Emirates exploring codeshare possibilities with Air India

Emirates has been exploring options to codeshare on flights with Air India, as the Indian flag carrier continues to pivot its brand to offer a more premium service since it was acquired by Tata Sons. 

Talks with Air India “are at an early stage,” said Mohammad Sarhan, the Vice President of India and Nepal at Emirates, during an interview with India-based business news publication, Mint. Sarhan said that the Indian carrier’s main priority right now is the merger with Vistara, which is why the two sides are only at the “initial-level talk” stage. “Let’s see how it evolves,” Sarhan continued.  

While Emirates has interline agreements with almost all airlines based in the country, the “best way forward” for the Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based airline would be a partnership with a premium carrier, Sarhan added.  

When Air India and Singapore Airlines, a minority (49%) shareholder of Vistara, announced the merger between the now-privatized airline and Vistara in November 2022, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, stated that the merger would make Air India “a truly world-class airline”. 

Tata Sons finalized the acquisition of Air India from the Indian government in January 2022 and, with 51%, is a majority shareholder of Vistara. 

Emirates previously signed a codesharing and interline agreement with Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet in November 2019. However, while the interline agreement went into effect, the two airlines have not placed their codes on each other’s flights. 

The United Arab Emirates’ national carrier has partnerships with two low-cost carriers, namely another Dubai, UAE-based airline flydubai, and the British no-frills airline easyJet. 

Source: Aerotime Hub

Dubai Accelerates Positioning as Remote Working Hub

Shayan Zaeem, co-founder and president of Revolving Games, is just one of thousands of remote workers around the globe. He has landed up in Dubai, which is ramping up efforts to pitch itself as a destination for more people like him.

His company, which is currently working on a new BattleStar Galactica game with Universal Studios, is headquartered in San Francisco but due to the pandemic scaled its operations globally.

“Most people prefer working from home in the tech industry, and Dubai was a no brainer for me,” he said, tempted by the infrastructure and facilities of the “vibrant, multifaceted city.”

Dubai, the largest city in the United Arab Emirates, launched a one-year virtual working program in 2020 that Zaeem took advantage of. It has so far received 30,000 enquiries (a spokesperson didn’t confirm the number of visas approved).

The United Arab Emirates has also introduced a raft of new longer term 5 and 10-year residency Golden Visas, 80,000 of which were issued last year.

Now Dubai’s looking to appeal to a wider demographic following a new partnership with Airbnb, among other initiatives.

Airbnb Backing

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism set up an online remote working hub with Airbnb in December last year. The Middle Eastern city is one of 20 global destinations in the home-sharing platform’s Live and Work Anywhere initiative.

Airbnb also published a guide for governments outlining recommendations for how communities can benefit economically in September 2022.

“We’re delighted to be one of the 20 destinations to partner with Airbnb and we expect to see a positive uplift in remote working,” said Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

The remote working focus comes as the United Arab Emirates looks to boost tourism’s contribution to the national gross domestic product to $122 billion a year by 2031. Its new UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 also targets 40 million hotel guests in 2031. Dubai alone received 14 million international overnight visitors in 2022, double the amount of 2021.

A ‘Pricey’ Destination

Part of its strategy to draw more people probably also explains why it made alcoholic drinks cheaper, but there are concerns Dubai — like many fast-recovering destinations — may soon start pricing out digital nomads.

The emirate is classified as “pricey” by the well-respected Nomadlist, with members reporting an average monthly accommodation spend of $3,652.

“For well-paid remote workers that like vibrant cities, it will be one of the shortlisted countries for sure,” said Mark Phillips, founder of Nomad Stays. ”But for most digital nomads, probably not. It’s just too expensive.”

Phillips also thinks Airbnb is pushing Dubai to move upmarket to compete with Expedia’s VRBO brand.

But for Zaeem, Dubai is a “melting pot” destination that can suit different budgets. “It depends on the person and what kind of lifestyle they want to live,” he said. “Yes it can be expensive if that’s the lifestyle you choose for yourself, however, if you want to live moderately and still want to enjoy a decent lifestyle you can do that as well easily.”

Apartment rentals for locals are also soaring, which could deter many digital nomads who seek out cheaper destinations to maximize their length of stay, as costs creep up to target tourists.

