NEPAL: Drug Trafficking Ring Tries To Bribe Nepal Police, Gets Arrested

The Nepal Police’s Narcotics Control Bureau has nabbed an alleged member of a transnational drug trafficking ring with Rs 5 million, which he offered police officials to get off the hook.

The suspect has been identified as Purna Bahadur Pakhrin Tamang, a Nepali national who was enlisted as ‘most wanted fugitive’ by the Nepal Police.

DIGP Jaya Bahadur Chand, who is the in-charge of NCB, the 32-year-old was arrested from Budhanilakatha on the northern outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, on April 29, after two weeks of arduous search and massive mobilisation of intelligence. The NCB had named the manhunt ‘Operation Ice’.

The NCB launched a manhunt to nab Purna Bahadur after the anti-drug wing of Nepal Police on April 13 apprehended Netra Gurung (26) and Chitra Tamang (21) of Dhading from Sinamangal in possession of 302 gram of amphetaminebeing brought to Nepal from Thailand. The smugglers reportedly wanted to the synthetic drug to Australia, Philippines, Myanmar and other Southeast Asian countries via Nepal.

During interrogation Netra and Chitra had implicated Purna Bahadur as the mastermind of the Nepal-based drug trafficking ring with its network spread to many other countries.

Purna Bahadur allegedly used a middleman, whose name has not been disclosed, to provide the NCB officials with Rs 5 million as bribe ‘in the hope of settling the issue’.

“Purna Bahadur of Dhading is an younger brother of Dharma Bahadur Pakhrin Tamang who is much sought after by Australia and Southeast Asian countries for expanding the network of illicit trade of amphetamine. Purna Bahadur was working in coordination with Dharma Bahadur, who is a drug kingpin based in Thailand and China. His arrest is a giant leap forward in dismantling the transnational drug network,” said DIGP Chand.

Dharma Bahadur is said to have dispatched a consignment of 54 kg amphetamine to Bhupendra Tamang, a Nepali citizen, and Australian national Raymond John Marsden, who were held from Brisbane with the drug in January, in one of the biggest seizures of narcotic drugs in Australia.

NEPAL:Flag Man Back After Touring 75 Districts

Laxmi Narayan Shilpakar, popularly known as the ‘Flag Man’, has returned to Kathmandu after travelling across all 75 districts of the country.

The nationwide journey that the 61-year-old Flag Man began on November 17, 2015 to promote recognition and significance of the national flag and create awareness among the people came to an end on April 23 this year.

A resident of Bhimeshower in Kalimati in the capital city, Shilapkar told RSS that he reached every district headquarters during his five-month odyssey.

“I traveled length and breadth of the country. I was taken aback to find some people in Janakpur and Jumla and Humla had no idea about the national flag I was carrying,” he ranted. “Some curiously would ask me if I was carrying a specific political party’s flag,” he raved.

A former carpenter, Shilpakar told that he began the campaign of waving national flag in various places of the country exactly a decade ago.

Now the Flag Man has returned to the town completing a nationwide journey, visitors, including locals and foreigners have other reason to visit Basantapur Durbar Square where Shilpakar waving a huge national flag has been one of the major attractions in this UNESCO world Heritage Site.

KENYA: Woman Found Alive Six Days After Huruma Building Collapsed

The scene at the site of the collapsed Huruma building where a woman was found alive, six days after the tragedy that claimed 35, May 5, 2016.

A woman has been found alive in the rubble six days after a building collapsed in Huruma, Nairobi.

Rescuers found the woman at 11.47 am Thursday. She is said to be weak with no visible injuries.

National Disaster Management Unit Incident Commander Pius Maasai said she is being attended to by doctors at the scene.

Kenya Defence Forces are clearing debris to be able to pull her out.

On Tuesday, a baby girl was rescued unscathed from the rubble, four days after the building collapsed.

Seven-month-old Dealeryn Saisi was found sleeping in a basin wrapped in a blanket.

On Wednesday, rescuers said there is hope of finding more survivors after nine rabbits were pulled alive from the debris.

The rescue of the woman brings the number of people pulled from the rubble since Friday to 137.

Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero reported via Facebook on Thursday that she has not been identified.

Kidero said she was placed on oxygen support and was being stabilised.

"The team of doctors looking after her, led by Nairobi Health executive Bernard Muia will ensure she is rushed to hospital for further medical checks," he said.

On May 3, rescue workers pulled out a one-year-old girl from the rubble more than 72 hours after it collapsed following heavy rain.

Kenya Red Cross Society said the baby girl who was found severely dehydrated was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital.

Only seven of all the bodies have been identified. The exercise has been slowed down by the low turn-out of relatives.

More than 80 people are still missing following the collapse last Friday night after heavy rainfall.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing but teams complained of lack of sufficient materials and equipment.

Five suspects linked to the building appeared in court on Wednesday and were released on Sh1 million bond each.

Brothers Samuel Kamau and Henry Muiruri, Crispus Ndinyo, Justus Kathenge and Seline Ogallo were not charged.

NEPAL: Fake pilot lands in police net

Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau arrested a pilot on charge of using fake certificate of the Intermediate of Science (ISc) level before pursuing aviation course in the Philippines.

Police identified the suspect as Bishal Karki (36) of Dhanusha. He is affiliated with the Goma Air as a co-pilot.
He was arrested from Kupandol of Lalitpur yesterday.

According to the CIB, Karki had received license to fly aircraft –CPL(A) 486 — from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) after completing pilot course from an aviation school in the Philippines.

The CIB said it launched ‘Operation Hawk’ after receiving information that some pilots working in Nepal’s aviation industry have fake academic certificates.

In co-ordination with CAAN, academic certificates of those pilots who have received flying license are being probed, CIB said today.
According to the CIB, it is carrying out investigation against Karki on forgery of the government seal/signature as per the Government Cases Act.

TURKEY: Turkey Fighting To Welcome Back Israeli Tourists

After the Mavi Marmara incident drastically reduced the number of Israeli tourists visiting Turkey, Turkish hoteliers and tourism companies are now looking to push the figures back up, with their first stand at an international tourism fair in three years.

Turkish hoteliers are set to arrive in Israel next week to participate in the IMTM international tourism fair, which is being held in the Tel Aviv Convention Center.

"Tourism to Turkey is in a tough spot due to the collapse of the Russian market, which formed the bulk of visits to the country," one of the hoteliers said. "There has also been a decrease in arrivals from other markets.

"The situation here is definitely not good and we would want the Israeli tourists who were really important visitors a few years back to return," he added.

Diyar İçkale, the owner of the Spice Hotel in Antalya, will also be in attendance at the convention, and is hoping for a boost in the number of Israelis taking trips to Turkey.

"The relations between the two sets of peoples are good and there is an improvement in relations between the countries," İçkale said.

"Personally I like Israelis. In Antalya the situation is really quiet and there is no reason to worry at all. You are an hour away from us and we want you here," she added.

In addition to İçkale and other hoteliers, a delegation from the Rixos chain of resorts will be coming in order to try and advance Israeli tourism to Turkey, particularly in Antalya. The delegation will be located at the Ksharei Teufa booth at the fair.

Until a few years ago the Turkish booth at the tourism fair in Tel Aviv was the largest out of all the foreign delegations. But following the Mavi Marmara incident, the stand began to shrink and for the last three years there has been no Turkish booth at the fair.

In 2015 about 224,000 Israeli tourists arrived in Turkey, a growth of 19 percent compared to 2014 and 36.5 percent compared to 2013. However, the figures still pale into comparison next to the pre-Mavi Marmara numbers, when Turkey welcomed over half a million Israeli tourists a year.

ISRAEL: Hainan Airlines Launches Direct Flights To Israel

Hainan Airlines is already placing a priority on its Tel Aviv-Beijing line; an airline representative told Ynet that 'the Israeli market is very important to us, and we are not afraid of the competition from El Al'.

Hainan Airlines is coming to Israel, and is selling tickets for its first four round-trip flights to Beijing for $91. But don’t pick up the phone just yet, as after taxes and fuel surcharges, the price rises to $741. This is still cheaper than the prices offered by El Al, the only other airline that flies directly from Israel to Beijing.

Hainan is one of only seven airlines to be awarded a prestigious five star rating by rating company Skytrax, putting it alongside Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Asiana airlines.

Israel is a very important destination
The airline thoroughly researched the market in order to determine the route's feasability and the expectations and needs of Israeli travelers before deciding to open the Tel Aviv-Beijing line. Hainan also sent over three hundred visa requests to the Israeli Interior Ministry for pilots, and hundreds more for flight attendants.

"We want to be ready with the best aircrews for our flights to Israel,| said Li Liang, the general manager of the Hainan offices in Israel. "Today Israel is a very important destination for us."

Flights from Israel to Beijing are to take place every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The planes will take off from Ben Gurion International Airport at 2:00pm IST, and land in Beijing at 5:00am CST the next day. These days and times were chosen in order to enable passengers flying to Beijing the option of catching connecting flights to other destinations within China.

Meanwhile, return flights will take off from Beijing at 2:00am CST, and land in Israel at 8:00am IST.

