This is a roundup of some of the more interesting travel and vacation-related news from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Uganda: Blankets and Wine to host Zahara
Blankets and Wine is back and is set for September 27th. Headlining the show will be Zahara, one of South Africa’s most renowned artists, who sings mainly in Zulu and English. Zahara will share the stage with Lillian Mbabazi, her Sundowners band, and A-Pass.
Phoebe Nakabazzi, brand manager of sponsor Tusker Malt Lager, said: “We are excited to have Zahara, an authentic Afro-Soul singer, headlining what has become Uganda’s most anticipated event.”
The event will still be held at the Uganda museum. Entrance fee is Shs 80,000 and gates open at 12pm. Read More
Rwanda Names Baby Gorillas
Rwanda’s revered Mountain Gorilla population has risen significantly during the past year following the continuous conservation focus by the Rwanda Development Board in partnership with the Volcanoes National Park and the local community.
The 11th traditional globally renowned mountain gorilla naming ceremony, “Kwita Izina”, held at the beginning of this month at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains in Kinigi, Northern Rwanda, revealed that the current Mountain Gorilla population in the Virunga Mountains stands at an estimated 480.
In the 10 years since the event was established, 192 gorillas have been named. Between 2003 and 2010, the population rose by 26.3 % Read More
Tanzania to Host Hotel Investors
This year’s Hospitality Roundtable will see more than 300 leading international hotel investors, local operators, government officials, and industry experts from around the world meeting in Dar es Salaam, it was announced.
Top speakers include representatives from Hilton Worldwide, Jovago.com, Hospitality Design Partnership, YES! Hospitality, Viability International Hospitality Consultants, Leisure Property Services, and Fastjet.
They will meet at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre. Read More
Tanzania: Fastjet to Train Airport Officials on Wildlife Protection
The presence of wildlife in and around airports poses a significant hazard and a challenge to aviation. Accordingly, Fastjet Tanzania has entered into an agreement with a Netherlands-based wildlife company, AviAssist, to train airport officials on wildlife protection.
Many airports in the East African region face major wildlife strike risks, often because they are near large bodies of water or on global bird migration routes. AviAssist helps airports and airlines to pro-actively manage wildlife risks at and around airports. The training will be held at the Fastjet head office in Dar es Salaam. Read More
Uganda: UTB Launches Tourism Expo
More than 200 tourism exhibitors are set to showcase Uganda’s beauty at the annual Pearl of Africa Tourism Expo at Kampala Serena hotel.
Organized by the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) the show will provide opportunities to tourism operators to market the country both domestically and internationally and for them to network, meet new clients, market and discuss business
According to the UTB the country registered 1.3 million arrivals translating into $1.2b (about Shs4.3 trillion), in the past financial year.
Countries that will exhibit at the event are Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Africa, Mozambique, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia. Read More
EAC Tourism Stakeholders in Renewed Drive to Market Region as a Single Destination
The East African Tourism Platform (EATP), made up of the East African Community (EAC) countries’ tourism boards and tour operators, has pledged to continue marketing the region as a single tourist destination, as well as take a leading role in conservation
Amb. Yamina Karitanyi, the chief tourism officer at the Rwanda Development Board, stated that the EATP, which met recently in Kigali, is moving into packaging the region as one destination, celebrating flagship tourism events.
Under the deal, each member country has a period to focus on a flagship tourism event.
The vision of EATP is to see a vibrant and diverse single tourist destination that provides exceptional experiences to domestic, regional, and international tourists. Read More