Portugal has seen this recently, and as a result plans to axe its Golden Visa scheme and ban new licenses for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals.

Will Dubai be able to keep its remote work allure if tourism takes over?

Source: Skift

How Africa’s luxury safaris are becoming more sustainable

Operators from Kenya to South Africa now offer more camping and walking, stressing the benefits for animals and local communities

  • Botswana’s Wilderness Meraka and Zebra Plains Collection’s Lalashe Maasai Mara and Lalashe Ripoi in Kenya all offer luxury tented accommodation and walking safaris
  • The Bushcamp Company’s Kukaya Lodge in Zambia and South Africa’s Singita lodges are being more flexible with game drives and meals while AndBeyond is educating travellers with a ‘masterclass’

If you’re eyeing up a luxury safari in Africa, expect to find more than just the traditional jeep-led experience now on offer in the likes of Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.

When high-spending foreigners vanished in 2020, safari lodges were left struggling to fund wildlife conservation as well as hosting community projects. This has led some to a rethink about the kind of tourism Africa needs long-term and how visitors can better support environmental and civic goals.

Travellers, at the same time, have redefined their safari priorities to seek privacy in accommodation and on drives, flexible schedules, exclusive wildlife experiences and more cultural context.

https://f3653e6654f5bf5adb02ab5b9707c555.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-40/html/container.html Lodges and tour operators are now responding with a fresh crop of wildlife and cultural experiences and wider accommodation choices to stand out from the competition and capture the demand that’s roaring back to the continent.

Before you book your bucket-list trip, consider this:

1. Safaris are changing – fewer vehicles, more walking, better for the animals

The typical all-inclusive safari in which guests are driven from distant lodges into popular areas of wildlife reserves can quickly resemble a crowded weekend at the zoo. The rush of humans and vehicles thwarts genuine connection with the surroundings, not to mention that it’s harmful to the wildlife. That’s why outfitters are trying to put guests closer to nature, whether through private game drives, walking safaris or overnight camps away from the crowds.

At Zebra Plains Collection’s new luxury Lalashe Ripoi camp in Kenya, which opens on July 1, “you can do night safaris by car and walking safaris that you cannot do in the main reserve,” owner Alfred Korir says. The six tented suites (US$4,000 per night apiece) will open on July 1 as one of three lodges sharing more than 33,300 acres of private concession land leased from the Maasai people and sat on the edge of Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Lalashe Ripoi’s launch follows the company’s June 2022 opening of Lalashe Maasai Mara (US$3,000 per suite), which offers just five tents at a fully catered camp for a maximum of 10 people on site at one time. The camp overlooks the reserve and a watering hole that attracts wildlife. Each suite features a plunge pool and lounge area, twin outdoor showers, fully stocked bars, butler service and private game drives. Korir calls his new camps “low-density tourism” – fewer people per wildlife sighting.

“I came up with this idea because in Covid times people didn’t want to be in a congested place. It’s working for us; possibly, this year is one of our best years ever,” he says, noting that Lalashe Maasai Mara is more than 50 per cent booked for July and August already.

At Wilderness Meraka, opening in July in the northernmost Mababe region of Botswana, nine tents on raised platforms (US$1,300 per person, per night) overlook an area of wetlands. No other safari company operates this far east of the Okavango Delta. Buffalos, elephants, zebras and lions are among the residents you’ll spot on drives or walks, depending on the season.

2. More flexibility

On a traditional safari, you’re beholden to rigid schedules for morning and evening game drives with other guests, as well as for meals. Jet-lagged or not, you must stick to the offerings lest you miss out on what you travelled so far to experience.

An à la carte approach, from the private game drives at times your group finds convenient, to selecting your meals from an on-site deli, is the new safari model at The Bushcamp Company’s upscale Kukaya Lodge in Zambia (Kukaya means “homestead” in the local Chinyanja language). Set to open in April, the lodge is the former home of the country’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda and sits within South Luangwa National Park.

Five chalets each enjoy 2,690 sq ft (250 square metres) of space, creating an oasis of tented rooms and outdoor en suite baths, with a private plunge pool and lounge area (US$425 per night). Bushcamp also offers walking safaris – an alternative that owner Andy Hogg says was born in Zambia – which are drawing more interest.

