Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism hails transformative 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has celebrated a successful week at the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which took place from 6-9 May 2024 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). DET was joined on the Dubai stand by 129 key partners and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, who held business meetings with delegates from around the world, showcasing the emirate’s diverse and innovative tourism offering to thousands of industry leaders attending the global travel trade exhibition.

This year’s ATM was held under the forward-looking theme ‘Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’. During the four-day event, DET highlighted the pivotal role played by entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the city, and how Dubai’s travel and hospitality sectors have nurtured innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability to create new pathways for growth beyond traditional tourism. This strategic approach is inspired by the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global city for business and leisure.

ATM 2024 provided a platform to build and consolidate relationships across the travel industry, and DET signed several strategic partnership agreements, including one with Emirates which will see the two entities work together to intensify international efforts and bolster Dubai’s mindshare as a hub for trade, tourism and investment. During an action-packed show at DWTC, DET made a number of major announcements, including the launch of the inaugural ‘Dubai Sustainability Industry Report’. Contributing to the ATM Conference Programme, DET spokespeople also delivered keynote addresses and took part in a range of panel discussions, including ‘The Potential of Cruise: Creating Swell in the Middle East’ and ‘Educating Young Entrepreneurs: Building a Career in Travel’.

Dubai’s successful participation at ATM 2024 follows a record-breaking year for its tourism sector, after welcoming 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023. As announced by DET at the show, this momentum continued in the first quarter of 2024, with 5.18 million international overnight visitors from January to March, an 11% rise over the same period in 2023.

His Excellency Issam Kazim, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), said: “The 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market was the most successful yet for Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, yielding strong outcomes as we connected with industry leaders to discuss the future of travel and the latest trends transforming our sector. Guided by the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the goals of the D33 Agenda, we have a clear objective to further advance tourism’s economic impact, including by leveraging innovation and entrepreneurship. At ATM we had the opportunity to develop a number of new partnerships, which are an important part of the strategy to make Dubai the best city to visit, live and work in. These partners, as well as all our travel and tourism stakeholders, play a critical role in achieving these goals, and we thank them for their support as we build on the knowledge shared at ATM.”

DET organised the largest ever ATM Hosted Buyers Programme, promoting Dubai’s unparalleled hospitality and offerings to a record participation of more than 540 buyers from 47 different markets and countries. With the support of stakeholders including DMCs, hotels, venues and attractions, the hosted buyers were able to enjoy a range of experiences and iconic locations in the city, including evenings hosted by Expo City Dubai, Real Madrid World, and Dubai Creek Harbour.

In addition to meeting DET and stakeholder representatives, visitors to the stand also had the opportunity to play ‘Dubai Pinball’, an interactive and engaging gaming experience that enhanced players’ familiarity with attractions and landmarks around the city, offering prizes for the highest scores.

Strengthening Dubai’s position as a global hub for business and MICE events, ATM 2024 was the biggest edition to date, welcoming over 46,000 attendees and more than 2,600 exhibitors from over 160 countries across four days at DWTC. Growth was recorded across all event verticals with exhibitor participation increasing by 26% YoY.

Source:  Hotel News

Tourists visiting Kenya to be charged Sh20 for tree planting.

Every tourist visiting Kenya will soon be charged Sh20 for buying tree seedlings.

Dr Alfred Mutua, the Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, made the revelation on May 9.

Speaking during a reception hosted by the Australian High Commissioner to Kenya, Jenny Da Rin, to announce plans by an Australian tourism company, Intrepid, to expand in East Africa, Dr Mutua said his ministry was working on a framework that would see each tourist charged Sh20 for tree seedlings.

“Our plan as a government is that every tourist from any part of the world who visits Kenya will plant a tree. We are currently working on a plan through our ministry – the Tourism Board – where every tourist who comes into the country will be given a tree seedling to plant.

