Dubai ranked third-best city in the world for digital nomads

Dubai has been ranked the third-best city in the world for digital nomads to live in, according to new research by real estate consultancy Savills.

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, topped the table and Miami was ranked second in the Savills Executive Nomad Index, which lists the top 15 cities for long-term remote workers, based on internet speed, quality of life, climate, air connectivity and prime rents, Savills said in a statement on Wednesday.

Portugal’s popular Algarve region, in the south of the country, was ranked fourth, followed by Barbados in the Caribbean.

Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Saint Lucia, Malta and Antigua & Barbuda round out the top 10. No cities in Asia featured in the index.

“Remote working enabled business owners from abroad to make Dubai their main hub,” said Helen Tatham, head of residential community sales and leasing at Savills Dubai.

“UK nationals have long favoured Dubai for holiday and work, but the market also benefited from new demand from French, German, Swedish and Swiss buyers.”

The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the remote-working trend, with the adoption of new technologies encouraging more workers to move away from the cities or countries where their employers are based.

In response, some countries, including the UAE, enacted legislation designed to attract foreign-employed workers.

The UAE unveiled a one-year residency permit for remote workers in March last year to attract more talent to the region and boost business opportunities. The visa permits foreign remote professionals to live in the Emirates while continuing to serve employers in their home countries.

Dubai topped the Savills index for air connectivity, with the emirate’s airlines reaching more than 100 countries, Savills said.

All cities that featured in the Savills index either have a digital nomad visa programme, or equivalent, or, in the case of US and European countries, are already part of a large economic bloc that allows free movement of people for living or work, the consultancy said.

They offer favourable climates year-round, a high quality of life and have established prime residential markets, Savills said.

“The modern executive nomad – a distant cousin of the freelance creative working from a cafe in Bali or Costa Rica – owns a villa in the Algarve or a condo in Miami, attends Zoom calls from an airy home office and hops on a flight back to London, New York or Geneva for the quarterly board meeting,” said Paul Tostevin, head of Savills World Research.

“Provided travel connections are good and high-speed internet is reliable, individuals and families are motivated to relocate and are placing a greater emphasis on health, wellness and overall lifestyle.”

Lisbon topped the index on the back of its high quality of life, low pollution, favourable climate and good air connectivity.

“Tech executives and entrepreneurs are drawn by Lisbon’s burgeoning status as a tech hub,” said Ricardo Garcia, head of residential at Savills Portugal.

“Real estate costs are low and there is a strong local talent pool. Companies are moving their headquarters to Portugal.”

Miami has grown in appeal as a remote working destination in the US owing to its warm climate and beaches, Savills said.

The city also offers good air connectivity and digital infrastructure, as well as a strong prime rental market and a comparatively good quality of life,.

Barbados, which has the fastest internet in the Caribbean, is popular with digital nomads thanks to its climate and good air connectivity.

Barcelona, which placed sixth, also has fast internet and a strong global connectivity through its air and rail systems, Savills said.

“As the workplace has evolved to a new, more flexible model, executive nomads are turning what were previously holiday home markets into year-round ones,” Mr Tostevin said.

“Certain locations in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, as well as cities such as Lisbon, Miami and Dubai, offer them connectivity, favourable climates and a high quality of life.”

Source: The National News

South Africa is introducing a digital nomad visa – will it revive the struggling tourism sector?

South Africa’s captivating coastlines and unique ecosystems attract millions of travellers every year. With tourism bringing in an estimated $10 billion (€ 8.2 billion) to the economy and employing millions throughout the country.

However, South Africa’s tourism industry suffered a major setback in 2020, when COVID-19 reached the country’s shores. Before the pandemic, international visitors in South Africa spent over $30,000 (€27,000) per minute while criss-crossing the nation. A figure that seems insurmountable in today’s South Africa, as tourism companies search for new ways to make up for lost time.

How can South Africa revive its tourism industry?

Industry leaders at the World Travel Market Africa event in Cape Town, South Africa are convinced that the antidote to the ailing tourism sector is the fast-tracking of digital nomad visas. This ambitious visa regime would allow international remote workers to stay in the country for longer than 90 days and up to a year in total.

“There are a number of destinations that have done this like Dubai, Greece and Maldives. Those destinations have seen an overall growth in tourism numbers,” explains Velma Corcoran, Country Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Airbnb.

“What we have done as Airbnb is work closely with the Italian Ministry of Tourism to support them in lobbying for a digital nomad visa.”

President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, describes the remote work visa as a tool to enable economic growth. However, while this is under review by the government, South Africa faces the double threat of safety issues and skills shortages.

Crime rates in South Africa: An ongoing issue

Safety is South Africa’s achilles heel, and crime affects domestic and international visitors alike. In the last three months of 2021, murder rates increased by 8.9 per cent and hijackings rose by 13.8 per cent.