“It’s not the same as sitting in a Land Rover, bumping along a not very good road,” he says. “It’s about the smallest things, and it’s about smelling and seeing and feeling.”

This demand for a more sensory and immersive experience is what luxury lodge and camps outfit Singita is also betting on with its new add-on overnight camping experiences inside its 33,000-acre private concession inside Kruger National Park, on South Africa’s eastern border with Mozambique. Available only to guests of Singita Lebombo Lodge or Singita Sweni Lodge (starting at US$2,300 per night), the ad hoc option is for four people at a time. You can’t book this experience in advance, as it depends on the weather and availability of two trail guides, whose stories shared around the campfire add to the atmosphere.

“People want these raw and real experiences,” says Adrian Kaplan, executive head of marketing at Singita. “Raw” at this level is, of course, relative: you still get to sleep on cots with light mattresses, luxury sheets and a cosy duvet.

3. It’s not all about wildlife

First-time safari goers often get in a frenzy over wildlife and conservation, forgetting that there are often people in the landscape too.

More travellers now want authentic African experiences and an understanding of cultural nuances, Kaplan says. Singita is consequently transforming its boutique and gallery spaces to display work from celebrated, or up-and-coming, African artists. A percentage of any sale goes into conservation work. The menu also features more local dishes following requests from guests.

It may seem superficial, but “the aesthetic makes a difference”, says Naledi Khabo, chief executive officer of the African Tourism Association, adding that it makes the safari experience a cultural one too: “That traditional colonial aesthetic is not appealing or attractive to a certain audience.”

Wilderness, which runs 60 lodges in eight African countries, recently rebranded, dropping “safaris” from its name. “The connotation that word has in the mindset of potential guests brings up all of the Out of Africa imagery,” says Hadley Allen, chief commercial officer at Wilderness. The company wants to emphasise it’s about more than just safari.

Case in point: since June 2022, some Maasai people have faced eviction from their lands in the Serengeti in a bid to create additional wildlife game reserve areas for wealthy tourists. It’s not a new phenomenon – the Serengeti National Park was established in 1951 with the eviction of locals – but it’s one that travellers heading on safari are increasingly seeking to avoid being part of.

4. Seeing the biggest picture

The need for travellers to understand the continent better and see Africa as more than just animals is behind AndBeyond’s WildEconomy Masterclass, which is running in partnership with African Leadership University. The five-day itinerary (November 3–9, US$10,000 per person) includes Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park and Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve and invites travellers to “see how their safari fits in the big picture”. It includes stays at AndBeyond’s Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge in Tanzania and Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp in Kenya. It doesn’t include flights, and US$100 of each person’s tour fee goes into the university’s internship fund.

As tourism roars back to African safari destinations – the number of arrivals to the continent reached 65 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022 – there’s “still a lot of, ‘I just want to see the Big Five’, because it’s a lot of first timers”, Robinson continues. But the goal is increasingly to leave a positive impact from what is often a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

“They’re still going on safari and have their luxury, but it’s much more immersive,” says Sue Snyman, research director for the School of Wildlife Conservation at the African Leadership University. She will lead AndBeyond’s tour. “They get to understand more about how the people living around the Serengeti and the Mara engage with wildlife and the flora, and the impact that the conservation area has on them, positive and negative.” It’s a start towards the aim, she adds, “of changing mindsets”.

5. Finding the most sustainable safari

After three difficult years, safari lodge owners and tour operators say supporting the most ethical safari operators in Africa is an even more critical aspect of your booking. It’s a daunting task for the buyer: claims of conserving vast amounts of land and promises to uplift host communities fill websites and marketing ads in a sea of travel-conscience washing.

Supporting companies that prioritise providing education and resources to people over and above food is key, says Zebra Plains Collection’s Korir. “When feeding people long term, you’re not giving them tools to get rid of poverty.”

External companies doing audits of safari lodges also have a role to play, says Snyman. But it’s ultimately up to travellers to try and check what’s being done to support conservation and the community with their holiday dollars. Only then will high-end tourism companies respond, though that awareness is already building: “There’s an understanding they have to do something more,” she adds.

