“Africa has been one of the fastest-growing tourism regions of the last decade,” said Mr. Rifai, addressing Spanish investors and African tourism stakeholders at INVESTOUR,“With the right investment, tourist arrivals will continue to grow, investors will see excellent returns, jobs will be created, and the entire economy will benefit.”

Speakers at the forum echoed Mr. Rifai’s remarks, underscoring the importance of tourism to the continent in terms of its socio-economic development. Mr. Bello Bouba Maigari, Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cameroon, spoke of how tourism projects across Central Africa were helping thousands to cross the poverty line. Mr. Nyamajeje Calleb Weggoro of the East African Community (EAC) highlighted Africa’s many tourism assets. “We have barely scraped the surface of our potential,” he said.

Recognizing the potential of tourism in advancing developments goals, Mr. Ricardo Martínez Vázquez, Director General of Casa Africa, stressed the importance of the sector in the global cooperation agenda. “With one billion people expected to travel the world in 2012, we need to include tourism as a priority within Spanish foreign policy and cooperation actions,” he said.

INVESTOUR, now in its third year, aims to increase the visibility of Africa as a tourism destination and mobilize investment for sustainable tourism projects in the region. Over 25 African countries were represented at the forum, which included a series of presentations and debates followed by business-to-business meetings between Africa tourism companies and authorities and Spanish private sector representatives. Co-organized by UNWTO, Casa Africa, and the international tourism trade fair, FITUR, the 2012 edition featured the Economic Community of Central African States (CEMAC) and the East African Community (EAC) as specially-invited regions.

International tourism in Africa grew from 27 million international tourist arrivals in 2000 to 50 million in 2011. International tourism receipts, a vital source of foreign exchange in the region, tripled in just one decade (from US$10 billion in 2000 to US$30 billion in 2010).

Useful link:

Tourism Investment Forum for Africa 2012:

mrisi@UNWTO.org , Web: www.UNWTO.org ; UNWTO Communications Program, Tel: +34 91-567-8100, Fax: +34 91-567-8218, Email: comm@UNWTO.org

Langworthy survived, despite falling head-first into the rapids when her bungee cord snapped as she leaped from the 111m-high bridge on New Year’s Eve.

Mr Lubinda said he remained convinced the accident was a one-off and the attraction was safe.

Speaking after completing the jump yesterday, the Mr Lubinda said “I myself will be engaging the operator on how we can make this exciting tourism event become totally incident-free.”

Mr Lubinda’s display of confidence in the jump came as its operator confirmed Ms Langworthy’s snapped rope had been sent to South Africa to be tested by experts.

Mike Davies, boss of the Safari Par Excellence travel company which reportedly organised her jump, said the incident was a “one off” and added that a full investigation had been launched.

He told New Zimbabwe: “There have been over 150,000 people jumping over the last 17 years without incident. So we are confident in it.”

He said a team of experts had been brought in to look at improving safety on the attraction, and added: “We have replaced all the equipment, all the ropes and the elastics in the meantime.”

Describing her survival as a “miracle”, Ms Langworthy told Channel 9 she blacked out as she hit the water.

“It felt like I had been slapped all over,” she said. After hitting the water she started swimming downstream but her bungee cord became snagged on rocks.

“I actually had to swim down to yank the bungee cord out of what it was caught in,” she said.

When she made it to rocks, her rescuers rolled her on her back.

“All the water I inhaled meant I couldn’t breathe and I made them roll me on to my side and that’s when I started coughing up water and blood.”

The Safari Par Excellence website says the bungee experience is “111m of pure adrenalin!”.

“Based on The Victoria Falls Bridge, the Bungi (sic) jump can certainly be classed as the most scenic in the world. Not for the faint hearted!” the website says.

Source: heraldsun.com.au and eturbonews.com

Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism Given Lubinda / Image via lusakatimes.com

UGANDA (eTN) – The Uganda Minister of Tourism, Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, lamented the lack of funding when opening a new privately-owned heritage museum in Mbarara just before Christmas. He used the opportunity to ask for equitable funding for his ministry and the tourism sector, commensurate with the contribution of the sector to the national economy, which he pegged at over 9 percent of GDP, and yet in his own estimate, his ministry was receiving a paltry 0.13 percent from the national budget allocation.

