AviationGhana - 9 Nov.2020

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COVID-19 cases detected at Kotoka Osabarima Kwesi Atta II Int. Airport up by 87 percent

commends GTA, GFA for ‘Battle of the stars’ game

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mported cases of COVID-19 detected by screening all arriving passengers at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has gone up by 87 percent, increasing from 92 to 172 between mid-October and November 6, 2020. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his 19th

address on measures taken to combat coronavirus noted that: “With the imposition of stringent testing measures at the airport, we have, so far, been able to detect one hundred and seventy-two (172) positive cases amongst some fifty-four thousand (54,000) arriving international PAGE 02

The paramount Chief of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, has singled out the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and the Ghana Football Association (GFA), for praises for using football to promote domestic tourism.

Osabarima made this remark on Sunday, November 08, 2020 when the PAGE 03

Ethiopian Airlines wins ‘Customer Choice Airline of the Year Award’

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an-African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, has won the ‘Customers Choice Airline of The Year Award’ at the just-ended National Customer Service Awards held in Accra.

Ethiopian beat off stiff competition from other renowned international airlines operating in the country based on customers’ appreciation for Ethiopian’s on-board and on- ground service, ontime performance and its key role in helping bring Ghanaians stranded abroad back home at the height of the current pandemic.

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COVID-19 cases detected at Kotoka Int. Airport up by 87 percent passengers.

“The airport authorities will continue to demand that passengers arriving in the country should be in possession of a seventy-two (72)-hour old negative PCR test, and we will continue to sanction airlines that flout this directive.

“The health authorities will intensify the follow up process of arriving passengers, even when they have tested negative to help ensure we have ruled out any possible infection that may have occurred during the period of embarkation and disembarkation.”

With the number of daily infections increasing from an average of twentyfive (25) new cases per day then, to an average of over one hundred and thirty (130) new cases per day in the course of the last two weeks, Ghana’s active

case count has almost tripled within the period.

As at November 6, active COVID-19 cases had increased from 398 to 1,139.

“An analysis of the active case data suggests that the Greater Accra Region accounts for some seventy-five percent (75%), with Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Western being responsible for sixteen percent (16%) of active cases. The remaining eleven (11) Regions make up four percent (4%) of the cases, with arrivals at Kotoka International Airport responsible for the other five percent (5%),” President Akufo-Addo said in his 19th address to the nation,” President Akufo-Addo added.

Ghana on September 1, 2020 opened its air space for international flights and instituted a compulsory testing

regime upon arrival for all international passengers at a cost of US$150 As at mid-October, a total of 30,564 in-coming passengers had been tested, out of which 92 tested positive.

Background As part of preparations towards the opening of the Kotoka International Airport for the resumption of international airline operations, government mandated all arriving passengers to take an Antigen test at any of the over 70 sampling collection booths set-up at the upper level of the Arrival Hall of the Kotoka International Airport and results ready between 12-15 minutes.

A state-of-the-art laboratory, set-up at the upper level of the Arrival Hall to process the samples, then transmits the

results electronically to the port health stations in the main arrival hall before a passenger gets there.

All passengers with negative Antigen tests are then be cleared by Port Health to proceed to the immigration counter and admitted into Ghana.

Passengers with positive Antigen tests are handed over by port health authorities to health professionals stationed at the facility to be transported to treatment or isolation centres.

By this arrangement, all arriving passengers who test negative will not bear the additional burden of an expensive 14-day quarantine, as has been the case with the many repatriation flights

Ethiopian Airlines wins ‘Customer Choice Airline of the Year Award’ Area Manager of Ethiopian Airlines, Yemesrach Alemayehu, noted that the award affirms the airline’s high quality of service and shows that Ethiopian is a customer-focused airline with global service delivery standard.

“The award will encourage all of us at Ethiopian Airlines to do more, continuously improve our customer service, and remain the leader in customer service in the country. Our Accra-Lomé-New York

service launched in October, presents another fine opportunity to delight our Ghanaian customers both on-board and on-ground,” Ms. Alemayehu said.

