Air Namibia resumes flights to Zimbabwe!

National flag Carrier of Namibia- Air Namibia is all set to restart its much-awaited flights to Zimbabwe on May 16 and will be flying into the Zimbabwe four times a week.

Air Namibia stopped flying to Zimbabwe route 13 years ago, plans to use a 37-seater — in one-class configuration — all-economy plane for the Windhoek and Harare route.

Mr. Paul Homateni Nakawa said preparations for the relaunch,
“I confirm on behalf of Air Namibia that our first flight will fly to Harare, Zimbabwe, on 16th May 2012,” he said.

“Officially, these new routes are starting on the 15th of May 2012.

“Air Namibia will be starting its flights to Zimbabwe on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday every week; hence our first flights to Harare shall only be on the 16th May 2012, as per the flight schedule.”

Air Namibia’s re-entry comes two months after Emirates, one of the world’s fastest growing international airlines, resumed services to the country.

Emirates Airlines currently serves 19 passenger and cargo destinations across the African continent.

Several international airlines, including Egypt Air, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and Quantas, stopped flights to Zimbabwe because of dwindling passenger numbers as tourists were scared off by political violence and instability.

Regional airlines like Air Malawi, Kenya Airways and South African Airways are still flying to Zimbabwe.

The Namibian airline has also launched two other regional routes — Ondjiva (Angola) and Gaborone (Botswana). In addition to its growth and expansion plans, the airline hopes to become an independent profit-making entity by the end of 2016.

Botswana has called for joint tourism ventures with Zambia

Botswana has called for joint marketing ventures with Zambia aimed at developing and boosting tourist arrivals in both countries
Botswana Tourism marketing executive-local and African markets, Tshepiso Mphele said it was important for the two countries to work together so that tourists visiting both countries would enjoy the peace.
In an interview in Lusaka, Ms Mphele said Botswana Tourism stands ready to work with the Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) in promoting tourism packages that could be beneficial to both parties adding that maintaining peace and harmony between the two countries was critical.
"Our interest as Botswana Tourism is to maintain peace and harmony and to develop joint marketing ventures in the two countries," she said
Ms Mphele said their aim of visiting Zambia was to develop joint marketing ventures between the two countries.now people can book cheap flights to Botswana via Zambia as well.
She said Botswana Tourism offered complimentary products and services for attraction that Zambian people would enjoy when they visited the country.
Ms Mpele said her country had recorded a high number of tourists coming from Zambia visiting her country for business and leisure in the past few years up to now, a situation which she would want to continue even in future.

China funds US$164m to Victoria Falls airport upgrade

China has agreed to provide US$164 million for the refurbishment of the airport at Victoria Falls, the country’s premier tourism resort.
The deal is part of an US$180 million aid package endorsed by Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu who visited Zimbabwe this week.
The package includes US$12.7 million grant on economic and technical cooperation as well as US$5 million to help the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation acquire outside broadcast equipment.
"The cooperation between Zimbabwe and China has been seen in the construction of the Victoria Falls Airport and runway that we are going to use next year when we host the United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly and the Agricultural Demonstration Center launched today," Vice President Joice Mujuru said.
Zimbabwe is looking to upgrade its dilapidated airports infrastructure to support the country’s resurgent tourism industry. Apart from Victoria Falls, the government is also rebuilding Bulawayo’s Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.
The tourism sector has registered significant growth in recent years, resulting in some of the world’s major carriers, among them Dubai-based Emirates, launch flights to Zimbabwe.
Tourism Minister, Walter Mzembi recently said tourism had overtaken agriculture to become the second largest contributor to Gross Domestic Product after mining.
The sector’s contribution to GDP was expected to rise from 9 percent last year to 15 percent with tourist arrivals doubling to 5 million by 2015.

Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB): More Tourists Visiting in 2011

Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has said 906,417 tourists visited the country in 2011 compared to 815,000 arrivals recorded in 2010.
The tourism board will this year spend about K9.8 billion on marketing aimed at attracting local and foreign tourists to meet the targeted one million visitors.
ZTB marketing director Evans Muhanga said the current estimated figures for 2011 indicated that Zambia attracted 906,417 tourists, higher than the number attained in 2010.
In 2010, ZTB recorded 815,000 arrivals compared to 906,417 achieved last year when ZTB rebranded to 'Let's Explore', meant to attract more tourists and create an environment that ensures an equitable balance between development needs of the country and an investment climate for wealth creation.
In an interview in Lusaka, Mr Muhanga said the board was on course to attracting the one million tourists by the end of this year.
"We are still cleaning up the figures for 2011 and 906,417 tourists for 2011 is an estimate," he said.
Recently, Mr Muhanga outlined the 2012 marketing plan with the total budget for marketing activities pegged at K9.8 billion, of which K3.7 billion would be channelled to promoting domestic tourism and K4.9 billion for international marketing.
The overall marketing objectives were to attain one million tourist arrivals by the end of 2012, increase tourists' duration of stay from an average three days to seven days and attain tourism sector Gross Domestic Product contribution of 10 per cent per annum, from the current seven per cent.
The ZTB 2012 marketing strategy will focus on maintaining the traditional source markets for tourists, expanding and developing new emerging markets, growing the domestic market and attracting more tourists to Zambia to meet the target.