Only recently was Uganda elevated by “Lonely Planet” as THE destination for 2012, but in the absence of sufficient funding, matching the promotion and marketing expenditures of say Kenya or Rwanda, Uganda is expected to fail capitalize on this unique opportunity, leave alone being able to produce some very special promotional campaign as the country enters its 50th independence year.

President Museveni, who was present at the opening ceremony of the new museum in Biharwe township in Mbarara, Western Uganda, was seen nodding to the remarks, giving some hope that a directive to the finance ministry may yet come forth, but its value immediately put in doubt considering the general budgetary constraints of government, in the light of economic developments and runaway inflation.

While most lodges were booked up over the Christmas holidays, fewer than normal Ugandans were seen entering the parks, leaving the field to wealthier expatriates who are not hit by the devaluated shilling as they are paid in hard currency, countering a policy of bringing more and more Ugandans into the national parks and game reserves and staying in the safari lodges and safari camps, unlike in Kenya where the Kenya Tourist Board together with Kenya Wildlife Services has launched the #TembeaKenya campaign, having to get Kenyan know their country better.

Uganda Minister of Tourism Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu / Image via in2eastafrica.net

(eTN) – Conservationists have taken heart when it was learned that the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Tanzania in November on the occasion of the country’s 50th Independence Day celebrations.

The Prince of Wales is embarking on a tour to the Middle East and Africa, which will also see the couple visit South Africa.

Known for his outspoken and often candid criticism of architecture and other aspects of life in Britain, and as a promoter for all things natural, it is hoped that he will in his private and official meetings with President Kikwete and other government officials raise some of the large number of concerns expressed by conservationists and the green lobby in recent years over projects endangering the country’s national parks and game reserves, marine parks, and forests.

Prince Charles only recently became the President of the WWF in the UK, giving him the added status as a key representative of the World Wildlife Fund, which itself has been critical and at the forefront of opposition to many of the “development projects” the current government in Dar es Salaam has been promoting.

Prince Charles / Image via thelondonlounge.net

The Heads of Delegation from Kenya, the Seychelles and Tanzania at the 19th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly said that it was important to note that the political instability in Somalia has resulted into prevalence of piracy along the Eastern Coast of the Indian Ocean which has overtime inhibited growth of cruise tourism. The Heads of Delegations from the three African Countries said that Cruise Tourism is one of the niche tourism market segments with huge potential for contributing to the region’s economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. Piracy, they said, also affects other maritime activities including transportation of goods along the Indian Ocean waters and increases the costs of insurance significantly.

Kenya’s Minister Balala, Seychelles’ Tourism Chief Executive, Alain St.Ange and Tanzania’s Minister Maige said that the recent kidnapping of tourists in Kismayu and Lamu areas in Kenya by armed militia from Somalia directly affects tourism by undermining tourists safety and security in the Horn of Africa and the Eastern Africa Region. “The situation in Somalia” they said “is not only worrying, but also greatly endangers peace, security and stability”. They went on to say that they acknowledge that their respective Governments have put in place adequate measures to ensure security of tourists but that it remains important for the Community of Nations to recognize that a lasting solution to the region’s security problem related to the political instability in Somalia and that this required concerted efforts and intervention by the International Community.

In presenting their signed declaration to the Secretary General of the UNWTO, Kenya’s Minister Balala, Seychelles’ Tourism Chief Executive, Alain St.Ange and Tanzania’s Minister Maige said that through the UNWTO General Assembly they are calling on the United Nations to intervene to ensure that this worrying situation is resolved once and for all.

Rates for seven nights at Robin Pope Safari’s Nkwali Camp start at $3522 per person sharing and include room and board and all safari costs including a contribution to the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP). Not included are domestic and international flights, visas and airport taxes. Domestic round-trip flights from Lusaka to Mfuwe are US$510.

Among its many conservation initiatives, Robin Pope Safaris is actively helping to protect one of Zambia’s most threatened species, the African Wild Dog, a unique and highly social member of the dog family. Since 2005, RPS has partnered with ZC P to conserve the population of the Wild Dog and other large carnivores in the South Luangwa Valley and to establish sustainable wildlife tourism there.

Each March, RPS hosts “Carnivore Week,” wherein RPS guides and senior ZCP ecology staff teach safari-goers the art and science of researching large carnivores. During these game-viewing excursions, the guides not only help guests with sightings and photo opportunities, but they report their findings back to the Luangwa Valley Carnivore Monitoring Programme. They also report on large carnivores that have been injured in wire snares used by poachers, and this information helps the South Luangwa Conservation Society and ZCP to find, capture and treat these animals.

