SkyscraperCity Forum banner

African Tourism News

243K views 2K replies 123 participants last post by  Umshini Wami 
#1 · (Edited)
African tourism is booming with rising international arrivals to Africa.
Most Africans are developing their tourism industries.
This thread is dedicated to news on African tourism developments
 
#142 · (Edited)
The Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany. It is celebrated on January 19 (or 20 on Leap Year), corresponding to the 10th day of Terr following the Ethiopian calendar. Timket celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism. During the ceremonies of Timkat, the Tabot, a model of the Ark of the Covenant, which is present on every Ethiopian altar (somewhat like the Western altar stone), is reverently wrapped in rich cloth and borne in procession on the head of the priest.

The largest and most colorful Timket festival is held in Gondar. The town Gondar served as the capital of both the Ethiopian Empire and the subsequent Begemder Province. The city has been referred to as the "Camelot of Africa" due to the presence of several royal castles.




History of Timket (Epiphany).

 
#146 · (Edited)
Ethiopia's tourism industry has been growing tremendously and the country continued to record positive growth in tourist arrivals over the last five years. Ethiopia achieved larger tourist numbers in 2013 than in 2012's, and already in five months data of the 2014 calendar, the country registered more tourist numbers than 2013. Thanks to Ethiopia's increased participation in international travel and tourism exhibitions. Showcasing the nation’s tourism products globally has enabled Ethiopia to promote its natural, cultural and historical attractions to the rest of the world. This has helped the country to attract more international tourists and also generated more travel and tourism revenue.

Ethiopia has rich tourism assets. With its diverse tourist attractions, which include cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, as well as a great variety of flora and fauna, the government of Ethiopia has initiated a number of measures to preserve and develop tourist sites throughout the country. Tourist infrastructures in various national parks have been upgraded, while renovation work on roads linking the parks with major roads and lodges is being carried out. Other measures include the protection of animals from illegal hunting in sanctuaries and parks, as well as security measures for the safety of all visitors.

Annual religious holidays and festivals are also increasingly attracting many international tourists. Meskel (መሰቀል in Ethiopian script) is one of the religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Ethiopian Catholic Churches that attracts many visitors. Meskel occurs on 17 September in the Ethiopian calendar (September 27, Gregorian calendar). The festival is known as Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in other Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant churches. The Ethiopia Meskel celebration includes the burning of a large bonfire, and it's the highlight of the end of the festivity.


Ethiopia is a land of wonder and enchantment, a country with one of the richest histories on the African continent, a land of contrasts and surprises. It is home to cultured and friendly people who are descended from some of the world's oldest civilizations. It is the land of the fabled Queen of Sheba, home of the Ark of the Covenant, the birthplace of coffee. 'Lucy: the world's oldest known almost-complete hominid skeleton, more than three million years old, and several amazing ancient historical places.

Ethiopia: A truly unique African country
lonely planet
 
#147 · (Edited)

Mozambique, bordered by the Indian Ocean, is often touted for its beaches: long, white sand, shaded by coconut palms. Landscape postcard of course, but with something more resembling a fragrance adventure.

Mozambique is relatively unknown to tourists. In 1992, the Portuguese enclave, a former Portuguese colony in southeast Africa, emerging from a civil war that lasted 16 years, and began slowly to rebuild and heal its wounds. For visitors, the potential is enormous.

Therefore beaches, but also the islands unique and mysterious atmosphere is so tempting. The Bazaruto Archipelago offers an incredible spectacle of dunes overlooking the degraded water ranging from turquoise and emerald green. Further north, Ilha de Moçambique, crossroads of civilizations Bantu, Arab, Indian and European, invites to wander and daydream in its cobbled streets.

Two faces of Mozambique are actually to discover by tourists: the South, where Maputo, modern and bustling capital concentrates most of the wealth of the country, where infrastructure exists and is growing, and the north side of the country, still largely underdeveloped, less visited, but much wilder, which remains a land of adventure.

The less hurried and more adventurous backpackers choose to discover Mozambique by road, which promises a variety of landscapes: red earth, bush huts, traditional villages and colorful markets. But all will have the opportunity to meet a smiling and welcoming people, unaccustomed to mass tourism.

