Dubai launches reef project to boost marine life, eco-tourism, and fishermen’s livelihoods.

Dubai has launched a coral reef project for marine restoration that will increase sea life eight-fold, improve the sustainability of fishermen’s livelihoods, and attract eco-tourism.

The Dubai Reef project, which was announced at Cop28 on Friday, will span 600 square kilometers of the emirate’s waters, with the design of the coral reefs exceeding 400,000 cubic metres in total volume, Helal Al Marri, director-general of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, said during a session at the Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum.

The project will operate on a public-private partnership model where the government has contributed 10 per cent of the investment and has secured commitments for more than 50 per cent of the funding, Mr. Al Marri said.

“We worked with the best minds to look at coral reef restoration and how to rebuild the coral environment and ensure it makes a difference,” he said.

“What we would hope is that this successful model makes it very bankable for other communities around the world.”

The project is part of Dubai’s efforts to increase fish stocks, support sustainable fishing and help boost food security, according to a statement by the Dubai Media Office on Friday.

Dubai Reef will also help to reduce carbon emissions and increase marine biodiversity. The reefs have an estimated capacity to capture more than seven million tonnes of carbon annually.

The project is also aligned with the UAE’s goals to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The Dubai Reef project will be led by the Department of Economy and Tourism and founding partner the Regulatory Committee on Fishing of Living Aquatic Resources in Dubai, in co-operation with Dubai Chambers, the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Nakheel.

“The project will contribute to achieving food security and supporting the sustainability of the fishing industry in Dubai,” Major General Ahmed Mohammed bin Thani, chairman of the Regulatory Committee on Fishing of Living Aquatic Resources in Dubai, said.

“It will also contribute to facilitating fishing operations by providing an environment that attracts fish and marine life, thus reducing the operational costs associated with commercial fishing. The project will also contribute to increasing the quantities and abundance of commercial fish.”

The project is set to unfold in four phases starting in 2024, according to the Dubai Media Office statement.

It will begin in the first quarter and is scheduled for completion within four years, it said.

The project will help create jobs, increase the appeal of recreational water activities, and foster sustainable food sources, it said.

Source: The National News

Kenya Airways Set to Re-introduce Weekly Flights to Mogadishu

The resumption follows the temporary suspension in August 2020 to mitigate the spread of the Corona virus. The phased flight resumption will resume with 3 weekly flights in the month of February 2024.

Speaking ahead of the resumption, Julius Thairu, Chief Commercial and Customer Officer at Kenya Airways, said, “We are eager about the potential of re-establishing the link between Mogadishu and Nairobi through KQ. This move aligns with the increasing business and the growing number of air travel between Kenya and Somalia. Kenya Airways is committed to providing high-quality service for our customers, as we work together to foster trade and investment for sustained growth.”

The resumption of Mogadishu flights is part of Kenya Airways network expansion strategy and commitment aimed at enhancing connectivity across the African continent to contribute to long-term economic progress.

Source: Corporate Kenya-Airways

CORPORATE TRAVEL IS BACK IN BUSINESS. BUT WHAT’S CHANGED?

Since the pandemic ended, there’s been lots of speculation about the future of traveling for work. But in 2022,according to GBTA, global business travel expenditure increased by 47%, topping over one trillion US dollars. And that growth shows no signs of stopping. Spending is predicted to recover to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024 — faster than the previously projected mid-2026 forecast.

Why? First and foremost, because business travel is a logistical necessity for many people, like sales reps, client service managers, consultants, conferences and events staff, construction workers, circus folk etc. For these folks, being on the road is part and parcel of their role, and it’s budgeted for even more in the most uncertain of economic climates. Because nothing beats being face-to-face time with customers. And the others? They travel because their organizations want them to, remaining steadfast in the belief that meeting in person drives performance and growth. What might surprise you is to hear that almost nine out of ten (87%) of business travelers agree with them.

87% of employees think business travel is important to company growth.

Source: Uber and GBTA report

Nonetheless, many companies are still struggling to get employees moving, and that’s because many are still working from home. In fact, by 2025 it’s projected that 32.6 million US employees will be remote workers. Since that changes the very nature of what ‘work’ looks like, there are also knock-on consequences for business travel, too.

Balancing what everyone wants and needs is a delicate act, and many companies are turning to TMCs to help them do it. So here are six key things you need to know in 2024.

Source: Travelport

Closed markets, high costs hurting Africa airlines more.

A rare tongue-lashing to Nigeria over its ballooning debt to airlines and high operating costs almost overshadowed the opening session of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 55th AGM that was hosted by Uganda Airlines in Kampala this week.

But industry leaders soon got back to business exploring the opportunities of a growing market and mulling the obstacles that need to be removed before African air transport achieves its full potential.

African airlines continued their post-pandemic recovery carrying 67 million passengers during 2022, but still face near term threats of high operating costs, a slow pace of market liberalization, disproportionate taxes, blocked funds and, the transition to NetZero carbon operations that kick in starting 2025.

In his state-of-the industry report to 600 delegates at the AGM, AFRAA secretary-general Abderahmane Berthe, said African carriers were projected to carry 85 million passengers this calendar year.

Losses per passenger are also shrinking further from $9.5 last year to $4.4 this year.

