Dubai is not merely attracting tourists; it is setting new benchmarks for global tourism.

The emirate welcomed a record 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, a five percent increase from the 18.72 million visitors recorded in 2024. The achievement marked Dubai’s third consecutive year of record-breaking tourism growth, reinforcing its position among the world’s most successful travel destinations.

The numbers become even more impressive when viewed against a backdrop of intense global competition. While many destinations are still working to regain pre-pandemic momentum, Dubai has continued to expand its tourism footprint through strategic investments in infrastructure, aviation, hospitality, events, and destination marketing.

Dubai’s appeal lies in its ability to offer something for virtually every traveller. Families flock to its beaches, theme parks, and entertainment attractions. Luxury travellers are drawn to its world-renowned hotels and exclusive experiences. Business travellers benefit from its status as one of the world’s leading commercial and conference hubs, while adventure seekers can move seamlessly from desert safaris to skydiving and water sports within a single itinerary.

The city’s tourism growth is closely linked to its unrivalled connectivity. Dubai International Airport handled a record 95.2 million passengers in 2025, making it the busiest year in the airport’s history and maintaining its status as the world’s leading international aviation hub. The airport connects travellers to hundreds of destinations across six continents, making Dubai one of the most accessible cities on the planet.

Hotels have also benefited from the tourism surge. During the first half of 2025, Dubai welcomed 9.88 million international visitors, a six percent increase year-on-year. Hotel occupancy reached 80.6 percent, a figure many destinations can only aspire to achieve, while room nights sold exceeded 22 million.

What makes Dubai particularly attractive is its ability to continuously reinvent itself. Attractions such as futuristic museums, immersive entertainment districts, waterfront developments, luxury resorts, and year-round global events ensure repeat visitors always have something new to experience.

The city’s calendar remains packed with international exhibitions, sporting events, shopping festivals, culinary showcases, and cultural experiences. This strategy has helped Dubai evolve from a seasonal destination into a year-round tourism powerhouse.

For African travellers, Dubai’s proximity, extensive air connectivity, streamlined visa processes, and diverse tourism offering continue to make it one of the most accessible international destinations. Whether travelling for leisure, shopping, business, family holidays, or stopovers, visitors can tailor experiences to virtually any budget and interest.

As destinations worldwide compete for travellers’ attention, Dubai continues to stand apart through a combination of ambition, innovation, and execution. The city is no longer simply a stopover between continents. It has become a destination in its own right—one that continues to attract millions of visitors and redefine what modern tourism can achieve.

With nearly 20 million international visitors in a single year and aviation traffic approaching the 100 million passenger mark, Dubai’s tourism story is no longer about growth alone. It is about sustaining global leadership in one of the world’s most competitive industries.

The way people travel is changing, and Africa is emerging as one of the biggest beneficiaries of that shift.

For decades, tourism was largely built around ticking destinations off a bucket list. Travellers followed rigid itineraries, visited major landmarks, snapped photographs, and moved on. Today’s traveller is looking for something different. Experiences have become more important than attractions, and authenticity now matters as much as comfort.

Africa is uniquely positioned to meet these changing expectations.

Across the continent, visitors can choose from a remarkable variety of travel styles. One journey may involve wildlife encounters in vast wilderness areas, while another centres on cultural immersion in vibrant cities, community experiences in rural villages, wellness retreats on pristine coastlines, or adventure across mountains, deserts, and forests. The diversity of experiences available within a single continent is becoming one of Africa’s greatest tourism assets.

Modern travellers are also seeking flexibility. Rather than purchasing traditional package holidays, many prefer creating their own itineraries, combining work, leisure, culture, and exploration into one trip. Africa’s growing network of airlines, improved infrastructure, digital booking platforms, and expanding hospitality sector are making this easier than ever.

Another major trend reshaping travel is the search for meaningful experiences. Visitors increasingly want to engage with local communities, learn about cultures, support conservation efforts, and leave a positive impact on the destinations they visit. This shift has placed African destinations at the centre of global travel conversations because many experiences on the continent naturally offer genuine connections with people, heritage, and nature.

The definition of luxury is also evolving. Luxury is no longer measured solely by lavish facilities or extravagant amenities. Instead, travellers are placing greater value on privacy, exclusivity, sustainability, and unique experiences. Africa’s remote lodges, conservation-focused tourism models, and access to some of the world’s most untouched landscapes align perfectly with these preferences.

