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Africa most desired among young travellers

13 October 2010 | by Afrol news

Young people are trendsetters, and new research shows that Africa has become the most desired travel destination for Western youths. The trend bodes well for Africa's booming travel industry. Young Europeans have already followed their parents to the Mediterranean and Thailand and heard about the elders' round-the-world trip with stop-overs in Australia and the US. A charter trip to Egypt or the Caribbean is nothing special anymore.

 

For the big, once a lifetime adventure, trend researchers have found, sub-Saharan Africa is currently the hot spot among young people. One of several market analyses documenting this trend was today released by the UK travel analyser 'Year Out Group', which looked into the increasingly lucrative "gap year" travel market, where predominantly young people take a long break from studies and work for a lifetime experience.

 

"The most popular gap year destinations are shifting," the survey found. "Travellers are heading further afield and wanting to do something beyond just sitting on a beach in Thailand," the market researchers concluded. The study found that "South Africa and Kenya are the most popular destinations for structured gap year placements, with increasing numbers of gap year travellers avoiding the traditional destinations of Australia and New Zealand, in favour of more exotic destinations and activities, such as going on safari to see the 'Big Five' in Africa."

 

"Gap year travellers are not content with just a glorified holiday; they want exciting and varied destinations, cultures and activities to experience," the researchers said. "Although the old favourites do offer these, more and more people are attracted to destinations that have been under the radar of traditional gap year travel, such as Peru, Tanzania and Fiji."

 

Another trend, especially among young Americans, is to seek a meaningful gap year as a volunteer worker in the developing world. Also here, Africa is the great trend, taking over for the classic Latin American volunteer working holidays market. The market for shorter and longer working holidays is booming, also conquering Europe. The trend among young travellers is combining what many see as an "immoral" act of travelling - as it is an expression of luxury and environmental destruction in a poor and fragile world - with a "moral" act of getting engaged.

 

Popular issues for engaged youths currently primarily include environmental issues and animal welfare, while humanitarian and medical aid is losing its dominance among volunteer working holidays. African wildlife is of special interest.

 

Among the many trendy "volunteer and adventure travel" organisers is I-to-I, having Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia among its top destinations. "As part of you gap year in South Africa you could find yourself helping out at a lion park in Jo'burg, working with orphans in Cape Town or even training to be a wildlife ranger in the African bush," the operator promises, very in line with current market trends. Also in major European travel markets such as Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavia, "adventurous" African destinations tailored for young travellers are standing out as a trend. Increasingly, established charter giants are following this trend and offering lighter and shorter "adventure" trips to a growing number of African destinations for middle age and older tourists.

 

The trend is promising for Africa's tourism industry, where many more countries from Mali to Malawi could find trendy "moral" niches for engaged young travellers from Europe and North America. As a trend, Africa's popularity among the youth may have far reaching consequences as established travel operators react and offer more African destinations to the mainstream market. Also, these youths will one day grow up and probably visit more high standard African destinations with more ease than elder generations. Africa, in any case, already is one of the world's fastest growing tourist destinations. It bodes for the industry well that especially the upcoming generation has embraced the continent.

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Tanzania - Riches of Lake Tanganyika

2010 | by Afrol news

The shores of Lake Tanganyika, a "secret" African travel destination, are shared between the four diverse countries Tanzania, Burundi, DR Congo and Zambia. The enormous lake offers unique sports fishing, wildlife, swims, vibrant African villages and cities and a fairytale colonial ferry. Lake Tanganyika is not just any lake. It is the longest fresh water lake in the world - 677 kilometres long - and the second deepest after lake Baikal in Russia, reaching a depth of 1,433 metres. Being extremely old and isolated, it hosts over 300 endemic fish species.

 

Its mere size makes it a small universe of its own, providing the traveller with large cultural and natural variety. Exploring the shores of Lake Tanganyika is a pleasant experience that can take a lifetime. However, the legendary old ferry MV Liemba does not take a lifetime. Once a week, this boat stemming from German colonial times still cruises up and down the lake. The Liemba, known as Graf von Götzen until 1917, definitively is the best way to travel on Lake Tanganyika. The ferry, operational since 1913, was made world famous by its role in the 1951 film "African Queen", was carefully sunk by its German crew in 1917 to prevent it from falling into British enemy hands. It was lifted again in 1924, put into traffic in 1927 and overhauled in 1970 and 1993.