In his state-of-the industry report to 600 delegates at the AGM, AFRAA secretary-general Abderahmane Berthe, said African carriers were projected to carry 85 million passengers this calendar year.

Losses per passenger are also shrinking further from $9.5 last year to $4.4 this year.

Quoting the World Bank, Mr Berthe also said Africa registered 3.8 percent in GDP growth last year, against a world average of 3.1 percent. Projections for 2023 point to a marginal increase to 4 percent while global growth will slip 1 percent to 2.1 percent.

Jet fuel prices, which are 30-40 percent higher in Africa, surging inflation, which closed 2022 at 15.1 percent, a rising toll of blocked funds and slow pace of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) remain a source of worry for airline executives.

“We would love to be in a position where we switch it off and switch it on tomorrow, but we have to be honest with ourselves and realize that this needs a lot of work,” IATA’s vice-president for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil Al Awadhi told the meeting.

Thirty-seven countries have so far signed up to the SAATM, whose implementation is yet to gain traction. Only 23 have ratified the treaty and even fewer are participating in implementation.

Aaron Munetsi, secretary-general of the Airline Association of Southern Africa, used the parallel of East Africa’s One Network Area to illustrate the potential impact of liberalization of air transport for airlines and consumers alike. Indeed, telephone traffic between Kenya and Rwanda increased 900 times in a single year, after the two countries unified calling rates in 2010.

Environmental footprint

While airlines are losing patience, Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s minister for Works and Transport, said although Kampala had initiated internal processes to sign up to the SAATM, it was neither a magic wand “nor an event,” but a process that required alignment across different segments.

Another headache is the energy transition, which will see all airlines flying into the European Union required to fly on two percent blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel starting 2025. The ratio will progressively increase to six percent in 2030, 20 percent by 2035 and 34 percent by 2040 before peaking at 7 percent in 2050.

While the timelines appear to be evenly spread out, executives at Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways, both which have piloted SAF flights, say that without mitigation measures and governments stepping in to develop a clear roadmap for domestication of SAF production, meeting the EU mandate will be a tall order.

Kenya Airways CEO Allan Kilavuka said the status quo was unfair to Africa because the volume of flights by African airlines was still low and their contribution to emissions minimal.

“In Europe they need to fly less but in Africa we need to fly more,” said Mr. Kilavuka, highlighting both the connectivity gap on the continent and its subsequent smaller environmental footprint.

SAF is also scarce and expensive, costing 4-5 times the price of conventional jet fuel. That means African airlines will burn more cash just to meet the EU mandate.

Globally, only 125 million litres of SAF were produced last year. Demand for SAF is projected at 450 billion litres annually by 2050.

Mr. Kilavuka said that African governments need to move fast to make investment in SAF production attractive to private investors if the fuel is to be available to airlines at reasonable cost.

AFRAA says it has developed a plan for the transition to NetZero and in due course, AU members will take definitive steps to domesticate SAF production.

Holding the biggest stash of blocked funds by any country, Nigeria got a rare tongue-lashing from Al Awadhi. Africa accounts for $1.68 billion of the $2.35 billion in airline funds, blocked by funds globally. At $850 million, Nigeria accounts for one-third of the global bill. More than a third of Nigeria’s blocked funds bill is owed to a single airline whose bill has reached $290 million.

“Nigeria, which is the strongest economy in Africa, is the 10th largest oil exporter in the world, also is the number one debtor to airlines and charges the highest fees to airlines on the continent. How is SAATM going to work when a country is allowed to that? This has to stop,” Al Awadhi said.

With a passenger service charge of $100, Abuja and Lagos’ Murtala Muhamed International Airports are the most expensive to fly to in Africa.

“Investors want to invest in de-risked industries, we need to invest in de-risking SAF in Africa,” he said.

Source: The East African

Kenya, Zambia travel agents ink deal to boost industry growth.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) and the Travel Agents Association of Zambia (TAAZ) on Monday signed a strategic partnership deal to boost growth in the industry. The deal inked in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, heralds a new era of improved collaboration fostering both business and leisure travel between the two nations.

“This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to reshape the tourism landscape. Together with TAAZ, we are poised to drive unprecedented growth, enhancing our countries’ allure as vibrant travel destinations,” Joseph Kithitu, chairman of KATA, said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Kithitu said the partnership is a commitment to bolstering the competitive edge of Kenya and Zambia as premier tourism destinations.

The alliance charts a roadmap for mutual growth, enabling members of both associations to revamp their businesses, tap into fresh markets, and invigorate regional travel.

Hamida Malik, chairperson of TAAZ, said the collaboration is poised to channel a surge of visitors into Zambia. “It signifies a concerted effort to unlock the full potential of our tourism sector,” Malik added.

Collaboration Sets to Lure More Tourists to The Rich Tapestry of Attractions in Both Countries.

According to the agents, planned activities encompass immersive familiarization trips, educational webinars, and synchronized marketing initiatives, all aimed at catalyzing regional travel and unlocking a surge in opportunities for private sector players within the travel industry.

This deal involves facilitating the exchange of expertise and insights within the travel domain and encouraging reciprocal visits between Kenya and Zambia to foster a deeper understanding of each other’s tourism offerings.

The partnership also aims to stimulate increased tourist traffic between the two nations and synchronize the calendar of events to inform stakeholders and enhance participation.

Source:   KATA Media and Communications Desk – Bryan Obala