22 February 2021
KLM returns to SA
ATTA®A month after cancelling services to South Africa due to a Dutch government ban on flights from the country, KLM has confirmed that it will resume services to South Africa, with restrictions, on February 23.
Read More22 February 2021
BA reopens Joburg-Harare route
ATTA®British Airways, operated by Comair, has reopened bookings for daily regional flights between Johannesburg and Harare. Bookings for the regional route are open from today and will start operating on 28 March 2021.
Read More19 February 2021
Qatar Airways increases Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg flights
ATTA®Qatar Airways will now operate 28 weekly flights across Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. The airline increased frequencies to the following destinations:
Read More18 February 2021
Direct Cape Town to Lisbon flight to launch November
ATTA®A direct flight between Cape Town and Lisbon with Portuguese airline TAP Portugal will launch in November 2021, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced in his State of the Province Address on Wednesday, February 17.
Read More17 February 2021
Ten hotels join the “beyond Green” label for sustainable tourism
ATTA®The Preferred Hotels group has just launched "Beyond Green", a label offering stays based on sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism. Among the 24 hotels that have already integrated this new concept of ecological tourism, 10 are based in Africa.
Read More17 February 2021
COVID rapid tests available at OR Tambo, Cape Town International Airport
ATTA®Travellers planning trips abroad will need to provide valid negative COVID-19 test results as well as an antigen test. Dis-Chem Pharmacies now offer rapid antigen tests at OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport.
Read More16 February 2021
SAA Cancellation of International flights until 30th of October, Regional and Domestic Services until 30th of April 2021.
ATTA®South African Airways confirms that international flights will remain cancelled up to, and including, the 30th of October 2021.
Read More16 February 2021
Emirates extends travel ban on South Africa
ATTA®Emirates announced the ban on flights to South Africa will be extended until March 10. The airline previously planned to resume flights on February 28.
Read More16 February 2021
Airlink launches fourth Namibian route
ATTA®Airlink says it will launch a new direct thrice-weekly service between Cape Town and Walvis Bay on March 2.
Read More15 February 2021
African Safari Group Collection (Pty) Limited - Public Liquidation Statement
ATTA®Africa Safari Group advised that they have made the hard decision to go into voluntary liquidation. Their first and highest priority, however, remains to honour their commitment to their clients.
Read More15 February 2021
Lufthansa suspends direct flights to Cape Town
ATTA®Germany announced that the ban on South Africa, eSwatini and Lesotho, which was supposed to be lifted on February 17, may be extended. This comes as uncertainty runs rife due to the pandemic.
Read More15 February 2021
Zimbabwe receives first batch of vaccines from China
ATTA®Zimbabwe on Monday received its first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China as the southern African nation received a boost in its response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Read More15 February 2021
20 borders fully reopened, 30 remain closed
ATTA®South Africa's 20 land borders, which have only been partially operational for the past month, will now be fully open from today, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has announced.
Read More15 February 2021
Save Our Summer "SOS " Campaign
ATTA®Formed on Friday 12th February between Henry Morley (True Luxury Travel) and Paul Charles (PC Agency), "SOS" is a new initiative in the UK to to get Boris Johnson to re-open the UK and overseas travel sector by 1st May and help build confidence within the public to make new bookings.
Read More12 February 2021
KAA revamps airstrips in fresh plan to boost tourism
ATTA®Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) has embarked on expansion and rehabilitation of airstrips and airports as it seeks to open up tourism, boost the movement of cargo and enhance mobility of passengers across the country.
Read More12 February 2021
What's On At The Waterhole?
ATTA®If you went down to The Waterhole this week you would have found discussions on......
Read More11 February 2021
Air Namibia ceases operations effective immediately
ATTA®Air Namibia is officially ending all its operations from Thursday, February 11 effective immediately. The country’s government is posed to announce a voluntary liquidation for the airline.
Read More11 February 2021
Application for Membership - The Africa Hub
ATTA®The Africa Hub 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 More11 February 2021
International Tourism Film Festival Africa open for submissions
ATTA®The International Tourism Film Festival Africa (ITFFA) has opened entries for the international version of their event; the deadline for submissions is 15 March 2021.