Air Botswana opens regional routes!

Gaborone - The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has said it is opening Botswana’s skies by approving more flights by regional airlines in and out of the country.

CAAB granted Air Botswana, Air Namibia and South African Airways Airlink increased frequency of inward and outward flights to Botswana and flights to Namibia and flights to South Africa.

Starting June 2012, there will be a Johannesburg-Maun-Johannesburg flight seven times per week by SAA Airlink.

CAAB also announced approval of Air Namibia to fly into Gaborone from Windhoek thrice weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) on top of the already operational Windhoek-Maun route.

The new route starts May 15.

In addition, the Aeronautical Authority of South Africa has approved Air Botswana to have three flights weekly between Maun and Cape Town. These should start on June 1. Air Botswana presently flies to Lusaka, Johannesburg and Harare.
CAAB spokesperson, Modipe Nkwe, said direct connections to Botswana would reduce inconveniences to passengers who currently have to connect through other cities. Nkwe said international visitors headed to Maun more than other parts of Botswana.

Official statistics indicate Maun Airport is one of the busiest in the region and it is undergoing refurbishment, as it is the gateway to one of the biggest deltas in the world; the Okavango Delta – a prime tourism destination.    CAAB expanded the Maun Airport runway to allow bigger craft, such as the Boeing 737, to use the facility. Air Botswana’s GM, Sakhile Reiling, said the changes were part of the airline’s turnaround strategy.

“Firstly, we must get compliance and staffing qualification levels sorted out. Secondly, in line with our expansion, work on infrastructure will need to be done in terms of machinery such as aircraft and equipment.”

The Botswana are considered among the region's worst in welcoming tourists according to a new report.

Botswana tourism industry is the worst in the region in terms of receiving tourists, a Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (Retosa) study shows.

The southern African country is globally celebrated as one of the best for wildlife tourism, but the latest Retosa study claims that Batswana (people of Botswana) are hostile towards visitors.

And Environment, Wildlife and Tourism minister Kitso Mokaila fears the finding on hospitality may ruin Botswana’s tourism industry which is a major contributor to the country's GDP.

Mr Mokaila attended a Retosa convention in Mauritius recently and has said it is critical to educate citizens on the significance of tourism.

"Botswana was considered the worst when it comes to accepting or welcoming tourists in the country though we are probably the best when it comes to policies,” said Mr Mokaila.

The study centred on those who meet tourists when they arrive in the country, such as taxi drivers, cleaners and other tourism service providers like hotel employees.

The minister reckons the challenge stems from a lack of understanding about the importance of tourism among citizens and believes Botswana educating  on how to interact with holiday-makers could make a huge difference.

Mr Mokaila is convinced it is time to invest further into the tourism industry as indications are that current mainstay resources like diamonds may wane in future.

Two years ago when South Africa hosted the soccer World Cup, Botswana failed to reap the benefits despite its proximity to the continent’s first time hosts.
Botswana have exotic places to explore,  its is landlocked in Southern Africa, and visiting Botswana you can also view the other African destinations such as Zambia and Zimbabwe where you can meet the world wonders Victoria falls, book your cheap flights to Botswana, and reserve the best safri with flights master.

two more airlines will soon land at the Harare: Said Marah Hativagone

Two more national airlines will soon land at the Harare International Airport, says the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Tourism Association (ZTA), Marah Hativagone.
Hativagone, who is also Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Investment Authority (ZIA), said: "Air Namibia is talking to us to re-engage with us again after many years of absence.
"The natioanl airline of Tanzania is also talking to us and we hope they will land here anytime soon. As you probably know that Emirates Airlines has already started its cheap flights to Zimbabwe and this brings about three new players in the tourism industry."
She said, however, four new airlines would not be enough for Zimbabwe's tourism industry which is picking up.
Hativagone said the new five star hotels scheduled to be built near the National Sports Stadium project would continue despite the strong opposition from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), who have come out strongly against the project.
Zimbabwe's tourism industry is improving judging by the latest figures from the ZTA.
The President of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ), Tichaona Hwingwiri, said his association is pleased with the upward trend within travel and tourism in the past two years.
He said, however, Zimbabwe still had "much more ground to cover for it to enjoy the number of international tourist arrivals of the boom period of the 1990s".
"A great many factors still act as obstacles to a full and unimpeded progress towards tourism growth and development, among which is the domestic air service situation," Hwingwiri recently said in an exclusive interview.
"Domestic tourism has been slow particularly in areas such as the Eastern Highlands, Kariba, Great Zimbabwe and the Bulawayo area but continues to grow in destinations such as Harare and Victoria Falls.
"It is hoped that all obstacles to tourism growth can be identified and removed and HAZ remains keen to work with other partners such as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT) and others in this regard."
Zimbabwe's tourism industry used to very active before the controversial Land Resettlement Programme (LRP) began in 2000.
The Minister of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Engineer Walter Mzembi, has said he too is pleased with the industry's progress especially the fact that Zimbabwe is expected to host the World Tourism Fair in October 2012 this year. Zimbabwe will share this prestigious event with neighbors, Zambia.

