Africa’s beleaguered airline industry could return to profit at the end of 2024, although regulatory uncertainty and higher fuel prices pose critical challenges, senior aviation officials said at an annual industry meeting on Friday.

Internal air travel in Africa has long been fragmented due to poor infrastructure and connectivity, as travellers moving from one country to another are often forced to visit a third destination outside the continent as part of their journey.

Those problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as national airlines sought government bailouts while others were liquidated when passenger seats plummeted during strict lockdowns.

Kamil Alawadhi, the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East, said market access and connectivity issues were delaying the recovery of southern Africa’s lucrative long-haul destinations, hampering foreign tourism and trade.

“What the numbers describe is the impact of several carriers’ exits from the market and the harmful distorting effects of an out-dated regulatory framework of bilateral air service agreements between governments, that restrict expansion and market access,” Alawadhi said in prepared remarks for delivery at the Airlines Association of Southern Africa’s annual general assembly.

“Today, in Southern Africa’s case, with the exception of Angola, the absence of local inter-continental operators from routes they have been designated, is causing particular pain as it has left many markets under-served,” he said.

The meeting takes place as company executives and airline agencies plot a recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated global passenger and cargo transport. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also affected global fuel prices and led to shortages of jet fuel across Africa.

According to Alawadhi’s prepared speech, southern Africa’s airline capacity is still 32.7% below 2019 levels. Eastern Africa is 6.4% below pre-pandemic levels while other African regions are now 3.2%-3.8% above 2019 traffic levels.

“IATA’s current outlook sees the global loss reduced to $9.7 billion for 2022 and a return to industry-wide profit in 2023. Africa is on track to follow by the end of 2024,” Alawadhi said.

According to the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), data showed that by last month, African countries had resumed operations to 99.2% of routes operated before the pandemic.

Rising fuel prices pose a fresh challenge, however, said Abderahmane Berthe, secretary general of AFRAA.

Fuel represents around a third of African airline operator costs, he said, adding that the steep rise of global fuel prices to an estimated average of $142 a barrel this year from $78 a barrel in 2021 will hurt the sector’s financial recovery.

“One of the consequences we are seeing today is the increase in ticket fares … tickets are more expensive and this is not good for the development of air transport in Africa,” Berthe said.

Source: Reuters

Driving overseas can be a daunting experience and being unaware of different countries’ rules could easily land a driver in trouble.

According to holiday car rental experts, StressFreeCarRental.com, it’s very easy for people to forget that different countries may have uncommon rules when it comes to the road.

Some of the rules are simply common knowledge, but other laws may come across as quite unusual for road users.

According to StressFreeCarRental’s research, here are seven unique driving laws from around the world.

While countries like the UK are stricter when it comes to this matter, road users in South Africa don’t need to purchase insurance when driving a car.

Despite insurance not being mandatory, many advise drivers to get insurance anyway in case they have an accident.

Dubai: Camels come first

Camels are considered important symbols in Dubai and are highly respected in traffic laws in the UAE. If a camel is spotted on the road, always give it the right of way.

US: You can turn right at a red robot if the road is clear

Even though drivers don’t have the right of way, most US cities allow drivers to turn right at a red robot if there are no other vehicles around. However, this rule does not apply to New York City as it’s banned unless stated otherwise on a road sign. This driving rule can save travellers in the US a lot of time.

UK: You can’t use your phone to pay at the drive-through

Many drivers in the UK are unaware of the recent crackdown on using phones, which can result in a fine or penalties on your licence. It’s always best to bring a contactless card when paying for fast food, or you can simply turn off the engine when paying.

Canada: You must hoot when passing Prince Edward Island

It’s one of the most famous laws about Prince Edward Island. It’s very unlikely you’ll get charged for not honking, but it’s always best to say safe and press the hooter when passing another vehicle.

India: Don’t drive without a pollution control certificate

To help the impact of air pollution, drivers in India must have a pollution control certificate to show that their vehicle is environmentally safe to drive. If you don’t provide a certificate, it could lead to a hefty fine.

Australia: Haven’t locked your car? You’ll get a fine

In most parts of Australia, it is legally an offence to leave the car unlocked, so it’s vital to triple check the car is locked when driving in Australia.

Source: IOL

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) says it will introduce an ‘online traveller declaration system’ that all travellers need to comply with.

The new system will simplify passenger movement at South African airports, SARS said, and will come into effect from 1 November 2022.

