Cape Town Student Partners With Two Oceans Wine, Travels the World

Liam Kelly, who beat 4000 contestants to take the title of 2012 World Explorer, sponsored by STA Travel South Africa, is the first South African to win in the annual event that enables him to visit 75 cities in 25 countries this year. He has teamed up with Two Oceans Wine and will provide regular updates of his travels.

Kelly, who has taken off a year from his advertising and marketing studies to travel the world, will offer fast-paced, quirkily written and novel insights on his travels and encounters. Wearing his trademark flip-flops, he is also posting pictures of his feet in a range of places along the way with visitors to the site asked to guess his whereabouts to stand a chance of winning a series of prizes.

Worldwide visibility

Global marketing manager for Two Oceans, Jackie Olivier said the worldwide visibility of the brand was a natural fit with Liam's travels. According to the organisers of the World Explorer competition, he was chosen on the basis of four competition steps: a motivational letter and CV with a sample blog post; a personal interview; the promotional video he produced once he had reached the top ten shortlist and then a public voting process.

Violence Against Women May Threaten Zanzibar Tourism

Violence against women in Pemba alone goes to 35.6% while in Uganda stands to 17.2 % annual, a move which an analyst believes can threaten the tourism industry if measures to tame the crisis are not taken immediately.

Given the fact that Zanzibar depends much on tourism for its forex earnings, this rapidly increasing violence against women could scare away tourists specifically women, an analyst and tourist guide Juma Mponji said. "We need to break the wall of silence surrounding violence against women," he urged.

Inter Parliamentary Union meeting gives Uganda new tourism frontiers

Apart from being the first time an East African country is hosting the 126th Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference, the meeting of parliamentarians from around the world in Kampala, also comes in the year when Uganda celebrates her 50th anniversary. What’s more, it is the first time Uganda’s parliament has ever had a female speaker, Rebecca Kadaga. These milestones make it an historical event, worth all the attention it is receiving.

The attention has been matched by the glamour and buzz outside of the summit’s main docket - discussing maternal health and.

Hosting the IPU did not come easily and many Ugandan officials believe it is a big opportunity for the country. The spokesperson for IPU organising committee Michael Bayiga Lulume (MP) says it is an occasion to showcase Uganda, and capitalise on it being named as the top tourist site by Lonely planet, the world’s largest travel guide book and digital media publisher recently.

“People come here knowing they will get time to relax and go site seeing. That means they come with money to spend while in the country,” Lulume said. “We are encouraging them to go to town and check our entertainment spots and other fun places – we want them to spend as much as possible.”

But it is not Ugandans dreaming of the success of the event, the visitors too, are taking note of the beauty of the country. Choi Young-Hee, a Korean Member of Parliament says, “Since the country is close to the equator, I thought it would be so hot. But I am mesmerised by your weather. It is so beautiful. I also like the natural environment and that your hotels are not enormous like those in Korea. The structure of hotels here have a good ambience – the simplicity is relaxing.”

She adds, “I was also amused at how so many people are living in small houses that are iron sheet roofed. Yet uphill along the road from the airport are a few luxurious houses that looked like palaces. I am hoping that I will be able to see more of the country.”

All booked up

The delegates who have shot up from the expected 1,400 to over 2,500 will have to eat food, need rooms to sleep in and transport to move around in. And all of it is benefitting the local economy.

Hotel rooms in Serena, Imperial Royale and other neighbouring hotels have been booked. At these hotels, a buzz of activity hums constantly as delegates are ferried in and out. At Serena Hotel in particular, the rooms have all been fully booked. And hosting over 2,500 guests means more demand for food items, which benefits from the supplier to the hotel.

The delegates have also visited Jinja, Entebbe to see different sites as well as to see the equator. And Ranny Ismail, a parliamentary spokeswoman, says some guests have booked to stay at Mweya, Para lodge among other places during the Easter holiday. Lulume says there are over 100 exhibitors who are not paying for the space occupied by their stalls, and local vendors are benefitting too. As it is a common practice for tourists to buy souvenirs, their market and profit seems a sure thing. “Common people have also been allowed to exhibit their products. The majority of them are women since we wanted this sect to benefit more and the benefit from this is direct.” Ismail, tasked with being in charge of entertainment, excursion, exhibition and gifts supplements says, “Our culture is rich and interesting so they have lots of crafts to choose from. And they (delegates) are buying them.”  