Asky and Ethiopian Airlines, on October 15, 2020 started its Accra to New York via Lomé flights. The service offers the travelling public more options between Accra and the USA. The new service is operated 3x per week on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. This compliments the

Asky/Ethiopian existing 4x weekly flights between Accra and Newark via Lomé.

Ethiopian has also taken delivery of two Airbus A350, one of the new planes from French aircraft manufacturer Airbus, to better serve its passengers in its home region and abroad. This brings to 16 the number of A350 planes in Ethiopian’s fleet.

The planes are all configured to accommodate 30 business class

passengers and 318 economy class passengers.

Ethiopian’s commitment to Ghana was evident in its excellent display of courage and determination in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the role the Prime Minister of Ethiopia played in the coordination and distribution of COVID-19 materials across the African continent.

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Nigeria: COVID-19 test defaulters face six-month ban Worried by the second wave of COVID-19 already forcing another lockdown in places like France and the United Kingdom, the Federal Government has disclosed stiffer sanctions, including a six months ban for evaders of the mandatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests.

The Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 raised the alarm over potential second wave in Nigeria, giving travellers’ growing apathy for COVID-19 tests.

The PTF Chairman and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, expressed sadness at the failure of some Nigerians who arrived from abroad to present themselves for the in-country PCR test, which they signed up to and paid for before arrival.

Mustapha disclosed that available statistics showed that only one in every three passengers had shown up for the in-country test. He warned that, henceforth, the government would have to suspend the passports of travellers that refuse to show up for their PCR tests on arrival into Nigeria after the specified seven days of isolation.

“As you may recall, the PTF announced

the guidelines on the reopening of the airspace and the obligations of arriving passengers. The PTF similarly announced sanctions as a consequence of any infraction.

“Having observed serious noncompliance to the level of 65 per cent,

the need has arisen to activate the sanctions, which include the suspension of the passports of such defaulting individuals for a period of six months minimum,” he said.

National Coordinator of PTF, Sani Aliyu, who disclosed that states and

the Federal Capital Territory had been given resources to tackle the disease, expressed gratitude to all the governors for opening up sample collection centres across the country.

“Every state has received at least N1 billion, the state governments have received the largest single bulk of the PTF intervention. As of today, a total of N50 billion went to states. So, we have enough resources at the state level to be able to push for increased testing and improved surveillance.

“We will continue to work with state governments and urge them to use these resources for the purpose that the Federal Government has given. We have to invest in making sure that the pandemic comes down. There is no doubt we have not flattened the curve yet.

“For those of us that follow the numbers very closely, despite the fact that we are not testing enough, if you follow the number on a week to week basis, you would have noticed a change in the trajectory in the last one week based on the numbers released,” he said.

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Osabarima Kwesi Atta II commends GTA, GFA for’Battle of the stars’game leadership of the GTA, the GFA and the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG), called on him at the Emintsimadze Palace in Cape Coast.

The three entities, have come together to unveil a product called ‘Battle of the Stars’, a game between legends of the PFAG and the Western/Central side.

The game that comes off at the Nduom Sports complex in Elmina, on Sunday, November 08, 2020 is the first edition of the Beyond the Return, Football returns, Bringbackthelove football tour, an initiative, aimed at promoting domestic and international tourism through football.

The game is the first competitive football match sanctioned by the GFA since March 16, 2020 bringing an end to the long wait for competitive football.

“Many thanks to the Ghana Football Association and Ghana Tourism Authority for deciding to use football to promote Ghana’s Tourism and particularly deciding to start it here in the central region” Osabarima Kwesi Atta II said.

National Tourism Awards 2019: Full list of winners The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) over the weekend held a successful National Tourism Awards under the theme ‘Growing Tourism Beyond the Return, Beyond COVID-19’.

Aimed at rewarding agencies and institutions under the tourism and hospitality sector that performed creditably in 2019, the event held at the National Theatre was colourful with the display of Ghanaian cultures.

