VoyagesAfriq Travel Magazine (Sept 2021 Issue) by VoyagesAfriq Travel Magazine

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Travel and Tourism Magazine

ISSUE 016 | September 2021 Edition

CABO VERDE AWAITS YOU!

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São Vicente

• Dr. Carlos Santos, Minister of Tourism and Transport

Promoting Brand Africa to realize Continent’s Tourism Potential

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IN THIS ISSUE

18 4 8

Promoting ‘Brand Africa’ to realise the Continent’s Tourism Potential UNWTO to outdoor “Brand Africa Toolkit”

10 13 14 15 iv

Mozambique’s Tourism Minister reveals plans to put country on Global Tourism Map

53 20 26

Cabo Verde welcomes African Tourism Ministers to 64th UNWTO CAF Meeting We intend to train 30,000 tourism SMEs in the next 3 years- Awal

UNWTO hosts Tourism Leaders in Madrid

Little Africa Maio embarks on € 500 million Tourism Project

UNWTO SG pays glowing tribute to Namibian Ambassador to Spain

Côte d’Ivoire to host World Tourism Day Celebrations

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35 37 44 49

Brand new leisure airline Eurowings Discover begins operations in Windhoek

#ExperienceGhana #ShareGhana launched to drive domestic and regional tourism Seychelles Tourism Board undergoes major changes

56 58 59 61

Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra celebrates decade of doing the ordinary in extraordinary ways Ghana Business Standard Awards 2021: Accra City Hotel is Hospitality Service Provider of the Year VoyagesAfriq and Okay Fm bring Tourism Drive to Audience 6th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism heads to Bruges

IATA Warns Governments on High Cost of Testing

First-ever Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit set for 2-day September spectacle

Seychelles pushes for Moutya dance to be inscribed as world heritage asset

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ISSUE 015 | April 2021 Edition

Travel and Tourism Magazine

EDITOR'S NOTE Dear Reader,

EDITORIAL TEAM

Greetings from Team at VoyagesAfriq

Managing Editor Kojo Bentum-Williams

It’s been four months since I last reached out to you with a message of hope as the world embraced the vaccines to help bring back some semblance of normalcy in human lives.

Consulting Editor Ben Ohene-Ayeh Content Editor Samuel Obeng Appah Editor at Large Ridwan Ibrahim Asante Sustainability Editor Mafalda Borea Contributing Writers Emmanuella Nana Akua Asare Ernest Owusu-Abrokwa Jason Amoo Marian Ansah Yasmine Fofana Victor Constantino Administration/Marketing Symphorien Kouabile Glaou Eddie Fortune Michel Kouassi Photo Credit UNWTO Gilbert Amankwah Ampofo Prince Charles Affum Alex Tackie Victor Constantino Publisher

Voyages Afriq Media Ltd. Africa's leading Travel and Toursim Magazine

The last four months have seen interesting yet topsy turvy developments in the world of tourism. The good news was the rigorous return to travel and tourism in some parts of the Africa region as well as the ramping up of vaccination programs in some countries.

• Kojo Bentum-Williams

This third quarter saw African Tourism Ministers making a deafening call for the push for Brand Africa at a conference which dovetails into the UNWTO’s ten point agenda for the continent. The UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has on countless occasions reiterated the point that Africa’s diverse offerings deserve more than the paltry 84 million tourists that visit the region. His relentless efforts in seeing Africa become the future of global tourism can be realized if partners and all and sundry can rally behind and "Make Africa The Trendy Region" slogan. Namibia, a great supporter of the brand Africa agenda played host to a momentous event which will be seen as a defining moment of tourism in Africa. This year has been christened as Africa’s year with the region slated to host the global celebrations of the world tourism day in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire on Sept 27, the 24th UNWTO General Assembly and the launch of the African gastronomy journal, a manifestation of the region's diverse tourism offerings. Côte d’Ivoire is poised to showcase the best of the West African country when it hosts the world in Abidjan during the global celebrations of the World Tourism Day on September 27. It will be a wonderful opportunity for the country to project how the sublime Côte d’Ivoire project will change the lives of many and again make tourism its economic pillar. Things haven’t gone quite as anticipated with the resurgent of the lethal Delta Variant of the Covid 19 pandemic. In this edition, we celebrate some of the unique stories which in the wake of the pandemic continue to offer hope to the tourism sector. As the saying goes, in adversity comes invention. This VOYAGESAFRIQ

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wise saying has thrown the light on new innovations which could shape how we do and practise tourism in our part of the world. Our profile destination, Cabo Verde has since July 15 reopened to international tourism with strict adherence to the necessary health and safety protocols. The country is ready to receive visitors again, especially those who can’t wait to indulge in the Morabeza feeling that is so infectious in the archipelago island. The Country is the host of the 64th Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting to be held in the tourism hotbed of Sal. The launch of the African Gastronomy Journal and the event thereafter to mark the importance of culinary tourism is an activity the various national authorities will need to take a cue and inspiration from to promote Africa's diverse and delicious cuisines to the world. VoyagesAfriq in partnership with UNWTO has offered our platforms to continue the crusade which has been of special interest to

the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit organised by Africa Tourism Partners deserves applause for pushing the Continent’s youth to converge in a hybrid format to offer a platform to build back after the pandemic. It must be said that the event which has taken place in three successions is the only pan African event which is dedicated to the youth in Africa. The aim is to help in youth career guidance, unearthing talents and build future tourism entrepreneurs. Mozambique’s vision of turning the southern African nation into a major tourism destination and industry player is given impetus by the Country’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Eldevina Materula. In the same vein, Ghana’s push to becoming the MICE hub in West Africa continues to gather momentum and the CEO of the country’s National Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman in an exclusive chat with VoyagesAfriq emphasises the dream with passion.

Copyright subsists in all published in this magazine. Any reproduction or adaptation, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited and is an act of copyright infringement which may in certain circumstances, constitute a criminal offence. The paper used for this production is a recyclable and renewable product. It has been produced using wood sourced from sustainably managed forests and elemental or total chlorine free bleached pulp.