While safaris in search of Africa’s Big Cats have long been a tourist draw, the interest in viewing large carnivores is on the upswing. Observing the grace, power and elegance of such wild species as lion and leopard in their natural habitats is awe-inspiring and a major reason why tourism continues to thrive on the continent.

The Luangwa Valley comprises a massive unfenced ecosystem that borders multiple countries and holds considerable promise for carnivore conservation. Centered on South Luangwa National Park and the Surrounding Game Management Areas, the region holds the country’s second largest wild dog population, some 200 plus animals.

But the survival of the Wild Dog is still tenuous, given increases in resource extraction, human settlement and poaching.

By signing up for a Robin Pope Safari’s Carnivore Week Safari, animal lovers will help a most worthwhile cause.

For reservations: info@robinpopesafaris.net or visit: www.robinpopesafaris.com

Skype: Robinpopesafaris

UGANDA (eTN) – Ugandans will once more have the opportunity to get into the country’s national parks and forest reserves free of charge at the end of the month, when the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the National Forest Authority (NFA) have combined forces to promote bird watching. Coinciding with World Tourism Day, an event celebrated year after year in Uganda, alternately in Kampala and then again at a chosen location outside the capital city, the “open door” weekend will undoubtedly attract thousands of extra visitors to the protected areas, where the focus will be on birding.

Uganda is blessed with over 1,000 species of migratory and resident birds, many of them endemic to certain areas of the country and the parks or reserves located there. Queen Elizabeth National Park alone is home to over 600 species, making it one of the richest birdwatching areas in the world.

Specialized safari operators have for years now concentrated on marketing their services around the world in tourism trade fairs and exhibitions dedicated to birding, and it is a known fact that tourists coming for such activities stay longer and spend more money than visitors on conventional safaris.

A splendid idea by UWA and NFA, to bring Uganda’s biodiversity and natural wonders closer to Ugandans, so that they, too, can not just enjoy them but also appreciate the need to protect and conserve nature’s gifts for future generations.

Image via localyte.com

Besides being the beginning of the much-anticipated spring season, in September, tourism month and heritage day is also celebrated. “What better way to experience your city anew than by taking a new perspective – being a tourist in your own city – and delving into history, the arts, culture, and heritage like a visitor would do?” challenged Kwele, “Try out the Gautrain, take the Rea Vaya, and explore corners of Joburg you might never have even known about before. Immerse yourself in what makes our destination and our city unique; this is what building a domestic tourism base and culture is all about!” (Visit the JTC website www.joburgtourism.com for a listing of the multitude of events taking place in Jozi this Spring).

JOBURG TOURISM COMPANY TO LAUNCH BOOKING PORTAL

Joburg Tourism Company (JTC) has once again partnered with a host of event organizers, hotels, and tour operators to promote these events – enhancing them with special packages and offers. A brand new channel in the marketing process is JTC’s booking portal on www.joburgtourism.com , which will be live by September 10, 2011. “We’re very excited about the imminent launch of our booking portal, as it provides a powerful touch-point to connect consumers globally with the variety of products, leisure options, and activities available in Joburg. While we’ll always be a long-haul destination in terms of the international market, this portal brings the city closer to people through very personal mediums like mobile phones and PCs. We’re truly just a click away now – anywhere in the world – in your office, home, or in your pocket!” said Kwele.

Joburg Tourism would hereby like to invite event organizers, hotels, and tour operators to join in the opportunity to be featured and further promoted in travel packages. For more information, please contact kirstenv@joburgtourism.com .

Joburg Tourism packages and launches new tourism nodes and routes on an ongoing basis, encouraging locals and visitors to venture further afield. These include cultural routes; and exploring Chinese, Portuguese, Jewish, Italian, and Indian influences in the city and its surroundings. Sites include historical places of interest, markets, restaurants, and places of worship. Lovers of the outdoors have an abundance of options to enjoy nature, adventure, and outdoor food market routes.

Joburg’s Hidden Gems Golf Route includes some of the country’s most pristine and established golf courses. Joburg is the ideal place for a golf tour – the high altitude ensures that when a golfer hits the ball, it flies further since you’re 1,700 m above sea level. The city also enjoys plenty of sunshine and very little wind.