Ponta do Ouro, south of the province has beautiful beaches, fine white sand, 116km from the capital. It is easily accessible from South Africa, the Kosi Bay border. The place is suitable for diving, there are coral reefs. On the way to Ponto de Oura, there is a nature reserve where you can meet huge herds of elephants.

Another point of great magnitude is the island of Inhaca, 35 km from the capital. It can be reached by boat or plane. The place is considered organic Patrimony and the island will delight any birdwatcher who can observe hundreds of species in a diverse environment: coastal dunes, mangroves, lagoons, plains and semi- forested areas. Marine biology center can accommodate naturalists, but there is also a hotel and few lodges for accommodation purposes.

Close to the border with Swaziland is Namaacha border town which is a popular resort for its mountain scenery. There are mineral springs and waterfalls. You can also see the Dam Pequenos Libombos, built on the river Umbeluzi.

Why don’t you visit Maputo next?
Interesting places to stay closeby:

Tartaruga Marinha, Ponta Malogane, Maputo


























https://za.news.yahoo.com/tartaruga-maritima-relaxation-best-southern-mozambique-073658281.html
 
#150 ·

Beijing, — TANZANIA'S travel and tourism industry has high growth potential but snags are blocking the efforts, especially on tapping China market. Addressing that is of paramount importance.

The government has of late realised the importance of diversifying the tourism source markets -- and adopted the Think Asia strategy.

The goal here, aims to reduce the over-reliance on traditional markets, such as the UK and the US, which continue to experience the effects of economic recession.

Given the fact that tourism is now number two in contribution to the country's GDP, the Think Asia should be approached with all tools available to the sector to remain competitive and attractive.

The fruits of Think Asia have started to be seen. The latest data from China National Tourism Administration show that in the first two months of this year, China's tourist arrivals in Tanzania rose by 63 per cent.

In totality, last year, for instance, the number of China's tourists to Tanzania went up by 39.09 per cent to reach 16,100 visitors and and going by statistics the number are expected to increase by 40 per cent or 6,500 new tourists this year.

[More in the link]
 
#151 ·
Johannesburg and Cape Town top most visited African cities list



Cape Town is more popular for it’s tourist attractions, but the city of gold outshines the Mother when it comes to annual visitors, apparently. According to the just-published MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, South Africa’s two biggest metropololies top the list of African destinations for travellers but it’s Joburg and not Table Mountain that takes the crown.
The index ranks the world 132 cities from around the world according to the amount of visitors it received in 2013 and its projected visitors for 2014 and the cross-border spending by visitors in the destination cities. London came out tops for the third year in a row as the most visited city in the world and is projected to have received 18.7 million international visitors by the end of this year.

Over four million visitors are expected to have landed on Johannesburg by the end of 2014, while 1.6 million are expected in Cape Town. Cairo, Lagos and Casablanca came in third, fourth and fifth place. Johannesburg’s international overnight visitor spend for 2014 is estimated at $3.2 billion (around R320 billion), while Cape Town’s estimated international overnight visitor spend stands at $2.3 billion (around R230 billion)

The index also reveals that most of these international visitors coming into Johannesburg are from London, Frankfurt, Harare, Maputo and Paris while most visitors from around Africa come from neighbouring countries Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Botswana and Swaziland.

http://www.htxt.co.za/2014/07/11/johannesburg-and-cape-town-top-most-visited-african-countries-list/
 
#153 ·
World Cup 2034: Can Zimbabwe afford it?


The announcement of the “World Cup Dream” by the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Engineer Walter Mzembi, last week has generated excitement inasmuch as it has invited scepticism.

The 2018 and 2022 editions will be held in Russia and Qatar, respectively, and bidding for 2026 and beyond is yet to formally begin.

A perusal of the total costs to governments that have hosted the past seven World Cup finals and the state of their infrastructure prior to the events show the huge financial outlay required.

The 2014 World Cup has cost Brazil US$14 billion, most of which went towards stadia works, hotels, transport and security services.

FIFA demanded a minimum of eight compatible stadiums for a successful 2014 World Cup, but the host nation used four more.