The planes in use will be Airbus A330-200 models, featuring 36 seats in business class and 186 seats in economy. In business class, the seats have 29 inches of legroom, and unfold into beds. In economy, the seats have over a foot of legroom, and recline up to 105 degrees.

Every passenger is to have a personal entertainment system with over 100 movies on demand, British and American television shows, and different in-flight videogames.

Regarding to competition from El Al, which flies to China on Boeing 767s, Liang says that Hainan doesn't compare its service to those of other companies, or compare itself to other companies that fly to destinations in Europe. "Our judges," he says, "will be the Israeli passengers."

According to Liang, Hainan is presenting clients with ultra-modern planes and the highest quality of service. "We have carefully checked the needs of the Israeli customer, and we are not afraid of competition," he says.

Liang said Hainan is "convinced that this new route will be successful, as there has been immense growth in the number of tourists and business people travelling from Israel to China and China to Israel. The relationship between the two countries is developing and progressing all the time."

ISRAEL: Two Israeli Bedouin Kidnapped Then Released

The family had received a $200,000 ransom demand, which had not been paid, the father of one of the students said.

Two Israeli medical students from the Negev Bedouin community of Rahat were reportedly abducted for ransom in Turkey, but then released without the ransom being paid. News of the kidnapping of the two, who are cousins, was reported by Israel Radio on Saturday.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said it had no information to provide at this time, saying that it would be necessary to wait until the incident is investigated. On Saturday, their families pair said they had received word that the students were at a Turkish police station, according to Marzouk Katanani, a spokesman for the Bedouin Negev community of Rahat who is also related to the two.

Contact had been lost for several days with two, but the father of one of them said a random demand for the payment of $200,000 had been received on Thursday, but had not been paid. When the ransom demand was received, the family notified the Israeli Foreign Ministry and the Israel Police, he said.

ISRAEL: Drag Queen Promotes LGBT Tourism To Tel Aviv

Ministry of Tourism has recruited Arie Oshri, an Israeli drag artist who lives in Berlin, to help spread the word about Israel at the world's largest tourism fair ahead of Tel Aviv Pride Week.

Arie Oshri, an Israeli drag queen residing in Berlin, is scheduled take part in the world's largest tourism fair. It is to be held in Berlin next week, and Oshri will be there to promote LGBT tourism to Tel Aviv, specifically ahead of LGBT Pride Week in June.

Oshri's participation came about through a partnership with the Tel Aviv Municipality and the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, with the goal of kicking off the upcoming event.

Every year, the Ministry of Tourism brainstorms ideas for how to make an impression at the fair and make sure participants stop by the Israeli pavilion and see the various attractions Israel has to offer.

Last year, the ministry brought along two Israeli chefs who made shakshuka for the participants. This year will include "hummus beer".

Oshri told Ynet that he has worked with these organizations before and is very excited for the fair.

"I'm really proud of the choice (by the ministry) and am happy that this is finally happening. I am full of respect for the people working behind the scenes, but when it comes to marketing, they need a colorful and interesting visual character. Tel Aviv has a lot to offer the gay crowd, and they are beginning to understand this in Israel."

What are you going to do at the fair?

"Unfortunately, there won't be anywhere to put on a show there, so what we'll do is more raising interest for the Tel Aviv booth at the Israeli pavilion, and bring color, glamor, humor, and my knowledge of my former city. I'm very involved what goes on in Tel Aviv, and will come to the pride parade in Israel this year as well, with a group of German tourists."

Does this go well with politics, calls for a boycott, and anti-Israel acts around the world?

"I'm not here to talk about politics, just topics from the LGBT world, and gay rights in Israel. I think that Israel is in a very good place, especially for the Middle East, as the only state in which it's legal to be gay. The Germans really like the political thing but that's really not my interest. I'm coming to talk about Tel Aviv, the pride parade, and that's it."

The ITB Berlin (Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin) tourism trade fair is set to open on Wednesday, March 9, with about 11,000 representatives from 180 countries. Roughly 180,000 people are expected to visit the fair, including workers in the tourism industry, journalists, and the public. The Israeli delegation is to include about 180 hoteliers, travel agents, Tourism Ministry employees, airlines, and the directors of tourism boards and of tourist sites in Israel.

According to Amir Halevi, director of the Tourism Ministry, the Israeli pavilion will be a compelling attraction, with street theater actors, a photo station, and portrait sketchers.

The Tel Aviv Pride Parade is set to be held on the first weekend of June and is expected to draw thousands of tourists. A senior figure in the tourism branch said that LGBT tourism is the most stable type of tourism in the world. Security and economic factors affect it less than family tourism.

ISRAEL: Violence Affects Tourism, Hotel Occupancy In Jerusalem Was Down By 20 Or 30 Percent Last Year

The traditional Passover seder meal ends with a promise, “Next year in Jerusalem.” But at least this year, many American Jews chose to stay away.
“There were far, far fewer tourists this year,” Mark Feldman, the CEO of Ziontours in Jerusalem said. “Many people were scared to come. They felt that the Old City of Jerusalem was off limits completely and that Jerusalem itself was not safe.”

Several hotels contacted for this article refused to release figures on their occupancy over Passover, but Feldman said hotel occupancy, especially in Jerusalem, was down by 20 or 30 percent over last year.

“American and British tourists plan their travel way in advance,” Feldman said. “They had to decide in November or December, when the situation here was very unstable.”

He was referring to what came to be known as the “knife intifada” in which Palestinians, many of them young, stabbed and killed 30 people, most of them Israelis over the past six months. While the situation has calmed down, a bombing on a Jerusalem bus last month that killed only the attacker but wounded 21, sparked anxiety again.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says it doesn’t have exact figures for tourism yet but that the situation was “not bad,” according to Pini Shani, the Deputy Director of the Marketing Administration of the Ministry of Tourism.

He said looking at monthly statistics can be complicated, because it depends on other issues such as whether Passover and Easter fall in the same month or in different months. He said that estimates are that about three million tourists will visit Israel this year, similar to 2015.

Tourism during Passover tends to be primarily internal tourism by Israelis, say tourism experts. In March, hotels were 58 percent full, said Pnina Shalev, the spokesperson for the Israel Hotels Association, while in 2015, it was 55 percent. The summer 2014 fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, affected tourism, which usually sees hotels 60-70 percent full in March.

“Passover was great with 80-90 percent occupancy in most places,” Shalev told The Media Line. “Eilat (on the Red Sea) was full of Israelis, as was the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and the kibbutzim (collective settlements).”

Israel is also turning eastward, hoping to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. Shani of the Tourism Ministry said that tourism from India and China is increasing quickly, he said, and Hainan Airlines, the largest private carrier in China, last week launched its first direct flight to Israel. Tourism officials say they hope to see 100,000 tourists from China visiting Israel each year.

Israel has also seen a sharp decline in visitors from Russia, which is Israel’s second largest market after the US, due to the sharp financial crisis there.

Overall Israel, with an average of 3 to 3.5 million tourists annually remains far behind other Mediterranean countries like Greece, which has 25 million visitors a year despite the financial crisis there, or Turkey, with close to 40 million tourists.

Many of those who work in tourism are concerned that the downturn in tourism could become permanent.

“In the summer of 2014 with the operation in Gaza, I had a lot of cancellations and I’ve had very little work since then,” Suzanne Pomeranz, a long-time tour guide originally from North Carolina told The Media Line. “Yesterday I was talking to a high school friend and he said, ‘Why don’t you come home? There’s a war in Israel,’ and I said there is no war here but that’s the way it looks to everyone.”

ISRAEL: Two Israeli Students Killed in Romania

Dia Zbeidi from Lod and Taoufik Mohammed Al-Krinawi from the Bedouin town Rahat studied medicine in the city of Iași. Two more were wounded.

Two Israeli students were killed in a traffic accident in Romania on Saturday morning. 

The fatalities were identified as Dia Zbeidi from Lod and Taoufik Mohammed Al-Krinawi from the Bedouin town Rahat. Both studied medicine in the city of Iași. Their families have been notified.

Two others, also from Rahat, were wounded in the crash in in the city of Piatra Neamț in north-east Romania. One is in critical condition and the other sustained serious wounds. He is currently in stable condition after undergoing surgery. 

Al-Krinawi, in his 20s, was in his third year of medical school in Romania. Sufyan Al-Krinaw, a relative of Mohammed, told Haaretz that some 18 months ago Mohammed's brother drowned in a swimming pool in Eilat.

Mohammed was also the uncle of three children who were killed in a fire three months ago in their Rahat home.

Mohammed Zbeidi, Dia's uncle, said that he was in his fifth year of medical school. "This is a very big tragedy that fell on us," he said.

"Everyone here is a wreck, especially the parents… In Arabic, the name 'Dia' means light, and Dia was the light of the family."

Representatives of their families were on their way to Romania. 

ISRAEL: Missing Israeli Tourist Found Dead in Hungary

Two locals held in relation to Ofir Gross' death after his family members identify his body, which was discovered by Hungarian police.

The body of missing Israeli tourist Ofir Gross was identified by his family in Hungary on Sunday.