Read More10 February 2021
Government prepares to reopen land borders
ATTA®Government is planning to reopen South Africa’s land borders soon. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier that the land borders will be closed until February 15.
Read More10 February 2021
Airlink announces their return to Sishen / Northern Cape
ATTA®Airlink will resume scheduled air services between Johannesburg and Sishen in the Northern Cape from 15th of February 2021.
Read More09 February 2021
South Africa to start COVID-19 vaccinations with doses from U.S.-based Johnson & Johnson
ATTA®South Africa will start its immunization campaign with Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine after data showed AstraZeneca’s shot offered minimal protection against mild-to-moderate illness from the dominant local virus variant.
Read More09 February 2021
The Africa Hub Launches - A new resource for those selling Africa
ATTA®Launching today, The Africa Hub is a first- stop, authoritative and invaluable resource on Africa for Tour Operators and agents - specialists and generalists alike.
Read More08 February 2021
Kenya records green turtle baby boom
ATTA®A baby boom is particularly exciting when it involves an endangered species. In Kenya, green turtle hatchlings have emerged from their sandy nest to venture into the ocean and hopefully help the declining population regain some strength.
Read More08 February 2021
W African airline suspends JNB flights
ATTA®Asky Airlines has suspended its flights between Johannesburg and Lomé in Togo. The airline introduced the service during 2020 but agent sources say the Johannesburg flights have been removed from the GDS for the next few months.
Read More04 February 2021
Futuregrowth buys stake in Thebe Tourism
ATTA®Investment company, Futuregrowth Asset Management, has confirmed that it has taken a “significant stake” in Thebe Tourism Group.
Read More04 February 2021
Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda among countries set to receive COVID-19 vaccine by end of February
ATTA®Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda are all slated to receive COVID-19 vaccines before the end of February.
Read More03 February 2021
Restrictions eased
ATTA®President Cyril Ramaphosa last night announced the immediate easing of several restrictions. Most of these directly impact the tourism and hospitality industries, including the sale of alcohol, the reopening of beaches and parks, and a change to the curfew.
Read More03 February 2021
Uganda Airlines receives second Airbus A330-800neo aircraft
ATTA®Uganda’s national carrier, Uganda Airlines, on Tuesday received its second Airbus A330-800neo aircraft at the Entebbe International Airport as it continues preparation for building its international long-haul flight network.
Read More02 February 2021
The Travel Industry Alliance (TIA) joins The Future of Aviation Group
The Travel Industry Alliance (TIA), of which ATTA is a founding member, has taken the next step towards reaching their aim of greater visibility and voice for the travel and tourism industry across government by joining The Future of Aviation Group.
Read More02 February 2021
RwandAir to open Bangui route
ATTA®The launch of RwandAir’s new service to the Central African Republic is part of the carrier’s recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as it opens up new markets and destinations.
Read More02 February 2021
Air France to continue operating between Paris and Johannesburg
ATTA®Air France has confirmed that all flights between Paris and Johannesburg will be maintained. The airline has noted the new regulations issued by the French government on January 29 and can confirm that all flights will continue to operate to South Africa as scheduled.
Read More01 February 2021
Help our Travel Industry Friends in Australia
ATTA®We are all feeling the devastating financial effects of Covid-19. A petition has been brought to our attention to help the Australian Tourism Industry. If you have 2 minutes, please support them.
Read More01 February 2021
Rhino poaching in South Africa declines by 33%
ATTA®South Africa saw a marked decline in rhino poaching during 2020, with the killing of rhino declining by 33%.
Read More01 February 2021
FlySafair receives rights approval to operate between SA and Mauritius
ATTA®FlySafair's rights application to operate flights between South Africa and Mauritius has been approved. While a schedule is not currently available due to the island nation's travel ban to and from South Africa, the airline will introduce a twice-weekly service as soon as government regulations allow.
Read More