Technology is further transforming the sector. Digital tools now influence every stage of the travel journey, from destination discovery and trip planning to navigation and experience sharing. African tourism businesses are increasingly embracing innovation to meet the expectations of digitally connected travellers while enhancing customer experiences.

The numbers reflect this growing momentum. Africa welcomed more than 80 million international visitors in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing tourism regions globally. Tourism growth on the continent has outpaced many mature destinations as travellers seek fresh experiences, emerging destinations, and more meaningful ways to explore the world.

As global travel preferences continue to evolve, Africa is no longer simply participating in tourism trends—it is helping shape them. With its rich cultures, extraordinary landscapes, expanding connectivity, and ability to deliver authentic experiences, the continent is redefining what travel means for a new generation of explorers.

Source: africa-news-agency.com

Three years after bringing home one of Africa’s most coveted tourism accolades, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) is once again in contention for continental recognition.

KATA has been named an Official Finalist for the African Tourism Association of the Year award under the Brand Excellence category at the Pyne Awards Africa 2026, reaffirming its position as one of the continent’s leading travel trade associations.

The nomination marks another significant milestone for the association, which previously won the award in 2023 and has since continued to strengthen its influence within Kenya’s travel and tourism sector.

Over the years, KATA has evolved beyond its traditional role as an industry representative body. Today, it serves as a key advocate for travel agents, a catalyst for industry partnerships, a driver of professional development, and a platform for dialogue between the private sector and policymakers. Through training programmes, business forums, networking events, policy engagement, and strategic partnerships, the association has consistently worked to create value for its members while advancing the interests of the wider travel industry.

The recognition by the Pyne Awards Africa comes at a time when African tourism is becoming increasingly competitive, with destinations, businesses, and industry bodies all seeking innovative ways to remain relevant in a rapidly changing marketplace. Against this backdrop, KATA’s nomination reflects years of sustained efforts to champion professionalism, encourage collaboration, and strengthen the resilience of Kenya’s travel trade.

For KATA members, the nomination is more than an opportunity to win an award. It is recognition of a collective journey that has seen the association become one of the most respected voices within East Africa’s tourism landscape.

The association is now calling upon its members, partners, and industry stakeholders to support its bid by casting their votes before the 20 August 2026 deadline.

The nomination also comes on the heels of another major recognition for the association’s leadership. KATA Chief Executive Officer Nicanor Sabula was recently named among the MIPAD Global Top 100 Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Leaders – Class of 2026, placing him alongside leading tourism executives, policymakers, hospitality leaders, and investors from across Africa and the global diaspora.

For many within the industry, Sabula’s inclusion on the prestigious list reflects years of leadership dedicated to strengthening the travel trade, advocating for industry growth, and helping shape conversations that influence the future of tourism in Kenya. As CEO of KATA and a Director at the Tourism Regulatory Authority, he has played a central role in advancing initiatives that support travel agents while fostering stronger collaboration across the tourism value chain.

While the MIPAD recognition celebrates an individual achievement, KATA’s latest continental nomination demonstrates the broader impact of that leadership. Together, the two milestones highlight the growing influence of both the association and the Kenyan travel professionals it represents.

As voting continues, KATA has an opportunity to reclaim a title it proudly won in 2023. Should it succeed, the award would stand as further testament to the association’s commitment to excellence and its ongoing efforts to position Kenya’s travel industry among the best on the African continent.

ASKY, the Pan-African Airline, will launch a new destination to its growing network with the introduction of flights to Kano, Nigeria, on 2nd September 2026, further strengthening its position as one of Africa’s fastest-growing carriers.

The new route becomes ASKY’s third destination in Nigeria after Lagos and Abuja, underscoring the Togo-based airline’s commitment to improving intra-African connectivity and supporting growing business and leisure travel demand across the continent.

The expansion follows the recent delivery of two brand-new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, configured with 16 Business Class and 144 Economy Class seats. The addition increases ASKY’s fleet to 17 aircraft, providing the airline with greater capacity to support network expansion and higher frequencies across its regional operations.

The introduction of Kano comes as ASKY continues to position itself as the preferred regional carrier connecting West and Central Africa through its Lomé hub. The expanded fleet will allow the airline to increase frequencies on key regional routes, particularly during peak travel periods and holiday seasons, while offering passengers greater schedule flexibility and improved connectivity across its network.