What some of the delegates knew about Uganda

Berenice Auffiet, Switzerland

I didn’t know a thing about Uganda apart from that it is an African country. So when I came, I expected to see lots of flowers and other vegetation. On reaching here I found it refreshing. And I like the people a lot – they are very nice and polite

Choi Young-Hee, Korean Member of Parliament

The first thing anyone in Korea’s older generation thinks of when they hear the name Uganda is Idi Amin because of his incredible character. In fact in Korea doing something swiftly is referred to as “Entebbe strategy or strategist” because of 1970s raid on Entebbe by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). We also think of Lake Victoria and yearn to see it as it is taught in Geography.

Castelier Pieyve Bernard, Switzerland, IPU staff

I didn’t know much about Uganda before I came here. I just knew the geographical location and that it has Lake Victoria and that was it. Even as I came, I had no expectations because I came to work. I have been here for two weeks but barely gotten time to walk around because I came to work. But one thing I have liked is the weather. And the people are very friendly. It makes it easy to be here.

Direct U.S.-Kenya Flights to Start 'In a Couple of Months'

The United States government has indicated its commitment to grant Kenya the green light to launch direct flights to America possibly in a couple of months, provided the upgrades at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) are done according to international standards. US Ambassador to Kenya Scott Gration said on Monday that once JKIA is certified as a 'Category 1â-' air field by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and Federal Aviation Administration which is a requirement for all airports handling flights operating in and out of America, then direct services between Kenya and the US can commence. "In terms of terminal completion and other things, it will be at least another 180 days before that happens. Things may slip as they often do but we are pushing to make sure that things happen as soon as possible," the envoy said.

Plans to launch the direct flights have been on the cards since 2007 but have not materialized largely due to security concerns by the US government. In 2009, US homeland security officials declined to give Delta Airlines the approval to operate flights between JKIA and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, via Dakar, Senegal citing 'security vulnerabilities' in Nairobi. The indefinite suspension of the inaugural flight, which had been scheduled for June 3, 2009 nearly, caused a diplomatic tiff between the two governments, as Nairobi protested that it had not been informed of the decision to cancel the flights. Negotiations have since resumed although they have been hinged on the capacity and ability of Kenya's main airport to handle direct flights to and from the US. The government hopes to have this status attained by August this year.

If achieved, the service will afford the two countries the opportunity to enhance their commercial ties particularly in the trade and tourism sectors. "We believe that there is a tremendous market in the United States for everything including green beans, flowers and we believe direct flights would help to bring investments to Kenya. We also believe that Kenya is on the cusp of tremendous growth and there are many companies that want to invest here." he stressed.

Some of those companies include American multinational aerospace and General Electric (GE) which has already opened its Africa headquarters in Nairobi. The conglomerate is also extending its operations from energy to aviation with the announcement that it had been picked by national carrier Kenya Airways to supply the engines for nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners that it hopes to take delivery of beginning 2014 at a cost of USD380 million. The 19 GE-nx-1B engines deliver 15 percent fuel efficiency and come with lower maintenance costs.

Speaking while signing the deal with GE, KQ Chief Executive Officer Titus Naikuni enthused that they would see a significant reduction in their fuel bill in the next few years that would be reflected into their bottom line and enable them to offer competitive rates. Fuel accounts for about 40 percent of the airline's direct costs. "The engines are bigger, quieter and more efficient than the Boeing 767 engines; have reduced fuel burn and longer periods on the wing between overhauls. This means the Dreamliner will come with lower maintenance costs and therefore ability to be flying longer," Naikuni added. The delivery will bring the share of engines supplied by GE to 56 percent in the next five years up from the current 42 percent.

The two companies hope to further reinforce their partnership by incorporating skills development on how to operate and maintain the engines. "We will help KQ train its engineers and technicians to be able to work on the maintenance aspects of the engine and also we will cooperate at the higher level with the Pride Center for training of managers and leaders of Kenya Airways," disclosed General Electric Aviation's Vice President Sales, Middle East and Africa Isam Moursy.

Uganda in Cultural Tourism Promotion Drive

Uganda has held a tourism festival, aimed at promoting the importance of cultural and community tourism in conservation. The festival, which brought together industry stakeholders and community tourism entrepreneurs, also aimed at raising awareness about community based tourism. It show cased community based enterprises products and services like crafts-mats, shoes etc. The Uganda Community Tourism Association (UCOTA) and USAID-Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift hosted the event in Kampala.

