Tourism sector vital pillar of Dubai’s economy: Crown Prince

According to a social media post by Dubai Media Office on Friday, the crown prince said: “The tourism sector is a vital pillar of Dubai’s economy and is playing a key role in achieving the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.”

The briefing, attended by more than 1,200 industry professionals, revealed Dubai’s tourism sector continued to post record growth, reiterating an earlier report that showed it welcomed 13.9 million visitors from January to October 2023, up from 11.4 million during the same period last year.

As per the report, Pakistan was number ten in the rankings of countries from where the most visitors came into Dubai between Jan and Oct – some 286,000. India was in top place (1.9 million), followed by UK (954,000), Saudi Arabia (930,000), Russia (917,000) and Oman (860,000).

The briefing this week also highlighted that Dubai’s hotel occupancy of 76% remains among the highest in the world.

“Dubai’s robust partnerships with leading travel and hospitality companies are key to fostering the growth of this crucial sector, both on a local and global scale,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

“Hospitality is an integral part of the Emirati cultural fabric, a value deeply embedded in our ethos,” he said, adding that “Dubai remains dedicated to enhancing the infrastructure and services and making the strategic investments needed to provide an exceptional experience for visitors from across the world.”

Earlier this year, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, had said the city’s multifaceted appeal caters to travelers of all preferences and means.

“Dubai provides mid-range hotels that match the service and amenities of many prominent full-service hotels around the globe, further enhancing the destination’s appeal for those in search of value for money during their stay, without compromising on the quality of the overall experience,” he had told Khaleej Times.

Source: Business Recorder

Travel Agents Welcome Govt’s Visa-Free Requirement for Visitors.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 14 – Travel agents have welcomed a decision by the government to scrap visa requirements for all international visitors effective January 1, 2023.

Through their umbrella body, the Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA), they said that the move reinforces the state’s commitment to strengthening ties with global partners.

President William Ruto announced during the Jamhuri holiday on Tuesday that the country will be opening its doors to all visitors.

The removal of visa requirements aligns with the African Union’s (AU’s) call to member states to eliminate barriers to international business, promote cultural exchange, and build communal relationships to speed up the integration process.

It further reinforces Kenya’s commitment to the realisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to enhance the continent’s economic integration, facilitate the movement of people, and promote seamless trade and business activities.

KATA is now urging other AU member states to emulate Kenya’s example and eliminate barriers to promote intra-African travel and trade.

“While expressing appreciation for the President’s announcement, KATA urges government agencies to move with speed to issue proper guidelines on how the proposed Electronic Travel Authorization will be implemented,” KATA said in a statement.

“Considering that we are already in the peak holiday season, KATA would like to see a seamless process that does not inconvenience travelers who have already made their travel arrangements.”

Source: Capital Fm

Kenya is set to be a visa-free country at the beginning of 2024.

Speaking on Tuesday during the Jamhuri Day celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, President William Ruto said that the move is in line with Kenya Kwanza’s promise to abolish the requirement of travelers applying for a visa to visit Kenya.

To implement the new policy, Ruto said they had developed a new digital platform that will ensure all travelers to Kenya are identified in advance on an electronic platform.

“All travelers will obtain electronic travel authorization,” Ruto said.

“It is with great pleasure, as President of this extraordinary country to make a historic announcement of the decision of the Government of Kenya beginning January 2024, Kenya will be a visa-free country,” he added.

During the announcement, the Head of State stated that Kenya is humanity’s home, a scientific fact that fills us with pride and underscores our rich heritage.

“To echo the call of the Turkana people to the world: “Tobong’u Lorre!” Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home! This is why, the government has abolished the requirement of visas for all our visitors,” Ruto stated.

Source: Standard Media

Ethiopian Airlines Agrees to Landmark Order for up to 67 Boeing Jets

  • Agreement for 11 787 Dreamliners and 20 737 MAXs, with opportunity for 36 more jets, represents the largest Boeing jet purchase by an African carrier.
  • Services collaboration for 787 cabin retrofits to enhance passenger experience.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 14, 2023
Ethiopian Airlines, the largest and leading aviation group in Africa, and its longstanding partner Boeing [NYSE:BA] today announced the carrier has agreed to order 11 787. Dreamliner and 20 737 MAX airplanes with an opportunity for 15 and 21 additional jets, respectively. The agreement, signed by Ethiopia’s national carrier at the Dubai Airshow, represents the largest-ever purchase of Boeing airplanes in African history.