And we are saying that there will be a small fee of Sh20 charged to the tourist for the seedling. I think that’s a small fee for any tourist to part with. We want them to plant a tree and they can monitor it every time they visit Kenya. We want at least one tree per tourist,” Dr Mutua revealed.

Intrepid co-founder and chairman Darrell Wade unveiled the company’s plans to spread its tentacles in Kenya and East Africa.

Last year, Intrepid helped 5,000 travellers explore East Africa, and Wade says the company aims to increase that number through several strategies that will include deepening its vertical integration to expand into areas such as accommodation to increase its presence in key countries in the region – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.

“East Africa is home to rich biodiversity and cultures. Through sustainable travel practices, visitors can engage responsibly with East Africa’s natural wonders and leave a positive footprint for generations to come.

Tourism activities must emphasise responsible practices that protect habitats and wildlife while supporting culture and promoting sustainable livelihoods within communities. Balancing economic growth with environmental and social concerns is critical, as is educating travellers about responsible behaviour and promoting community involvement in tourism planning and management,” said Wade.

Speaking at the reception, the new Australian High Commissioner, Jenny Da Rin, noted that more than 22,000 Australians visited Kenya in 2023.

“Our tourism-dependent communities here and in Australia rely on visitors for jobs and economic activity. It’s in our interest that Kenya and countries in Africa provide a safe and secure destination for Australians who want to come here. They have a good experience, and that helps them understand Africa and the links between our countries,” Da Rin said.

Since arriving in December, Da Rin says she has held talks with the Kenyan government about how the two countries can strengthen ties in mining, services, education, agriculture, health and tourism.

“To support these efforts, the Australian government has moved the Africa headquarters of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Austrade, to Nairobi and Australia’s Trade Commissioner for Africa – Scott Morriss – is now based here.

Source: NTV Kenya.

Kenya unveils platform to woo more tourists from China.

Kenya is looking to grow the number of tourists from China while building more interactions between Africa and the Asian country.

This is through the newly launched Kenya-China tourism service platform that seeks to directly link Chinese travelers to the Kenyan tourism market.

The platform was announced on Friday during the China-Africa culture and tourism promotion and cooperation fair in Nairobi.

The summit also sought to deepen industry cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges.

Speaking at the event, deputy director general of Hunan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism Shang Bin, reiterated that China seeks to organize further cultural and tourism enterprises to conduct  matchmaking negotiations and sign agreements on project cooperation.

“We want to also build a bridge of friendship between China, Kenya and Africa at large to boost the tourism sector figures,” Bin said.

China is Kenya’s sixth biggest tourism source market internationally,  contributing 5.5 per cent of total international tourist.

Last year’s annual tourism sector performance report shows arrivals rose from 1.5 million in 2022 to 1.9 million in 2023, a 31.5 per cent increase.

From January to August this year, visitor arrivals from China grew by 154 per cent, translating to 34,638 visitors, up from 13,601 recorded in the same period last year.

Kenya Tourism Board chairman Francis Gichaba commended the new strategy saying the country is keen in growing the partnership between Kenya and the Asian market to develop on what Kenya has already established.

“Kenya’s safari experience, rich cultural heritage like the Maa, Turkana derby and the camel derby, unique landscapes and snow caped mountain, beaches around the coast  line, whale migration and the fact that it is the origin of humans are some of the  tourist attractions that we have to leverage on in attracting the Chinese travelers,” Gichaba said.

“We are bringing in the media, tour operators to come and experience the  destinations, we are also in a digital world and we are using social media to expand the visibility and awareness of the market.”

He added that the country is in a continued recovery journey, coming from the Covid-19 pandemic, and is looking into the future in positive prospect.

The fair was part of the inaugural China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE).

Source: The star

Africa’s Travel Indaba cements its Pan-African status.

With a fully sold-out floor space, Africa’s Travel Indaba has reached a ground-breaking achievement as it will see an unprecedented participation of 26 African countries exhibiting this year. This is testament to the pivotal role the trade show plays in advancing the continent’s growth.