“We must deal with another major challenge, a challenge which was well articulated to me by the President of China who told me that many Chinese tourists want to come to South Africa and Africa, but the issue that is holding them back is crime,” says President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Unless the government acts to increase safety measures in the country, it is likely that some tourists will continue to be put off by crime statistics.

A shortage of skilled workers

The pandemic has left a huge gap in South Africa’s skilled labour market too. And while the tourism industry is crying out for more international and domestic travellers, the reality is that the country could struggle to meet their demands.

The government’s job retention support scheme lessens the burden, explains Monika Iuel, Chief Marketing Officer at WESGRO, but more still needs to be done to support the industry. She believes that digital technology will play an important role in closing the gap.

“I think the government’s scheme for payroll alleviation was a little support. I do not think it was anywhere sufficient because tourism and the hospitality industry are a big service industry,” says Iuel.

“For WESGRO, digital communications has gone on steroids because the only way to reach the consumer is on digital platforms.”

Will introducing a digital nomad visa help tourism?

There’s no doubt that introducing a digital nomad visa would provide a welcome boost for the tourism industry.

Should South Africa give the visa the greenlight, it will become the first mainland African country to offer visitors a long-term remote visa, joining the African island nations of Mauritius, Seychelles and Cape Verde.

While the finer details have yet to be confirmed, it is likely that there will be a minimum salary requirement for tourists applying for the visa, as well as rules regarding health insurance, proof of work and accommodation.

Source: euronews

Sustainable travel: Africa leading with ban on single-use plastics

There is a collective effort worldwide to phase out the use and production of single-use plastic. Back in 2002, Bangladesh was the first ever country to ban thin, single-use plastic. Several countries followed suit by either imposing a partial or complete ban on the use of plastic, or levying tax on every single single-use plastic item.

The fight against plastic pollution is not just to make our surroundings look prettier and cleaner, but mainly to save the planet we live in from dying. With rivers, ocean, land and even mountains already all choked up with plastic waste, very recently researchers have found traces of plastic inside our body, in the blood.

The plastic we discard ends up in our land and ocean, two main areas from where we get our food to survive. The lifespan of a normal plastic item is upto 1000 years, plastic bottles upto 450, and plastic bags for about 20 years. Let’s just say our entire lifetime. That’s too much time in our life, living with plastic in our system and that can’t be good.

When the whole world is fighting the good fight for a cleaner eco-friendly life, Africa is taking things one step ahead of everyone and setting a new bar for the whole world. Out of 170 nations that pledged to ban the single-use plastic, around 77 of them have passed full or partial ban, 34 countries are from Africa alone.

Countries like Tanzania, Kenya, Mali, Cameroon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, South Africa, Rwanda and Botswana have strict policies on use of single-use plastic. They are either completely banned or the government levies a very high tax on them.

Taking things one notch higher is Tanzania that, as of 2019, has announced that travellers are no longer allowed to bring in plastic bags when they visit the country. This includes all plastic carriers, regardless of their thickness.

They even make in-flight announcements to surrender any plastic bags. Special counters are set up at the airport and border posts for travellers to surrender any kind of plastic bags. The only exception is ziplock bags used as toiletries, provided they leave Tanzania with you. Travellers are encouraged to bring cloth carry bags instead of plastic.

So now you know what to pack and what not to when you plan for that beautiful African holiday that you have been waiting for. It is always better to be an environmentally conscious traveller.

Source: Times of India

Tata Sons begins process to merge AirAsia India with Air India

Tata Sons has started the process to merge Air India, the flag carrier airline of India, with low-cost carrier AirAsia India. 

In a legal notice to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), seen by Times of India on April 27, 2022, Air India notified the local competition regulator about its proposed aim to merge with low-cost carrier AirAsia India.  

“The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of the entire equity share capital of AirAsia India Private Limited by Air India Ltd- an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Private Limited (TSPL). At present, TSPL holds 83.67% of the equity share capital of AirAsia India,” the document states. 

The consolidation of both airlines means that merged airlines will hold roughly a 16% share of the local domestic passenger market. However, Air India ensured that the proposed merger “will not lead to any change in the competitive landscape or cause any appreciable adverse effect on competition in India, irrespective of the manner in which the relevant markets are defined”. 

Tata Sons, which currently owns an 83.67% share in AirAsia India, formally took control of Air India on January 27, 2022. Since then, the new owner of the loss-making airline has initiated a gradual consolidation of both businesses.  

In February 2022, immediately after Air India’s privatization, the two airlines signed an Interline Considerations on Irregular Operations (IROP) cooperation agreement, where Air India and AirAsia India agreed to serve each other’s domestic customers to minimize passenger inconvenience in the event of flight disruptions. 