Joburg Tourism is also inviting stakeholders.

TOURISM AS AN ECONOMIC GROWTH IMPERATIVE

In terms of the recently-launched Mayoral Outreach campaign to discuss the City’s Growth and Development Strategy 2040 ( www.joburg.org.za/gds2040 ), tourism remains an economic growth imperative on the city’s agenda. It is an important catalyst to encourage the development of the SMME sector in order to encourage the growth and development of a vibrant second economy.

It is the Johannesburg Tourism Company’s mission to attract visitors to its city, encourage them to stay longer, spend more, and improve seasonality patterns and the spread of visitors across the city. As the city’s destination marketing organization, JTC, therefore, remains focused on positioning Johannesburg not only as the continent’s leading business hub, but also as an exciting, vibrant year-round destination for incentive trips, signature events, lifestyle, the arts, culture, fashion, sports – and, of course, international mega-events.

Johannesburg Tourism is a member of the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

Source: joburgtourism.com

(eTN) – South Sudan President Gen. Salva Mayardit Kiir has last week put final touches on the first post-independence cabinet, after first creating 29 ministries before, on subsequent days, appointing the ministers holding the respective portfolios.

Retained in name and function was the Ministry of Wildlife Conservation and Tourism, which oversees the country’s national parks and game reserves and is in charge now of building a viable tourism industry.

The newly-appointed minister, notably not from the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM) and a coalition member party, is the Hon. Gabriel Changson, while the deputy minister is the Hon. Obuch Ojwok. Permanent Secretary in the ministry remains Dr. Daniel Wani.

South Sudan presently has 6 gazetted national parks and over a dozen game reserves, and conscious of the need to conserve wildlife as a valuable resource for future safari tourists, has banned hunting completely.

Presently, the most prominent of these parks is the Boma National Park from where a migration, second only to the Serengeti/Masai Mara migration of the wildebeest and zebras, emerges annually when as many as 800,000+ white-eared kobs, lechwe, and other plains game species emerge in search of pasture. National Geographic highlighted this natural wonder in their series “Great Migrations,” which already raised substantial interest among adventure tourists and investors wanting to set up tented safari camps and safari lodges.’

Hon. Gabriel Changson / Image via goss-online.org

(Former Consultant Ministry of Tourism Government of Pakistan & Former President Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP)

“Zambia must be promoted by world tourism leaders,” was my expression while leaving Zambia after my eight days tour. I knew before touching Lusaka international airport that Zambia is in rich wildlife, but what I saw in Livingstone made me realise how rich the country is with the wildlife so near and easily reachable and how much potential this country has as a future Tourism Destination on the global tourism map.

The Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa in the Southern Hemisphere. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west.

The capital city is Lusaka where I had been attending 5th IIPT African Conference. The bustling city is located in the south-central part of the country and the population is concentrated mainly around the capital city of Lusaka in the south and the Copperbelt to the northwest. Zambia has been inhabited for thousands of years by hunter-gatherers, gradually leading to a multi-ethnic country. Zambia and my country of Pakistan have one similarity in their history—the Rule of British Raj—and its impact on our cultures. Zambia became the British Colony of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the nineteenth century.

POLITICAL HISTORY

On 24 October 1964, the country declared independence from the United Kingdom and prime minister Kenneth Kaunda became the first head of state. The new name of Zambia was derived from the Zambezi river (Zambezi may mean “God’s river”) which flows through the western region of the country. Zambia was governed by Kenneth Kaunda of the socialist United National Independence Party (UNIP) from 1964 until 1991. Kenneth Kaunda is a legendary character of Zambia. He is not respected as a politician or a former President and Prime Minister Zambia but he is respected as a Father figure for his nation. I had the great opportunity of meeting this legendary personality at the inauguration of the 5th IIPT African Conference on Peace through Tourism in Lusaka. I will remember Mr. Kenneth Kaunda for all times to come as an example for other politicians of developing world because he devoted his life to harmony and peace among different ethic groups and culture by giving a slogan—One Zambia—One nation. Mr Kaunda is a wonderful singer and I saw every Zambian present at the inauguration ceremony singing with him one of the national songs of Zambia.

I also had the opportunity of visiting Victoria Falls with delegates of the conference, including the Tourism Minister Ms. Catherine Namugala, who is responsible for the overall administration and management of the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources. She has a charismatic personality full of content, depth, knowledge of her ministry, and was a wonderful companion for those who traveled with her.