“We are pleased to announce that Ethiopian Airlines has reached a deal with Boeing to place a firm order for 31 ultra-modern airplanes, with opportunity for 36 additional jets,” said Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew. “This order will enable us to modernize and increase our fleet in support of Ethiopian Airlines’ growth plan and our Vision 2035 Strategy. Through this deal, we have solidified our decades-old exemplary business partnership with Boeing. The 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX demonstrate Ethiopian Airlines’ environmentally conscious decisions and its commitment to serve passengers with the latest technologically advanced airplanes.” Ethiopian is ordering the 787-9 variant, part of a Dreamliner family that reduces fuel use and emissions by 25% compared to the airplanes it replaces. The carrier is also adding the 737-8 model, which reduces fuel use and emissions by 20% and creates a 50% smaller noise footprint compared to the airplanes it replaces. Both families bring better environmental performance and passenger comfort to their respective markets.


The new commitment positions Ethiopian Airlines to further strengthen and diversify its fleet, which currently includes more than 80 Boeing jets. Ethiopian operates Africa’s largest Dreamliner fleet with a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s. The new 737 MAX order, which will grow the airline’s backlog for the fuel-efficient jet to 50, will be posted on Boeing’s Orders & Deliveries website when finalized.


Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines also agreed to work together to provide cabin modification services for the carrier’s existing 787 Dreamliners. The comprehensive retrofits will enhance the passenger experience with advanced in-flight entertainment and new seats in all cabins, including lie-flat business-class seats from Boeing joint venture Adient Aerospace.


“Ethiopian Airlines continues its leadership as one of Africa’s preeminent airlines with this landmark commitment to expand their 787 and 737 MAX fleets,” said Brad McMullen, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. “Ethiopian was the first African airline to take delivery of the 787, and the Dreamliner family continues to play an integral role in its long-haul fleet. With their decades of experience operating our single-aisle and widebody jets, we appreciate Ethiopian Airlines’ confidence in our products and the strength of our relationship after more than 75 years of collaboration.” The 787-9 can fly 296 passengers 14,010 km (7,565 nautical miles), in addition to carrying substantial cargo. Since revenue service began in 2011, the 787 family has launched more than 380 new nonstop routes around the world. The 737-8 carries up to 210 passengers depending on configuration and offers a range of up to 6,480 km (3,500 nautical miles).


Boeing’s Commercial Market Outlook forecast for Africa projects the continent will need 1,025 airplanes over the next two decades; more than 70% of commercial deliveries are expected to be single-aisle jets. Africa’s overall air-traffic growth is forecast at 7.4% through 2042, third-highest among global regions and above the global average growth rate of 6.1%.


About Ethiopian
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) is the fastest-growing airlines brand globally and the continent’s largest airline brand. In its seventy-seven years of successful operations, Ethiopian, the fastest growing airline, has become one of the continent’s leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success. In addition to its main hub in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it is also pursuing its multi-hub strategy through a hub in Lomé, Togo with ASKY, in Lilongwe, Malawi with Malawi Airlines and in Lusaka, Zambia with Zambia Airways. Ethiopian commands the lion’s share of the African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet to more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents. Ethiopian’s fleet category consists of ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Boeing 737s, 777s, 787s, Airbus A350-900 and Bombardier Dash 8-400 double cabin with an average fleet age of seven years. In fact, Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to own and operate most of these aircraft.


Having achieved its strategic plan (Vision 2025) ahead of time, Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2035 that will see it become one of the top 20 most competitive and leading aviation groups in the world by providing safe, secured, market driven and customer focused Passenger and Cargo Transport and Logistics, Aviation Training, Airport Management and Ground Services, MRO and Aerospace Manufacturing and Travel and Tourism Services. As a multi-award-winning airline, Ethiopian has been the champion in various coveted awards including Skytrax’s ‘Best Airline in Africa Award’ for six consecutive years among others. The airline has been a Star Alliance member since 2011 and has been registering more than threefold growth in the past 10 years. For more at: www.ethiopianairlines.com
Email: CorporateCommunication@ethiopianairlines.com Contact: (251-11)517-8913/8165/8907
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EthiopianAirlines.official
Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyethiopian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fly.ethiopian/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCV26xfT57LiOgrZM45ouCg/featured
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ethiopian-airlines/
Telegram: https://t.me/ethiopian_airlines


About Boeing [NYSE:BA]
As a leading global aerospace company, Boeing develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries. As a top U.S. exporter, the company leverages the talents of a global supplier base to advance economic opportunity, sustainability, and community impact. Boeing’s diverse team is committed to innovating for the future, leading with sustainability, and cultivating a culture based on the company’s core values of safety, quality, and integrity. Join our team and find your purpose at

Contact: Nadine Fanous +971-56-422-9051
nadine.fanous@boeing.com
Boeing Media Relations

Source: Corporate Ethiopian Airlines

Kenya Airways Announces Flight Interruptions for Two Weeks Over Spare Parts Challenge.