Earlier, Hungarian police alerted the Israeli embassy in Budapest that it had found Gross' body. As a result, Gross' family members made their way to Hungary, where they identified the body.

Two locals have been detained on suspicion for their roles in the murder, Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said.

On Friday, his sister Liron Gross wrote on her Facebook page that her brother had been missing for a week and asked the public's help to locate him.

"Ofir used to contact us every day and that's why the loss of contact is disturbing," she wrote. She noted that his last known place of residence was the town of Tiszakécske, and that there was evidence that he was interested in reaching the city of Debrecen.

ISRAEL: Tourism Slowly Recovering Amid Violence

While lone-wolf attacks reduced number of tourists from the United States and Britian over Passover holiday, many hotels across the country were filled with Israelis.

The traditional Passover seder meal ends with a promise, “Next year in Jerusalem.” But at least this year, many American Jews chose to stay away.

“There were far, far fewer tourists this year,” Mark Feldman, the CEO of Ziontours in Jerusalem, told The Media Line. “Many people were scared to come. They felt that the Old City of Jerusalem was off limits completely and that Jerusalem itself was not safe.”

Feldman said hotel occupancy, especially in Jerusalem, was down by 20 or 30 percent over last year.

“American and British tourists plan their travel way in advance,” Feldman said. “They had to decide in November or December, when the situation here was very unstable.”

While the situation has calmed down, a bombing on a Jerusalem bus last month that killed the attacker and wounded 21, further sparked anxiety.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism says it doesn’t have exact figures for tourism yet, but the situation was “not bad,” according to Pini Shani, the Deputy Director of the Marketing Administration of the Ministry of Tourism. He said looking at monthly statistics can be complicated, because it depends on other issues such as whether Passover and Easter fall in the same month or in different months. He said that estimates are that about three million tourists will visit Israel this year, similar to 2015.

Tourism during Passover tends to be primarily internal tourism by Israelis, say tourism experts. In March, hotels were 58 percent full, said Pnina Shalev, the spokesperson for the Israel Hotels Association, while in 2015, it was 55 percent. The summer 2014 fighting between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in Gaza, affected tourism, which usually sees hotels 60-70 percent full in March.

“Passover was great with 80-90 percent occupancy in most places,” Shalev told The Media Line. “Eilat was full of Israelis, as was the Dead Sea, Tiberias, and kibbutzim.”

Israel is also turning eastward, hoping to tap into the burgeoning Chinese market. Shani of the Tourism Ministry said that tourism from India and China is increasing quickly, he said, and Hainan Airlines, the largest private carrier in China, last week launched its first direct flight to Israel. Tourism officials say they hope to see 100,000 tourists from China visiting Israel each year.

Israel has also seen a sharp decline in visitors from Russia, which is Israel’s second largest market after the US, due to the sharp financial crisis there.

Overall Israel, with an average of 3 to 3.5 million tourists annually remains far behind other Mediterranean countries like Greece, which has 25 million visitors a year despite the financial crisis there, or Turkey, with close to 40 million tourists.

Many of those who work in tourism are concerned that the downturn in tourism could become permanent.

“In the summer of 2014 with the operation in Gaza, I had a lot of cancellations and I’ve had very little work since then,” Suzanne Pomeranz, a long-time tour guide originally from North Carolina told The Media Line. “Yesterday I was talking to a high school friend and he said, ‘Why don’t you come home? There’s a war in Israel,’ and I said there is no war here but that’s the way it looks to everyone.”

SOUTH AFRICA: 120 German Travel Agents Visit

German tour operator, TUI, and South African Tourism recently hosted 120 travel agents to experience the Eastern Cape and Cape Town. The TUI Erleben Tour is one of the biggest familiarisation trips out of Germany ever, says SA Tourism.

The group experienced the destination’s wildlife and nature offering as well as its lifestyle and culture.

January arrivals from Germany were at an all-time-high, with 28 944 tourists – a growth of 21.7% compared with last year over the same period. TUI has also seen a growth of 50% in bookings to SA for the current year. As a result, travel offers and programmes to South Africa have been extended and German travellers now have the choice of 20 itineraries to the destination, of which 11 were newly developed for 2016.

Mathias Tewes, GM Product Management Longhaul East, TUI Deutschland, said the majority of the agents on the trip were visiting South Africa for the first time. “The feedback was very positive and they got good insights and an excellent overview of what South Africa and TUI has to offer,” he said. He added that the products in the programme, which included Cape Town, Winelands, Walker Bay, Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant National Park, were rated good to excellent. “The agents got a much better understanding of what the destination has to offer.”

According to Tewes, training travel agents to make them familiar with the destination and its diversity of products and regions is one of the biggest challenges to selling South Africa. He says other challenges include restrictive immigration regulations for families; the immigration process at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, such as long queues and the need to re check-in baggage for onward destinations; high demand during peak season when there can be accommodation shortages; and the fluctuation of the rand.

Tewes suggests that SAA should introduce a year-round direct flight from Germany to Cape Town.

“TUI is one of the biggest players in the market. We have a long-standing partnership of more than 20 years in which TUI helped us to unlock South Africa for German travellers. With this group of fantastic agents we kick-start our co-operation with TUI for 2016,” says Theresa Bay-Müller, SA Tourism Country Manager in Germany. “It is absolutely essential to invite travel agents to South Africa. They need to be trained on what our country has to offer and, most importantly, they need to be inspired by its beauty and people. They will be ambassadors forever.”

According to SA Tourism, strong and steady partnerships with the travel trade are the backbone of its work in Germany and familiarisation trips for travel agents are an important tool.

Participants of the familiarisation trip had to qualify by successfully completing an E-Learning programme.

SOUTH AFRICA: Township Tourism At Indaba

The Gauteng Tourism Sector Strategy will promote township tourism experiences at Indaba 2016.

“Gauteng Tourism has run programmes to identify Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which show the potential to uplift the Township share of the provincial tourism economy, resulting in the unveiling at tourism Indaba 2016 of some very exciting new tourism talent,” said Gauteng Tourism CEO, Siphiwe Ngwenya.

At the Tourism SME Indaba in Kliptown in Gauteng, South Africa, and with the help of the Satsa, Ngwenya says the organisation was able to identify promising SMEs. “We are bringing them to Indaba with the dual purpose of exposing them to the industry as well as of honing and developing their finer marketing skills to make them indelibly imbedded in future tourism marketing offerings.”

“I would also love the opportunity to make people realise the immense range of activities and specialist offerings which are available in Gauteng,” says young entrepreneur Mpho Mache, the founder of Tshuku Tours, one of the participating SMEs.

Gauteng Tourism will also promote the Gauteng events calendar, the Gauteng Signature Collection and the Gauteng Travel Guide APP showcase at Indaba 2016.

SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates To Make More International Flights To Cape Town

Emirates Airline has announced a third daily flight between Cape Town and Dubai, starting July 4.

Flight EK778 departs Dubai at 10h50 and arrives in Cape Town at 18h30.

Flight EK779 departs Cape Town at 20h05 and arrives in Dubai at 07h30.

The airline now has connections to New York, London, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Rome, Sydney, Athens, Mumbai, Shanghai, Milan, Beijing, Munich, Hong Kong, Phuket, Bangkok, Singapore, Medina, Deli, Male and more.

What Are Hotels Doing To Attract Guests

From room service delivered by robots to unstaffed hotels – it is difficult to recall a time where as many revolutionary changes have been brought in to meet the demands of a specific generation of travellers. Millennials, or those born between the early 1980s and early 2000s, are a segment that have piqued the interest of the hotel industry – especially as they begin to enter junior and middle management and travel more for business.

Tom Thrussell, VP of Brand and Marketing for Centara Hotels and Resorts, says the extent to which hotels should adapt their offering to cater for the millennial market depends on their particular segment. “But given that millennials currently represent one-third of all travellers and that within five years more than half of the money spent in the travel sector will come from millennials, if you’re not looking at how to attract them now, you’d better start quickly!”

Starwood believes we have entered what it refers to as “the age of great change”, where a new generation is reshaping global travel patterns, forcing the hotel industry to rethink the way it has operated since time immemorial. Anjali Mehra, Regional Director of Communications: Africa and Indian Ocean for Starwood, says things are changing at a faster pace than we could ever have imagined. “A new generation of travellers, rising wealth and accelerating technological change continue to reshape global travel patterns. This is generating the increased demand for our mid-market brands targeting at the younger, tech-savvy traveller. What is also rapidly changing is the way people book and interact with the brand.

What do millennials really want?

Indeed, Caroline Daniel, Regional Director of Africa for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, says before even considering product enhancements and innovations, hotels have had to re-examine their approach to marketing. “The vast majority of millennials will judge a hotel and its offering at the dreaming or research stage of travel, long before they are ready to make a reservation. If the website, social media or marketing activity around a hotel or collection of hotels are not memorable or don’t resonate, the hotel might not get the opportunity to showcase that its facilities and amenities are in line with their lodging preferences.”