In attendance were Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare; Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Barbara Oteng-Gyasi; CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman; Board Members and Management of GTA, among others.

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The Adinkra, Washington Dc Panafest Foundation – Cape Coast Diaspora Affairs, Office Of The President Media Majique And Research System, Accra Kids In Tourism

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Honorary Awards

Accommodation

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Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Paramount Chief, Oguaa Traditional Area.

Nana Kodwo Kondua VI, Paramount Chief, Edina Traditional Area.

Kofi Akpabli – Tourism/Travel Writer.

Hon. Mohammed Adjei Sowah – Mayor Of Accra.

Miss Delphine Brew – Hammond (Miss Tourism Ghana) Sunseekers Travel & Tours

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5-Star – Kempinski Hotel (Gold Coast City) – Accra 4 Star – Tang Palace Hotel – Accra 3 Star – Aqua Safari Resort – Ada 2 Star – Grace Garden Hotel – Takoradi 1 Star – Asantewaa Premier Hotel – Fumesua, Kumasi Guest House – West Wing Guest House – Spintex Budget Hotel – Almond Tree Guest House – Elmina Serviced Apartments – Red Mango

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Food & Beverage

Below is the full list of winners:

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– Takoradi Hostel – Banvillas Kentinkrono

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Restaurant Grade 1 – Azmera Restaurant – Roman Ridge Restaurant Grade 2 – Buka Restaurant – Osu Restaurant Grade 3 – Hot Ernesto Restaurant – Takoradi Fast Food – Papaye – Spintex Road Airline Catering Services – Servair – Airport – Accra Drinking Bar – Treasures Pub – Haatso Traditional Catering – Agbenorxevi Chop Bar – Ho Night Club/Pub – Crescendo Lounge & Pub – Labone

Travel Trade

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Tour Operator – Land Tours – Accra Travel Agent – Satguru Travels – Osu Car Rentals – Atlas Rent – A – Car, Dansoman Airline Of The Year – Air France – Klm Site Guide – Robert Morgan Mensah, Cape Coast Castle Tour Guide – Yao Dzide Freelance, Accra Visitor Attraction – Cape Coast Castle, Cape Coast Tourism Writer Of The Year – Samuel Obeng-Appah, Voyage Afriq Tourism Broadcast Programme – UTV Heritage Ghana, United Television

Tourism Oriented Media • • • • • • • •

Television – TV3 Radio – Okay FM Print – The Mirror Online – Voyage Afriq Consistent Payment Of Tourism Levy – Accommodation White Sands Beach Resort & Spa – Gomoa Fetteh Consistent Payment Of Tourism Levy – Food & Beverage Moti Mahal Restaurant – Asokwa

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Lufthansa To Offer Free Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Tests Starting November 12 On November 12, Lufthansa will start the first test runs for comprehensive Covid-19 antigen rapid tests on selected routes between Munich and Hamburg.

In close cooperation with Munich and Hamburg airports as well as with the biotech companies Centogene and the Medicover Group’s medical care center, MVZ Martinsried, the airline is offering its customers the opportunity to be tested for Covid-19 free of charge before departure on two daily flights.

Passengers who do not wish to be tested will be transferred to an alternative flight at no additional cost.

The first test flight with 100 percent negative tested passengers is LH2058, which leaves Munich for Hamburg at 9.10 a.m. The second daily flight on which all passengers are tested is LH2059 from Hamburg to Munich.

Once the test is completed, customers receive their test results within 30

to 60 minutes. Only if the result is negative will the boarding pass be activated and access to the gate be granted. Alternatively, passengers can present a negative PCR test not older than 48 hours at departure. Lufthansa takes care of the complete rapid test procedure. There are no extra costs for the passenger. All they have to do is register in advance and allow a little more time before departure.

“With our test strategy, we are pursuing the goal of using the data obtained to gain important insights into the use of rapid tests. Successful testing of entire flights can be the key to revitalizing international air traffic,” says Christina Foerster, Lufthansa Group Executive Board Member for Customer, IT & Corporate Responsibility.