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ISSUE 014 | November 2020 Edition

Travel and Tourism Magazine

Explore Africa again from Namibia, the land of Endless Horizons

UNWTO’s first mission to Africa since onset of Covid-19

A Good Year for Kelly Khumalo

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Never miss travel updates on VA Tourism Podcast & Tourism News Wrap. We go beyond reporting to connect the Tourism Sector.

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Promoting ‘Brand Africa’ to realise the Continent’s Tourism Potential United Nations World Tourism Organisation's (UNWTO) African Member States will work together to establish a new narrative for tourism across the continent. To better realize tourism’s potential to drive recovery the, UNWTO and its Members will also work with the African Union and the private sector to promote the continent to new global audiences through positive, people-centred storytelling and effective branding. With tourism recognized as an essential pillar for sustainable and inclusive development for the continent, UNWTO welcomed high-level delegates to the first Regional Conference on strengthening Brand Africa. The conference featured the participation of the political leadership of host country, Namibia, alongside public and private sector leaders from across the continent. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili was impressed by the common determination by Africa to rethink as well as restart tourism. “African destinations must take the lead in celebrating and promoting the continent’s vibrant culture, youthful energy and entrepreneurial spirit, and its rich gastronomy”, he said. Windhoek Pledge put people first On the back of a series of workshops and a Ministerial Think Tank, UNWTO’s African Member States unanimously

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endorsed the Windhoek Pledge on Advocating Brand Africa. Under the terms of the Windhoek Pledge, member states will engage both public and private sector stakeholders as well as local communities to build a new and, inspiring narrative for tourism across the continent. They will identify positive, human-centred stories, and through strengthened partnerships with the media, showcase them to the world, in addition to reaching new and diverse tourism source markets. In the coming weeks, the UNWTO will work with all signatories to create a common roadmap towards establishing Brand Africa. This will include establishing common values and goals and identify funding needs and opportunities as well as providing branding toolkits for destinations, including guidelines and recommendations, training and capacity building in market intelligence, digital marketing and data management. Bilateral meetings show support for tourism Alongside the conference, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, held high-level talks on the restart of tourism with the President of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob, as well as with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo NandiNdaitwah and also with the African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchanga

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• Zurab Pololikashvili-UNWTO Secretary General

• Michelle McLean- Emcee of the Event

• Traditional Dancers performing at the event

• Zurab Pololikashvili-UNWTO SG and President Hage Geingob viewing a miniature plague of the Namibian Coffee Table Book

• L-R: Namibia's Deputy Minister of Tourism and Environment, Heather Sibungo in a tete a tete with the Executive Director of her ministry

• The UNWTO SG held a meeting with Burkina Faso’s Minster of Culture & Tourism Dr. Élise Foniyama Thiombiano-Ilboudo

• Dr Salifou conducting one of the sessions for SME masterclass

• Albertus Aochamub- Namibia’s VOYAGESAFRIQ Ambassador to Spain, France & UNWTO

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• Elcia Grandcourt- UNWTO Regional Director for Africa

• Olga Novak of Bloom Consulting conducting a session during the workshop

• Workshop Session

• Dr Ibrahim Mayaki- CEO of AUDA NEPAD

• Margareth Gustavo, Namibia Investment Board

• Enrique Bañuelos de Castro, Chairman, Little Afirca Maio and Nancy of Interbrand

6 VOYAGESAFRIQ • The Ministerial Table

• Mikhail Ninua, UNWTO’s Director of Administration and Finance

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• UNWTO Secretary General Presenting plague to Dr Hage Geingob, President of Namibia at the State House

• Mozambique’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Eldevina Materula

• Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority speaking at a panel session

• Dr Carlos Jorge Duarte Santos, Cabo Verde’s Minister of Tourism and Transport contributing to the Ministerial session

• Dr. Damas Ndumbaro, Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania

• President Hage Geingob being ushered into the auditorium

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Real Recovery Possible on International Tourism at Pre-Covid-19 levels – Prez of Namibia The President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Hage Geingob has stated that real recovery will only be possible when international tourism returns to pre Covid-19 levels. To do that would require universal access to vaccination against COVID 19, as well as build the capacities of Medium and Small Size Enterprises in the sector. According to him during the pandemic, Namibia’s domestic tourism helped sustained jobs and businesses in some destinations. “However, domestic tourism can only partially compensate for the loss of inbound tourism”, he posited. The President in his Opening Address at the just ended Brand Africa Conference in Namibia also postulated that ‘Tourism for inclusive growth, is more pertinent than ever. It is of paramount importance that we develop coherent and comprehensive approaches to tourism policy-making as a means of enabling our tourism sectors to effectively address inequalities and improve the resilience of our economies.’ He added that recovery also requires global cooperation and evidence-based solutions that will enable the safe lifting of travel restrictions. “In the aftermath of the pandemic, our ability to foster resilience within tourism will be key to ensuring not only the sustained growth of this sector but also enhance preparedness for any future shocks”, the President said.

• Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia

Dr. Geingob also called for the promotion of African tourism brand, through the media and the use of technology. “To achieve this, we need to use our media platforms to showcase and celebrate African capabilities, innovations and achievements”. “The promotion of Brand Africa will require a unified and collaborative effort between Africa and diasporan leaders, academics, decision-makers, influencers, the private and public sectors, as well as youth, to shape and drive the African agenda as a means of enhancing the overall image of Africa, he noted. Praising the UNWTO for organizing the conference, he said, “I am confident that this conference will provide the ideal platform for us to further unpack these concepts so as to add value to the UNWTO strategic roadmap for Africa.”.