Some of the most common themes that emerge in terms of the desires of millennial travellers are convenience, efficiency and, above all else, connectivity. Mehra says: “Exploration, interaction and experience have become the major focus. They are willing to pay more for a richer experience. Take, for example, the need for an overall gourmet experience for a reasonable price, which has led to new lobby designs at hotels. Today we are seeing lobbies evolve into social spaces with food and beverage experiences integrated to create an atmosphere that combines work and play.”

Thrussell says: “Predominantly, they want to be able to do all the things they do in their everyday lives with the same ease they would in their own home or other natural environment.” He says while they are not necessarily in need of high-tech or complicated gimmicks, they do want high-speed Internet and the ability to plug in and connect their own devices.

Mark Jakins, Chief Marketing and Regional Operations Executive for Peermont, echoes Thrussell’s sentiments and says, aside from convenient connectivity, they also want irons and ironing boards in the rooms to quickly press their own clothes, as well as a wide range of television channels offering news, sport and lifestyle programmes. “Online reservations and check-in, self-service takeaway coffee stations to be able to drink on the run, and public areas in the hotels to offer gathering places with bars that have a vibe for social interaction are also important. He adds that transportation is also becoming important, such as convenient trains, easy-to-summon taxi services, or car rental available to pick up and drop off from hotels.

Loyalty programmes have also been overhauled. Daniel points out that millennials tend to value “soft” benefits over points, seeking “on the spot” rewards that offer instant benefits for every interaction.

What about everyone else?

But do hotels risk alienating other generations by adapting their offering to millennial travellers? Thrussell says that while some hotels cater purely for specific segments, such as millennials, other hotels transcend generations and a fine balance must be achieved. “We are in the midst of a generational transition that is more pronounced in its differences than ever before. It can be a challenge to address the diverse service styles, offerings and technologies required for the differing audiences from a training, service and cost perspective but, provided we stay true to our core values, offering and identity, it is possible not to alienate guest segments.”

Daniel also believes it may not be wise for every hotel to overhaul its offering or image if it could damage the rapport it has established with a loyal client base. “However, certain services or facilities can be incorporated into a hotel’s existing offering to better reach millennials and inspire loyalty for years to come at a formative phase of a consumer’s travel habits.”

What hotels are doing to attract millennial travellers

Centara Hotels and Resorts
The group has taken steps to ensure strong connectivity throughout its hotels, and offers complimentary WiFi. It has also upgraded its website experience, made enhancements to its booking engine and ramped up its social media activity to provide a seamless user experience. From a product perspective, it has introduced a new beach club and bistro concept called COAST, which is offered at four of its beachfront locations and offers the laid-back socialising experience that millennials crave. Centara is also adding a new brand to its portfolio – COSI – with the first property opening in Chaweng, Koh Samui, Thailand. COSI Hotels will be an affordable lifestyle brand aimed at modern, tech-savvy travellers, offering experiences differentiated by their location and cultural influences.

Peermont
The group has begun upgrading its WiFi connectivity speeds, dependent on available bandwidth and regulations in some of the countries, such as Botswana and Malawi. Peermont has also improved the reservations process on its website to offer more customisation, while rolling out bigger televisions in all the hotel categories, with USB and HDMI support, so guests can plug their phone into the television to work on email or watch movies saved on their devices.

Starwood
Starwood’s tech-savvy brand, Aloft, was created to meet the needs of the always-on, evolving millennial global traveller. It includes modular furniture, open spaces, industrial design elements, loft-like guest rooms and a commitment to adaptive reuse. Some of the spaces include its “re:mix lounge, a relaxed morning workspace; WXYZ Bar, an experiential hotel bar featuring signature cocktails and surprise DJ sets; re:fuel, which offers grab-and-go gourmet options and make-your-own cappuccinos; and a specially designed meeting space called Tactic. I was the first brand to pilot Starwood’s keyless entry system, where guests use their smartphone as their room key, as well as Botlr, the industry’s first robotic butler. The group has also focused on hiring more millennials, and has introduced reverse-mentoring, where millennials introduce and educate older staff on their world.

ZIMBABWE: Flyafrica ZimbabweTo Become flyafricazim

Flyafrica Zimbabwe plans to relaunch flights under a slightly different name – flyafricazim – with the backing of new investors.

The airline terminated its franchise agreement with the Flyafrica group after the parent company was placed into liquidation earlier this year.

The ‘new’ airline owns the Flyafrica brand name in Zimbabwe and can therefore continue to operate under this name, says the company’s principle investor and Chairperson, Cassidy Mugwagwa. Additional investors have been signed on to the tune of US$25 million (€21.6 million) to develop a pan-African operation, says Cassidy.

The airline plans to begin operations on the Johannesburg-Harare route from mid-May. Flyafricazim also plans to establish operations between Johannesburg and Bulawayo as well as domestic routes within Zimbabwe.

After the termination of its franchise agreement with Flyafrica Ltd, Cassidy says flyafricazim needed to source new aircraft, reservation support, as well as web support and marketing. The company has done this through its purchase of Airconnect, which Cassidy explains handled many of these functions for Flyafrica in the past. “Contracts have also been entered into with other service providers. Aircraft have been sourced from Star Air Cargo and key staff, who originally worked for Flyafrica Ltd, have also been retained – so we are good to go.”

Not unlike the original flyafrica.com LCC model, the new airline’s strategy is to operate in a number of different countries “in order to spread its common expenses”, says Cassidy. “Unlike the Flyafrica Ltd model, which relied on the head airline in Zimbabwe to fund the five countries in which the airline operated, each country must be profitable, operate with a local partner and be able to sustain itself with minimal operating financial support from head office. In other words, one country must not be able to pull another down,” he says. The airline aims to launch subsidiary airlines in four countries over the next two years.

USA: Tourism Is Thriving In Los Angeles

Tourism is thriving in Los Angeles, according to a new state report.

The California Travel and Tourism Commission said spending by tourists in Los Angeles County jumped nearly 5 percent last year. The report found that almost 46 million tourists visited the county last year and contributed nearly $21 billion to the local economy.

That spending also generated $2.5 billion in state and local tax revenue - about a fifth of the entire state's tourism tax revenue.

Tourists say they come to Los Angeles for the beaches, the Hollywood stars, the food and the theme parks, among other draws.

"What better place to come to than California. LA - you know, warm weather, beaches," said tourist Bob Marden from Indiana, on a visit to the Hollywood area.

The LA food scene also continues to win recognition.

The prestigious James Beard Awards counted several Los Angeles-area chefs among this year's winners at its awards gala in Chicago. The award for Outstanding Chef went to Suzanne Goin of Lucques restaurant on Melrose Avenue and Outstanding Pastry Chef went to Dahlia Narvaez of Osteria Mozza, also on Melrose.

Additionally, the Best Chef: West award went to John Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal restaurant on Fairfax Avenue.

But not every hungry tourist is drawn to the high-end eateries.

"I want to go to In-N-Out," said tourist Luyza Santos of Brazil. "Everybody says it's really famous."

VANUATU: Vanuatu Airport Problems Could Hit Economy

The suspension of Air New Zealand's flights to Port Vila could be catastrophic for the country's economy, the president of a Vantuatu tourism organisation says.

Air New Zealand yesterday suspended all flights to and from Vanuatu because of the condition of the runway at the airport in the capital, Port Vila.

Vanuatu Hotel & Resorts Association president Bryan Death said other carriers who fly to Port Vila could follow Air New Zealand's lead and that would be disastrous for the tourism industry, which has been recovering from Cyclone Pam last year.

Mr Death said a film crew was working on a campaign to attract people to Vanuatu this coming winter.

The footage that had been shot may never be used, as there was no point in running the campaign if no one could travel to the country, he said.

Air New Zealand said it would take passengers who are already in Vanuatu home on a final flight tomorrow, and refund people who have booked flights.

Air Vanuatu is also reviewing the situation, and will make a decision within days.

The airline said one possibility included shuttling passengers to the island of Santo, and operating international flights from there.

NEW ZEALAND: Air New Zealand Not Flying To Vanuatu

Air New Zealand has told Vanuatu that interim repairs on the runway of its main international airport, Bauerfield, are not adequate enough for it to resume servicing the route.

After Air New Zealand and Qantas withdrew their service to Port Vila in January, citing concerns over the safety of the runway, Vanuatu activated a $US60 million World Bank loan for an aviation overhaul.

The package included a long term upgrade of the Bauerfield runway as well as emergency interim repairs designed to get it up to the required standard for the following year.

Works began last month and the contractor Fulton Hogan has completed the first phase of the Bauerfield Repair, a "surface enrichment sprayed treatment".

The remaining work, involving asphalt patch repairs, was scheduled to be complete by mid-April with the Vanuatu government hoping for full capacity by the start of the tourist season in May.

But in a statement, Air New Zealand said it had now advised the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu that it would only consider resuming services once a permanent solution for the runway had been fully funded, designed to a satisfactory standard and contracted to a competent contractor.

Air New Zealand's General Manager Flight Operations, Stephen Hunt, said that while interim repairs were currently underway the one year lifespan of these repairs did not provide sufficient operational certainty to build a sustainable service on.