Around US$3,6 billion was spent on construction of seven new stadia and upgrading of five existing ones.
The 40 000-seat Arena Pantanal in the city of Cuiaba, for example, cost US$260 million while government auditors say the Brasilia Stadium gobbled around US$900 million.
At least US$900 million was invested in security, with over 170 000 professionals enlisted, and over US$200 million went towards modernisation of Brazil’s hotel network.

More was pumped into transport, with over 600 000 people flying in and three million domestic flights booked.

South Africa’s 2010 World Cup budget cost close to US$4 billion and the “2010 FIFA World Cup Country Report” released in 2012 said US$1,1 billion was spent on building and upgrading stadia.
Ten stadia in nine cities were used for the 2010 show-piece, five of them built just for the event.
One of the new venues, the 55 000-seat Cape Town Stadium, used around US$600 million while Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth cost US$270 million.

Zimbabwe must, if it wishes to host the World Cup, build top-notch infrastructure over the next 20 years.

Eng Mzembi said he had already sounded out FIFA president Josep Blatter on the idea of bringing the global event back to Southern Africa — and competition to host these events is fierce.

Already, the Association of South East Asian Nations is planning a joint bid for 2034.
Eng Mzembi has hinted that Zimbabwe could collaborate with major cities in the region. “Our idea is to have Harare as the host city but in collaboration with other major cities like Maputo (Mozambique), Johannesburg (South Africa), Gaborone (Botswana) and Lusaka (Zambia). All these cities are within a one-and-half hour flight of each other and this would be in the spirit of our regional solidarity.

“It is a dream that may be enjoyed by our successor generation and is in line with a tradition that is in our culture that you plant a tree that the shed will be enjoyed by other generations decades later,” said the minister.

Zimbabwe currently has one venue that can carry more than 40 000 people, the National Sports Stadium, but it does not meet FIFA World Cup standards. FIFA are strict on stadia, and have a standard of a minimum 60 000 capacity for a World Cup finals match, with parking space that can accommodate at least 10 000 cars.

World Cup stadia should have individual seats throughout, proper lighting, a public surveillance system both in and outside the venue, at least two first aid rooms for fans, a nearby helipad and enough space and rooms for the media.
Edited a few paragraphs... see more at: http://nehandaradio.com/2014/07/13/world-cup-2034-can-zimbabwe-afford/#sthash.XnZx1UhQ.dpuf
 
#295 ·
this is nonsense I like mzembi he is probably zim's best minister and he done a lot of good things to boost investment in tourism given that there is all this negative mugabe stuff......zim missed it's world cup chance in 2010. it would have been the obvious that they would co- hosted it with SA if they weren't perusing divisive and negative things
 
#154 ·
I like the joint bid idea. Not sure whether FIFA would allow a southern africa collab. With Harare and Zimbabwe as the host but in collaboration with other major S'nAfrican cities like Maputo, Jo'burg, Gaborone, Luanda, etc.

Like the zim minister said, these cities are within a one-and-half hour flight of each other.

Very dubious but hey...
 
#158 ·
They could start with an Africa Cup of Nations in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru and one more city. I believe the AFCON is a good gauge of national preparedness since the world cup is about two times that in stadium infrastructure.

But after that, there will be other essential issues...
 
#163 ·

Maputo - I am on a board whooping down a 30m sand-dune. Around me is silence, my senses captivated by the scent of Cobra lavender polish with which I had waxed the board and a 360 view of Bazaruto island with its blinding white sand spits, sapphire ocean and endless beaches.

Reaching the bottom in a blur, I figured that, surely, this is where a good holiday is meant to be spent. Near enough to home but far from the everyday.

Thirty five kilometres off-shore the village of Vilanculos, Mozambique, the Bazaruto Archipelago – five islands sliced off the mainland in tectonic movement thousands of years ago – lies in a solitary ocean tableau of delicate blue shades, talcum sands and coral outcrops.

A two-and-a-half hour flight from Joburg on Airlink – and a further 10 minute hop by small plane from the mainland – Bazaruto Island is a slender finger of land upon which Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort and Spa lies, set on a singular stretch of marzipan coast, kissed by a sea of shameless transparency.