UNWTO to outdoor “Brand Africa Toolkit” post-COVID-19 world,” he affirmed. The Secretary General brought up the delegates, who comprised, Tourism Ministers and Brand Experts among others to speed on some of the projects his outfit has been and is involved in recent times in Africa. He mentioned that “Alongside this, we have published our book “A Tour of African Gastronomy”, to help show a different side to the continent. In the same spirit, we will soon be launching the Coffee Table book to rekindle the tourism industry in Namibia and in the southern Africa sub-region. We count on your support and cooperation to advance our goals.” The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) will later this year, launch a “Brand Africa Toolkit.” Addressing delegates at the last Brand Africa Conference in Namibia, Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili disclosed that the Toolkit will help countries align and lead the continent’s evolution as a competitive tourism destination. “In the coming months, UNWTO will launch a Brand Africa Toolkit. This toolkit will address the key issues faced in Destination Brand Management. It will allow destinations to reach new audiences, build consumer confidence and tourism resilience and strengthen their brand value in the 8

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He added that working within the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Single African Travel Market has never been more important. “And we also need strong public and private partnerships to be at the heart of tourism’s restart and future growth. And I urge all our Member States to adopt the Windhoek Pledge on Advocating Brand Africa. This way, together we can showcase Africa to the world, welcome more people to the continent and make tourism a central part of Africa’s future.” Zurab said.

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UNWTO hosts Tourism Leaders in Madrid The global tourism sector has come together to show its unity and readiness to restart as soon as conditions allow. To celebrate the return of the FITUR International Tourism Fair, UNWTO brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to send out a strong message that tourism is ready to return. Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili welcomed distinguished guests to the Royal Theatre in Madrid, among them the newest UNWTO Ambassadors, including the Manager of Atlético de Madrid Football club, Diego Simeone and model and entrepreneur, Valeria Mazza. Reflecting the unprecedented levels of political support for tourism, joining UNWTO at the event were Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Furthermore, the sector’s ability to touch on almost every part of society was further reflected in the naming of UNWTO’s latest Ambassadors. Joining Mr Simeone and Ms Mazza in accepting the honor in Madrid were the latest UNWTO Special Ambassador for Gastronomy Tourism, Chef Ramón Freixa Riera and business leaders Alejandro Bulgheroni and Frank Ranieri.

kind of boldness we need if we are to restart tourism and so kickstart wider recovery. And this show of unity is the kind of cooperation we need to restart tourism in a coordinated and responsible manner, for the benefit of many millions of people worldwide.” At FITUR 2021, UNWTO addressed some of the key challenges facing tourism while also advancing solutions for its safe, responsible and sustainable recovery. Following on from the final of the UNWTO SDGs Global Startup Competition, UNWTO is also advancing another of its priorities, the promotion of investments in African tourism, as well as strengthening partnerships with private sector actors.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “Now is the time for ambition and bold steps. The decision to host FITUR is the

UNWTO supports Zimbabwe to measure Value of Tourism The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has committed to working with the Government of Zimbabwe to enhance the importance of tourism for the country’s economy. Zimbabwe has identified tourism as a central pillar of its National Development Strategy, (NDS 1, 2021-2025). To reflect this, UNWTO is now working with the government on the development of the country’s first Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). The TSA will measure tourism’s contribution to Zimbabwe’s GDP, as well as its size relative to other sectors, and the number of jobs it generates. It will also allow the government to measure the value of public and private investment related to the sector and the effect of international tourism on the country’s balance of payments. Mr Munesu Munodawafa, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, said, “As we continue to invest in the recovery and re-development of tourism across Zimbabwe, we must be able to accurately measure the importance of tourism to the country’s economy. The development of the

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TSA is one of the key milestones for the sector under the NDS1 (2021-2025). This tool is critical to aid Government’s decision making and evidencebased policy formulation for a sustainable and resilient tourism sector post COVID-19.” Elcia Grandcourt, UNWTO Director for Africa said, “We are delighted to work again with Zimbabwe in this important endeavour. We are committed to supporting the government in providing clear data that can help guide key decisions for tourism’s recovery and growth.” The initiative forms part of the four-year Zimbabwe Destination Development Program, a technical assistance initiative supported by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. It is being delivered by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and sponsored by the Government of Japan. The program supports the recovery of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry and aims to safeguard thousands of jobs amid a sharp decline in travel caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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AUDA NEPAD renews MoU with UN Tourism Body The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) and the UN World Tourism Organization signed a second Memorandum of Understanding on 15 June 2021 in Windhoek, Namibia. The ceremony took place at the margins of the Regional Conference on Strengthening Brand Africa for the Swift Recovery of the Tourism Sector in the Namibian capital. The first MoU was signed in 2016. The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to enhance cooperation between the AUDANEPAD and UNWTO in identified areas of mutual interest; with a view to: • Promoting tourism as a tool for • Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, AUDA-NEPAD & UNWTO Secretarydevelopment in Africa in line with General, Zurab Pololikashvili signing the MoU UNWTO´s Agenda for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth and “In the light of the successful joint implementation of Africa’s Agenda 2063 aspirations and goals on sustainable activities under the previous MoU, both entities would build economic growth and inclusive development; on the productive cooperation through the implementation • Building strong partnerships to support the development of the new MoU”, according to Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary General of the UN World Tourism Organization. of the tourism industry in Africa; and He stated that the occasion of the MoU signing reinforces • Supporting African countries in their recovery strategies the partnership of both entities, to allow for the exploration from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic effects and of new areas of common interest, especially with regard to accelerate the recovery of tourism. capacity building in digitization and innovation, as these are essential tools required to adapt to the new global In his speech, Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, the Chief context. Executive Officer of the AUDA-NEPAD said, “African Heads of State and Governments created the African Union In his opening remarks, H.E. Hage Geingob, the President of Development Agency-NEPAD, to coordinate and execute Namibia stated that “Namibia has identified tourism as a key priority regional and continental projects enshrined in the socio-economic contributor and as such, the government Agenda with the aim of accelerating regional integration so has mainstreamed it in its national development goals”. as to achieve the Africa we want”. One of its key partners The President emphasised that tourism could return to in the implementation of priority regional and continental pre-COVID level, when international tourists begin to travel projects is UNWTO, according to Dr. Mayaki. to places of their choice. To do that would require universal access to vaccination against COVID 19, as well as build He underscored that the implementation of the first the capacities of Medium and Small Size Enterprises in the MoU from 2016 produced key results, including the sector. establishment of the African Tourism Tech Adventure in 2018– a platform to encourage youth entrepreneurship in the tourism sector, to provide tourism solutions through technology to technically support the drafting of the African Regional Tourism Strategy in 2018 which is aimed at driving sustainable tourism growth on the continent. It is currently co-publishing a white paper on Tourism Security, to address safety concerns in African tourism, including early warning systems for dealing with pandemics.