Kano is one of Northern Nigeria’s most important commercial centres, with strong demand from traders, business travellers and passengers connecting to destinations across West, Central and Southern Africa. The new service is expected to strengthen commercial ties between Nigeria and neighbouring countries while providing seamless onward connections through Lomé to more than 30 destinations served by ASKY.

Since its launch in 2010, ASKY has steadily built one of Africa’s most extensive regional networks, focusing on reliable schedules, modern aircraft and efficient connections between cities often underserved by international airlines. The arrival of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 also reflects the airline’s long-term fleet modernisation strategy, delivering improved fuel efficiency, lower operating costs and enhanced passenger comfort.

Travellers planning to explore West and Central Africa can conveniently book their journeys through accredited and KATA-verified travel agents. Booking through a professional travel agent offers added value, including expert itinerary planning, access to competitive fares, travel advisory services, assistance with ticket changes and personalised support before, during and after travel.

For travel agents, the expansion presents new business opportunities as demand for regional connectivity across Africa continues to grow. The addition of Kano provides agents with greater routing options for corporate travellers, traders, leisure passengers and groups seeking seamless connections through ASKY’s Lomé hub to destinations across the continent.

Passengers can also book directly through ASKY’s official channels or contact their preferred KATA-verified travel agent for professional travel planning and booking assistance.

Skyward Airlines has made clear its commitment to enhancing regional connectivity in Kenya with the scheduled launch on 12^th August of services between Nairobi and Garissa. The new route is expected to unlock new economic opportunities across the Northern Corridor while offering travelers added convenience and competitive fares.

The new route brings Skyward Airlines to the forefront in improving access to one of Kenya’s fastest-growing regions with introductory fares from as low as Ksh 8,500 one – way, setting a new benchmark for affordable air travel into North Eastern Kenya. The launch of the service comes at a time when Garissa experienced renewed economic activity, increased infrastructure investment and heightened interest from businesses, development partners and investors.

This comes after recent upgrades at the Garissa Airstrip that have improved its operational capacity and attracted more airline services in the region. Industry observers believe improved air connectivity will be crucial to boosting trade, investment, tourism and regional development in Northern Kenya.

The route will serve a large number of stakeholders like:

• Local traders and entrepreneurs who need quicker access to markets.
• Investors interested in agriculture, renewable energy, logistics and infrastructure opportunities.
• Humanitarian agencies and development agencies working across Northern Kenya.
• Medical professionals and patients needing faster access to healthcare services.
• Government agencies running development programs in the region.
• Domestic and international tourists looking to experience Northern Kenya’s unique culture and landscapes.

The airline believes the route will support broader national initiatives to promote equitable economic growth and eliminate development constraints.

In a market that has historically had few regular flight alternatives, the Nairobi–Garissa route also brings more competition. Experts in the field notice that competition frequently results in more options, better service, and more affordable travel. Travelers will benefit from greater convenience, flexibility, and access to reliable air travel options because we’ll be operating flights every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, connecting Northern Kenya with the rest of the nation.

The introduction of the Nairobi–Garissa route is in accordance with Skyward Airlines’ broader goals of bringing developing areas together, promoting economic growth, and increasing the number of people who can travel by air. Improved air connectivity will continue to be a major growth driver as Kenya makes investments in regional development and infrastructure.

Skyward Airlines is contributing to the development of new avenues for commerce, investment, travel, and opportunity by connecting Dar es Salaam, Vipingo Ridge, Malindi, Lamu, Mombasa, Diani, Nairobi, Eldoret, Kitale, Lodwar, Migori, and our new route, Nairobi to Garissa, and strengthening ties throughout East Africa.

The new route is more than just a flight for Northern Kenya. It serves as a path to development; every journey matters.

Atlantis Dubai has reinforced its position as a leader in responsible tourism after securing three sustainability accreditations recognising its continued commitment to environmental stewardship, responsible operations and community engagement.

Atlantis, The Palm and Aquaventure World have achieved EarthCheck Gold Certification for the seventh consecutive year, while Atlantis The Royal has retained EarthCheck Silver Certification for the third consecutive year.

The two luxury resorts have also once again received VERIFIED Responsible Hospitality recognition from Forbes Travel Guide and retained the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Gold Stamp, the highest level of recognition awarded by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism for sustainability performance.