Source: Style

Strong MICE sector is pivotal in Africa’s tourism drive

Africa’s tourism sector was on an upward trajectory with an average growth of 5% until Covid-19 struck with its devastating effects causing disruption for the global economy and the tourism sector to be specific.

The silver lining in the last 24-36 months has been how partnerships and collaboration for the tourism sector to accelerate recovery.

The power of tourism particularly in Africa cannot be over emphasised enough as it offers an incredible opportunity to transform the lives of many on the continent.  As the United Nations Secretary Antonio Guterres succinctly puts it, ‘’Tourism can provide decent jobs, helping to build resilient sustainable, inclusive economies and societies that work for everyone’’.

Recovery of the tourism sector is well underway and shaping up so well. Based on UNWTO’s forward-looking scenarios for 2023, international tourist arrivals could reach 80% to 95% of pre-pandemic levels this year, depending on the extent of the economic slowdown, the ongoing recovery of travel in Asia and the Pacific and the evolution of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, among other factors. The latest UNWTO barometer gives it further impetus as Africa recovered about 65% of pre-pandemic levels.

It is a positive omen that we need to maintain and further up with the needed policies to make the maximum push.

The meetings, incentives, conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector which is One of the fastest-growing sectors of the global tourism industry is an area in Africa that can help sustain the continent’s sector. With the enormous benefits and ROI that it generates, with some little effort and investments, it could be gold for the tourism industry.

Facts

The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates the travel and tourism industry globally to be worth some US$7 trillion.it is estimated that the global MICE industry is worth around US$650 billion to US$700 billion, a sizeable figure. Africa is forecasted to have a paltry market share of 2% of it.

The above staggering data is just the tip of the iceberg which many other multiplier efforts beyond calculable. The illustration makes a serious case for Africa to position MICE in their strategies to drive tourism, their economies, and trade.

Prior to the covid-19 pandemic, several countries expressed the intent of making MICE a core pillar in their development agenda and went further in putting in place the governance structures to get it going. From the growing list of convention bureaus to a dedicated desk for MICE/Business events in itself is a commendable step. Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia are few of the countries have made commitments for mice.

In Africa, powerhouses such as South Africa and Morocco and recent dominant Rwanda have been pace setters in consolidating and growing their market share of the pie.

As the tourism actors begin with their key roadshows and trade events such as meetings Africa, it is incumbent on its leaders and stakeholders to commit themselves to the progress and development of the sector and the continent as a whole.

There cannot be any valid reasons why the continent is still struggling to take a giant step toward the elimination of artificial bottlenecks hampering movement and trade in the region. As so long as Africans are required to travel with a visa within the continent which in itself is not an easy task, the objective of taking advantage of the African continental area is a dead-on-arrival case. There ought to be a paradigm shift from the present situation to an efficient and smart way of doing things in our quest to truly attain the goals of the ”Africa we want” Agenda.

Even though the recent 2022 Africa visa openness report by the Africa development bank indicates improvement in visa facilitation across the continent, it needs a whirlwind of a push to accelerate movement and trade to grow African economies.

African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa in reacting to the latest report said: “This edition links free movement to the development of regional value chains, investments, trade in services and the AfCFTA. There is greater recognition that human mobility is key to Africa’s integration efforts.”

Meetings Africa, a platform created by South African Tourism has been a strong voice and effervescent force in mobilizing the business events industry and offering support and knowledge for Africa to grow this significant market segment. It has with other similar platforms encouraged and supported destinations to invest and commit to mice in its quest to grow tourism.

Now in its 17th year, the event is seeing the highest number of African participants coupled with other novelties to shape the new way of doing things in the industry. It is refreshing and welcoming for the continent to at least see a surge in the appreciation of MICE by decision-makers to drive its economy.  As a private sector-led industry, the profound endorsement of the public sector is very significant as it will encourage the provision of necessary infrastructure to meet the demands of hosting small to mega events thus creating jobs for many in the ecosystem.

Three hundred and five exhibitors representing 15 African countries have confirmed their spots on the Meetings Africa 2023 trade floor. They will have the opportunity to interact with thousands of buyers from around the world expected at the event. The countries represented are Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique.