After taking control of Air India, Tata Sons holds shares in four Indian airlines, including AirAsia India, Vistara, and Air India Express. The Mumbai-based conglomerate reportedly plans to move all four carriers to a 70,000 square feet office near Delhi.  

Source: Aerotime Hub

Uganda Airlines To Launch Airbus A330neo Flights To London Heathrow This Year

Beginning in November this year, Uganda Airlines will launch its long-awaited direct flights between Entebbe International Airport and London’s Heathrow Airport, using its Airbus A330-800neo for the route.

A year’s delay

The new route announcement comes days after Uganda’s President Museveni made threats to take action against the national carrier for the long delay in making direct flights to the UK. This happened during a recent meeting with the UK Trade envoy for Uganda and Rwanda, Lord Popat, and the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Kate Airey.

President Museveni said he would soon enforce pushable actions on the Civil Aviation Authority and Uganda Airlines to get the paper sorted quickly, saying:

“What has helped Uganda to recover has been the army and private sector, in spite of the obstacles caused by public service. They have helped the economy recover. The airline people are well paid. Why can’t they finish the issue of direct flights? They are the enemy of the country.”

The fury stemmed from concerns within the UK trade envoy asking about when the flights to London would happen, with Lord Popat suggesting that the Ugandan government work on the issue of starting flights to promote investments and tourism quickly.

He was just as willing to help speed up the process, saying:

“If Uganda is willing, we are ready to send our aviation people here to help CAA so that we can have direct flights to the UK.”

Regulation problems

Quite shockingly, Uganda Airlines was granted rights and slots to commence flights to London last year, with a then-planned arrival to Heathrow at 06:45 am and departure at 09:00 am.

The granting of slots came after an analysis revealed that over 84,000 passengers flew on the Entebbe to London flight on a two-way point-to-point basis in 2019, making Entebbe the second-largest unserved market from Africa to London.

However, the flights to London never began. According to the airline’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Jenifer Bamuturaki, the UK aviation body required Uganda Airlines to apply for a foreign carrier permit.

The requirement is one of the changes caused by Brexit regulation. All non-UK air carriers wishing to undertake commercial services to, from, or within the UK must hold a Foreign Carrier Permit before that flight is launched – a process that usually takes up to six months.

Problem solved

It would undoubtedly seem that the regulatory problems have now been solved. Although, the timings are yet to be announced after further consideration of other flights feeding into the London route. Moreover, the Uganda-London way will operate thrice weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

With the establishment of London flights settled, Uganda Airlines is looking to expand its regional network, with plans for flight services to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the making.

And in terms of going much farther, the airline is also looking to further dominate the international market with many more long-haul routes, including the resumption of flights to Dubai back in October last year. By the end of 2023, the Ugandan national carrier is eyeing Guangzhou using the Airbus A330-800neo aircraft.

Source: Simple Flying

Young investors set up desktop travel firms

Businesses around tourism sector globally are tipped to flourish after successfully emerging from Covid-19 pandemic. 

 Travel agencies are not an exception, with experts recommending it in top hundred best companies in the world.

Travel agencies provide customers with expertise and guidance when booking a trip of any kind.

As multinational agencies and big local companies angle themselves to reap big, young people in Kenya are not left behind.

They are opening desktop travel agencies from comfort of their houses, campuses and gym… either as part time ventures or full-time preoccupation.  

Edward Mogesa 31 is such young person who has vowed to swim with sharks in this sector.  

 Mogesa, a gym owner saw an opportunity to start a travel agency because of the number of youths who frequent his gym, he believes that the industry has potential, and they are at the tip of the iceberg.

He told the Star that the idea was born during covid when most people lost their jobs, and they were forced to come up with ideas to make ends meet.

“My gym buddies and I felt like breaking the monotony of free weights, changing the environment, and embarked on what psychologists would call adventure therapy,”Mogesa said. 

He added that they had a genuine desire to break the monotony, change the environment, and experience rejuvenation from new experiences, places, and cultures.

According to him with Sh 50,000 you can operate the business, one that you don’t even have to own a physical office to keep things moving.

This is not to say that one can only start with a minimum of Sh 50, 000.

 “I wouldn’t be completely honest with you if I said the venture of domestic tourism is not profitable enough, because it is and we owe it to our beautiful country,” Mogesa said.

He says the local tourism sector has a lot of potential and the local market deserves to enjoy the benefits.

“More players need to come on board and recognize the potential of the local tourism sector in the industry,” he added.

Mogesa is not the only one who has tapped into the opportunity, he represents many youths who have now ventured in this sector with over 400 registered travel and tours agencies in the country.

Most of them ventured into travel agency business after the pandemic that forced many organizations to lay off several employees.