Passengers travelling this holiday season through Kenyan Airways may have their flights interrupted for about two weeks.

The company announced on Friday that some of its aeroplanes may remain grounded for the period owing to challenges in acquiring aircraft spare parts.

KQ Group Managing Director and CEO Allan Kilavuka in a statement explained that due to the global challenge, the airline would extend grounding time for flights as a safety precaution.

“Our current flight schedule may experience disruptions in the coming weeks mainly due to challenges in the aircraft spare parts global supply chain. These challenges are leading to extended ground time of our aircraft for maintenance,” Kilavuka said.

“Additionally, this may also lead to grounding one or more of our aircraft in line with our commitment to the highest level for safety and reliability of our operations.”

He added: “We anticipate that these circumstances may persist for approximately two weeks, and we want to thank you in advance for your understanding and patience during this time. Your safety and comfort are our top priorities, and we are dedicated to resolving these issues as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

The CEO consequently advised its customers to check for updates on flight schedules on the company website and mobile applications.

“We are committed to providing you with timely information and support to help you navigate these potential challenges,” he stated.

While regretting the inconvenience caused, Kenya Airways reassured its customers that they are working to restore normalcy.

“We understand the impact that schedule changes can have on your travel plans, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please be assured that our team is working tirelessly to minimize these disruptions and to keep you informed every step of the way,” noted KQ.

Source: Citizen Digital

Soaring Skies: The Cost of Air Travel in Kenya Takes Flight

By Bryan Obala

Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA)- Media and Communications

The skies over Kenya are witnessing a surge in airfares, prompting concerns among travelers about the escalating costs of flights. As the world grapples with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya, like other nations, finds itself in the midst of a travel boom, reflecting the global trend that has seen airlines posting record profits.

Kenyan carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) reported substantial financial gains, attributing them to the renewed interest in travel. However, the enthusiasm is met with a harsh reality for passengers facing airfares between 20% and 30% higher than those in 2019, mirroring the European experience. This increase has also affected passengers flying on local airlines – the cost of flying within the country has risen significantly, impacting travelers financially.

The primary culprit behind this surge is the soaring cost of jet fuel, experiencing a staggering 50% increase, reaching a high of Sh309 per liter. This upward trajectory can be attributed to the doubling of Value Added Tax (VAT) on petroleum products to 16%, dealing a significant blow to the middle class, who often prefer air travel over road alternatives.

Amid disrupted supply chains and increased demand, the aviation industry in Kenya struggles to keep pace. Supply chain snarls have led to delays in aircraft deliveries and maintenance, forcing airlines to cut capacity. Like Europe, airlines in Kenya attribute these supply issues as a significant driver of the escalating prices.

Renegade Air, a prominent domestic airline in Kenya serving routes such as Kisumu, Wajir, and Homabay, anticipates a substantial impact on its ticket prices. The airline predicts an approximate increase of Sh500 for a one-way flight, underscoring the harsh reality faced by both airlines and passengers alike.

Traditionally, airlines meticulously consider various factors in determining ticket prices, including the dollar exchange rate, landing fees, navigation charges, and notably, the price of fuel—arguably the primary component shaping ticket costs. The recent surge in fuel tax, triggered by the increase in VAT, prompts an inevitable adjustment in domestic fares, amplifying the economic burden on travelers.

This surge in airfare costs unfolds against the backdrop of a resurging demand for air travel in Kenya. After the aviation industry nearly evaporated in 2020, the pendulum has swung, with demand reaching unprecedented levels in 2023. Airlines, struggling to keep pace with this newfound enthusiasm for travel, find themselves compelled to adjust prices to match the renewed demand. The industry’s drastic downsizing during the pandemic, running at 20% or less of normal operations, has left it ill-prepared for the current surge.