According to South African Tourism Acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, the increase in the number of African exhibitors is an indication that leaders throughout Africa recognize the business events industry as vital to their economy. “As Africa’s economy shifts towards a technological future characterized by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more nations are building their business events industries to attract foreign investors and businesses.”

Aside from offering the perfect avenue to trade and sign deals, meetings in Africa will unravel the many novelties and innovations developed by African entrepreneurs/groups to make businesses seamless and spur growth. An imperative to develop a robust MICE sector is the ability to be sustainable in all fronts and Africa’s enviable sustainability footprint will be on display during the show in Sandton.

Meetings Africa 2023 will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 27 February to 1 March bringing together 350 exhibitors and more than 1,000 buyers to the trading floor.

There will be insightful sessions across all three days at Meetings Africa 2022, with speakers focusing on creating a positive African narrative, the future of meetings, and the challenges business events face because of a lack of airlift in Africa.

Meetings Africa will once again offer the fine opportunity to accelerate the continent’s tourism recovery.

Harnessing the immense resources for the growth of the continent will require intentional and conscious efforts by all and sundry.  Aviation expert, Sean Mendis is optimistic Africa’s aviation sector could see a strong rebound this year provided actionable measures are put in place to make airlines competitive, destinations accessible and build synergies among stakeholders towards a common approach for the realization of air travel objectives.

“In many parts of Africa, notably in West Africa, you find that the taxes charged by governments and authorities on travellers often exceed the fare travellers pay to the airlines to transport them. And when the airline is making $60 while you are paying the government $150 to travel for one hour by air, it immediately depresses the ability of people to be able to travel to the neighbouring countries to do business, explore the neighbouring countries to see the highlights of what the countries have to offer.’’  Sean Mendis.

Making tourism a transformative force for good will mean collaborating with all key stakeholders to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

Source: Vanguard

China’s re-opening final piece in global tourism recovery

The pandemic cost destinations worldwide a combined $270 billion in Chinese outbound tourist spending in 2020 and 2021 alone.

Leading a high-level delegation to the city of Hangzhou to join in the official re-opening, UNWTO Secretary-General warmly welcomed the lifting of travel restrictions as a major boost to economic growth and social opportunity both in Asia and the Pacific and globally.

According to UNWTO data, the pandemic cost destinations worldwide a combined US$270 billion in Chinese outbound tourist spending in 2020 and 2021 alone. The re-opening of borders therefore represents “the moment the world has been waiting for”, Mr Pololikashvili noted.

The UNWTO Secretary-General is the first UN Head of Agency to visit China since restrictions were lifted. China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping welcomed UNWTO’s support throughout the pandemic and for joining the official re-opening celebrations. In a bilateral meeting, Minister Hu Heping and Secretary-General Pololikashvili agreed to further deepen their collaboration around positioning tourism on the agenda for international development cooperation and in the key areas of tourism education and tourism for rural development.

According to UNWTO data, China grew to be the biggest tourism source market in the world prior to the pandemic. In 2019, Chinese tourists spent a collective US$255 billion on international travel, while domestic tourism served as a pillar of growth and employment, with more than 6 billion trips that year alone, supporting jobs and businesses across the country.

Tourism for rural development

Reflecting UNWTO’s work to make tourism a driving force of rural development, the high-level delegation was welcomed to Yucun, one of four Chinese destinations to be recognized among the ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’. The village was awarded the recognition for its commitment to making tourism a source of local opportunity, in addition to its commitment to eco-friendly tourism and pioneering approach to waste management at the destination-level.

Public and private sectors re-think tourism

UNWTO was welcomed as a partner of the Xianghu Dialogue, organized by the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) in the city of Hangzhou. Held around the theme of “A New Paradigm for a New Tourism”, the event brought together public and private sector leaders to re-think the sector’s future around the key priorities of sustainability, equality and resilience.

Key topics addressed over the two days included promoting collaborative tourism development amongst countries and regions, international cooperation and poverty reduction through tourism, smart connectivity, destination management and planning, and innovation and new business models. The UNWTO delegation met with private sector leaders, including from the Chinese global technology company Alibaba, which is headquartered in Hangzhou.