 

 

Kenya - Earnings From Tourism Run Wild

October 2010 | by All Africa

Tourism earned the country Sh48.5 billion in the first six months of the year, setting pace for the once leading foreign exchanger sector to reach Sh100 billion by the end of the year. The first half earnings are 85 per cent higher compared to about Sh26 billion received during the same period in 2009. The growth is not only in regard to receipts but also tourist arrivals. Between January and August 2010, visitor arrivals were 701,691 compared to 611,674 in 2009 .

 

Tourism minister Najib Balala on Thursday said the country is recording on average 17 per cent monthly growth in tourism arrivals compared to 2007. He projects tourist arrivals to hit 1.2 million mark by the end of the year. "The tourism sector has been recovering very well and we are very optimistic that by the end of the year tourism earnings are projected to hit Sh100 billion," he told reporters in Nairobi.

 

Mr Balala said that the government has to allocate more money to Kenya Tourist Board (KTB) if the country is to face its competitors Egypt, South Africa and Mauritius. "The Sh750 million allocated to KTB in the current Budget is very little compared to compared to South Africa's $70 million (Sh5.6 billion)," he said. "If we do not invest in marketing tourism we will not get the numbers we want." Mr Balala said that diversification of tradition source markets to new markets comprising Eastern Europe, India, China, Japan and Africa had paid off. "Aggressive marketing campaigns in the global media, outdoor advertising, partnership marketing with leading international airlines and travel operators contributed to this growth," he said.

 

The minister said that although the government's stimulus to reduce visa fees in 2009 by half to Sh2,000 ($25) helped this growth, starting January 2011 the fee would revert to Sh4,000 ($50). Mr Balala said that despite the travel warning by the US Government against Kenya, the North American market retains second position. During the period 75,000 American tourists visited Kenya, a 10 per cent growth compared to 2009. He said that Coast or beach destination is experiencing a 20 per cent decline caused partly by insecurity in the international waters for cruise ship, changing attitudes of modern tourists and lack of infrastructure. Mr Balala said that the government is stepping up tourism promotion in China, which has climbed to second position overtaking Japan in terms of number of tourists visiting Kenya from Asia.

 

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African destinations conquer European market

October 2010 | by Afrol

Not many years ago, Africa was an exotic travel destination for a few individualists. Now, both North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa are becoming mainstream destinations, increasingly integrated into the normal travel market. Also 2010 sees fast growth. The trend is indubitable. Any travel market analysis published nowadays includes Africa as any other tourist destination. Only a few years ago, this was not the case. Africa was too exotic for mainstream tourism. The "normalisation" of Africa is best illustrated by those investing in the travel market's basic infrastructure. Global airlines are queuing to announce their participation in the strong growth of the African market.

The strengthened Africa-Europe air infrastructure of is based on a greater demand. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for years has documented that both the North African and sub-Saharan tourism market is among the strongest growing destinations in the world.  Indeed, both markets were the only ones globally to record growth during the two troubled halves of 2009, a year when the global tourism market plunged. They also had the highest two-year growth in the pre- and post-crisis era. From the record first half of to the first half of 2010, international arrivals to North Africa grew by 12 percent and to sub-Saharan Africa even by 16 percent. In the European market, African destinations meanwhile figure among the most popular. Also during the northern winter of 2010-11, African destinations have a high profile. While North Africa still dominates, sub-Saharan Africa is getting a broader attention.

 

 

Tanzania - Travel and Leisure  World's Best Awards 2010

October 2010 | by Anna

The Travel and Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards 2010 have shortlisted seven Tanzania hotels in the category for 20 Top Lodges and Resorts in Africa and the Indian Ocean. The Tanzania hotels were chosen by readers of the magazine for many different aspects including value for money, facilities, accommodation standards, food and drinks, and level of service.

The shortlisted Tanzania hotels include:

- Serengeti Sopa Lodge

- Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

- Zanzibar Serena Inn

- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

- Ngorongoro Crater Lodge

- Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge

- Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge

 

Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourist Board, Dr Aloyce K. Nzuki, was said to be delighted that so many luxury hotels in Tanzania had bee shortlisted for the prestigious award and said "This demonstrates that Tanzania is increasingly being recognised for its growing number of world-class properties and its luxury safari product.

"Tanzania aims to provide the best travel experience possible to every visitor to our country and the fact that Tanzania won over one third of the Awards shows that we have succeeded."

With magazine readership reaching 1.5 million, the awards were chosen by the readers themselves amongst numerous categories including hotels, resorts, safaris, islands, destinations, cities, airlines, travel companies, and tour operators. Tanzania is a country situated in central East Africa and is home to Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro and Africa's deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika. The stunning country boasts miles of unspoilt pristine sandy beaches which lie on the shores of the Indian Ocean and a number of National Parks including Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Travellers staying in the African country can enjoy a range of Tanzania hotels within stunning destinations including beachfront properties and safari lodges where they can catch spectacular sightings of zebras, hippopotamus, leopards, giraffes, monkeys, buffaloes, elephants and many more wild mammals and reptiles.