The system aims to collect travel information and, in return, grants a traveller pass via email, said SARS.

It requires that all travellers – including South African citizens and residents, children and infants – leaving or entering South Africa by air complete the declaration. SARS said that once completed and submitted, travellers will receive a pass before they board.

The new online system will be rolled out in all South African international airports, starting with OR Tambo International Airport from 1 November, and then to others in the first quarter of 2023, the revenue service said.

“Upon arrival in South Africa, there will be instructions at the airports that will guide and inform travellers what to do next,” it said.

Currently, in terms of the declaration of goods at the airport, all people who arrive in the country are required to complete a Traveller Card (TC-01) if they have something to declare – the card is then used alongside your passport in the customs process.

Some goods that are required to be declared include things such as:

• Products purchased or acquired abroad
• Goods remodelled or repaired abroad
• Anything prohibited or restricted, or controlled under any law

When departing from South Africa, residents are further required by SARS to register valuables before their trip – this can be done at the customs office in international departures before handing luggage in.

However, tourists to South Africa can reclaim Value-Added Tax (VAT) on the goods bought during their visit to the country, added SARS.

SARS has been beefing up its tax policy and working with other institutions to ensure stricter compliance with tax law. The latest Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) annual report showed that over R41.6 million in penalties was imposed by SARS on certain people and businesses over 2021 – many of which were instances of non-compliance.

SARS has a history of keeping tabs on taxpayers. In mid-September, Tax Consulting SA noted that the taxman can track a person’s flights as part of stricter emigration processes.

Nikolas Skafidas, a tax expert from the group said that expatriate taxpayers awaiting approval for their non-resident status might have their flights tracked into and out of South Africa by the tax authority.

He said that flight details could possibly be used by SARS when questioning the validity of an applicant’s claim that they intend to reside outside of South Africa permanently.

Source: Business Tech

The new UAE visa rules that came into effect on October 3 allow holidaymakers to stay for 60 days at a time.

The decision to make all entry visas valid for 60 days from the date of issue ― double the previous allowance ― is one of a series of visa changes that were approved by the Cabinet in April.

Previously, there was no specific visa for tourists and those wishing to visit the UAE applied for 30-day, 60-day or 90-day visit visas.

The one, two and three-month entry permits are still available on a new visa, but mainly for people wishing to visit friends or relatives in the country, which requires documentary evidence proving the relationship and reasons for the visit.

All entry visas are available for single or multiple entry and can be renewed for a further 60 days.

Roshan Davis, manager of Golden Talent Tourism Agency in Dubai, said the change has made it easier for tourists to spend extended time in the country exploring and enjoying everything it has to offer.

“We have received more than 50 tourist visa applications from customers in the past four days,” he said.

Who is the tourist visa for?

Those who do not qualify for a visa on arrival or visa-free entry to the UAE can apply for a tourist visa.

Citizens from 69 countries and states are eligible for a visa on arrival in the UAE. Females below the age of 18 are not eligible to apply for a tourist visa unless they are travelling with their parents.

How can I apply for a tourist visa?

Visitors from countries that do not have a visa-on-arrival arrangement with the UAE can apply for their visas in advance through a travel agency or through the airline with which they are travelling.

How much does the tourist visa cost?

Mr Davis said they charge between Dh550 and Dh600 for 60-day visas and between Dh350 and Dh750 for one, two and three-month visa requests for visiting relatives.

A 60-day single entry visa with Etihad Airways costs Dh650, while a similar visa from Emirates airline costs Dh697 ($190). Both airlines offer a shorter, 30-day visa priced at Dh350 for Etihad and Dh330 ($90) for Emirates.

Source: The National News

There is increased interest among Kenyan tour operators to venture into the Ugandan travel market, as Kenya’s tourism sector goes regional.

Every year thousands of Kenyans cross over to Uganda for both business and leisure tours, making Kenya one of the most reliable source markets for Uganda’s travel industry.

Already, a number of Kenyan travel companies have set up shop in the capital Kampala, as they hope to expand their operations.

Adventure tourism, cultural tourism and eco-tourism are the main attractions in Uganda, which is also the source of the Nile, the world’s longest river.

Notably, 75 percent of Uganda’s tourists are from African countries. Kenya, its eastern neighbour, accounts for 50 percent of all arrivals. In 2013, for example, more than 380,000 of the 1.2 million visitors to Uganda were Kenyan.