China as key tourism partner

In the past year, China has established itself as a leading supporter of UNWTO in several core priority areas. These include Nature Positive Tourism, which UNWTO placed on the agenda of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), for which China served as President.

UNWTO will return to China in September for the Global Tourism Economic Forum (GTEF), to be held in Macau. The tenth edition of the Forum will again provide a platform for governments, business leaders, experts, and academics to advance shared plans for the sustainable development of tourism.

Full Article E-Turbo News

Africa’s tourism to benefit from a robust MICE sector

Africa’s tourism sector was on an upward track, with an average growth rate of 5%, when Covid-19 hit, creating upheaval to the world economy and, in particular to the tourism sector. The silver lining in the last 24-36 months has been how partnerships and teamwork have accelerated recovery in the tourist sector.

The importance of tourism, particularly in Africa, cannot be overstated since it provides an extraordinary potential to alter the lives of many people on the continent, vanguardngr.com reported.

One of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry is meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector. This is an area in Africa that can assist to maintain the continent’s economy. Considering the massive benefits and ROI that it creates, it might be highly beneficial for the tourism business.

The Global Travel & Tourism Council believes that the worldwide travel and tourism business is worth $7 trillion. The worldwide MICE sector is projected to be worth between US$650 billion and US$700 billion, a sizable sum. Africa is expected to have a meagre 2% market share.

The vanguardngr website cites that the startling statistics presented above is only the top of the iceberg, with many further multiplier efforts that are incalculable. The picture provides a compelling case for Africa to include MICE in its tourism, economic, and trade goals.

Meetings Africa, a platform founded by South African Tourism, has been a powerful tool in mobilising the business events industry. In its 17th year, the event has seen the biggest number of African participants, as well as other innovations to create the industry’s new way of doing things. It is refreshing and encouraging for the continent to witness a spike in decision-makers’ recognition of MICE to boost its economy.

305 exhibitors representing 15 African countries have confirmed their participation in the Meetings Africa 2023. They will have the opportunity to interact with thousands of buyers from around the world. The countries represented are Botswana, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Uganda, Nigeria, Tanzania, Seychelles, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Malawi, and Mozambique.

According to South African Tourism Acting CEO, Themba Khumalo, the increase in the number of African exhibitors is an indication that leaders throughout Africa recognize the business events industry as vital to their economy. “As Africa’s economy shifts towards a technological future characterized by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more nations are building their business events industries to attract foreign investors and businesses.”

Meetings Africa 2023 will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 27 February to 1 March bringing together 350 exhibitors and more than 1,000 buyers to the trading floor.

Meetings Africa 2022 will feature enlightening discussions on all three days, with speakers focused on crafting a good African narrative, the future of meetings, and the issues corporate events face because to a lack of airlift in Africa.

Meetings Africa will once again provide an excellent chance to help the continent’s tourism rebound.

Source: Travel and Tour

JKIA named African cargo airport of the year

The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has been recognized as the African Cargo Airport of the year at STAT Trade Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday in Johannesburg South Africa.

The award recognizes JKIA’s exceptional performance in cargo infrastructure, systems, and services and its commitment to excellence in air transport services.

The African Cargo Airport of the Year award gives JKIA the impetus to compete against some of the most established and busiest cargo airports on the continent.

The win enhances its reputation in cargo handling and air transport services.

“We are extremely proud to receive this prestigious award, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team at JKIA,” Kenya Airports Authority managing director Alex Gitari said.

“This achievement is a reflection of our commitment to providing world-class cargo infrastructure, systems, and services, and we are honored to be recognized as a top-performing cargo airport in Africa.”

KPA has in recent years invested heavily in infrastructure and systems at JKIA through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).

JKIA was positioned as preferred airport for handling perishables, pharmaceuticals, horticulture, and live animals.

The STAT Trade Times International Awards for Excellence in Air Cargo is one of the most prestigious awards in the air cargo industry, recognising excellence in air cargo services, logistics, and transportation worldwide.

Source: Zurulink Africa

Dubai room rates soar as hotels hit capacity

A packed events schedule and bustling tourism season has led to a 30 per cent price surge and limited availability for hotel rooms across Dubai.

With many hotels at close to 100 per cent occupancy this week due to conferences and the Dubai Duty Free tennis championships, visitors without a booking faced sky-high prices.