This year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba will take place from the 14th to the 16th of May 2024 and will be preceded by Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONday) on the 13th of May. This is an important gathering of the global tourism sector and other related industry stakeholders.

The 26 countries exhibiting this year include Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. These countries represent a total of 344 products that will be showcased, an increase of 14 % compared to last year’s 301 products.

Burkina Faso, Eritrea, and Guinea are the three new entrants.

Overall, a total of 55 countries are participating in this year’s event including all newcomers.

In total, this year’s event will see more than 1 030 exhibitors showcasing their products and tourism offerings and more than 890 buyers attending the event from all over the world.

The buyers include inbound tour operators, foreign travel agents, destination marketing companies, online booking agents and airlines.

As usual, the Department of Tourism will be funding the participation of 120 South African small to medium enterprises to exhibit their tourism offerings at this year’s Africa Travel indaba and gain exposure to wide ranging network of tourism trade industry players from all over Africa and the world.

“Africa’s Travel Indaba’s ongoing mission and commitment to driving the continent’s economic development and fostering collaboration and growth is clear. I am particularly pleased to welcome the new countries that are joining us exhibiting at the trade show for the first time. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership,” says South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.

The increase in the number of countries can be attributed to several key factors including the fact that in the past few years, tourism has also emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable development strategies across the continent.

“Africa’s Travel Indaba provides a platform for African tourism product owners to meet with global buyers. With a record number of participating countries this year, buyers will have a wide variety of products and experiences to engage with. I am confident that Africa’s Travel Indaba will continue to be a fertile environment for closing business deals that nurture partnership and drive growth,” adds Minister de Lille.

The number of countries opting to exhibit at Africa’s Travel Indaba also reflects a collective commitment to showcasing the diverse and unique tourism offerings that each country has to offer. By coming together on a unified platform, these African nations amplify their voices and strengthen their position in the global tourism market, thereby driving demand for African tourism products and experiences.

The rest of the African continent remains a key source market for South Africa. According to the latest statistics, in the first two months of 2024, South Africa welcomed 1.3 million tourists from the rest of the African continent, marking a significant 76.0% of all arrivals.

Minister de Lille continues to be pleased with the impressive numbers from the African continent once again highlighting that South Africa welcomed 6.4 million visitors from the rest of the African continent between January and December 2023, marking a significant 75.6% of all arrivals.

Source: Pondoland Times.

UN Tourism ranks East Africa among most open regions for travelers.

East Africa has been ranked among the most open sub-regions in the world in terms visa openness as global travel recovers to pre-pandemic levels, a new report by UN Tourism shows.

The United Nation’s tourism agency in its Visa Openness Report 2023 said East Africa stands out as the most welcoming subregion globally particularly due to its visa-on-arrival policy, which allows 46 per cent of the travellers of the world to obtain a visa upon entry, and its eVisa system, which is available to 36 per cent of international tourists.

“Visa-on-arrival policies are comparatively common in East Africa (46 per cent), South Asia (38 per cent), South-East Asia (36 per cent) and West Africa (32 per cent). eVisa programmes are prevalent in West and East Africa (36 per cent) and South Asia (31 per cent), while North Africa, Central America, Northern and Western Europe do not offer eVisas,” UN Tourism said in the report.

Kenya and Rwanda last year removed Visa requirements for all African travels, decisions that were lauded as a step towards opening African borders. Kenya has also launched a new eVisa platform for travellers from elsewhere.

As part of a new visa regime, travellers from countries that require the document to enter Kenya are now required to have an electronic visa (e-visa) before boarding a plane.

Overall, the lifting of Covid-19 travel restrictions have seen improvement in destinations’ openness.

“Destinations’ openness to international travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels following the lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions. As a consequence of the pandemic, new forms of travel facilitation, such as “nomadic visas”, also appeared,” the report said.

