Africa Tourism

Uganda's Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities has launched the Explore West tourism campaign, aimed at promoting domestic tourism and developing new itineraries in the Western region of the country. The campaign will run from April 12 to 16, 2023, seeing a caravan of tourists set off from Kampala and make stops at various attractions along the way, such as the Equator, Mbarara to view the long horned Ankole cows, and the Rwenzori Mountains in Kasese. The intention behind the initiative is to create new niche products and highlight lesser-known tourist attractions, promoting them to locals who may have traditionally seen tourism as an...

A boat carrying eight people and 70 quintals of teff capsized in Lake Chamo, near Arba Minch in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' region of Ethiopia. The boat was en-route to Arba Minch from Alfacho and was carrying women among its passengers. The boat was caught in a heavy storm when it capsized and was seen by fishermen. A search and rescue team of five boats has been deployed to find the remaining victims, but only one body has been recovered so far. The search continues. Read further. #africatourism #africatravel

The World Intersectoral Cooperation Forum held in Istanbul brought together nearly 1,500 businessmen from 41 African countries to exchange ideas and opportunities with their Turkish counterparts. The primary objective of the forum was to increase trade between Turkey and Africa to $4.5 billion, which also aims to improve the recognition of Turkish SMEs on the continent. The Chairman of the Global Forum for Cross-Sectoral Cooperation and Founder of Africa Trade Centres, Utku Bengisu, stated that it is time to build strategic partnerships with Africa, not just providing aid, but also investments. The Forum aims to establish export connections, increase Turkish...

Kenya Airways has announced a net loss of Ksh38.26bn ($290.62m) for 2022, up 1.4 times the Ksh15.87bn ($120.55m) posted in 2021. The loss takes the national carrier's accumulated losses to Ksh172.68bn ($1.3bn). However, Kenya Airways' board said it is on course to break even this year and is targeting profitability by 2024. Last year, the Kenyan state took over Ksh69.01bn ($525m) in debt that it had guaranteed after the airline defaulted on payment. Read further. #africatourism #africatravel

The Nigerian federal government's plan to launch Nigeria Air has been met with criticism from stakeholders in the aviation industry who believe that the airline may not commence operations until after the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration ends on May 29, 2023. The stakeholders pointed out that several key factors must be implemented to make the launch of the airline possible. Some of the issues cited by the stakeholders include the need for a substantial investment in infrastructure, such as upgrading aviation facilities, runways, and air traffic control systems, as well as the need for a more comprehensive aviation policy that...

Saudi Arabian carrier, Saudi Airlines, has launched direct flights from Jeddah to Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The airline will travel four times per week on an Airbus A320 aircraft that can seat 180 passengers. Onboard were seven people, including members of the crew and the company's management team. Minister Makame Mbarawa said the direct flight between Tanzania and the Persian Gulf country would increase business, tourism and investment activities, while reducing flight time by more than 50% compared to connecting flights. Furthermore, JNIA will be a linking hub for travellers from neighbouring countries who...

The fintech sector globally and in Africa is largely male-dominated, with studies showing that companies are primarily founded and led by men, their employees are mostly male, and their user bases are predominantly male. Research by findexable reveals that just 12% of VC-backed privately-owned fintechs worldwide have women founders, and less than 6% of all fintech CEOs globally are women. Additionally, a 2021 paper from the Bank for International Settlements found a "large gender gap" in the use of fintech products and services across 28 major economies. However, Nigeria's fintech scene is different, with roughly 20% of VC-backed fintechs in...

Africa has emerged as the world's second-largest region for cryptocurrency investment, with three countries - Nigeria, Morocco and Kenya - among the top 20 in the world for cryptocurrency use, according to the 2022 Global Crypto Adoption Index by Chainalysis. However, while digital currencies offer the potential to improve financial inclusion in Africa, a regulatory framework is necessary for their implementation. Mamadou Kwidjim Touré, founder and CEO of Ubuntu Tribe, sees the digital revolution in Africa as a positive development, but warns against the need to protect citizens' privacy. In other African business news, the Democratic Republic of Congo's President...

Air France has responded to increasing demand by increasing its non-stop flights between Nairobi and Paris. The airline will now fly to Nairobi seven times a week, up from four previously from June 15, 2023, and the route expansion is aimed at benefiting French and Kenyan companies, particularly in horticulture, pharmaceuticals, and other businesses reliant on air transport. The airline has been on the Kenyan route for five years and its increase in flights will connect Kenya to the rest of the world via the airline's two hubs. The airline will use Boeing 787 Dreamliner and B777 aircraft, with premium...