 

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Egypt to Help Resurrect Country's Tourism Sector

October 2010 | by D. K. Sengbeh

The Egyptian Government has agreed to help breathe new life into the gloomy tourism sector of Liberia, Information Minister Cletus Sieh disclosed in Monrovia. Liberia has a rich tourism potential that could generate millions of dollars and provide employment opportunities for thousands of jobless Liberians, but the sector remains lifeless. But the Minister of Information, Cultural and Tourism, under whose jurisdiction the sector falls, after his return from Egypt, said his North African counterpart has agreed to collaborate in reviving tourism in Liberia. Minister Sieh said during discussions with his Egyptian counterpart, he appealed for assistance to help build the tourism sector of Liberia, especially ecotourism. The request, he said was granted, and the impact will be felt in coming months.

 

"I agree...that the tourism sector has performed not too satisfactorily...Egypt is one of the big tourist countries in Africa; they will provide us the technical experts and we will take full advantage of the collaboration," Minister Seih said. He furthered: "We have the attractions here...Kpatawee, the Sapo Park and you name the rest, and in the next few months we will begin to explore these areas." Minister Sieh disclosed that the Egyptians have also agreed to help strengthen the National Cultural Troupe of Liberia. This will involve cultural exchanges and visits by the two countries' cultural troupes. He said the Egyptian cultural delegation is expected in the country in the second week of December to perform, while a Liberian delegation is expected in Egypt next April. The Information Minister described the mission of the Liberian Trade Delegation to Egypt as being "very successful." He said fruitful discussions were held aimed at promoting investments and cultural relations between the two countries and people.

 

Minister Sieh said he is optimistic that the country's tourism can get a boom with the intervention of Egypt, rated 4th and 66th tourist country in Africa and the world respectively in 2008. In the past, a large number of tourists, mostly from the United States visited Liberia, but the country's economy, including the tourist industry, was badly damaged by the civil war, and has not yet recovered. Many African countries have placed priority on developing their travel and tourism industry, seeing it a valuable money earner, according to Afrique, an online African Magazine, which lists the top tourism countries in Africa below.

 

 

Travel is the Next Frontier in Bid to Attract Customers

15 October 2010 | by Wangui Maina

Kenya's tourism sector has yet to tap into the lucrative halal travel that is quickly gaining popularity. However, industry insiders say investors are working on proposals to set up facilities in Maasai Mara and the Kenyan Coast that could see the country attract more Muslim tourists, especially from the Middle East. Halal travel is a relatively new concept that is gaining popularity globally as demand for products and services permitted by Islam extend beyond food and banking. Asia, Middle East and Turkey have taken the lead with tourist destinations like Kenya and South Africa considering the concept.

 

Affluent Muslim travellers are making their influence felt by opting to travel to destinations and staying in places that accommodate their needs, mainly which operate within the boundaries of their religious beliefs. Mr Mohammed Jamaa of Sagal Travel says that there has been an increased demand for halal travel especially as establishments, mainly in Muslim countries, are opened to cater for this segment of the market. "There is demand for this kind of travel and it is gaining popularity," he said in an earlier interview with Business Daily.

 

 

Mozambique - Tourism Officials to Expand Contribution to Economy

8 October 2010 | by A.A

The Mozambican Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism Operators (AVITU) has promised to boost the national tourism sector and make it a major source for growth in the country's Gross Domestic Product. This promise was made in Maputo, by the new president of the association, Noor Mamad, when he was sworn into office at a ceremony attended by Tourism Minister Fernando Sumbana. Mamad was elected president by consensus among AVITU members, doubtless because he heads the successful and award winning travel agency, COTUR. Speaking to reporters, Mamad said that, as a first step, AVITU will register all travel agencies in Mozambique, since only a third of the agencies are currently registered. "There are many tourism operators who are not yet registered in the association. We must bring them to the association so that we have a cohesive group", said Mamad

 

According to a report of the daily newsheet "Canalmoz", AVITU currently only has 38 members and they are all travel agencies. Mamad added that at the moment the association is facing many problems and

there are aspects that must be renegotiated with the government and the airlines, the main ally of the association. "We will now outline strategies and operational lines". he vowed. For his part, Sumbana urged the new AVITU management to ensure that tourism makes a major contribution to improving Mozambique's balance of payments.

 

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