Dr Mayaki assured that AUDA-NEPAD looks forward to implementing the renewed cooperation with UNWTO, to foster socio-economic development in Africa, through a sustainable tourism.

• Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, AUDA-NEPAD VOYAGESAFRIQ

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Vaccines and Digital Solutions Expected to Accelerate Tourism Recovery – Latest UNWTO Report According to the newest edition of the Travel Restrictions Report from the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, as of 1 June, 2020 29% of all destinations worldwide have their borders completely closed to international tourism. Of these, more than half have been completely closed to tourists since May 2020 or longer, with the majority of these belonging to the Small Island Development States of Asia and the Pacific. In comparison, just three destinations (Albania, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic) are completely open to tourists, with no restrictions now in place. Evidence-based measures and cooperation One in three (34%) of all destinations are partially closed, and 36% request a negative COVID-19 test result upon arrival, in some cases in combination with a requirement to quarantine. The data confirms the trend towards destinations adopting more nuanced, evidence-and-risk-based approaches to restrictions on travel, particularly in light of the evolving epidemiological situation and the emergence of new variants of the virus. Indeed, 42% of all destinations have introduced specific restrictions for visitors from destinations with variants of concern ranging from the suspension of flights and closing of borders to compulsory quarantine. Additionally, since most of those destinations with the strictest measures have some of the lowest rates of vaccination, the data also indicates a link between vaccination speed and easing of restrictions. In comparison, those destinations that have higher

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rates of vaccination and where countries are able to work together on harmonized rules and protocols such as those being employed in the Schengen area of the European Union, are better-placed to allow tourism to slowly return. “Governments are instrumental for the restart and recovery of tourism through collaboration, use of data and digital solutions”, says UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili: Different paces Regional differences with regard to travel restrictions remain. 70% of all destinations in Asia and the Pacific are completely closed, compared with just 13% in Europe, as well as 20% in the Americas, 19% in Africa and 31% in the Middle East. Assessing current requirements for vaccinated passengers, 17% of all destinations worldwide specifically mention vaccinated passengers in their regulations. In most cases, travel restrictions continue to apply to fully vaccinated passengers (who have received two doses of an approved vaccine), though in others, all restrictions are lifted. UNWTO expects that this will significantly evolve over the coming weeks. The report indicates that the restart of global tourism will remain muted so long as governments continue to advise caution. Four of the 10 top source markets keep advising their citizens against nonessential travel abroad (these four generated 25% of all international arrivals in 2018).

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UNWTO FILES

Little Africa Maio embarks on € 500 million Tourism Project Phase 3 involves investments for carrying out projects in Phases I.b and I.c of the ZDTI Sul do Maio to be designed and executed according to the evolution of markets and circumstances. Regarding the investments and the importance of which will contribute intensely to the promotion and acceleration of the development of the Cape Verde economy, the government intends to declare the investment project of exceptional interest within the framework of the national development strategy. The Little Africa Maio Project is pumping 500 million euros into investments in various tourism-related projects across Africa starting with Sul da Vila do Maio in Cabo Verde. In line with this, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Little Africa Maoi in Cabo Verde have signed an agreement in its quest to develop the tourism potential of African destinations. The agreement which took place during the Brand Africa Conference in Windhoek, Namibia is envisaged to help position Africa in the minds of travellers. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chairman of Little Africa Maio project, Enrique Banuelos said, Africa, is endowed with diverse tourism offerings, agricultural and natural resources and is now left to communicate well. He added that “The conditions created under the project will attract investments and support from the United Nations World Tourism Organization and UN-Habitat for the Little Africa Maio Project and for Cabo Verde’s tourism and economy. The Project obeys all the principles of environmental sustainability and will represent a new business destination at the global level.”

This is as a result of its size and nature and the economic and social implications that it represents, namely the volume of investment, the creation of jobs and wealth, as well as the creation of conditions for the sustainable development of national tourism. In addition, the development of the project will provide Maio Island with top-tier infrastructure, built in accordance with environmental and sustainability parameters defined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Maio Island will be the entertainment area that constitutes the anchor of the Project. It will have a large complex with museums and exhibition halls from African countries, theaters, casinos, shops, congress/exhibition and business centers, international business center, state-of-the-art hospitals, international schools, housing for executives, staff and other workers. It will also include a tourist complex called Little Africa Resorts. Little Africa Maio in Cabo Verde will be a new inclusive cultural, business, residential and work tourism destination.

The Investments in the ZDTI Sul da Vila do Maio by investors with an estimated value of €500.000.000 (500 million euros) will be carried out in three phases. Phase 1 comprises three facets: A. investing in infrastructure, building 3,000 rooms and building the facilities for Africa World. B includes the construction of 3,000 rooms and C construction of Villas in Maio East and Vilas in Maio West. Phase 2 is the foreseen timeframe for the realization of the first phase of the proposed investment and the consequent start of exploration is three years from the beginning of construction.

• Enrique Banuelos, Chairman of Little Africa Maio project

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UNWTO makes History with Opening of First Regional Office in the Middle East

only tourism can deliver. Work on the office began after the start of the pandemic, proof of our determination and the strong support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.” The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has opened its first Regional Office for the Middle East, bringing the United Nations specialized agency closer to its Members and advancing on its commitment to guiding the development of tourism in every global region. At a ceremony in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Zurab Pololikashvili was joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Haifa Al-Saud, Deputy Minister of Tourism for Strategy and Investment, and the Kingdom’s Minister for Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb to officially open the office. They were also joined by Tourism Ministers from across both Middle East and from every other global region, as well as by leaders from the private sector. A hub for growth and symbol of hope

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres congratulated UNWTO on the occasion, saying “I believe that this Office will help the Middle East region recover its tourism sector as well as support the growth of rural tourism development worldwide.” His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, Saudi Minister for Tourism, added: “We are thrilled to host the new Regional Office in Saudi Arabia. This demonstrates our commitment to working with our partners at the UNWTO to develop a strong industry based on the principles of sustainability and opportunities for all, across the region and globally.” UNWTO also contributed expert insights to the Tourism Recovery Summit, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and held against the backdrop of the Regional Office opening.