It was barely surprising then when more than 4,000 Kenyans crossed the border to attend the popular Nyege Nyege festival last week, the highest number of any nationality.

In Kampala’s vibrant nightlife, Kenyan revellers – including at Kenyan-owned clubs – are a common feature, partying the night away with their Ugandan counterparts.

To strengthen the destination’s appeal, Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) last week hosted a group of Kenyan tour operators for a familiarisation tour of the country’s attractions, a visit that was also designed to provide business support and possible partnerships.

The visit by a host of Kenya’s leading tour operators, among them Hemingways Travel, Imagine Africa Tours, Gamewatchers Safaris, Muthaiga Travel, and Zaira Tours is the clearest demonstration yet of the growing interest in the Ugandan market by Kenyan companies.

The Kenyan delegation visited cultural centres and facilities such as Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth, and Bwindi Forest National parks. They also interacted with hotel owners and tour operators from Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda with the aim of boosting cross-border tourism.

Like Kenya, Uganda offers a wide array of flora and fauna to watch in its parks and sanctuaries. The dramatic landscape of hills and lakes adds to the thrill for travellers.

One the highlights in this destination is the rare experience of watching wild animals aboard a boat along Kazinga Channel, a 32-kilometre stretch of water that enjoins lakes Edward and George at Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.

Here, visitors can see hippos, crocodiles, pelicans, elephants and buffaloes that populate the park.

For the adrenaline adventure seekers, Uganda offers white water rafting experiences on the source of River Nile in Jinja.

‘‘Uganda may not have as many animals as Kenyan parks do, but we pride ourselves for having a population, however small, of each of the different animal species found across the region,’’ says Lilly Ajarova, the chief executive of UTB.

On why there is surging interest by Kenyan tour operators in the Ugandan tour market, Jackie Njambi, a travel consultant at Muthaiga Travel, explains: ‘‘They (operators) are now more aware that Uganda is one of the destinations not to miss out for their clientele, hence the rush to tap the market.’’

Whereas both Kenya and Uganda have similar biodiversity, chimpanzee and mountain gorilla tracking in the latter’s parks gives it an egde. ‘‘These are obvious attractions for many Kenyan clients,’’ says Ms Njambi.

Rashid Hussein, the CEO of Zaira Tours, says Kenyans travelling to Uganda constitute the bulk of his clients. And to seize this growing business opportunity, Hussein has recently had to expand his company’s operations to Uganda, by setting up an office in Kampala.

‘‘The business we receive for Uganda is overwhelming. Kenyans love adventure tours.’’

Then there is the scenery and food diversity, according to Eliud Oyalo, the product director at Imagine Africa Safaris. ‘‘Uganda has one of the most beautiful landscapes in the region,’’ he says.

Uganda’s geography is made up of 165 lakes, including fresh water lakes and crater lakes, constituting nine percent of Africa’s lakes – compared to only 64 in Kenya.

Kenyan travel consultants concur that the Ugandan domestic tourism sector remains largely untapped, describing the situation as a gap for new players in the market to fill.

Says Ms Njambi: ‘‘Generally, international tourism in Uganda has increased due to the greater impact of globalisation.’’

Yvonne Muteru, a travel consultant at Gamewatchers Safaris, describes Uganda as ‘‘one of the most unique natural, cultural and historical attractions in Africa and the world.’’

Her company also hosts pilgrimage tours. ‘‘With 45 million people and 52 indigenous tribes, Uganda has for years been a popular cultural destination. Performances at Ndere Cultural Centre in Kampala are a must-see for visitors,’’ she says.

Mr Oyalo agrees, adding that Uganda’s pilgrimage tourism and cultural heritage are unique.

‘‘The Namugongo Martyrs Shrine is an epicentre of religion. Most spiritual travellers who want to trace the journey of their faith visit Uganda and walk through the journey of the martyrs in their remembrance. We do not have this kind of experience in Kenya,’’ Oyalo says.

Indeed, records from UTB show that pilgrimage and apostolic tourism tours account for a significant number of travellers to Uganda.

Leading sites for religious tourism include Martyrs of Munyonyo Shrine, Namugongo Martyrs Shrine, Gadaffi Mosque and Baha’i Temple at the heart of Kampala.