"We continue to monitor the situation in Port Vila and we're encouraged with the Vanuatu government progressing the current World Bank Pacific Aviation Investment Program in relation to Bauerfield," said Mr Hunt.

The statement said Air New Zealand was hopeful that the current proposed works to permanently resolve the operational integrity concerns at Bauerfield would proceed without further delay, strengthening the prospect of a resumption of services later this year.

Meanwhile, other airlines continue to fly their jet planes to Port Vila, including Air Vanuatu, Air Caledonia and Air Pacific.

NEW ZEALAND: Tourists Support Air New Zealand Growth

Strong tourism will continue to support Air New Zealand's growth, but the company says increasing competition is a challenge.

The national carrier has released an investor presentation.

Its profitability was being buoyed by the record numbers of tourists coming to New Zealand while lower fuel prices also helped make the outlook to continue to look favourable.

Travel routes closer to New Zealand would be a source of growth in passengers, including Australia and Asia, it said.

Its strategy would continue to invest in the business and keep a lid on costs, in order to maximise revenue and profits.

On the other side of the coin, some challenges in the near term included more competition.

While 2017 earnings were expected to be solid, they wouldn't be as strong as this year, the company said.

Uber Explosion

What kind of explosion are we talking about?

Not of the dynamite variety. The app-based driver service Uber has, however, been growing at an explosive pace and generating some explosive anger among traditional taxi operators. In some places, such as New Zealand, Uber drivers are pretty pissed off, too.

Why are Uber drivers angry?

They're angry because the US-based company has cut fares by 20 percent, and made it far easier and cheaper for people to become Uber drivers.

Pull over for a second. What actually is Uber?

People know what Uber is. No need to bore them.

Don't assume.

OK. Anyone who already knows what Uber is should take the background bypass and scroll directly to the tuber.

The tuber?

You'll see.

OK. What is Uber?

Uber is a taxi alternative that uses digital technology to connect passengers with drivers. If you live in a city served by Uber and have their app on a smartphone, you can virtually hail a car, assuming there's one within an acceptable distance, which will deliver you to your selected destination. There is no meter per se, but an estimated fare. Each party can give the other a star ranking on the app. There are a range of variations around the world, but typically Uber fares are less than conventional cabs' fares, though at busy periods "surge pricing" can spring up, making it substantially more expensive for a ride, but encouraging more drivers to get on the road. Drivers usually keep 80 percent of the fare, paid via a pre-registered credit card, with 20 percent going to Uber.

The business model is part of the so-called "sharing economy" and takes advantage of "capacity utilisation" - in simple terms, enabling cars to spend a higher proportion of their active times transporting passengers than taxi firms. It is the very quintessence of market "disruption".

Please don't use the word "disruption".

All right.

Uber sounds German. Is it German?

No. Uber (originally UberCab) was founded in San Francisco in 2009. It has expanded rapidly and is currently available in more than 400 cities around the world, including Auckland, Wellington, and in fledgling form in Christchurch.

Where does it all leave taxis?

Old-school taxi operators around the world have furiously opposed the Uber explosion, saying it threatens the economic viability of their typically heavily-regulated, licence-requiring businesses.

In just the last few weeks there have been protests from taxi operators in Canada, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Chile, Indonesia, Hungary and France, mostly in the form of on-road demonstrations.

Disrupting the traffic?

Yes.

Is Uber allowed to operate everywhere?

No. It has faced numerous bans around the world, including cities in Germany, Japan, India and Australia.

But Uber drivers are unhappy, too?

Uber is currently facing a nationwide lawsuit in the US relating to the employment status of its drivers. The company was recently forced to make numerous concessions, and pay out as much as $US100 million to disgruntled drivers, to settle similar lawsuits in California and Massachusetts. There have been driver strikes in New York, California and South Africa, and New Zealand drivers are mulling a strike, too.

Will they?

They might. A group of about 30 met recently to discuss the Uber changes, with a spokesman saying the 20 percent cut left them working for "a slavery rate". Existing Uber drivers argue that, unless newcomers possess P as they do, the door will be opened to "cowboys".

Wait. Possess P?

Up to now, Uber has required would be drivers to gain a P, or passenger, endorsement for their licence, as well as a vehicle Certificate of Fitness, which altogether costs a reported $2000. Instead, to operate as "ride-share" drivers, Uber requires simply a licence for two years or more, background driving record and criminal checks, a car younger than 10 years and third party insurance.

What does the NZ regulator have to say about that?

It's unlawful, says the New Zealand Transport Agency, which rejects Uber's claim to be offering a ride-share service. "They are not operating within regulations," a representative said, "and we will issue warnings or infringements and can take people to court."

And Uber's response?

Their Australasian policy director told RNZ: "The last time I checked there was no problem with sharing a ride in your own vehicle and that's exactly what people are doing ... We think that it would be unacceptable if the government thought to punish people for providing safe and reliable transport."

That sounds like a standoff.

Yes it does.

Is the government doing anything to revisit regulation of the sector?

Excellent question. Yes it is. It has announced plans to regulate taxis, Ubers, tuk-tuks, the lot, under the category of small passenger service. It would considerably relax the requirements for existing taxi drivers and companies.

Sure about the tuk-tuks?

No.

Is this why Uber has changed its driver requirements?

Whether or not it is a direct response to the government proposals, Uber obviously benefits by avoiding many of the costly regulatory demands for the old-school taxi firms. But Uber's big thing is rapid growth, or "scaling" as the disruption people like to say.

Why?

Don't know, they just love saying scaling and disruption, presumably.

No, why are they so keen on rapid growth?

Uber wants to become the Google of the roads - to make Uber ubiquitous, a byword for delivery of people and things in the same way Google is a byword for online search.

What's this "and things"?

Uber's "simple mission" is "transportation as reliable as running water everywhere and for everyone". Their ambitions are not simply about moving people, but also moving products - online purchases, pizza, whatever. They're keen on self-driving cars, too.

Can anything stop them?

In many cities there are already a number of similar competitors, the best known being Lyft, and there will be more. Uber is determined to keep growing juggernaut-style, and that growth is pivotal to its staggering $62.5 billion valuation. Uber has been described as the "most valuable American company of its generation", but it is not invincible.

Incredibly impressive. What's not to like?

There's the safety question, but while some, including taxi companies, have claimed Uber's lower barriers to driving make passenger safety more of a problem this is disputed by Uber, and in the US the evidence appears to be largely anecdotal.

Uber has been criticised for failing to cater for disabled passengers. The company says it has been introducing more accessible vehicles and other options, but these have been rejected as unsatisfactory.

Then there's the question of the culture.

What about it?

Some don't fancy the idea of using Uber owing to the behaviour of some of its executives. Co-founder Travis Kalanick says his pushy approach is a result of being a "fierce advocate" but acknowledges that some may choose a "different 'a'-word to describe me".

Apart from drivers' grievance claims, there have been reports of highly dubious competitive strategies as well as mooted attempts to punish critical journalists by digging into their private lives. Respected technology journalist Bobbie Johnson has written that despite the "dick-swinging, the gluttony, the not-quite-lies and the full-on bullshit" associated with the business, Uber prospers. Why? "We have our beliefs, our morals, our instincts. We have our dislike of douchebags, our mistrust of bad behaviour. We have all that. But in the end, it turns out that if something's 10 percent cheaper and 5 percent faster, we'll give it all up quicker than we can order a sandwich."

In NZ and almost everywhere, the furiously accelerating cab-app multinational Uber is bumping its bull bars up against the old-school taxis and the town halls.

And 80 percent of five words?

The information Uber highway.

FIJI: Fiji Tourism Grows

Fiji Tourism has set its sights on tourists from the Greater China Region.

Fiji visitor numbers have risen in the first quarter of this year despite the disruptions caused by Cyclone Winston.

The prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, says compared to the first quarter of last year, arrivals have increased by just over ten percent to almost 160,000.

According to FBC News, the prime minister gave the figure at the opening of the Fiji Tourism Expo on Denarau in Nadi.

The three-day Expo is attended by more than 150 sellers and buyers from 19 countries.

KENYA: Charter Flights To Kenya Will Boost Tourism

News that a European company will launch chartered flights to the Kenyan coast has excited players in the tourism industry.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala revealed the news of the flights to the region beginning this summer, renewing hopes of the sector’s recovery this season.

The industry, which has suffered a dip in the last three years has held on strongly and with such charter rotations, it is hoping for the best, said Kenya Association of Hotel Keepers and Caterers (Kahc) Coast branch chief executive officer Sam Ikwaye.

The latest deal was arrived at after consultations between Mr Balala, representatives of TUI Group, a multinational travel and tourism company and Kenya’s leading international tour operators.

It was agreed that TUI Poland charter will for the first time be flying tourists to the Kenyan coast during the European summer season from July to October 2016, with a capacity of 180 passengers. It will be operating to Mombasa weekly with a possibility of continuing through the winter period to April 2017.

TUI Europe and TUI UK also announced start of operations in the months of November and December.