The new office will serve as a hub for UNWTO to coordinate policy and initiatives across its 13 Member States in the region. This includes a number of tourism projects and products, among them the new “Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO”, launched on the occasion of the opening of the Regional Office. Alongside this, Riyadh will also be home to an expanded UNWTO International Tourism Academy, providing opportunities for people of all backgrounds from across the region, including women and the youth. The UNWTO Chief said: “The first UNWTO Regional Office will be a centre of conversation, debate and decisionmaking and bring hope to many people across the region allowing them to enjoy the social and economic benefits

UNWTO SG pays glowing tribute to Namibian Ambassador to Spain Namibian’s Ambassador to Spain and the UNWTO with residence in Paris, France, Albertus Aochamub has received applause from the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Zurab Pololikashvili for his tireless efforts in the hosting of the Brand Africa Conference in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic in Windhoek, Namibia. The Namibian diplomat who also serves as the country’s representative at the UNWTO Executive Council was 14veryVOYAGESAFRIQ instrumental during the visits of

the UNWTO SC and his team to the land for the brave in November 2020 and again in June 2021. Mr Pololikashvili in his closing remarks at the Brand Africa conference said, ‘’Ambassador Albertus has been a great supporter of UNWTO and as we moved around the globe to lead the tourism recovery efforts, he facilitated our visit and played a pivotal role in the hosting of the Brand Africa Conference. We are happy to have you as a wonderful Ambassador of Namibia and Africa at the UNWTO’’

• H.E. Albertus Aochamub

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Côte d’Ivoire to host World Tourism Day Celebrations Ivorian capital of Abidjan is gearing up to host this year’s global celebrations of the world tourism day on September 27. The West African nation was selected to host this global showpiece during the 23rd World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)General Assembly in St Petersburg, Russia. This decision is backed by an array of actions and circumstances that have launched Ivorian tourism into the international orbit since 2017. In adopting “Sublime Côte d'Ivoire” the Ivorian tourism industry also gave itself the means to join the ranks of nations which integrate it as a critical pillar of development. Indeed, its three-fold purpose consists of “promoting the territorial development outside Abidjan, developing a GDP growth engine by multiplying tax revenues, and ultimately creating a reservoir of employment”. It becomes the third African country to play host the global tourism community after Ghana and Algeria held the events in 2009 and 2003 respectively. Profile Côte d'Ivoire, a West African country, is a member of the United Nations and several other international and regional organizations, including the World Tourism Organization. With an area of 322,462 km2, it is bordered to the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, to the west by Liberia and Guinea, to the east by Ghana and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean. Its population is estimated at more than 25 million. Côte d'Ivoire's political and administrative capital is Yamoussoukro, while Abidjan remains its economic capital. The country's currency is the CFA franc, and its official language is French. The country gained its independence on 7 August 1960, under the leadership of Félix Houphouet-Boigny, the first President of the Republic. The economy, mainly based on coffee and cocoa production, experienced an exceptional rise in the first two decades, making Côte d'Ivoire a leading country in the West African sub-region. Over the past decade, Côte d'Ivoire has revived its economic growth, by improving the business climate, encouraging private investment, boosting the confidence of investors, both national and international, and upgrading its

infrastructure. This has made it possible to achieve an average economic growth rate of more than 9% since 2012, which unfortunately has suffered a slowdown since 2020, due to the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis. In spite of this, the country still remains the main economic driver of Francophone West Africa and exercises a real influence in the region. This year’s theme The COVID-19 pandemic has had a massive social and economic impact. Both developed and developing economies have been hit. And marginalized groups and the most vulnerable have been hit hardest of all. The restart of tourism will help kickstart recovery and growth. It is essential that the benefits this will bring are enjoyed widely and fairly. UNWTO has therefore designated World Tourism Day 2021 as a day to focus on Tourism for Inclusive Growth. This is an opportunity to look beyond tourism statistics and acknowledge that, behind every number, there is a person. UNWTO invites its Member States, as well as non-members, sister UN agencies, businesses and individuals to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind as the world begins to open up again and look to the future. World Tourism Day, celebrated each year on 27 September, is the global observance day fostering awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution that the sector can make towards reaching the Sustainable Development Goals. Tourism’s Role in Inclusive Recovery Tourism has a unique ability to make sure nobody is left behind, as recognized in the Year of Tourism for Inclusive Development and World Tourism Day 2021. The sector is a recognized pillar of most – if not all – the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 1 (no poverty), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 10 (reduce inequalities). UNWTO as the United Nations specialized agency for responsible and sustainable tourism, is guiding the global sector towards inclusive recovery and growth. UNWTO ensures every part of the sector has a say in its future – including communities, minorities, youth and those who would otherwise be at risk of being left behind. VOYAGESAFRIQ

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Reimagining the Rwandan Tourism and Hospitality Industry A popular stereotype in the hotel and tourism industry is that people who work in this sector do not require any formal education. The general perception of vocational roles such as chefs or waiters within the sector is that these roles have no long-term ability to grow into impactful careers that significantly contribute to tourism sectors. The result is a very limited emergence of higher education institutions that invest in the quality hotel and tourism education and, as a consequence, a growing H&T industry hampered by the lack of personnel with the quality and capacity to cater to this growth. This reality is even more pronounced in African countries that have only recently begun to develop their tourism industries. In 2016, the New Times Rwanda published an article on the shortage of trained personnel in Rwanda’s hospitality and tourism industry, commenting on how this scarcity has resulted in local companies depending on international skilled personnel for jobs that could be occupied by locals. Vatel Rwanda Just 2 years after the publication of this article, Vatel Hotel, and Tourism Business School established a campus in Rwanda. The School’s mission is to help bridge the skills gap by providing the highest standards of education in H&T locally. The Vatel Group of schools comprises 50 campuses spread across