As the festive season approaches, the confluence of factors adds fuel to the fire of rising airfares. In response to this trend, the government’s intervention becomes pivotal. Building capacity by allowing more airline landing rights and facilitating direct flights to destinations like Mombasa could alleviate congestion at major airports, offering a potential reprieve for travelers. Increasing the frequencies for domestic carriers is another strategic move that could contribute to a slight reduction in airfares.

info@katakenya.org

Less than one week to go for the second edition of Skift Global Forum East and annual Dubai Tourism Summit

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: — The countdown is on to the second edition of Skift Global Forum East (SGFE). The leading travel conference of Skift, and the annual Dubai Tourism Summit organized by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), will be held at Atlantis the Royal from 12-14 December 2023. The three-part event will also feature DET’s bi-annual ‘City Briefing’ for industry stakeholders.

The Skift Global Forum East, the MENA extension of the renowned Skift Global Forum, promises to deliver incisive and inspiring insights into the future of the travel industry, exploring key innovations in marketing, strategy, and technology. The Dubai Tourism Summit, the world-class thought leadership program launched by DET during the inaugural Skift Global Forum East last year, is a networking platform for industry stakeholders to share their ideas, strategies, and best practices. The ‘City Briefing’ event brings together DET’s stakeholders and partners from across the aviation, travel, hospitality, and retail sectors to discuss the latest developments and future outlook for the industry.

Skift Global Forum East 2023 is set to attract an influential assembly of travel and tourism leaders, including CEOs, change makers, thought leaders and innovators from renowned influencers in global travel including Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Airports, Google, Global Hotel Alliance, Accor, Emirates, Emaar Hospitality Group and more.

Key discussion topics will include the future of travel, air capacity challenges, the post-pandemic Chinese travelers, filmmaking to market destinations and how AI is shaping the future of travel, with a particular focus on the dynamic Middle East region. The Forum will also enable pertinent conversations around global consumer shifts, how destinations can build capacity and expand hospitality, the future of demographics, sustainability, and macroeconomic trends impacting the industry.

The forum kicks off with an opening night reception on 12 December 2023 at Cloud 22, Atlantis the Royal, providing attendees with an evening of networking and hospitality, allowing them to connect with like-minded industry leaders.

Source: Zawya

Global tourism is set to end 2023 with a bang.

International tourism is on track to recover to almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said.

According to the latest data from the UNWTO, an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months in 2022.

The newest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer also shows:

World destinations welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared with the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern hemisphere summer season.

International tourist arrivals hit 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of pandemic.

Overall, tourism recovered to 87% of pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023. That puts the sector on course to recover almost 90% by the end of the year.

International tourism receipts could reach US$1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of the US$1.5 trillion earned by destinations in 2019.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts. This is critical for destinations, businesses, and communities where the sector is a major lifeline.”

The Middle East, Europe, and Africa lead recovery

The Middle East continues to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023. The Middle East remains the only world region to surpass 2019 levels in this period. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, help underpin this remarkable performance.

Europe, the world’s largest destination region, welcomed 550 million international tourists over the period, 56% of the global total. That represents 94% of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the US.

Africa recovered 92% of pre-pandemic visitors in this nine-month period, and arrivals in the Americas reached 88% of 2019 numbers over this period, as the region benefited from strong US demand to Caribbean destinations.

Asia and the Pacific reached 62% of pre-pandemic levels over this period due to slower reopening to international travel. However, performance among subregions is mixed, with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels but North-East Asia only about 50%.

Tourism spending is strong.

Strong demand for outbound travel was reported by several large source markets in this period, with many exceeding 2019 levels. Germany and the US spent 13% and 11% more respectively on outbound travel than in the same nine months of 2019, while Italy spent 16% more through August.

The sustained recovery is also reflected in the performance of industry indicators. Drawing on data from IATA, the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker details a strong recovery in air passenger numbers and tourist accommodation occupancy levels.

Against this backdrop, international tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges such as high inflation and weaker global output, as well as important geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

Source: Tourism update

Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Morocco ranked Africa’s top tourism performers 2023.

The end of a civil war in Ethiopia, Tanzania’s president featuring in a historical tourism documentary and rising infrastructure and marketing investments in Morocco have bolstered the three countries’ tourism rankings on the continent, according to a new report.

The three countries were ranked as Africa’s top tourism performers in 2023 after exceeding their pre-pandemic arrival numbers by the highest margins.

“Africa recovered 92% of pre-crisis arrivals (in) this seven-month period, with Ethiopia, Tanzania and Morocco by far exceeding their respective pre-pandemic levels in January-July 2023,” according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Barometer.