The TUI representatives led by Harry Kingma, Tim Ramberg and Mateusz Maszkiewics are already in Mombasa on a five-day visit to inspect tourism products and engage stakeholders in business during this period.

While welcoming this announcement , Balala said the charter flights will benefit from the recently announced charter incentive programme that includes waiver of landing fees and a 30 US dollar subsidy for every passenger on the charter flights terminating in Mombasa and Malindi.

“This is a step in the right direction and a big boost to the tourism industry. We welcome these charter flights... the action by TUI Group is a strong indicator that we are on the right path to recovery,” said Balala.

Ikwaye said the expected arrival of TUI Polish charter during the tourism high season in June will serve to improve hotel occupancy rates. “We are optimistic of brighter things to come as the high season sets in after April,” Ikwaye said. In the meantime, Jambo Group of Hotels chairman Simon Ndolo has called for more government support to local investors in the industry to enable them remain buoyant.

AUSTRALIA: Tourism Industry Affected By Higher Passport New Airport Fee

Australian passports will rise in price by $20 from January 1, 2017.

TOURISM will generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the Federal Government through a range of budget initiatives that have disappointed industry members.

Although there are some positives for the “supergrowth sector” such as tax cuts for small business operators, tourism officials lamented the lack of measures to foster growth.

In a series of blows for the industry:

— the cost of an Australian passport will jump $20 from January 1, 2017 to $274 raising $173 million over four years

— trial visa arrangements for certain countries including a user-pays fast track service will raise $1.5 million over four years

— backpackers will pay 32.5 cents on every dollar earned in Australia from July 1

— airport operators will be charged a commercial fee to provide “premium border clearance services” for international air passengers, initially at Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Airports

— Tourism Australia’s funding trimmed to $140 million from $144 million

Australian Tourism Export Council Managing Director Peter Shelley said they were very disappointed the planned backpacker tax had not been wound back.

“We’ve been working with government to try to reduce the percentage (from 32.5) and we’ve seen no response to that in this budget,” said Mr Shelley.

“It’s not competitive with other countries and makes a working holiday in Australia much less attractive.”

Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond said she hoped successive budgets delivered an increase to Tourism Australia’s funding.

“We’re pretty disappointed there’s been no action on the Tourist Refund Scheme and the backpacker tax, and we will be pushing those arguments during the election campaign,” said Ms Osmond.

“Any increase in taxes on airports is not good news either but the concept of premium processing is a good one.”

On the upside, $26.2 million has been earmarked over four years to establish permanent border clearance services at Townsville and Sunshine Coast airports in Queensland.

The move should allow for regular international services out of the airports, that currently operate seasonal flights into either Bali or Auckland.

There is also $115.1 million over two years for works at the Western Sydney Airport site at Badgerys Creek.

The sum includes $26.2 million to “undertake concept design for the provision of rail services

through the site”.

Three states can also look forward to more money for projects that encourage tourists to visit a destination, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground rooftop walk.

Almost a third of the $15.2 million “demand driver infrastructure fund” will go to New South Wales ($4.8 million), Queensland will score $2.9 million and Victoria $2.8 million.

Allocations for other states and territories will remain unchanged.

KENYA:World Travel Awards Show Kenya’s Tourism Is Best In Africa

When the Africa winners in the 23rd World Travel Awards were announced, Kenya was the biggest winner. Out of some 57 categories, Kenyan tour and travel firms scooped at least 20 slots, leaving the rest of Africa to fight for the rest.

In what appears to be a case of trouble on the ground but stability in the air, Kenya Airways, a firm that has been in the news lately for the turbulence in its finances, was one of the biggest winners. KQ as it is fondly called scooped the award for Africa's Leading Airline, and Africa's Leading Airline - Business Class. Leaving the likes of South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines in its wake.

Diani Beach is Africa's leading beach destination and Fairmont Mt Kenya Safari Club is Africa's leading hotel. Nairobi won as the continent's leading meetings and conference destination, Kenya Tourism Board and Mombasa Port (Africa's leading cruise port). These are only a few, to mention all would require a lot more space.

What, however, comes out is that Kenya's tourism offering is the best on the continent. The only question then is whether those responsible for marketing the country as a tourist destination are taking full advantage of the resources that lie at their finger tips.

That more than a third of all awards on offer came to Kenya points to a tourism product that should be doing more in terms of attracting visitors.

And while it is easy to berate the government for not doing enough or not allocating more money to such bodies as the Kenya Tourism Board, they should be lauded for the efforts already made.

Even though most of the winners are private entities, there are a number of facilities and destinations that would not be leading were it not for efforts from the State. For that, Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and his team deserve a clap.

SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express Suspension Lifted

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has lifted the suspension of SA Express’ Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

This means that the airline may, with immediate effect, resume operating their fleet of 26 aircraft. The lifting of the suspension comes a day after the operator’s AOC privileges were temporarily withdrawn by the SACAA, after recent inspections and audits revealed deficiencies relating to the operator’s safety monitoring systems.

The Regulator said following several and intensive engagements with the airline, it had provided the SACAA with a revised corrective action plan, which upon perusal and consideration was found to address the major concerns that were raised by the Regulator".

The SACAA said it will continue to intensively monitor and oversee the full implementation of SA Express’ corrective action plan.

It added that suspensions and withdrawals of license holders’ privileges are never an instant action or any form of reprisal by the regulator.

"Such a decision is usually preceded by comprehensive engagements and attempts by the regulator to highlight deficiencies and help license holders to comply with the prescribed standards and applicable regulations. Suspensions are therefore precautionary measures aimed at avoiding catastrophic incidences. Moreover, aviation and the airline industry specifically is a 24-hours operation, and therefore there is never such a thing as an appropriate time to suspend operations."

The suspension came after the airline had failed to submit satisfactory corrective measures, after two failed audits on 19 and 20 April. As a result the airline's operations were suspended in the middle of the long-weekend, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and scrambling to make alternative arrangements.

SAO TOME & PRINCIPE: What To Do In Sao Tome And Principe

1. São Tomé Town: The capital city of São Tomé is not only the first stop for newcomers to the country but a destination in itself. The town is home to some of West Africa’s most beautiful architecture, as well as the National Museum, open-air markets, and exciting festivals throughout the year. But its main draw is its laid-back culture, marvelous cuisine (heavy on tropical fruit, rice, hot sauce, and fish), and lively nightlife.

2. Beaches on Príncipe: Although São Tomé’s beaches are certainly not to be underestimated, Príncipe’s are quieter and have a serene charm all their own. The exceptionally clear water permits views of coral reefs, eels, and tropical fish of all kinds to snorkelers and divers. Banana Beach’s wide, golden strand is surrounded by forest and is one of the most popular among tourists, while the beaches on the nearby islets offer extreme solitude for those who prefer it. For a fee, visitors can arrange boat trips farther out from land to fish for barracuda, tuna, and other big fish; Club Maxel is a highly regarded local renter with facilities on both São Tomé and Príncipe.

3. Auto de Floripes: Príncipe’s biggest festival, Auto de Floripes is Portuguese in origin and commemorates the confrontation between the Christians and the Moors in the Middle Ages. The entire population participates in a dramatic reenactment of the battle, followed by music, dancing, sideshows, and the serving of special dishes.

4. São Tomé’s Rain Forests: Unlike its central African counterparts, the rain forest of São Tomé is fairly easy to navigate and has no dangerous animals. Hiking is easy and relaxing, and the colorful birds are among the world’s most beautiful (and loudest). If you hike during the rainy season, you’ll also spot large patches of orchids at the higher elevations.

5. Coffee Production at Monté Café: This coffee plantation, in the mountains outside of São Tomé town, offers tours and demonstrations for visitors, along with the chance to sample some of its world-class product. Its output was once the world’s largest, and the pleasant drive to and from the plantation affords some of the island’s best ocean views—after those from Pico de São Tomé.

6. Photography and Turtle Watching at Praia Jalé: While this tiny fishing village is entirely different from São Tomé town, a visit to it is worth the somewhat bumpy drive. The locals are even more welcoming here than in the city and are often eager to share stories about life in the town and São Tomé’s history. The main attractions are the nearby turtle beaches, which between November and March are overrun by throngs of females that lay eggs here. If you plan to stay at the Eco Lodge, do note that there is no running water or supplies, so come prepared.

7. Corallo Chocolate Factory: This chocolate factory, which ferments, dries, and sorts raw cacao beans from Príncipe, offers tours, demonstrations, and samples to visitors upon request, often arranged by the owner himself, Claudio Corallo. His spirited lecture bespeaks a deep knowledge of chocolate production, and he certainly knows what he’s talking about: his luxury sweets are popular abroad.

8. Ilheu das Rólas: Of the tiny islands and atolls that surround São Tomé and Príncipe, Ilheu das Rólas is undoubtedly the most popular among tourists, thanks largely to its superb snorkeling opportunities and upscale dive resort. Although the other islets provide more peace and quiet, Ilheu das Rólas is the most accessible and has the best accommodations.

9. Pico de São Tomé: The largest mountain in the country, in the middle of Obo National Park, Pico de São Tomé stands more than 6,000 feet tall. The trek there takes two days, and a guide is recommended but not strictly necessary. Although visibility is often low, the summit affords unparalleled views of the sea and the surrounding cloud forests.