Ease of accessing visa is important to promoting tourism growth. According to the report, fewer people worldwide now require a traditional visa to travel, falling from 77 per cent in 2008 to 59 per cent in 2018, and then to 47 per cent in 2023.

At the same time, 21 per cent of the world population do not need any form of visa, an increase from 17 per cent in 2008 and 20 per cent in 2018 while 14 per cent of the world population can apply for visa on arrival, an increase from 6 per cent in 2008 and 15 per cent in 2018.

About 18 per cent of the world population can apply for eVisas, an increase from 3 per cent in 2013 and 7 per cent in 2018.

Source: Standard Media  

Navigating the Future: Empowering Travel and Tourism Through Online Payments

18 Apr 2024 – By Bryan Obala.

In the fast-evolving landscape of travel and tourism, the role of online payments has become more vital than ever before. Projections indicate that by 2033, the industry will soar to a staggering $15.5 trillion, contributing significantly to the global economy bloomberg. Particularly in developing markets across Africa, where new destinations are emerging as hotspots, the potential for growth in the travel industry is immense.

To capitalize on this growth, travel merchants must align with consumer expectations by offering seamless and reliable payment systems, with online sales projected to constitute 74% of total revenue by 2027. Here are five essential strategies that can help travel merchants meet these increasingly high consumer demands:

  1. Transparency: Be clear and specific about the payment options available to consumers. Transparency builds trust and enhances the buying experience.
  2. Security: In an era of burgeoning travel e-commerce, robust cybersecurity measures are indispensable. Offering secure payment options helps instill confidence and protects against fraud, which saw a concerning 156% increase in the global travel and leisure industry in 2021.
  3. Convenience: Tailor payment options to meet consumer preferences. Personalized services, including currency options and bundled offerings like travel insurance, enhance convenience and satisfaction.
  4. Reliability: High authorization rates are key indicators of success. Optimizing authorization rates not only drives incremental revenue but also fosters customer loyalty and repeat business. Even a slight improvement in authorization rates can translate into significant additional revenue, enabling businesses to fund expansion and innovation initiatives.
  5. Flexibility: Embrace Buy Now, Pay Later options to accommodate the diverse financial needs of travelers. Offering flexible payment solutions encourages purchase completion and enhances the overall shopping experience.

Looking ahead, the future of travel and tourism is brimming with possibilities. As businesses chart their course forward, prioritizing transparency, security, convenience, reliability, and flexibility will be paramount. By embracing these principles, merchants can navigate the dynamic landscape of global travel and ensure that everyone reaps the economic benefits of this thriving industry.

WTM Africa 2024 opens to 53% increase in attendees.

WTM Africa, which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 10-12 April, opened its 10th edition with a remarkable surge of 53% in attendance compared to the previous year. The increase in participation, with preliminary figures suggesting representation from 88 countries globally, heralds a bright future for the African tourism industry.

Africa Travel Week, under which the World Travel Market is a part also comprises shows like the Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA), and Equal Africa among others. The show also features seven networking events and the support of 53 partners.

Carol Weaving, managing director of RX Africa, comments: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Africa Travel Week with such a phenomenal turnout. This growth is a testament to the resilience and rising global appeal of the African tourism industry. We’re excited to contribute to the continued success and positive transformation of travel on the continent.”

The addition of first-time participants, including Greece, Iran, Switzerland, Lithuania, Tunisia, Benin, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Colombia, and Peru, brings fresh energy and diverse perspectives to the event.

Minister Patricia De Lille, though unable to attend in person, officially opened the conference via video call. She welcomed attendees and highlighted the need for collective efforts to continue the momentum of tourism in Africa: “This year represents a year where we can take measures to break new ground and achieve exponential growth in our numbers.”

Charting a sustainable future

Minister De Lille emphasised the importance of safety, sustainability, and expanding tourism beyond well-known destinations to include the hidden gems of lesser-known towns and villages across the continent. She also noted: “Tourism is one of the most significant contributors to our economy, but we can do much more. One of the areas where the department is investing in supporting economic sustainability is through our various tourism incentive programmes.”