Ms. Helen Lubowa, the UCOTA executive director, said they developed Pearls of Uganda to discover which tourism businesses are truly devoted to sustainable tourism. The Uganda Community Tourism Association is a not for profit organization handling community based tourism enterprises. It trains its members, markets their products and services as well as networking with stakeholders. Companies that support conservation were awarded with certificates included, Red Chilli, Marasa Africa, Gorrilla Forest Camp, Uganda Lodges, GeoLodges, Mahogany springs, Uganda Safari Company, Gorilla Forest Camp and Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp. The event also brought upcountry communities together with tourists and private sector players that support them, without having to leave Kampala city.

Tanzania Creates Smallest Game Park in East Africa

Mwanza's growth can be traced back to the days of the slave trade, as the trading caravans of the Sultan of Zanzibar used it as the frontier to the unexplored African interior in search of gold, ivory and slaves. Historians say later the European explorers such as Dr. David Livingstone, Henry Morton Stanley, John Hannington Speke and Richard Francis Burton, followed the same route and landed in Mwanza in 1850s. Speke, who was the first European explorer to reach the Mwanza Gulf crossed the country in 1857 in search of the Source of the Nile. He was later buried in the small village of Kagaye in Mwanza, making it famous and an important historical site.

Kagaye, just beyond the city, was part of the Sukuma Kingdom and home of the Sukuma royal family and is considered one of the oldest historical sites in the country. Beyond Kagaye and the European explorers, Mwanza famous as the rock city, made another history in a tourism industry whereby Saanane National Park was created within the city and visitors enjoy watching a variety of wild animals in the open. Saanane Island is full of attractions. Boat excursions can be arranged at the National Park's offices based at Capri Point in Nyamagana District. The Island was named after Mzee Saanane Chawandi, who owned the island. It was established as the first zoo in Tanzania in 1964. The main objective was to promote interest and conservation education in wildlife, and also to promote recreation for Mwanza city residents says Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA).

Some fascinating activities visitors to the Island can enjoy include, rock climbing, picnics, game viewing and bird watching, along the shores of Lake Victoria. TANAPA stated that between 1964-1966 different species of wild animal were ferried to the Island, and these included, buffalo, bushbuck, dik dik, elephant, eland, impala, black rhino, topi, warthog, and wildebeest. Others were zebra, monkeys, giraffe, porcupine and crocodiles. However, wilder animals like rhinos were caged. The Island was upgraded to a Game Reserve in 1991.

Last year, the Tanzania government through the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, announced its intention to upgrade the Island from its previous status as forest reserve and wildlife acclimatization zone. According to the Minister for Tourism, Mr. Ezekiel Maige, the move is expected to increase the number of National Parks from the current 15 to 16 next year.

It will be the second National Park to stride Lake Victoria, the world's second largest fresh water lake after Lake suoperio in the United States after Rubondo Island.

TANAPA public relations manager Paschal Shelutete was quoted by the media as saying the proposed national park would be a home to mammals like impala, rock hyrax, velvet monkeys, wild cats, clawless otters and De-brazzas monkeys. "The aquatic part of the park will offer all types of fish, crocodiles, water snakes and monitor lizards, other reptiles, including tortoises, grass snakes, pythons and agama lizards," he added.

Saanane Island National Park warden in charge of toursim, Ms. Rukia Juma Mallya says the proposed park could be a role model to other game parks, "The island gets an average of 250 visitors per month and between 180 and 200 of those are locals," she says. Already gazetted in 2011, the Island will be the smallest National Park in East Africa, with its territory measuring some 0.7 square kilometres comprising of both dry land and Water. The Park will command a 200 metres perimeter of water South and 100 metres aquatic corridor in the North.

There is also a new proposal to be released soon that include two smaller islets the Chandkende located in southern part of the main island into the bargain, says the Acting Conservation Manager of the proposed Saa-Nane National Park Donatus Bayona. "Local residents have asked us to take under our wing the two islands in order to curb illegal fishing, environmental degradation, as well as fighting rampant crime because the waters surrounding the two land features on Lake Victoria will be manned and patrolled by TANAPA wardens," says Shelutete. He says plans are also underway to introduce new animal species to boost the islands's wildlife variety.

Rwanda comes up with New Tourism Products to Boost Economy

The move by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to promote domestic tourism is bearing fruits. For instance, many people I have met from Europe say they have not seen something like "Canopy Walk" which, according to RDB's records, has attracted investors.

I wish to encourage the tourism department at RDB to put in more efforts and carry out more research in new and interesting tourism products and services, which would help further diversify this critical sector. It also my hope that key stakeholders in the tourism sector, especially hotel owners, will proactively market their facilities to the local community with special and attractive offers.