The Namugongo Martyrs’ shrine, for instance, brings in visitors from around the world to learn and pay tribute to the martyrs, mostly teenage boys, who were butchered by Kabaka Mwanga II of Buganda in the 1800s.

Mwanga II was a ruthless king who was opposed to entry of new religion in his kingdom. Converts of Islam, Christianity and other religions were tortured and burned alive.

There are also those like Ms Njambi who believe this market is friendlier to players. She explains: ‘‘Uganda has lower travel barriers compared to other key [regional] markets such as Kenya.’’

Even so, most top hotels in Uganda have only international rates, which most locals cannot afford, Mr Oyalo notes.

For the luxury traveller, Uganda has a host of premier hotels and lodges for boarding. These include Kyaninga Lodge (Sh140,000 per night), Trackers Safari Lodge (Sh160,000) and Bwindi Lodge that costs between $3,990 (Sh480,000) to $4,300 (Sh518,000) for three nights person.

‘‘There need to be separate rates for the East African market and for the international markets to boost numbers.’’

The director adds that designating seasons as high and low would allow budget tourists from the region to plan their travel to Uganda accordingly.

Through such collaborations, players in both markets are expected to design collective products and packages for tourists from across the region to explore, according to UTB.

‘‘As we position ourselves as the Pearl of Africa, there is the uniqueness in the different experiences and diversity that we offer to complement what the rest of the region offers,’’ says Ms Ajarova.

‘‘It is necessary that our markets work in a complementary arrangement. Uganda can supplement what Kenya does not have as we supplement when they lack. This way, we will be able to give our travellers a fulfilling experience.’’

One such experiences is the mountain gorilla tracking, an experience that Kenya does not have, says Mr Hussein. ‘‘Many Kenyans find it cheaper to do gorilla tracking here (Uganda) than having to travel to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which are farther.’’

The two Central African countries too offer gorilla tracking experiences, even though Uganda boasts the largest population of the primates. For tour operators such as Mr Hussein, this challenges the three destinations to develop ‘‘competitive packages, with travellers as the biggest beneficiaries.’’

The interest by Kenyan tour operators is also a product of aggressive promotional campaigns in recent years by Ugandan authorities.

Last year, UTB rebranded to reposition the country as a leading tourism destination in Africa under the banner ‘‘Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.’’

This initiative has seen Uganda’s profile as a destination rise dramatically both regionally and internationally.

The East African country is now banking on this revived brand identity to boost tourist numbers as the global travel industry recovers from shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Business Daily

Kenya on Thursday called on African tourism marketers to create synergies that can promote intra-Africa travel.

Joanne Mwangi-Yelbert, the chairperson of the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), said Africa’s tourism boards and stakeholders in public and private sectors should promote the vastness of the continent, its natural beauty, and its immense biodiversity that offers travelers an almost unlimited choice of destinations.

Mwangi said tourism has been growing rapidly over the past decade, but this growth has not been evenly distributed across all African countries.

“A majority of countries are still lagging behind in terms of infrastructure development and market access, which is why partnerships between tourism boards and governments will be key in helping to grow our industry,” she said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

While speaking during a meeting with African tourism board representatives on the sidelines of the Magical Kenya Travel Expo, Mwangi noted that the African continent is one that has great potential for tourism. and insisted that despite the fact that there are many opportunities for intra-Africa travel, little or no synergies exist among the various stakeholders.

“We need to go ahead and capitalize on this opportunity by crafting strategies that will help us achieve our goals,” Mwangi said.

She also urged tourism boards in the continent to seek more partnerships with governments and other stakeholders in the sector to ensure the future success of tourism in Africa, challenging them to be at the frontier in innovating new marketing strategies that can help boost tourism development.

According to the KTB, international arrivals in Africa grew to 18.5 million in 2021 from 16.2 million in 2020.

Source: Xinhua

The federal government is scrapping another of its responses to the pandemic.

On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its country-by-country COVID-19 travel health notices that it began issuing early in the pandemic.

The reason: Fewer countries are testing for the virus or reporting the number of COVID-19 cases. That limits the CDC’s ability to calculate travelers’ risk, according to the agency.

CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund said the agency will only post a travel health notice for an individual country if a situation such as a troubling new variant of the virus changes CDC travel recommendations for that country.

The CDC still recommends that travelers remain up to date on vaccines and follow recommendations found on its international travel page.

That page divides countries into three categories – practice usual precautions, enhanced precautions or avoid nonessential travel.