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How Vatel rwanda is investing in training local talent to bridge the gap in the H&T industry

Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. With over 30 years of experience in developing professionals for the H&T industry, Vatel is ranked amongst the top 10 hospitality schools in the world. Since its inception, Vatel Rwanda has trained 43 students for managerial positions through its Bachelor’s degree program in International Hotel Management and is changing the narrative within the local industry. Over the course of their degree program, they have acquired intensive hands-on work experience, preparing

them to undertake executivelevel roles immediately upon completion of their studies. Vatel students are actively contributing to the H&T industry, not only as skilled employees but also as

solution providers, with some students having chosen to become entrepreneurs and have launched their own ventures in the H&T industry." Learning Model Vatel’s unique learning model consists of a progressive mixture of theoretical learning and professional experiences. Each year for the 3-year duration of the degree program, students are exposed to a mix of theory and practical applications, with an additional 4 months mandatory" "internship in hospitality establishments at the end of each school year. As part of the curriculum, Vatel students acquire core operational, legal, financial marketing, and linguistic skills for their field. They also learn crucial managerial techniques and leadership skills. Their placements in renowned hospitality establishments for their practical applications enable the students to acquire on the job training and provides them with the opportunity to put into practice the theoretical knowledge they have received in class and to suggest new and innovative ways to improve the job processes that they encounter in the industry. A testament to the importance that Vatel places on practical learning has been the establishment of Nyurah, a high-end restaurant where Vatel students are exposed to various roles ranging from Executive Chefs to Food and Beverage managers. Nyurah serves as a culinary center of excellence, where the students get to work alongside fine-dining experts who teach and mentor them to achieve their career goals.

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Integrated into the Vatel learning model is the Marco Polo program where students are provided the opportunity to spend their second year at another Vatel campus in order to broaden their international exposure. The international nature of the program helps students develop a culture of tolerance and open-mindedness which are essential for those who wish to succeed in the service sector. With this program, students can: •

discover a new country

•

experience a new culture

•

learn an additional foreign language while continuing their hotel management studies with our curriculum.

MasterCard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza Initiative Vatel Rwanda is also part of the MasterCard Hanga Ahazaza initiative, a $50 million five-year initiative focused on increasing employment opportunities for young people while expanding the tourism and hospitality sectors in Rwanda. In collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, Vatel Rwanda commenced the Rwanda Enterprise and Employment Initiative project in 2018. The overall goal of the program is to provide high-quality training and education for young people seeking to join the hospitality sector and to upgrade the skills of those who are already employed in the sector and wish to progress further in their careers.

Student testimonials Meet Hagenimana Jean de Dieu who is a final year student in our BA program. He describes his journey with Vatel and how it has been so far. “As I researched before starting my application to Vatel Rwanda, I was happy to learn that Vatel would provide their students with both theoretical classes and practical experience from the "industry. Besides taking us to the world through a series of industrial attachments, Vatel Rwanda brings the world to us by bringing in guest speakers from the industry who share with us their experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. I really enjoyed learning from these sessions as some of our guest speakers have turned into my mentors. This program has taught me to be focused on my dream and professionalism and opened my mind more about the hotel and tourism industry. Vatel has taught me that working hard is not enough if I am not honest and passionate about what I do, and I felt it. In my future, I want to do marketing. I want to collaborate with the fantastic team marketing RWANDA to the rest of the world, to boost the number of tourists who visit our remarkable destination.” Jean de Dieu Hagenimana Another story is of a recent graduate of the Vatel Rwanda Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program, Salama Umohoza. She was one of the first recipients of the MasterCard Foundation scholarship

under this program. has been in the hospitality industry for nine years and is currently a Branch Manager at Bourbon Coffee Ltd. She is passionate about conserving the environment and owns Salama Tours & Travel Agency Ltd, a company located in Lemigo Hotel. She shares her journey with Vatel below.

marketing strategies, financial management, and complaint handling. From the course, I also learned how to make a customer’s trip memorable, how to perform target segmentation, what my USP is, my competitive advantages, and the impact of my business on local communities.”Salama Umohoza

“I chose Vatel Rwanda for many reasons. First, it is an international school aiming to prepare younger generations for a successful hotel and tourism management career. The RPL program is helping me grow my company by using the tools and materials I got from our qualified lecturers. This program was beneficial to me because our studies were captured in all corners. As a startup, I needed to know how to apply human resources, relevant and impactful

With a fast-growing hospitality and tourism industry in Rwanda, there is a clear need for skilled, wellexposed, and experienced personnel that is locally groomed and easily accessible by the different Rwanda H&T stakeholders. Vatel Rwanda currently has its BA program applications opened for admissions and prospective students can apply at www.vatel.rw or email their admissions team at info@vatel.rw for more information.

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MINISTER'S CORNER

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• Eldevina Materula, Mozambique’s Minister of Culture and Tourism

Mozambique’s Tourism Minister reveals plans to put country on Global Tourism Map Mozambique is a tourist’s heartthrob that provides everything from wanderlust adventure to traditional Southern Africa safaris and long swathes of over 2500km of pristine, untouched beaches ideal for holidaymakers who revel in sun and sand for all year-round summer rendezvous. The country, however, is largely unknown for its tourism draw and offer, a situation Culture and Tourism Minister Eldevina Materula hopes to reverse. Appearing on the VA Tourism Podcast, the Tourism Minister said her plans for tourism is to increase the industry’s contribution to GDP, ensuring an enabling environment for tourism investors to find the facilities and favorable conditions for their businesses to prosper. “… but above all, my big challenge is to place Mozambique on the international market. I also want my country to be on the African map of intra-African tourism and become a reference destination for Safari, sun and beach and cultural tourism. We are a people with a unique cultural mosaic that can be very well used to improve the lives of my wonderful people,” she divulged. Earlier in May this year, the Minister was in Spain where she met with the UNWTO Secretary-General and participated in FITUR activities including INVESTOUR all in a bid to court investments into her country’s tourism and promote the destination. Ms. Eldevina also attended the Brand Africa Conference in Namibia where tourism leaders and stakeholders met to explore swift recovery strategies for the continent’s tourism sector. Many hotels, restaurants, and tourism services providers, according to her, have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the cumulative closure of 1,239