10. Boca do Inferno Blowhole: Surrounded by palms, tide pools, and striking volcanic rock, this blowhole, whose name translates as Mouth of Hell, is similar to a small geyser, formed by waves crashing in a subterranean sea cave.

KENYA: Tourism Agency In Illegal Sh8.5b Payment

The Kenya Tourism Fund fraudulently paid Sh8.5 billion to acquire the Coast branch of Kenya Utalii College.

The college was later renamed Ronald Ngala Utalii College. According to an audit report, the fund’s managers are said to have inflated the cost of acquiring the college to Sh10.4 billion against the initial cost of Sh1.95 billion. The report on the fund that falls under the Ministry of Tourism is being scrutinised by the National Assembly’s Public Investment Committee (PIC).

It emerged upon review by the auditors that the project, which was one of the Vision 2030 flagship ventures, was not among the planned projects. In a grilling of the fund’s managers yesterday, the MPs refused to give audience to four officials; acting Chief Executive Officer Joseph Chelope, deputy Head of Finance Margaret Njoka, acting Procurement Officer Gerald Omondi and accountant David Mwangi for failing to submit the documents sought.

The four were scheduled to respond to queries on breach of the procurement and financials laws, the Constitution and abuse of office.

The MPs said the level of embezzlement of public funds within Government entities was astonishing. They are also probing the Sh180 million rip-off at the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF). “The project was approved by the Cabinet in 2007 at a cost of Sh1.95 billion but the implementation ended up costing a whopping Sh10.4 billion without approval,” PIC vice chairman Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu) said.

He added: “The procurement process of the project consultants was at a cost of Sh1.4 billion, and done in total disregard of the procurement law.”

Committee Chairman Adan Keynan said every Government entity was turning out to be a ‘cash-cow’ for a few. “What we are witnessing is a disaster. It is sad that every Government institution is dogged with corruption cases. We are not going to spare anyone, we will ensure public funds are properly invested as stipulated in law,” said Mr Keynan.

The MPs were in agreement with the audit report that the project, despite its costly aspect, may not realise value for money. “There was no justification of renaming the Kenya Utalii College, Coast Branch to Ronald Ngala Utalii College, resulting in the inflated cost that was not approved by the Cabinet,” reads the report.

It continues: “There is a possible fraud scheme, which may result in the loss of public funds amounting to approximately Sh8.5 billion. The said college does not stand on any legal ground and, therefore, should be reverted to the Utalii College to be developed as one of its campuses.”

Animal Defenders International RaisesFunds To Transport Circus Lions To South Africa

A former circus lion peers from inside a cage transporting it to South Africa, at the port of Callao, Peru, Friday, April 29, 2016. Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia are heading back to their homeland to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa. The operation is the largest ever airlift of lions, organized and paid for by Animal Defenders International.

Thirty-three lions rescued from circuses in Peru and Colombia headed back to their homeland Friday to live out the rest of their lives in a private sanctuary in South Africa.

The largest-ever airlift of lions was organized by Animal Defenders International. The Los Angeles-based group has for years worked with lawmakers in the two countries to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, where they often are held in appalling conditions.

The long journey began Thursday in Colombia where a caravan carrying the first nine lions departed the city of Bucaramanga for a 14-hour drive to Bogota’s international airport. From there, they were loaded onto a cargo plane and flown to Peru’s capital to pick up the remaining 24.

Their flight to Johannesburg departed from Lima’s airport Friday evening.

SOUTH AFRICA: King Shaka International Airport

King Shaka International Airport, abbreviated KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. Located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of the city centre of Durban, it opened its doors to passengers on 1 May 2010, just over a month before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It replaced Durban International Airport (ICAO: FADN) and uses the same IATA airport code.The airport was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and Planners and cost R6,800,000,000 about US$900 million.

Although the larger airport was built to grow the area's international services, it is also a key airport for domestic services throughout South Africa, serving the "Golden Triangle" between Cape Town International Airport (IATA: CPT, ICAO: FACT), O. R. Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB, ICAO: FAOR) in Johannesburg, and KSIA itself with 7 airlines. KSIA was the 9th busiest airport in Africa according to 2010 statistics, despite not being open for the first four months.

The airport forms part of the Dube Tradeport, which will additionally consist of a trade zone linked to the airport's cargo terminal, facilities to support the airport such as nearby offices and transit accommodation for tourists, an integrated agricultural export zone, and an IT platform.

The largest aircraft KSIA currently has scheduled services for is the Boeing 777-300ER, with Emirates operating Dubai–Durban, despite the fact that KSIA's runway length and terminal were designed to theoretically handle regular large airliners. In September 2015, during the World Routes Conference which was held in Durban (the first time on African soil), Turkish Airlines announced a new international service to Istanbul and Qatar Airways announced the commencement of service to Doha in December of that year.

On 27 January 2014 the world's largest passenger aircraft, an Airbus A380-800 of British Airways landed at KSIA becoming the first A380 to do so. The aircraft was being used for training and operated many flights in and out of the airport until 4 February 2014. The aircraft also returned for further pilot training between 29 August and 1 September the same year.

In 2013, 2015 & 2016, Skytrax awarded King Shaka International Airport the prestigious "Best Airport in the World Handling Under 5 million Passengers" title.

King Shaka International Airport was first conceptualised in the 1970s, with construction beginning in 1973. By 1975, earthworks and a storm drainage system had been completed. However, the project was halted in 1982 due to the economic slowdown at the time.

The project was revived in the late 1990s when the limitations of Durban International Airport became apparent. The airport's 2,400 m (7,874 ft) runway was too short to allow large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 to operate intercontinental routes out of Durban, and the resulting decrease in international air traffic caused Durban to become marginalised with respect to Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Upgrading Durban International Airport was considered but a study published in 2007 found that the existing airport would still have serious constraints and would reach its maximum potential by 2025, after which there would be no choice but to develop KSIA. It was also found that it would be 95% more expensive to operate Durban International Airport to its full potential and only then develop KSIA, than it would be to develop KSIA immediately.However, disputes between Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the Dube Tradeport firm (which is backed by the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) provincial government) stalled the project until national transport minister Jeff Radebe intervened to jump-start the project in 2004.

The project was then hit by a tender war between the Illembe consortium (led by Group Five and Wilson Bayly Holmes-Ovcon) and the Indiza consortium (led by Grinaker-LTA). Both consortia pre-qualified for the tender in April 2006; however, the tender was awarded to the Illembe consortium, with the Indiza consortium not being considered for failing to meet certain tender requirements. The Indiza group appealed the decision, claiming that the correct tender process had not been followed and that their bid had been unfairly excluded;however, their legal challenge was dismissed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in February 2007.

The final obstacle was a delay in the approval of the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. The EIA was eventually approved in August 2007; conditions attached being the appointment of an environmental control officer, issues of access from the nearby N2 freeway, and fauna and flora issues; in particular, the impact of construction and airport operations on a nearby colony of barn swallows.

Construction of the airport commenced on 24 August 2007, immediately after the approval of the EIA. Construction progressed steadily throughout the next two years, with operational testing of the airport beginning in December 2009. The airport handled its first commercial flights on 1 May 2010.

It is unclear what the fate of the existing Durban International Airport will be now that KSIA is complete. While it was originally expected that the airport would be decommissioned and the site (in a prime industrial area) would be redeveloped, possibly as a dug-out port serving nearby automotive assembly and components factories, Comair has expressed interest in buying the existing airport and operating it as an alternative, secondary airport.

Despite wide expectations that the airport would be named "King Shaka International Airport" (Shaka was the leader of the Zulu nation in the early 19th century), it emerged in October 2009 that the airport needed to undergo a formal naming process. The former premier of KZN, S'bu Ndebele, described the naming process as urgent, stating that "pilots cannot fly to a place with no name". Public hearings on the naming of the airport began at the beginning of November 2009, with most attendees favouring "King Shaka International Airport" as the new airport's name.

On 8 December 2009, it was reported that "King Shaka International Airport" was indeed the most popular name for the new airport. The airport name was approved by the South African Geographical Names Council on 14 January 2010, and became official on 2 February 2010 when the Minister of Arts and Culture gave final approval to the name.

As of March 2010, information on future development at KSIA is scarce and conflicting. Long term master plans published on the Dube Tradeport website show projected phases of development in 2035 and 2060; however, images of future development posted on an internet forum indicate five phases of development, with each phase to be developed based on annual passenger volumes reaching certain levels.

Both sources of information agree that by 2060, the airport would have two parallel runways with the passenger terminal building having an estimated capacity for 45 million passengers per year.

The airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of Durban. The airport precinct is bordered by the M43 to the north, the Mdloti River to the south, the R102 to the west, and the N2 freeway to the east.

Neighbouring communities are Tongaat to the north-west, Verulam to the south-west, and Umdloti to the south-east. Notable communities further away are Umhlanga to the south and Ballito to the north. These communities are generally opposed to the airport because of noise concerns, recommendations for mitigation of which were made in the project's Environmental Impact Report.