Monica Musungu, founder of Scenery Adventures started her now multimillion travel agency with Sh 5,000 and had to rent cars whenever she had a client.

Kenya has been ranked one of the top tourist destinations in the world.

According to North American destination experts Goway Travel, Kenya has become a sought-after destination by avid globe trotters because of its favorable weather, vast wildlife scenery and warm sandy beaches.

Many tours and travel agencies have emerged, milking the cow, that is tourism.

A lot of them have become lucrative empires making it one of the best investments currently in the country.

The market size of the travel agency sector worldwide reached 290 billion U.S. dollars as of August 2021.

Overall, approximately 196 thousand businesses team building operated in this market, while this industry employed nearly 1.6 million workers.

In Kenya, young people are running to the sector to resolve unemployment puzzle. 

Regionally Kenya is comparatively doing badly in terms of unemployment rates.

According to KNBS data, youth unemployment has sharply risen to 706,859 (5.96 per cent) for those aged 20-34 significantly higher than Tanzania and Uganda.

This has made them realize that in order to succeed, they have to take their futures in their hands.

Indeed, it has become apparent that with creativity as well as hard work, young people have the ability to create jobs for themselves and others and turn their lives around.

Christine Ouko, owner of Global Business Travel Management is one of the success stories.

“It hasn’t been easy, but it is worth it. I get to spend enough time with my children, and I am making the kind of money that I could only dream about seven years ago.”

Apart from organising holidays and other trips, her company has ventured into medical tourism which is timely now that hundreds of patients are seeking medical treatment outside the country each year.

Jane Macharia Gituto, managing director at Shian Tours & Travel Ltd located in 5th Ngong Avenue in Nairobi currently makes grosses more than Sh500 million in revenues, has employed 18 people and has two offices in Nairobi and another in Thika.   

Her agency has also been ranked fourth in the annual Top 100 mid-sized survey which ranks the fastest-growing SMEs in Kenya, and they plan to expand in other parts of East African region.

This goes to show how much travel and tourism industry has been growing at a rapid pace inviting new businesses and providing a fertile space for the existing travel businesses to thrive.

Industry data suggest that the number of travel bookings through agents has been growing.

On average, travel agencies earn 78 per cent of their revenue through commissions and 22 per cent of revenue through service charges.

Moreover, they also earn revenue by increasing fare prices or earning compensation by achieving sales goals. 

Source: The Star

African airlines sustain high passenger growth as more states end covid curbs

African airlines have continued to post growth in passenger numbers as more countries open up their economy after years of Covid-19 restrictions that negatively impacted the aviation sector.

Data from both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and African Airline Association (Afraa) indicates that the regional carriers’ performance improved by 70 percent in February and 69 percent in March respectively.

According to IATA, the revenue that the airlines earned in terms of Revenue Passenger Kilometre (RPK) was higher when compared with what they got in January, bringing hope to an industry that was hard hit by Covid-19 interruptions.

“African airlines had a 69.5 percent rise in February RPKs versus a year ago, a large improvement compared to the 20.5 percent year-over-year increase recorded in January 2022 and in the same month in 2021,” said IATA.

The agency says February 2022 capacity was up 34.7 percent and load factor climbed 12.9 percentage points to 63 percent.

“The recovery in air travel is gathering steam as governments in many parts of the world lift travel restrictions.

States that persist in attempting to lock out the disease, rather than managing it, as we do with other diseases, risk missing out on the enormous economic and societal benefits that a restoration of international connectivity will bring,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director-general.

Afraa said the Covid-19 infection rate has picked up again in Asia and parts of Europe. China is battling a renewed surge in infections, fueled by the Omicron BA.2 sub-variants and is facing its worst epidemic outbreak since 2020.

In Hong Kong, hospitals are on the verge of collapse, and Belgium and Germany continue to record new cases of infections. Worldwide, the number of cases has reached 476 million and 11.7 million in Africa.

“Despite the surge in new infections, countries are lifting travel restrictions – apart from China where some cities are under lockdown. The WHO has criticised the so-called “brutal” lifting of anti-Covid-19 restrictions in Europe,” said AFRAA.

The agency says five African airlines continued their international routes expansion drive and had surpassed the number of international routes operated at pre-Covid while 10 other carriers either re-opened suspended routes or launched new international routes.

As of February 2022, African airlines had reinstated approximately 79.9 percent of their pre-Covid international routes, according to AFRAA.

Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc and EgyptAir are among airlines that opened new routes to African destinations in the reporting period.

Kenya Airways announced on Monday that it has resumed operations to Madagascar and it will operate direct flights 3 times weekly from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Ivato International Airport, Antananarivo following the easing of travel restrictions previously effected by Madagascar.

Source: Business Daily