The rise of Catherine Namugala from a politician to an effective administrator in African world is not a story of one day. She served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 until 2003. From 2003 until 2005, she served as the Deputy Minister for Community Development and Social Services. In 2006, she was re-elected to parliament, representing Isoka East Constituency. Also in 2006, she was appointed Minister of Community Development and Social Services. Since then, she served as Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice President, prior to being appointed to her present cabinet post in 2008. In February 2010, Catherine Namugala was awarded the African Tourism Minister Of The Year Award, beating six contestants from Ghana, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

We had a chartered flight to Livingstone where we were warmly received by local dancers at the Airport. I feel the whole society of Zambia goes around dancing and singing because it is the most natural way of expression and is indicative of the simplicity and innocence of Zambian culture. Dancing with Zambians was a memorable experience for me. They dance with Body and Soul—-lost in dancing, completely forgetting world around them. If you love singing, dancing and music, Zambia is your Perfect Destination.

The Wonder of the World –  Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls are a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls was known as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ by locals of Zambia in past. Literary meanings of Mosi-oa-Tunya is ‘the Smoke that Thunders.’ In more modern terms it is known as ‘the greatest known curtain of falling water.’ Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge (at the height of the flood season) over a width of nearly two kilometers into a deep gorge over 100 meters below. The wide basalt cliff, over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. Facing the Falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height and capped by mist-soaked rain forest. A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor who is prepared to brave the tremendous spray with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls. One special vantage point is across the Knife edge bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other vantage points include the Falls bridge and the Lookout Tree which commands a panoramic view across the Main Falls. The best place for a wide range of crafts and curios is the Mukuni Victoria Falls Craft Village. From intricate animal carvings in stone, wood, or the beautiful green malachite, masks, drums, marimbas, spoons, book ends, walking sticks, jewellery and much more. The vendors can be really pushy however, yelling for your attention from all sides, so be firm. Look at everything before buying as some offer better quality than others. They are usually happy to trade for things like T shirts, batteries, shoes, or anything else hard to come by in Zambia.

You’ll find it in the parking area just above the Falls where most of the walks begin and alongside the Victoria Falls Field Museum. This little museum attempts to explain how the falls were formed over the millenia. It is built over an excavation site that has uncovered evidence of early hominids who lived in the area as far back as 2.5 million years ago. Mosi O Tunya National Park is situated along the upper Zambezi stretching from and including the Falls for about 12 kms up river. It is only 66 square kilometers but provides a home for numerous antelope species, zebra, giraffe and the recently acquired white rhinos, one of whom gave birth in the park in 1994. These are the only rhinos to be seen in Zambia as its previously large population has been completely eliminated through poaching.

Mukuni Village is an authentic tribal village where thousands of people live and work. In July of each year the Leya people partake in the colorful Lwiindi Ceremony. The local people believe the spirits of their ancestors still dwell in the gorges of the Falls and during the Lwiindi, they offer sacrifices to them for rain.

The Falls can be approached from the town of Livingstone by traveling south on Mosi O Tunya road for some 11 kilometers. Just before the border, there is a turn to the right which leads to a parking area. Walks all around the Falls are accessible from this point. If approaching from Zimbabwe, cross the border at the town of Victoria Falls and watch for the left turning just after the Zambian customs post.

WHEN TO GO

Different times of the year will provide completely different experiences of the Falls region. Peak flood season is around March and April and the full power of the falls can be experienced in all its glory. Due to the masses of spray rising from the fallen water the full width of the Falls cannot be seen on foot. The aerial view at this time however is spectacular, with clouds of spray rising high into the sky.

As the floods abate the view of the falls gets better and better through the year, but at it’s lowest, around November and December the Falls become little rivulets running over the edge and in some places along the 1,7km width no water falls at all. This season’s gift is the view of the impressive cliffs that form the Falls wall and the magnitude of the abyss can be fully appreciated. Sobek and Safari Par Excellence do trips by raft to the base of the Falls in low season called ‘the float of angels”.

Leaving Zambia, I have an understanding that this wonderful African country just needs the attention of world tourism market players and it can be one of the best destinations on the continent because it has all ingredients that are needed to develop, support and encourage tourism in any destination.

For more info on Zambia:

http://www.zambiatourism.com