The Barometer ranked Ethiopia as the top African Tourism performer, having exceeded its pre-pandemic visitor numbers by 28% a year after ending its civil war in the Tigray region, following a peace deal.

In June Ethiopia’s Tourism ministry announced that more than 770,000 tourists visited Ethiopia nine months after a peace agreement was signed in Pretoria to end the two-year war in the northern part of the country.

“The number of international and national tourist inflows has been increasing every quarter in this year on completion of major tourism attraction projects and work to promote Ethiopian tourism destinations worldwide,” said Ethiopia’s Minister of Tourism, Ambassador Nasise Chali.

The Ethiopian National Museum has been listed by the ministry as among the places that have experienced a high tourist flow which was also bolstered by domestic tourists. More than 8.9 million citizens have visited tourist attractions in the quarter of the year, according to the ministry.

In yet another indicator of Ethiopia’s rise to the top of the African tourism league, Ethiopian Airlines made a triumphant return to the top of the African aviation scene in October.

The largest airline in Africa reclaimed the prestigious title of ‘Africa’s Leading Airline’ at the 2023 World Travel Awards for Africa and the Indian Ocean regions at an event held in Dubai.

Ethiopian Airlines held the title for three consecutive years from 2018 before losing it to Kenya Airways in 2021.

Tanzania came second in the rankings after surpassing pre-pandemic arrival numbers by 19% on the back of increased tourism investments, including a government-produced documentary – ‘The Royal Tour’ – featuring President Samia Suluhu.

Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics affirmed the rise in arrival numbers with data for the period between January and August showing international visitor numbers increased by 25.7% to 1,131,286 compared to a similar period in 2022.

During the eight-month period, the majority of arrivals came from the United States of America with 84,541 visitors, followed by France (72,009), Germany (57,798), United Kingdom (51,505) and Italy (51,056).

The majority of African arrivals came from Kenya with 128,753, followed by Burundi (69,505), Zambia (38,394), Rwanda (37,269) and Uganda (28,594).

Tanzania’s role in tourism growth was recognized this October by UNWTO when the country was made a member of the organization’s council responsible for developing global tourism strategies and plans, as well as the UNWTO’s vice-chair.

Morocco was ranked third best performer, exceeding its pre-pandemic arrival numbers by 15% over the review period.

According to the tourism observatory, Morocco’s tourism sector saw a 92% increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2023, surpassing figures from the previous year.

Approximately 6.5 million tourists visited the country, with France and Spain leading the way with 75% and 180% increases respectively. The UK, Italy, and the US also contributed significantly to the surge.

In early March, the Moroccan Government announced plans to spend US$580 million until 2026 on marketing, developing new tourist attractions, upgrading existing hotels, building new ones, and training more people to work in the tourism sector.

The country aims to attract 17.5 million tourists by 2026, which is an increase from 11 million last year and more than 13 million visitors the country had before the pandemic.

The higher performance of these three countries made Africa among the world’s fastest recovering tourism markets, with UNWTO Barometer data recording its recovery to pre-crisis visitor levels as higher than the Americas (87%), or Asia and the Pacific (61%).

The Middle East led the recovery by region, with levels currently 20% above pre-pandemic levels, followed by Europe, which reached 94% of pre-pandemic levels.

“International tourism is well on track to fully recover pre-pandemic levels in 2024 despite economic challenges and uncertainty derived from certain geopolitical tensions and conflicts,” according to the UNWTO tourism Barometer.

According to the UNWTO Tourism Recovery Tracker, international air capacity and passenger demand have recovered to about 84% of pre-pandemic levels as of June 2023.

Additionally, hotel bookings have doubled in the period of January to August 2023 compared to the same period last year. In August 2023, global occupancy rates in accommodation establishments reached 70%, slightly higher than the 66% rate in August 2022.

Source: Independent

UNWTO and AFCAC collaborate on air connectivity in Africa.

Towards improving connectivity and advancing seamless travel in Africa, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has strengthened its partnership with the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).

The new Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNWTO and AFCAC reflects the importance of boosting cooperation between tourism and aviation to create jobs and drive inclusive growth in Africa.

This agreement is based around shared initiatives, including the promotion of sustainable tourism and the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM).

UNWTO has actively participated in AFCAC’s recent events, particularly the SAATM Pilot Implementation Project aiming to accelerate Africa’s interconnectivity by 2025.

Acknowledging the significance of travel facilitation, UNWTO has also commended countries, including Benin, The Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Seychelles, for offering free visas to African tourists, aligning with the shared vision of increased connectivity.

Source: Guardian