Fishermen believe this is paradise (the All Africa record for barracuda is captured in black and white in the resort’s bar) while, if you’re like me and want to soak in the eloquence of nothingness, Anantara Bazaruto is as good as it gets.

It’s a carefree escape for families, honeymooners or castaways from the wired world and the two-roomed villas – with wrap-around terrace and plunge pools over-looking the bay – are the essence of elegant escapism.

The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, 150km2 in extent, takes in all five islands in the chain as well as the surrounding sea. On Bazaruto itself, Anantara Resort has built community centres, schools and access to water for islanders and formed a partnership with local communities to conserve the ecosystem and assist national park staff with transport, communication and health facilities.

In teaching the importance of conserving local marine life and working with the authorities to counter illegal fishing activities, a tag and release policy for fishing activities has been encouraged in conjunction with Durban’s Oceanographic Institute.

This is not environmental chump change for the Bazaruto Archipelago is one of the last places on earth with sustainable populations of the Dugong, famed “mermaids of the sea” who adore the vast sea meadows of the area, including Neptune’s Nursery where we are off to now, the dive boat slicing through water the colour of forged glass.

A beginner’s reef for snorkelling, its emerald underworld reveals pot-bellied parrot fish and schools of Moorish idols, their dorsal fins slapping like sails in the current.

Mostly though, I have always loved the idea of just being in a boat with my family, powering through the ocean with a tropical breeze in my hair and it’s an alchemy which has never failed to invite happiness.

Back on land, contentment was also inspired by a crayfish Caesar salad and pizza margarita lunch, then allowing the day to unpack in reading, lazing and taking another kayak flip before heading to the spa.

Set on the highest point, the spa’s ocean view is spell-binding and the hydro bath is a magically tranquil spot to watch the sun descend in a blonde haze over the mainland.

For the kids, the resort has numerous supervised activities during the holidays along with a Qolf course, a fun yet quite frustrating cross between green grass putt-putt and chipping, though I’m more partial (and competitive) to table-tennis.

Away from the beach, Anantara keeps a stable of fine horses for cantering along the beach or taking a cultural tour of the local village – and there are the towering dunes for sand-board riding.

But what makes Bazaruto and Anantara Resort such a great getaway is the sense of abandon, articulated by lizards which laze on stone pathways, wild gardenia and deep green trees which shroud a blue infinity pool.

On our last morning as I sat on the deck and looked out over the shades of blue, a statement faintly drawn on a picture in Anantara’s bar made complete sense. It read: “In nature every aspect has been carefully considered”.
 
#164 ·
Angola’s Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Pedro Mutindi, Tuesday in Luanda announced the creation of a social and domestic tourism programme due to be in place by 2015.

The minister, who had just signed a memorandum of understanding for the programme along with the Director-General of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Angola, Samuel Harbor, said that the programme would coordinate with school holidays in the country, “giving holiday camps for children back to society.”

According to the memorandum of understanding, UNDP will fund the preparation of the programme with US$80,000, as part of measures to eradicate poverty and promote inclusive development.

According to the Angolan government, the programme’s is “priority objectives” include “improving conditions for leisure time and leisure for children, young people, families and workers, and retired people,” as well as being an additional “lever” for the country’s economic development.”
 
#167 ·
Communists policies.

Gabonese just want to work in offices chilling. and both of their largest cities are just there on the Ocean. but Gabaonese just care of the office jobs.

Angola on the other hand are starting on the right time though. the last 10 years of peace they have enjoyed, they were busy building the country's infras from Brand New Rail, Inter provioncial Roads, to Airports to rebuilding the cities, new cities from scracth in just 10 years is something to congratulate them about...

Angola is not tiny nor small , it's one of the largest countries n Africa geographically...distances are long.


What is Tourism without Logistical Infrastructures? moreover Angola war left so many land mines in a very large part of the country.
 
#169 ·
To be brutally honest- i dont quite see Nigeria as a potential African giant like Kenya or Egypt.
Domestic tourism will be the way forward for Nigeria.