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tourist establishments that affected 12,027 workers, with over 52.8% drop in international arrivals and a 95% drop in revenues. “Due to this situation, it was necessary to readjust the annual plan to the new reality, which quickly led us to think and implement some initiatives to face the situation.“As a country, we reinforced the capacity of our operators to remain operational, keeping jobs through lines of credit, but unfortunately this was not enough due to the impact that COVID-19 had on the businesses,” Ms. Eldevina said. She added that, “We have adopted measures to ensure that tour operators implement security measures to bring confidence to their customers and from that internal exercise, we introduced the clean and safe seal, an initiative that aimed to ensure that hotel facilities were safe, follow all protocol procedures to ensure a COVID-19 free facilities.” The country’s aviation sector, Ms. Eldevina said, had also taken a hit but is hopeful will bounce back with more international airlines expected to resume operations once the COVID-19 situation improves. Beyond this, the Minister wants travelers all over Africa and beyond to know that “Mozambique has so much to offer as a destination, this includes an underwater paradise teeming with untouched coral reefs, unique and diverse cultural experience, captivating history of the country and vibrant, bustling, cosmopolitan African cities and towns. “Personally I would say our unique selling points would be the beautiful combination of ocean and bush safari (unique to Southern Africa) that we offer in the southern region of the country,” she emphasised.

MINISTER'S CORNER

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Lindiwe Sisulu is South Africa's new Tourism Minister South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has named veteran politician Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu as the rainbow nation’s new Minister of Tourism. She replaces Mmamoloko KubayiNgubane who has been re-assigned as minister for Human Settlement. Ms. Sisulu who until this latest announcement was the minister of Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation. She has been a long-standing member of Parliament for ANC and has served as minister in half a dozen portfolios including being the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation.

Sisulu will be expected to continue the recovery process started by her predecessor. South Africa’s tourism sector is still reeling from the ravaging effects of covid Profile Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu (born 10 May 1954) is a South African politician, member of parliament since 1994, serving as Minister of Tourism since August 2021 and member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress. She served before as Minister of Housing (2004 to 2009), Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (2009 to 2012), was the Minister of Public Service and Administration from 2012 to 2014. and was Minister of Human Settlements, Water & Sanitation from 2014 to 2021.

Central Africa Republic’s new Minister of Tourism committed to Developing the Sector The new Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Vincente Maria Lionelle Jennifer Saraiva-Yanzere of Central Africa Republic has promised to make the tourism and arts sectors the main economic drivers for the country. Ms. Saraiva-Yanzere who was appointed in June this year following the re-election of President Professor Faustin-Archange Touadéra in March 2021, has set as her main objective of making the Central African Republic a destination for leisure and business activities to spur the needed economic development. She believes the covid pandemic has afforded them the opportunity to grow their domestic tourism with the promotion of tourist sites in the Central African Republic. The Minister who comes with a rich background in trade and commerce intends to put her knowhow for the benefit of her country to sell the Central African Republic as an eco-tourism, sports and business tourism destination, to name a few. • Vincente Maria Lionelle Jennifer Saraiva-Yanzere, Minister of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Central Africa Republic VOYAGESAFRIQ

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Cabo Verde welcomes African Tourism Ministers to 64th UNWTO CAF Meeting

West Africa’s archipelago island of Cabo Verde is hosting African Tourism Ministers for the 64th UNWTO Commission for Africa (CAF) Meeting which will also see attendance from dignitaries from the world tourism body from 2th-4th 2021. The Global Tourism Forum for the Investment in Africa will also take place during the CAF Meeting.

The country inked an agreement with UNWTO to host the Meeting on the sidelines of Brand Africa Conference in Namibia earlier in June this year. Minister of Tourism and Transport Dr. Carlos Jorge Duarte Santos and Secretary-General of the UNWTO Zurab Pololikashvili signed the agreement. Dr. Carlos Santos assured the UN Tourism body and the African Member States of a great event to be held in the tourism hotspot of Santa Maria, Sal. He said, “I invite all African member states, major stakeholders from tourism, investors and entrepreneurs and my dear colleague ministers to come to Cabo Verde for the first Regional Commission on the continent since 2018. This unique event in the island of Sal in the city of Santa Maria will also be the venue for the 2nd edition of the UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum in Africa where #RestartTourism will be the main driver of the business discussions and deals sealed during that week.” Signing the agreement, Dr. Carlos Santos reiterated the commitment of the Cabo Verde Government to UNWTO and the African continent, while also appealing to the African Member States to show interest in the 24th General Assembly of the organization in October, in the Kingdom of Morocco to build 20

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a strong, resilient and aligned organization with new priorities that the post-pandemic phase requires. On his part, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili reiterated his long-standing position on coordination and collaboration to restart tourism. Mr. Pololikashvili was optimistic of a quickened tourism rebound with a public-private partnership. Mr. Pololikashvili emphasised the importance of Cabo Verde in the organization and praised the country for hosting the Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Air Transport in Africa in March 2019 on Sal Island, adding that, to date, they were some of the biggest event held under the auspices of UNWTO in Africa. He also took the opportunity to stress on an initiative to create the African Tourist Brand, in which Cape Verde is one of two African Member States being considered for the pilot project this year. The two events take place with the primary objective of driving investment into tourism in Africa, at a time when all efforts are focused on resuming and recovering tourism. Cabo Verde has been a member of UNWTO since 2001 and was, for the first time, elected to the Executive Council of the organization in September 2017 for a four-year term, for which it is seeking re-election at the next General Assembly. The country is currently one of the Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly and during 2020-2021 held the vice-presidency of the Executive Council.