Kelly Timmins, Executive Director of Sustainability and Marine Animal Operations at Atlantis Dubai said: “These accreditations reflect the way we approach hospitality every day, delivering exceptional guest experiences while ensuring sustainability is embedded across our operations. Earning continued recognition from globally respected programmes such as EarthCheck, VERIFIED™ Responsible Hospitality by Forbes Travel Guide and the Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp demonstrates that meaningful progress comes from continuously challenging ourselves to reduce our environmental impact, support our communities and help protect the natural environments in which we operate.”

The certifications, verified through independent assessments, highlight progress across energy efficiency, resource conservation, responsible sourcing and social impact.

Atlantis, The Palm reduced energy consumption by 8.6% and greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5% year-on-year, while maintaining waste-to-landfill levels of just 1.8 litres per guest night.

Atlantis The Royal achieved reductions of 20.2% in energy use, 18.9% in greenhouse gas emissions and 19.4% in potable water consumption.

Aquaventure World also recorded improvements, including an 8.4% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 12.4% decline in energy consumption.

Atlantis Dubai continues to expand its sustainability initiatives through renewable energy, circular resource management and conservation programmes.

More than 2,000 solar panels generate around 1.8 million kWh of renewable electricity annually across Atlantis, The Palm and Aquaventure World, while the destination avoids more than 3.6 million single-use plastic water bottles each year through its on-site water bottling plant, refill stations and reusable bottles.

The resort group has also strengthened responsible sourcing, with 100% of contracted seafood fully traceable through the SFS Trace platform, while advanced recycling programmes divert glass, paper, cardboard, soap, e-waste and other materials from landfill.

Food waste management has improved through Winnow AI technology, reducing edible food waste per cover by an average of 69.72% across selected restaurants since establishing the 2022–2024 baseline.

Marine conservation remains a key focus, with the Atlantis Atlas Project Contribution Programme distributing more than $500,000 among 30 research and conservation projects since 2021.

Sustainability efforts are supported by 79 Atlantis Atlas Ambassadors across 28 departments, helping drive awareness and continuous improvement.

Looking ahead, Atlantis Dubai said it will continue exploring innovative food waste management solutions and climate transition initiatives aligned with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 vision, further strengthening its role as a responsible hospitality destination. 

Source; ttnworldwide.com

Africa’s aviation network is heavily concentrated around a handful of cities, with Nairobi serving as one of the continent’s four principal regional gateways, a new analysis by the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) of passenger traffic across Africa’s top 100 domestic, intra-African and international routes shows.

• •The AFRAA Routes and Connectivity Report, which analysed passenger traffic during the second half of 2025, ranked Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) as Africa’s second busiest hub for intra-African connectivity after Johannesburg.
• •Johannesburg, Nairobi, Tunis and Cairo account for much of the continent’s regional connectivity, while internationally the busiest routes are concentrated almost exclusively on the North Africa-France corridor.
• •Overall, the analysis found that domestic routes accounted for 13.4 million passengers across the top 100 routes reviewed, compared with 9.3 million on international routes and 4.08 million on intra-African services.

Two Nairobi routes—Mogadishu-Nairobi and Entebbe-Nairobi—featured among the five busiest regional city pairs.

While Nairobi is strengthening its position as a regional aviation hub, domestic air travel across Africa continues to be dominated by South Africa and Nigeria. According to AFRAA, the two countries account for the continent’s largest domestic aviation markets, supported by their large populations, geographic size, multiple commercial centres and high demand for internal air travel.

The Cape Town-Johannesburg route remained Africa’s busiest domestic air corridor during the July-December 2025 period, carrying nearly two million passengers. It was followed by Durban-Johannesburg, while Abuja-Lagos ranked third, illustrating the importance of trunk routes in supporting economic activity and feeding regional and international airline networks.

The report also highlights a similar concentration in Africa’s international aviation market, where passenger traffic is heavily skewed towards routes linking North Africa and France. The busiest international connections were Algiers-Paris Charles de Gaulle and Algiers-Paris Orly, while Paris-Orly services to Tunis, Marrakech and Réunion also ranked among the continent’s top international corridors.

Paris Orly emerged as the most connected international airport in the analysis, reflecting the strength of tourism, diaspora and long-standing economic ties between France and the Maghreb region. Cairo and Algiers were the leading African gateways on international routes, reinforcing North Africa’s role as the continent’s primary bridge to Europe.

AFRAA said accelerating implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) could help reduce reliance on a handful of dominant hubs by encouraging more direct services between African cities. Expanding connectivity, it said, would strengthen trade, tourism and economic integration while improving access to underserved markets across the continent.

Source: kenyanwallstreet.com