A highlight of the opening day was the lively content discussions, where topics like responsible animal interactions sparked crucial ethical debates. Cathrine S. Nyquist, Co-founder of Panthera Africa, made a powerful statement: “Just because it’s legal does not make it right.”

The day also featured a dynamic Responsible Tourism session hosted by Harold Goodwin, World Travel Market’s Responsible Tourism Advisor. Three of the five African winners from the 2023 Responsible Tourism Awards shared their inspiring stories, demonstrating the continent’s commitment to sustainable travel practices.

The conference day closed with the inaugural Media Awards, recognising excellence in African travel journalism. Winners included:

• Sustainability Feature Award: Alexander Okere – Illegal Animal Trade

• Visual Tourism Award: Kelly Hammond

• Destination Feature Award: Phoebe Smith

• Tourism News Award: Adele Mackenzie – Tourism Update

“Africa Travel Week 2024 serves as a testament to the continent’s vast potential in tourism. It highlights the collective commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and sustainability. As Minister De Lille declared, ‘We are open for business. We are open for tourists’, extending an invitation to the world to experience the rich diversity and beauty of Africa,” concludes Weaving.

Source: Bizcommunity.

CS Mutua Kick Starts Activities to Rejuvenate Tourism Sector.

Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has launched activities that could revive the tourism industry to contribute immensely to the national economy.

Dr Mutua is spearheading a countrywide campaign dubbed “Utalii Fresh,” a strategic roadmap that seeks to uncover Kenya’s hidden tourism treasures and move the sector to the next level.

Speaking in Kwale County, the CS says his ministry is collaborating with the 47 devolved governments in the development of their rich tourism destinations and potentials.

Dr Mutua says his ministry is determined to revitalise the country’s tourism industry by investing in critical infrastructure like access roads, installing solar lighting along the beaches and strategic marketing to attract high spending tourists.

He says the campaign seeks to turn the tourism potentials in the counties into reality and promote tourism as a major foreign exchange earner and create jobs.

The CS was in Kwale County for his #UtaliiFresh county tours and announced that his visits will explore potential collaborations and partnerships to ensure that counties benefit from tourism opportunities.

He noted that Kenya has a strong comparative advantage in the hospitality and tourism sector because of its diverse cultural heritage.

CS Mutua termed the #UtaliiFresh campaign as a recipe for reviving sustainable and responsible tourism and repositioning it as a key sector in the national economy.

He says his vision is to unlock the untapped tourism potential of every corner of the country and take development to the grassroots.

“All around the world tourism plays an important role in the preservation and promotion of culture and heritage,” he said, adding that efforts would be made to ensure heritage sites and monuments throughout the country are preserved.

The CS accompanied by Governor Fatuma Achani visited a number of sites that the county intends to develop into attractive tourists’ sites in Diani.

Diani beach is the preferred holiday destination for both domestic and foreign tourists and each year it receives a record number of holidaymakers arriving to savour its beautiful scenery.

The resort town of Diani with its clear blue water and white sandy beaches have seen the South Coast town voted the best destination beach in Africa for six years in a row by the World Travel Awards.

The minister also held talks with tourism stakeholders and investors who presented their views on the challenges and opportunities in the tour, travel and hospitality sector.

Dr Mutua is asking the county governments to develop cultural experiences that would not only attract tourists but also benefit local economies and empower communities.

The Tourism CS says he has agreed with the Kwale County leadership on several initiatives aimed at enhancing the coastal county’s tourism sector.

“Key commitments include supporting the rehabilitation of the Diani tourist market and the construction of the Kwale Heritage and Convention Centre,” he said.

He also announced the establishment of a modern recreation facility along the historic Kongo beach blending preservation of the area’s history with contemporary amenities.