The trend is set to continue, hotel managers told The National.

School holidays in the UK, Europe and the UAE all fall during Ramadan this year, creating a boom in demand.

It was the first time all nine Rove Hotels achieved 100 per cent occupancy on the same day, and we expect that to be repeated

Paul Bridger, chief operating officer, Rove Hotels

Gulfood at Dubai World Trade Centre attracted tens of thousands into the city this week, with more piling in to attend the Step Conference tech event at Internet City.

Dubai is also filling up with spillover from the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (Idex) in Abu Dhabi.

The Rove Hotel group has nine properties in Dubai, with each fully booked for consecutive days, a first for the mid-market chain.

“Occupancy levels across the city are very high at the moment,” said Paul Bridger, chief operating officer.

“It was the first time all Rove Hotels achieved 100 per cent occupancy on the same day, and we expect that to be repeated.”

Ibis One Central, a short walk from the Dubai World Trade Centre conference venue, has a standard twin room with breakfast available for Dh1,498 on Thursday night.

By comparison, a Thursday stay only two weeks later is priced at Dh333 for a standard Queen room.

Properties with high leisure contributions are attracting higher demand due to Easter holidays, mostly from the Russian-speaking Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and western Europe.

Figures from industry analytics company STR released on Thursday showed the average hotel room last month cost Dh781 ($212).

At 80.5 per cent, hotel occupancy last month was almost 10 per cent higher than the 71.5 per cent recorded for the same month in 2022.

Thomas Kurian, hotel manager at Leva Hotels, said occupancy rates were currently the highest the year so far.

“Due to the heightened demand for hotel accommodation during this period, our hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road close to the World Trade Centre has experienced a significant surge in prices, amounting to 40-50 per cent on previous weeks,” he said.

“Similarly, a comparable trend in occupancy and rates has been observed across many other hotel areas around World Trade Centre, Business Bay and Downtown Dubai.

“There has been a noticeable uptick in both occupancy rates and booking trends.”

Upcoming public holidays

Mr Kurian said bookings for Ramadan, Easter and Eid showed the positive trend was likely to continue.

Dubai’s hospitality sector enjoyed a strong 2022 as tourism rebounded after the Covid pandemic.

To keep pace with demand, an extra 48,000 new rooms will become available in the UAE by 2030, with Dubai providing 76 per cent of total supply.

Last year, 14.36 million international visitors arrived in the emirate, according to Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism data, with The Palm Jumeirah a popular destination.

Several new hotels have opened recently on the man-made island, including a new Marriott and Hilton on Palm West Beach.

With public holidays due to begin in a few weeks, the busy period is expected to continue.

“During the holy month of Ramadan, we expect our hotels to be busy, as well as benefit from strong group demand and family leisure business during some of the best weeks for weather in the year,” said Aligi Gardenghi, vice president, operations, Arabian Peninsula, Hilton.

“We expect continued strong performance at our 35 hotels in the UAE in the coming months.”

Source: National News

Tourism: Morocco’s big bet for 2023

After a 2022 year of record momentum in the tourism sector and airline development, the North African country will continue to make great efforts this year

Tourism in Morocco in 2022 was consolidated as the second best in both the African continent and the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa Region), second only to Egypt, according to the USNews ranking. The Kingdom is a Muslim country located in the northwest wing of the African continent, with its coastline washed by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Less than an hour’s ferry ride from Spain, Morocco is a unique blend of Arab, Berber, African and European cultural influences. In addition, the Kingdom is considered the “Gateway to Europe”, making it one of the 40 countries with the highest tourism impact in the world.

The “Connect 2023” conference, held in Tangier until 24 February, provided an overview of all the major projects undertaken by Morocco to develop the tourism and aviation industries. The Connect 2023 conference, which concluded in Tangier, once again brought Morocco to the attention of key aviation players and travel professionals. Les Inspirations Eco listed two areas in which Morocco operates in the Friday 24 February edition. According to indicators reported by several national officials in charge of these strategic sectors, the Moroccan kingdom is on the verge of matching its performance before the COVID-19 crisis and is even doing better than during the pandemic period.