Zimbabwe must maintain peace and security to enable its thriving tourism sector to continue growing, Tourism Minister Said

Zimbabwe must maintain peace and security to enable its thriving tourism sector to continue growing, Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi has said.
He said tourism, the fastest growing sector in the economy, could only thrive in a peaceful and stable environment.
"We are all aware of what happens when a tourism destination is plagued with violence and insecurity," Mzembi told journalists on Wednesday.
He noted that attractive destinations in turmoil-hit North Africa were losing tourists to Southern Africa which he said was rapidly becoming a haven of peace.
"So we need to keep Zimbabwe and the region peaceful and secure," he said while also stressing the importance of peaceful elections envisaged soon.
Zimbabwe's tourism sector has registered phenomenal growth in recent years and has overtaken agriculture to become the second largest contributor to Gross Domestic Product after mining.
Mzembi said the sector’s contribution to GDP was expected to rise from 9 percent last year to 15 percent and to double tourist arrivals to 5 million by 2015.
However, the minister expressed concern that Zimbabwe’s traditional source markets in Europe were discouraging their nationals from traveling to Africa and other developing countries.
Following the economic meltdown, the European Union has urged member countries to introduce various airport departure taxes which make it more attractive for Europeans to visit within their own countries and the EU rather than venture far out, he said.
Mzembi said it was therefore important for Zimbabwe and the Southern African region to develop strategies that will ensure the survival and growth of their tourism sectors.
Integration of the region into a single tourism destination was one such strategy, underpinned by the region's transfrontier conservation areas such as the Kavango-Zambezi and the Great Limpopo.
Kavango-Zambezi is potentially the world's largest conservation area, spanning five southern African countries: Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and is centered around the Caprivi- Chobe-Victoria Falls area.
The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area comprises three game parks from South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
Mzembi said the 2013 United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia would help put African tourism on the world map.
Now take cheap flights to zimbabwe with more peace of mind.

Ethiopian Airlines Launches Flights to Seychelles

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, launched non stop flights from Addis Ababa to Seychelles as of the 1st of April.
The airline is pleased to begin services to Seychelles famous for its beauty and the home of two UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites; the world’s largest raised coral atoll and Praslin’s Vallée de Mai, said to be the site of the original Garden of Eden according to Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian.

The Ethiopian Airlines flights between Ethiopia and Seychelles will be mutually beneficial said Alain St. Ange Seychelles’ Minister for Culture and Tourism.

Ethiopian Airlines has announced promotional travel packages to Seychelles which include airfare and multiple night stays at various locations for significantly lowered prices.
It is to be remembered that Ethiopian Airlines previously postponed Ethiopia the original launch of its flight services to Seychelles scheduled for the 15th of November last year. The Airlines made the decision to postpone the expected flight services due to operational reasons according to a press release by the company.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) 37th Annual World Congress to be held in Zimbabwe!

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) announced today that registration is now open for the 37th Annual World Congress, to be held from May 18-22, in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, one of the world’s top natural wonders and adventure capitals.
ATA’s hallmark event on the African continent will be hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) under the auspices of the Honorable Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi. The theme of this year’s event is “Africa Tourism: Partnering for the Future.”
Delegates can register for the five-day travel industry event online at ATA’s website: http://www.africatravelassociation.org/congress_reg.html,  Special early bird rates for ATA members and students are available until April 30 at $400. After this date, ATA members can register for $500. Non-member registration fee is $600.
Among the expected 300 participants, are tourism ministers and industry experts representing tourism boards, tour operators, and their product development executives, front-line agents, ground operator companies, airlines, and hotels. Participants from the travel trade media and the corporate, nonprofit, and academic sectors are also expected to attend, along with African Diaspora representatives and ATA’s Young Professionals Program participants.
Zimbabwe is home to a diverse range of tourist attractions, including its own seven wonders: (1) people and culture, (2) history and heritage, (3) Great Zimbabwe (grand medieval palace), (4) Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), (5) wildlife and nature, (6) Eastern Highlands, and (7) Lake Kariba. Delegates will sample some of these wonders during the Host Country Day and by participating in pre- and post-congress tours.Book your flights and Holidays to Zimbabwe with us and get the best possible offer.
The ATA International Board of Directors meeting will be held on Friday, May 18. Saturday, May 19, begins with sessions focusing on Destination Zimbabwe, followed by an opening ceremony with cultural entertainment. The next few days include ample networking, learning, and professional development panels and workshops, addressing industry topics, such as community-based travel, agro-tourism, academic travel, faith-based tourism, e-tourism, marketing, branding, private sector investment, women and tourism, sustainable tourism, and African culinary products. Delegates will also participate in roundtables for tourism ministers, a media marketplace, networking events, host country day(s), and gala dinners. Zimbabwe will also organize a marketplace, featuring art, sculpture, and daily excursions in Victoria Falls. The event will close on Tuesday, May 22. Pre- and post-congress excursions and trips will be available to delegates. 