Mount Moreland, a small community located 2.6 km (1.6 mi) south of the airport, is an important roosting site for the European barn swallow.

The roughly 250 m2 (299 sq yd) reed bed where the birds roost is directly underneath the approach path to runway 06. When the construction of the airport was announced, there were fears that the reed bed would have to be destroyed due to the perceived threat of bird strikes, creating concern amongst environmentalists.

As a result, a study into the risks of bird strikes at KSIA was commissioned, with special attention being paid to the barn swallows at Mount Moreland. The study showed that the early morning dispersals of swallows generally happen before any scheduled arrivals or departures (earlier than 06:00), and the late afternoon swarms take place below the airport approach path, with only 5% of the birds protruding up into the path for a very short time (around 10 minutes).

It was also noted that larger bird species, flying at higher altitudes, would pose more of a risk to aircraft than the swallows, such species already being a risk at Durban International Airport. The study concluded that it would definitely be possible for the airport and swallows to co-exist. Proposed risk mitigation measures included curtailing flight movements during the afternoon swarm, setting the glide slope approach to Runway 06 to 3.2 or 3.5 degrees rather than the standard 3 degrees (to stay above the birds), and the installation of a radar system that would monitor bird movements and be integrated into the operational plan of the airport.

In response to the study, ACSA contracted De-Tect Inc. to install a radar system that would monitor all bird activity around KSIA, notifying air traffic controllers of any dangers to aircraft. The radar system arrived in January 2009 and started collecting data to be used when the airport became operational.

The passenger terminal is located at the southern end of the airport and is split into two levels: arrivals are handled on the lower floor, departures on the upper floor. With a total floor area of 102,000 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft), the terminal is capable of handling 7.5 million passengers per year.

The check-in concourse, located on the upper floor, contains 72 check-in counters and 18 self-service kiosks, as well as ticket offices for the various airlines operating out of the airport. Passengers pass through separate domestic and international security checkpoints before proceeding to the departure lounges and boarding gates.

The airport has 34 aircraft parking bays and 16 jet bridges. Four of the jet bridges (gates A20-A23) can be combined into groups of two to handle Code F aircraft (e.g. an Airbus A380) or can be used separately to handle four Code C aircraft (e.g. an Airbus A320 or Boeing 737). The remainder are capable of handling one Code C aircraft each.

The arrivals area is located on the lower floor, with a baggage reclaim hall containing 5 conveyors that can be allocated between domestic and international use. Most of the airport's retail shops are also located on the lower floor, as well as a piazza area immediately outside the terminal building. Including shops in the departure lounges, the airport has 52 retail outlets and 6,500 m2 (70,000 sq ft) of retail space.

The terminal does not have a public viewing deck, which has attracted public criticism. There are, however, vantage points on the elevated departures drop-off road, as well as elsewhere in the airport precinct.The International Terminal is located to the left of the airport with two A380-800 docking bays in which four A330's can be parked. The Old Durban Airport used to have flights from Durban to Singapore (Singapore Airlines), London (British Airways), Egypt (Egypt Air) and India (Air India).

Behind the beautiful art and colourful décor is a well-run and fully equipped airport concerned with the needs of both travellers passing through and locals just popping in for a visit. Shops open as early as 05h00 and close at 22h00, every single day throughout the year. There is a pharmacy, a number of banking options, foreign exchange facilities, a Post Office, mobile phone stores, a book store and grocery store. There are also a number of fashion outlets as well as restaurants (including Halaal-friendly options) available, both on the landside and airside, to cater for both visitors and passengers.

The cargo terminal is located to the north of the passenger terminal, and is in the approximate centre of the airport precinct. The cargo terminal will have an initial size of 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) and initial capacity for 150,000 metric tons (165,000 short tons) of cargo per year. Long-term expansion could see the cargo terminal expand to a size of 100,000 m2 (1,100,000 sq ft) and capacity for 1,000,000 metric tons (1,100,000 short tons) of cargo per year. In August 2009, Worldwide Flight Services was given a five-year contract to operate the cargo terminal.

The cargo terminal will form one component of the Dube TradePort's TradeZone Precinct, which will additionally be home to trade and logistics warehousing as well as cargo and light industry activities that require quick access to air cargo services, and will cover an area of 36 hectares (89 acres). In February 2013 Shree Property Holdings agreed to build a 60,000 m2 (650,000 sq ft) facility in the Dube TradeZone and an additional 15,000 m2 (160,000 sq ft) facility. Samsung is to build a TV Production Plant at The Dube Trade Port by the end of 2014 estimated cost over three years will be $20 million. Increasing from 500 000 flatscreens to 1 million.

One of the objectives of the cargo terminal is to recapture local air freight traffic from JNB. It is estimated that KwaZulu-Natal produces approximately 25,000 metric tons (27,600 short tons) of air cargo a year which is currently transported by road to Johannesburg. The airport also has the advantage of sea level operation as opposed to Johannesburg's high altitude, and is also near the Port of Durban, the busiest seaport in the Southern Hemisphere. The cargo terminal will initially have two Code F stands (capable of accommodating large aircraft, like the freighter variants of the Airbus A380), which can be expanded to ten stands in the long term.

Destinations And Airlines

Airlines----------------------------------Destinations
Air Mauritius-----------------------------Mauritius
Airlink-----------------------------------Bloemfontein, George, Nelspruit
Airlink-----------------------------------Maputo
British Airways
operated by Comair------------------------Cape Town, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Port Elizabeth
Emirates----------------------------------Dubai-International
Ethiopian Airlines------------------------Addis Ababa
FlySafair---------------------------------Cape Town, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo
Kulula.com--------------------------------Cape Town, Johannesburg-Lanseria, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo
Mango-------------------------------------Cape Town, Johannesburg-Lanseria, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo
Proflight---------------------------------Lusaka
Qatar Airways-----------------------------Doha
South African Airways---------------------Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo
South African Express---------------------Cape Town, East London, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Port Elizabeth
South African Express---------------------Lusaka, Harare
Turkish Airlines--------------------------Istanbul-Ataturk2

Cargo

Airlines-----------------------------------Destinations
Airlink Cargo------------------------------Bloemfontein, George , Maputo, Nelspruit
BidAir Cargo-------------------------------Cape Town, Johannesburg-OR Tambo
Emirates SkyCargo--------------------------Dubai-Al Maktoum
Imperial Air Cargo-------------------------Johannesburg-OR Tambo
Khuphuka Kings-----------------------------Lubumbashi, Ndola
South African Airways----------------------Johannesburg-OR Tambo
South African Express----------------------Cape Town, East London, Harare, Johannesburg-OR Tambo, Lusaka, Port Elizabeth

Traffic

King Shaka International Airport recorded 4.93 million passengers in 2015–2016, with the majority (4.63 million) being domestic passengers, 288,188 being international, and a small percentage of traffic being classified as "unscheduled". 52,316 aircraft traffic movements were recorded; the majority again being domestic services. The statistics place KSIA as the third busiest airport in South Africa, behind both OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport.

Road
A three-level interchange between the N2 national freeway and the M65 main road.The interchange of the N2 and M65.
The airport is accessible from both the N2 freeway and the alternative R102 road, with the M65 linking the N2 at exit 195 and the R102 between Verulam and Tongaat with the airport. The M65 does not continue from the N2 interchange to the coastal M4 highway, necessitating M4 traffic to divert to the N2 using either the M27 if approaching from the south, or the M43 (Watson Highway) if approaching from the north; however, the airport's Environmental Impact Assessment recommended that the M65 should be extended to the M4 in the future should traffic volumes rise to the point where this would become necessary.Another notable road in the vicinity of the airport is the R614 from the Albert Falls and Wartburg areas, which terminates at the R102 in the northern outskirts of Tongaat; users of the R614 access the airport via the R102.

The majority of routes to and from the airport via the N2 involve payment of a toll: traffic leaving the airport to the south (the direction of central Durban) must pass through the La Mercy Ramp Plaza located at the interchange of the N2 and M65, while traffic arriving at and leaving the airport from the north (the direction of Ballito) must pass through the mainline Tongaat Toll Plaza located at the interchange of the N2 and M43. Motorists arriving from the south along the N2 are not tolled, and the R102 acts as an untolled alternative route. The N2 S from the airport can lead to the M4 S, which leads directly into the city.

The airport contains 6,500 public parking bays, both in a short-term parkade and in a shaded medium-term parking area.Public road transport is provided by airport shuttle buses and metered taxis, which have been allocated their own pick-up and drop-off area adjacent to the terminal entrance to the international arrivals area.

Rail
The main railway line heading north from Durban along the North Coast runs close to the R102. Direct rail access was provided for in the master plans, and is expected to be constructed after 2010 as part of the second phase of construction. In 2014, talks of a new high-speed monorail between the city and the airport were put forward, with an expected start to construction set for 2017.

Accidents
On 13 August 2009, a privately owned Yakovlev Yak-18T (registration ZU-BHR) performed an emergency landing on the then unfinished runway due to a fuel contamination issue, becoming the first aircraft to land at KSIA