Dr Mutua says Kongo Beach is renowned for its potential in Halal (Shariah compliant) Tourism development and noted that the government sees a potential market of foreign Muslim travelers, especially from the Middle East.

He says the national government has set its eyes on the Arabian travel markets as an important growth area for the coastal counties of Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu tourism sector.

Mutua said the government will take steps to get a slice of the growing Muslim tourism market by participating in the Arabian Travel Markets.

He said Muslim customers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Iran and Turkey specifically look for tour packages that can guarantee them to perform prayer five times a day during travel.

Mutua also noted that in terms of food, they demand products that only use halal materials and are processed in compliance with Islamic rules.

Governor Achani says the devolved unit will set up a state-of-the-art conference facility in Diani and has already allocated Sh 40 million for the development of the necessary public services and utilities.

“Our discussions focused on strategies on possible partnership areas between the Kwale County government and the ministry of tourism to grow and bolster the tourism numbers in our county,” she said.

She says the national government needs to partner with devolved governments and other stakeholders if the tourism industry is to be properly harnessed.

The coastal county boss says Kwale will reposition itself as a top Halal friendly destination as the hospitality industry already has outstanding halal tourism infrastructure to cater for the Muslim travelers.

“As a Muslim it’s important to ensure that your travel arrangements including food and accommodation are Halal especially if you intend on travelling during the Muslim holiday seasons,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to offer tour packages with extended services such as allocating times for praying in the itinerary of Muslim tourists and offering halal food.

Source: Kenya News

Kenya received 460,000 more tourists in 2023.

Kenya’s 2023 tourism arrivals grew by more than 460,000 in the period to December, marking the third consecutive growth since 2021 when the numbers started rising.

The annual tourism sector performance report shows arrivals rose from 1,483,752 in 2022 to 1,951,185 in 2023, a 31.5 percent increase.

This is however way less compared to the previous year (2021-2022) when the numbers grew by about 71 per cent.

August recorded the highest number of visitors at 11 per cent of the total arrivals, attributed to the wildebeest migration experience in Maasai Mara around late July to August.

The growth is attributed to the good value for money perception by tourists, implying their belief in the country to offer quality experiences, services and attractions relative to the cost of their travel.

“Affordability of travel in Kenya is also a significant factor influencing the increase in tourist numbers,” the report reads.

The arrivals are attributed to the country’s positioning as a safe destination which is crucial in attracting tourists.

The perception according to the report may result from effective safety measures, low crime rates in tourist areas and the country’s commitment to providing a secure environment for visitors.

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport  registered the highest number, at 69 per cent of the total arrivals followed by Mombasa International Airport at eight per cent.

Most tourists using the road as mode of transport came through Busia Border, at eight per cent of the total arrivals, followed by Namanga Border at six per cent and Malaba at two per cent.

A total of 4,000 visitors used water as a mode of transport through Kilindini Seaport, Shimoni Seaport and Kisumu Pier.

USA was the top source market in the period under review with 265,310 tourists, which was 14 per cent of the total, surpassing the 2019 mark when it yielded 245,437 arrivals.

Uganda, Tanzania and the United Kingdom had  10, 8, and 8 per cent market shares, respectively.

Worth noting, is the Uganda market performance, whose extent of recovery was at 90 per cent, having yielded Kenya 223,010 arrivals in 2019.

The other source markets with a notable number of visitor arrivals were India, Germany, Italy, China, Somalia and Rwanda.

“A total of 13 of the 30 top market performers were from Africa which together had a share of 60 per cent of the total,” the report reads.

Holiday was the top reason why most travellers visited Kenya in the period under review, at 45 per cent.

It was followed by those visiting friends and relatives, at 24 per cent of the total.

Arrivals on business and MICE came at a close third with 24 per cent of the total visitation.

There was also a good number of visitors for other purposes such as religion, education, medical, employment and sporting activities.

Additionally, five per cent were visitors who entered the country while on transit to their final destinations.

Source: The-Star