Adel El Fakir, general manager of ONMT (Moroccan National Tourism Office), said: “By the end of 2022, the number of airlines in Morocco has surpassed pre-crisis levels. Last year, the number of tourists also reached 10.9 million. Rabat intends to take a step forward by highlighting its new iconic tourist attractions”. The projected target for 2023 in capacity is 8.2 million seats. To this end, a series of agreements and partnerships have recently been signed between the ONMT and several airlines. This will see the launch of 35 new routes serving eight Moroccan destinations by the summer of 2023 in partnership with ten companies.

After two years of limits due to COVID-19, demand for hotels at the end of the year was strong, reaching pre-pandemic levels. The good news never stopped coming to the Alawi kingdom. Since February, the Moroccan government has announced the opening of airspace under pressure from numerous experts and economic operators, a fact that subsequent data have backed up. Moreover, this year the Moroccan national team made history by becoming the first African or Arab country to reach the semi-finals of the world’s biggest football tournament, the World Cup, and as a result the country’s growing popularity has spurred efforts to revive the tourism industry in the wake of the COVID-19 economic crisis.

A report published in early December last year by Morocco’s state-owned Al-Oula highlighted the positive impact of the World Cup on the country’s attractiveness as an international tourism hub. A tourism report in Fez, one of Morocco’s cultural capitals, shows an increase in tourist activity since the end of the World Cup. “The national team has really helped improve its image and the image of the country,” Aziz Labar, president of the Fes Regional Tourism Organisation, told Al-Oula. Morocco aims to pick up the pace by highlighting its new iconic tourist attractions. The projected target for 2023 in capacity is 8.2 million seats.

“To this end, a series of agreements and partnerships have recently been signed between the ONMT and several airlines. Thus, 35 new routes serving eight Moroccan destinations will be launched by the summer of 2023 in partnership with ten companies. For its part, the National Airports Office (ONDA) has launched an ambitious programme to increase airport capacity, focusing on service quality and safety requirements. The country’s airport network currently has a capacity of 39 million passengers per year and is expected to grow further,” said Habiba Laklalech, director general of the agency. 

ONDA mobilised an amount of around 4 billion dirhams in 2023 to support the growth of the activity of the airports of Marrakech, Agadir and Tangier. Habiba Laklalech, as director of the agency, stressed that the “Envol 2025” investment plan aims to support the development of tourism. Objective 2030: 60 million passengers. In addition to protecting and preserving Europe’s traditional tourist markets, the focus is now on the massive influx of tourists from Asia, especially China. “COVID-19 has certainly slowed the momentum of travel links with the Chinese market, but air travel and tourism managers can catch up,” the publication concluded. 

Source: Atalayar

Kenya’s tourism earnings surge in 2022 as travel curbs ease

NAIROBI, Feb 22 (Reuters) – Kenya’s tourism industry, one of the East African nation’s top sources of hard currency, surged 83% in 2022 to 268 billion shillings ($2.13 billion) as COVID curbs eased, the government said on Wednesday.

Visitors rebounded to 72% of their pre-pandemic level in 2019, Tourism Minister Peninah Malonza told reporters, outpacing the rest of the continent which stands at 65% of the pre-pandemic level.

Kenya offers beach holidays along its Indian Ocean coastline and wildlife safaris inland. The Unites States was the main source of visitors during the year, Malonza said, followed by Uganda, Britain and Tanzania.

China, which had been a growing source market before the pandemic struck, started to ease travel restrictions this year.

Kenyan authorities will focus their marketing efforts on emerging markets like Rwanda, Nigeria and Ethiopia, Malonza said.

Tourism earnings are projected to rise to 425 billion shillings ($3.37 billion) this year, said David Gitonga, chief executive of the state Tourism Research Institute, before increasing to 540 billion shillings in 2027.

But the sector is also facing serious challenges, said Kareke Mbiuki, chairman of parliament’s tourism and wildlife committee, citing cuts for infrastructure required by the sector, part of a broader austerity drive by the government.

The country is also facing a severe drought, Malonza said.

Hilton (HLT.N) closed its 50-year-old hotel in downtown Nairobi at the start of this year, in a further sign of the problems facing the sector that contributes a tenth of Kenya’s annual economic output.

Source: Reuters