Liberia: ITC And MICAT Boosting Tourism Through Workshops The Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism(MICAT) and International Trade Centre(ITC) seeks to develop; through a workshop, the first of a number of stakeholder engagements that are scheduled to take place over the next three months, a tourism marketing and branding plan to promote the treasures of Liberia to local, regional and international travelers.

The workshop on marketing and branding of Liberia’s tourism brought together, for the first time, the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) and other government agencies, the Liberian embassy representatives abroad, expatriates, the private sector, and experts and stakeholders involved in the sector in and out of Liberia to explore Liberia tourism assets and the Country’s readiness for tourism.

The workshop was supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) under the Liberia Tourism Development project funded by the Enhanced Integrated Framework program.

The tourism sector, which has garnered much interest in the last few months, is tagged to become one of the Country’s main income earners. This first Liberia Marketing and Branding Development Workshop provided an

international platform, through an in-room and zoom online meeting, where stakeholders in tourism met and identified Liberia’s highest potential resources and assets while addressing the question of the Country’s readiness to receive tourists. Participants worked in breakout sessions to discuss topics that included a: SWOT analysis of Liberia’s attractions and experiences Improvements needed in the industry Marketing options and challenges in attracting visitors.

The Workshop was facilitated by UNWTO and ITC’s international branding and marketing consultant Dr. Mike Fabricius, a strategist and tourism destination specialist with extensive experience in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. Co-facilitating the event was Hesta Baker, the ITC’s national branding and marketing consultant, a 30-year communications veteran with two decades in the tourism industry.

Speakers included the Deputy Minister of Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Minister Lance Gba Gon-Yon; Liberia National Tourism Association President, Mai Urey; and Jesse Jefferson Fahn, Director of International Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

According to Dr. Fabricius, this is one in several stakeholder engagements that will take place over the next few weeks. “These engagements will guide a branding and marketing strategy and

action plan for the Liberian tourism sector. We will also formulate guidelines and mechanism for sustainable tourism governance and management in coastal areas, focusing on Robertsport as a surf tourism destination,” said Dr. Fabricius.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, co-host of the event, Minister Lance Gba Gon-Yon said, “development of our branding and marketing strategy is in line with the Ministry’s just validated National Tourism Policy and Master Plan. It will help to build capacity, brand the country, and sell the country’s rich tourism potential to the outside world.”

According to Jefferson J. Fahn, Director of the Project Implementation Unit at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), “the workshop is a positive step in the right direction as we strive to make Liberia the gateway to our Pan-African heritage. We are energized and encouraged by the support of the Government through the offices of our policy makers, the Honorable Minister of Commerce Mawine G. Diggs. At the technical level, and with the demonstration of unflinching political will, the Minister of Commerce is keen on seeing the speedy implementation of the tourism development project in Liberia. When fully implemented, the Project will provide opportunities for job creation, youth empowerment,

and numerous contributions towards economic growth and sustainable development.

Mrs. Mai Urey, President of the Liberia National Tourism Association said “no product or service can be profitable or successful without an effective branding and marketing strategy.” The Association with a membership of fifty includes hospitality, travel, attractions and all aspects of the industry, and is recognized as the leading private sector stakeholder for tourism.

Mr. Aklile Mitiku Habtemariam, Project Manager from the ITC, said “the tourism marketing and branding activities of which today’s workshop is part represent one of the most important aspects of the various interventions under the Liberia Tourism Development project that ITC implements in collaboration with the UNWTO. A number of other interventions are being implemented under the project, including inventorying the tourism resources of Liberia; developing a tourism information booth and tourist reception facilities at Robertsport, Providence Island and Marshall Island as well as building tourism governance capacities. The successful delivery of these interventions will enable to leverage more resources for consolidation of the interventions as well as further development of the tourism sector.”

(Source: FPA)

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Kenya takes top spot at Africa World Travel Awards With its tantalising cocktail of epic savannah landscapes, immense herds of wildlife and palm-fringed beaches – has been voted ‘Africa’s Leading Destination’ by the World Travel Awards.