I dont get what you mean about Thailand btw. Most tourism there is based around its beaches which cant compare with any in WA (with the possible exception of S Leone).
Kenya's plains are famous for the wildlife they contain and WA doesnt contain anywhere near as much animals in its plains.
 
#168 ·
DRC also is extremely behind in Tourism...we've never had Tourism anyways...couldn't with the communist style economy.

Anyways; Tourism walks hand in hand with economic development..the more middle class you create , the more tourism grows. Obviously you need a good Logistical Infrastructures.....the distances uin a country like DRC is no joke..

Imagine distances of 1/2 of West Africa or Western Europe.

When i see Africans complaining about money their football Clubs spends on transportaation i cannot help shaking my head. LOL
 
#173 ·

I have wanted to travel to Mozambique—my 95th country—for years. Its beautiful coastline, white sand beaches, and crystal clear Indian Ocean water have spelled paradise to me ever since I learned about them while traveling in Madagascar. And now that I’m flying over the water off the coast of Pemba in the country’s far north, I can see firsthand just how amazing it is.

As the plane glides into Medjumbe, I get a bird’s eye view of the island. It is a slender strip of sand with bungalows in the middle and seductively curling beaches at the ends. Tiny waves wash the shore as we touch down on the airstrip, where the staff welcomes me to a paradise that will be my home for the next two nights.

Medjumbe has offered to host me in one of its beachfront bungalows, and after a welcome drink and quick orientation in the main lodge, I settle into my air-conditioned room with its big bed and floor-to-ceiling views of the sea. The room’s decor is a mix of beautiful whites and blues with Arabic accents that remind me of nearby Zanzibar (in fact, this whole island reminds me of Zanzibar, only without the crowds).

But the only things I feel like exercising are my eyes. I can’t take them off the water. As the tide goes out, the beach suddenly gets a mile wider and the whites, blues, and aquamarines of the ocean grow more distinct and beautiful. I walk out on the sand, stopping to inspect the little crabs on the beach and watch the birds walking through the low water. It is too beautiful for words here, and no matter how many photos I take, my camera can’t do justice to how perfect the scene is.

My eyes continue to drink in the water that evening as I walk along the beach at sunset, and the following day when I board a boat for a snorkeling trip. They are again rewarded when I get below the surface and discover the coral reefs and abundant sea life in Mozambique. All around me, schools of fish dart in and out of white-and-purple coral fingers and play in gentle anemones.
Some pics I found of Medjumbe Beach. Enjoy :cheers:


http://www.aladyinlondon.com/2013/11/medjumbe-private-island-mozambique-review.html


http://www.mozambiquetourism.co.za/holiday/medjumbe-private-island


http://www.encompassafrica.com.au/destinations.asp?id=716&t=quirimbas-archipelago&cid=197


http://www.travel2mozambique.com/medjumbe-private-island/


http://www.kaskazini.com/en/content/quirimbas


http://www.jasmineholidays.co.uk/hotels/medjumbe-private-island




http://africageographic.com/blog/two-eras-in-the-quirimbas/
 
#174 ·

VENTURES AFRICA – The Angolan government has invested $20 million to construct a local hospitality training institute, Luanda Hotel School in a bid to boost the country’s tourism industry.

Luanda Hotel School site is located in the capital Luanda and will train more than 500 hotel and tourism students at a time.

“The $20 million project, which is a both a working hotel and a hospitality school, is expected to open within 12 months and will have a capacity for 500 students will have 50 rooms, 12 classrooms and accommodation for 96 students,”said Angola’s Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Pedro Mutindi.

Angola’s tourism industry is relatively new, as much of the country was destroyed during the post-colonial civil war which ended in 2002.

The ten years following the 2002 peace agreement have witnessed a 300 percent rise in the number of visitors to Angola. In 2009, approximately 365,000 tourists visited Angola. Its tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, plunging waterfalls and winding rivers, desolate deserts and white sandy beaches have lucrative industry potential.

The Southern Africa nation has some of the largest, most remote and untouched wildlife parks on the planet. An incredible array of cultures, climates and landscapes make Angola Southern Africa’s final frontier. Angola has a growing surfing population; Cabo Ledo, a few hours south of Luanda, is a world famous surfing beach.
 
Top