Restrictions such as testing and quarantine requirements greatly slowed international travel earlier in the pandemic, but many countries eventually lifted those rules for fully vaccinated and boosted people to increase tourism.

In early 2020, before vaccines were available, the United States barred people who had recently been in any of more than three dozen countries. In 2021, the U.S. instead began requiring people to test negative for COVID-19 shortly before boarding planes to the U.S. That rule too was eventually dropped.

Source: USA Today

Rwanda has reinstated the use of non-contact thermometers across all its border posts with Uganda following an Ebola outbreak in the neighbouring country that has killed five and infected 19 other people.

Health workers in protective coats and face masks at the Gatuna and Kagitumba borders have begun measuring temperatures of travellers and taking down their travel histories as Kigali seeks to prevent cross-border infections.

Although Rwanda has not suffered a single Ebola case in the past, Uganda’s Mubende District—where Ebola has been reported—is about a six-hour drive from the border.

This close proximity has heightened alertness in Rwanda, with the government urging residents to consider preventive measures.

“The Ministry of Health strongly urges each and every one to be cautious and seriously comply with the preventive measures against the Ebola Virus Disease as it is easily preventable when one abides by hygiene standards and avoids unnecessary visits and contact with people who have travelled to areas affected by the Ebola outbreak,” a statement reads.

“Avoid unnecessary travel coming from the area affected by the Ebola outbreak; avoid receiving travellers coming from the affected area (Mubende); when you know where they are in the country, immediately report to the nearest local authority.”

Two of Rwanda’s neighbours – Uganda and DRC – have suffered Ebola outbreaks in the past, with officials saying they are aware and alert of the danger that this comes with.

At the height of the Ebola epidemic in DRC in 2019, Rwanda increased border surveillance; trained over 23,600 medical personnel, police officers and volunteers; and embarked on a countywide sensitisation campaign about the virus.

The country’s most serious scare came in August 2019 when reports by the World Health Organization claimed that a fishmonger who “died of the virus may have carried the disease into the country from eastern DRC.”

Rwanda rejected this claim and, thereafter, WHO retracted the statement and commended Rwanda’s preparedness efforts, while stating that no cases of Ebola were reported in the country.

The virus had claimed over 2,000 in DRC by September 2019, while threatening to break into neighbouring countries Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania.

Ebola response simulation exercises were conducted in multiple district hospitals to test Rwanda’s preparedness in conducting emergency operations, surveillance and lab tests in case of a reported Ebola case.

The country also vaccinated about 3,000 health workers as a preventative measure, including more than 1,100 in Gisenyi town that borders DRC.

Ebola is a deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal, or a sick or infected dead person.

Ebola symptoms include fever, headache, joint pain, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhoea, regular vomiting, stomach-ache and bleeding.

Source: The East African

Kenyans with old passports have until November to acquire the new biometric digital ones, Immigration Director General Alexander Muteshi said Thursday.

Travellers who will not have changed their passports by end of November will be barred from travelling.  

“Pursuant to the decision by EAC Council of Ministers held in Arusha from November 22 to 29, 2021, the deadline for phasing out of the old generation passport for EAC Member States is November 2022,” DG Alexander Muteshi said.

The Kenyan government has shifted the deadline for the migration to the new travel document several times, causing confusion.

“In line with this decision, the Directorate of Immigration Services wishes to inform the general public that Kenya is bound to migrate to the new East African Community biometric e-passport by November 30,” Mr Muteshi said. 

Already, some countries like Spain and others in the European Union (EU) are not accepting the old passport from Kenyan travellers, adding to the confusion that has been occasioned by several postponements.

Kenya rolled out new chip-embedded passports for its citizens to tame rampant forgery and impersonation of holders. The new features are meant to make it impossible for anyone to forge or duplicate a Kenyan passport.

The new e-passports conform to international passport security standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that require they have a tamper-proof electronic chip with a holder’s information and travel history.

Roll-out of the e-passports with a 10-year validity period marked the beginning of the end of the ‘analogue’ passports that have been in use since Independence and have joined more than 60 other countries that use new passports.

The decision to phase out the old generation passport was first made public in April 2015 and the electronic passport was to be launched in December 2016 but has been extended several times.

The shifting deadlines have caused confusion with some foreign consulates announcing they would cease to accept the analogue Kenyan passport, only for the government to give an extension.

Source: Business Daily