The news was unveiled during the inaugural Africa Winners Day, with World Travel Awards – the global initiative to recognise and reward excellence in travel and tourism – honouring the best from across the continent.

Kenya’s thriving capital, Nairobi, was also named ‘Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination’, and Kenyatta International Convention Centre collecting ‘Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre’).

Cape Town was declared ‘Africa’s Leading Festival & Event Destination’ and its majestic Table Mountain picked

‘Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction’.

The fascinating South African city of Durban was voted ‘Africa’s Leading City Destination’.

In the hospitality sector, Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club’s unique comforts in the shadow of the mighty Mount Kenya helped it to the title of ‘Africa’s Leading Hotel’, while Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa, South Africa picked up ‘Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel’.

Aberdare Country Club, Kenya was voted ‘Africa’s Leading Green Hotel’.

In the aviation sector, Ethiopian Airlines lifted ‘Africa’s Leading Airline’, while ‘Africa’s Leading Airport’ went to Cape Town International Airport.

Kenya Airways picked up both ‘Africa’s Leading Airline - Business Class’ and ‘Africa’s Leading Airline - Economy Class’.

The results follow a year-long search

for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands.

Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

Graham Cooke, founder, World Travel Awards, said: “Our winners represent the very best of Latin America’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them.

“They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”

He added: “The World Travel Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public.

“This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.”

Other winners include Serengeti

National Park (‘Africa’s Leading National Park’); Thanda Island, Tanzania (‘Africa’s Leading Luxury Island’); Shambala Private Game Reserve, South Africa (‘Africa’s Leading Private Game Reserve’); and The Oberoi, Marrakech (‘Morocco’s Leading Hotel Suite’).

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. (Breaking Travel News)

Kenya: Nairobi hub dream hangs on KQ

Kenya’s plan to make Nairobi a major transport and logistics hub, faces a major test with survival and sustained return to the skies of its national carrier Kenya Airways.

The airline, which is now making a slow take off to fewer destinations after months of grounding due to Covid-19, has not been profitable for a few years and continues to muddle through various financial turbulence.

Aviation stakeholders who spoke to Smart Business last week contend that the potential for Nairobi as a major business hub is strongly tied to the success of its national carrier with other airlines likely to fill any gaps left by Kenya Airways.

According to Mr Michael Joseph who chairs the board of Kenya Airways, Nairobi is a jewel for many airlines that would be happy to fill in any opportunities left by the national carrier.

“If you look at what Emirates has done for Dubai and Rwanda Air is likely to do for Kigali, then it shows what having a national carrier can do towards making a hub. We have Africa companies headquartered in Dubai because of the connectivity they are able to get from Emirates. These firms can easily relocate because Nairobi has the perfect mix of good weather, excellent outdoor

activities and good schools,”Mr Joseph told Smart Business in an interview in Nairobi last week.

Other airlines will not fly to Nairobi to just pay landing fees and use of airspace, a key strategy of major carriers involves fishing for passengers into their main hubs before flying them to other destinations in the world.

Subsidised carriers Competition from other African and Middle East carriers has been part of the problem for Kenya Airways which can hardly compete with subsidised carriers and whose financial muscles have grown over time. They are not done just yet.

Ethiopian, which is a key competitor in the African market for the Pride of Africa is currently building a Sh500 billion airport to expand its base in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopian Airlines Group was originally established in June 1945 and is the flag carrier of the country fully owned by the government. From 2017 the airline took over Ethiopian Airports Enterprise and the rights and obligations of the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise were transferred to the Ethiopian Airlines Group.

This essentially put the expansion with the 35 square kilometre airport in Bishoftu, a town 39 kilometres south east of the capital, an expansion for the airline which already flew more than three times the destinations reached by Kenya Airways.

Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa has a passenger capacity of about 19 million annually and the expansion now makes the projected passenger numbers more than that of Dubai’s international airport. The competition next door is huge.

“If you look at that kind of muscle around us, we only stand to lose because over the years, I have seen Ethiopian Airline increase its frequency of flights to Nairobi with the smaller aircraft feeding their 500-seater planes in Addis before flying them to other destinations.