Top 10 East African famous Cousins! (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia)

According to a recent research, close survey with friends, we are in this position to release the facts about the top 10 East African famous cousins.

1. Nyama Choma (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

Roasted meat is hands down the king of dishes in East Africa. Goat, lamb, chicken, East Africans have a way of grilling them, which maintains all their natural juices and flavors. They even have entire restaurants dedicated to the chomas. Served with a side of kachumbari, a little salt, or just plain, these could make even a hardcore vegetarian reconsider their choices.

2. Kachumbari (Kenya)

Fresh, light, and colorful. Kachumbari is irresistible and a great addition to any meal. It is a mix of fresh tomatoes, onions, and cilantro, seasoned with chili and lime. It is very easy to make and it's healthy. The most fireworks ever are set up on your plate and then sparkle in your mouth.

3. Chapati (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda)

Chapatti single day I was in Kenya. This version of the Indian roti is omnipresent in East Africa. It is delicious and even though it usually comes as an accompaniment to other dishes, I always ordered an extra one that I would eat plain. It takes some special skills to make very good chapatis, and to my dismay, I have not been able to successfully reproduce the taste or texture of the ones I had in Kenya, but isn’t life all about hope? Maybe one day.

4. Pilau (Kenya, Tanzania)

Pilau is a rice cooked with tons of spices such as cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves (yes, some Indian influences here, too). A good pilau will make you forget what your name is. It is excellent eaten with the wide variety of stewed meats available in East African cuisine.

 5. Maandazi (Kenya)

Maandazi one of favorite breakfast item in Kenya. They are flavorful, with a nice doughy interior and a glorious golden exterior layer. Great with chai (Tea).

6. Sukuma Wiki (Kenya)

Collard greens cooked in a little oil with diced tomatoes and onions. Honestly, I just like the name of it. It is so whimsical. I also like the fact that it is so great for you, entirely made of green leafy vegetables and still so tasty. If you are looking for a way to get your kids to eat their greens, this might be the way. Doesn’t “come eat your sukuma wiki” sound so much more appealing than "come eat your spinach?"

7. Biryani/Biriani (Tanzania)

Many East African dishes are the product of a mix with Indian culture and dishes and biryani is one of them. A Tanzanian friend of mine argues that an Indian biryani and a Tanzanian biryani taste completely different, but honestly, I haven’t been able to tell them apart, so I must have been eating mine at the wrong places. Is there a dinner invitation in my future (wink, wink)? Either way, this is a specialty widely available in East Africa. Unlike pilau, the meat and the rice are cooked in two different pots and then mixed together.

8. Roasted Maize (Kenya)

Roasted maize can be found in many cultures and I wouldn’t necessarily call it a Kenyan specialty, but it featured on the list of a couple of my experts, so if Kenyans want to claim it, let’s give it to them. It is a very simple snack, which heavily relies on the quality of the corn being grilled as not much is added to it. It is nutritious, healthy, and again here, eaten straight from the cob, after it’s taken on a wonderful charcoal-grilled flavor.

9. Doro Wot (Ethiopia)

Ethiopian chicken in red pepper sauce. An all-time Ethiopian favorite. Served with injera, it makes for a pleasant eating experience: carnal, almost sensual as no cutlery is used, only your hands. I am not a fan of hard-boiled eggs with my spicy chicken, so I usually leave those on the side. Do as you please, but do try it.

10. Chai and Coffee

this is well known. The region has amazing tea and coffee. I know, I know, those are not actual dishes, but they can be prepared and enjoyed in a way that gives them the status of a meal, or at least a glorified snack. From Rwanda does hills to Kenya, great taste and flavored coffee is grown and enjoyed. East Africans do enjoy the coffee they grow and I have had some of the best coffee ever in Nairobi. As for the tea, I can’t figure out where its special flavor comes from, but it makes it distinct and very much enjoyable.