Of course Kenya is still struggling with the new approach to give a similar edge its competitors have,” a senior source within the aviation sector said, asking for anonymity not to be seen as talking of Kenya’s exposure to competition.

He said Kenya Airways which is currently operating at 35 percent capacity will need the government support similar or close to those enjoyed by its competitors to secure its Nairobi hub.

The same scenario has hit South African Airline after its authorities licensed other carriers into Johannesburg over the years and made it a major source market for passengers.

Post pandemic The government then refused its request for more funding and when Coid-19 lockdown deepened its difficulties under the weight of heavy debt burden, the airline’s wings have been clipped months after the country opened airspace and as other carriers return to the skies, it remains unclear whether the carrier will operate even post pandemic.

Emirates, which is also eyeing the Nairobi hub has significant support from the government and like the Ethiopian competitor for KQ, it has not had a unionised staff that holds it at ransom like Kenya Airways.

Although stakeholders admit that pilot unions have become very costly and hard to handle in many jurisdictions because it takes quite a while to train

pilots and the airline puts as much effort into trying to retain them, Kenya Airways has had a major challenge from these fliers.

KQ’s headwind was also fanned by the fire accident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in 2013, a terror attack on Westgate Mall followed by an Ebola outbreak that meant Kenya Airways could not fly to West Africa.

Various management miscalculations have also been pointed at as key reasons why its take off from losses remains difficult.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has already reorganised State logistics agencies, setting up a single entity in part of efforts to improve efficiency and cement Kenya’s status as a regional transport hub.

President Kenyatta directed the establishment of Kenya Transport and Logistics Network that brings on board the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), and the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC).

“Lack of direct flights from Nairobi will be of immense disadvantage to Kenya and many people like to fly direct because it is faster. If it reaches a point when to go to Europe or even West Africa one has to connect due to lack of a direct flight from Nairobi then the hub will be much less attractive,”Mr Joseph said.

KQ has been seeking a new lease of life through the nationlisation plan after the parliament shot down its plans to take the management of the KAA. The move was stuck in parliament again after it was said to have skipped public participation. (Source: Nation)

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UNWTO in Namibia - First Visit to African Member State Since Start of the Pandemic

The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has paid a first visit to an African Member State since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The three-day official visit to Namibia reaffirms UNWTO’s commitment to the continent and featured a series of high-level talks aimed at strengthening existing partnerships and looking to a sustainable, resilient future.

As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has been

actively guiding the sector’s recovery and restart from this unprecedented crisis. To reflect the new challenges, it has worked directly with its African Member States, including Namibia, to adapt the 2030 Agenda for Africa: Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the landmark roadmap for the responsible growth of tourism across the continent.

This official visit offered a first chance to follow up on virtual meetings and advance the preparations for the restart of a sector upon which millions of

African livelihoods depend.

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili met with His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia for talks on realizing the potential of tourism to drive sustainable development, including for youth, women and rural communities.

In addition, the Secretary-General commended the head of state for his leadership, particularly with regards to the international tourism revival initiative which includes the key health

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and safety protocols drawn up by UNWTO. Alongside this, a meeting with Vice President H.E. Nangolo Mbumba allowed the UNWTO leadership further opportunity to express support for African Member States as they use tourism to recover and grow.

Additionally, the UNWTO delegation met with Honourable Pohamba Shifeta, MP, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to identify ways of growing the country’s tourism sector, including a greater focus on gastronomy tourism, rural and community-based tourism.

‘UNWTO Committed to Africa’ “UNWTO is committed to working closely with our African Member States to realize the potential of tourism to help societies recover from the effects of the pandemic and enjoy long-term sustainable growth,” Secretary-General Pololikashvili said.

“The UNWTO Agenda for Africa maps our collective way forward, and I pleased to see first-hand the commitment shown by the Government of Namibia to support tourism at this vital time and embrace the sector as a driver of positive change for all,” he added.

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