• Dr. Carlos Jorge Duarte Santos, Minister of Tourism and Transport

DESTINATION FEATURE

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Cabo Verde Awaits You! Cabo Verde, an archipelago island on the west coast of the Atlantic is one of most sought-after tourism havens. It is endowed with ten (10), unique islands with a little over 500,000 inhabitants. Blessed by the sun throughout the year, they have in music and culture, a ritual that is part of the daily life of the inhabitants, while involving the visitor in the incomparable mystique of the Archipelago. Only four hours away from Europe, the country enjoys a privileged location, which combines with the tranquillity of the territory, making this a destination not to be missed. Let yourself be enveloped by the flavours of the delicious local gastronomy and toast to the Morabeza and the sensuality of this culture. Venture into the unusual nature and enjoy the security that Cape Verde has to offer you.

• Santo Antã o

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Discover a paradise here so close... Sandwiched in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the ten islands of Cape Verde benefit from a strategic geographic location between the African, European, and American continents. Located at the same latitude of the Caribbean, the Archipelago is 320 nautical miles off the coast of Senegal and less than 4 hours flight from America and Europe. The country has four international airports, situated in the islands of Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista and São Vicente that offer connections to Africa, America, as well as to the main cities of Europe.

DESTINATION FEATURE The highest point of the archipelago is located on the island in Fogo and is one of the ex libris of Cabo Verde tourism. The volcano rises to 2829 meters of altitude, and it is on the rugged slopes of the imposing mountain that the incomparable Fogo’s wine is grown.

• Pico do Fogo, highest peak of Cabo Verde

Feel the Morabeza ... a unique concept that only feels in Cape Verde Morabeza is a unique concept that cannot be explained, simply, ... it’s felt! Visiting Cabo Verde is to let yourself be enveloped by the spontaneous smile, for the kindness and gentleness of its people. More than a concept, the Morabeza is an attitude towards life, which reflects the natural predisposition of the inhabitants of Cape Verde to receive in a caring and welcoming way, like nowhere else in the world.

The beaches of Cabo Verde are also the third most important of the five places in the world of spawning sea turtles, especially the caretta-caretta species. In the summer months, females go to the archipelago’s beaches to spawn, a ritual that can be followed by the visitor through organized tours. The marine fauna is another attraction of the archipelago, making it a unique place to practice diving. In addition to the turtles, other protected species, such as the dolphin or the Bossa whale, can be observed in winter, as well as beautiful coral reefs, habitat of numerous types of fish.

Fall in love with beaches to lose sight of ... With sea-water temperatures between 22 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius, and air temperatures between 22 degrees and 27 degrees, throughout the year, the beaches are authentic paradises for lovers of sun and sea. With 55 km of beautiful beaches, fine white sand, and an emerald sea, the island of Boa Vista gathers the largest stretch of beaches of the Archipelago. The island is today one of the main tourist attractions in Cape Verde, thanks to a recent investment in the creation of infrastructure adapted to the needs of the visitor. The island of Sal is still the most sought after. The irresistible Bay of Santa Maria, with about 4km of white sand and turquoise water, promises you unique experiences for water sports.

• Sunset at Hotel Vippraia

The island of Maio is also a place of magnificent beaches deserted in its pure state, tourism makes this a bucolic and quiet place. The beaches of the island invite you to visit a multitude of secret places that perpetuate the romanticism present in each corner.

Venture out, contemplate the unusual nature...

Experience the adrenaline of water sports

Cabo Verde is a country of contrasts, where imposing mountains melt into plains to lose sight of, and where the green of the vegetation mingles with the brown of an almost desert landscape.

The beaches are one of the main tourist products of Cape Verde. With a constant warm and dry climate, moderated by the trade winds, the archipelago presents mild temperatures

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DESTINATION FEATURE

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Although Creole is the mother tongue of almost the entire population of Cape Verde, Portuguese is still the only official language. However, Creole has become a symbol, which goes beyond language, and has become a social identity. The so-called creoulidade, ended up exerting strong influence in another of the great cultural manifestations of the country: the music.

• Effervescent Cabo Verde songstress Jennifer Soledad

throughout the year, offering ideal conditions for practicing nautical sports, from surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing to diving, fishing and swimming. The island of Sal offers the visitor exceptional conditions to practice these activities thanks to the constant winds blowing from continental Africa. Feel the mystique of Creole culture ... and the magic of music Language is the richest manifestation of Cape Verdean culture. Creole originated in the first years of settlement of the archipelago, due to the need for understanding between European slaves and settlers, especially Portuguese, hence the Portuguese language served as a lexical basis for the development of Cape Verdean Creole.

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• Hotel Vippraia

The development of Caboverdian culture has always revolved around music. Nostalgia, love, joy and sadness served as a basis for the emergence of musical genres and original dances, which express the identity of the people of Cape Verde, and are part of the daily life of the inhabitants. Let yourself be enveloped by the magic of Morna, the Batuque and the Funaná, and re-emerge from this memorable experience.

DESTINATION FEATURE

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Indulge in authentic flavors...

A Music Tavern

The great reference of the Cape Verdean gastronomic tradition is in the cachupa, a plate made with fish, corn and beans, sometimes only corn and bacon. With the passing of the years the local way introduces vegetables and meats, which give it a very particular flavor. The flavors of Cape Verde also go through the quality and diversity of fish and shellfish on the islands, which delight visitors. The meal is not complete without a good Fogo’s wine, or the typical grog, an alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of sugarcane, ending with the famous and delicious coffee of the island of Fogo.

The Island is full of talent and rhythmic and a step in any bar, event of outdoor gathering will confirm the assertion. Every home in Cabo Verde at least have a guitar waiting to give you some beats to begin a genre. As Cape Verdeans say: “Our richest resources are our people and our music.” Aside the Grammy award winning late Evora, the West African island has produced equally talented musicians in IIdo Lobo, Titina, Celina Pereira, Bana, , Djosinha, B. Leza, Travadinha, Sãozinha, Maria Alice, Carmen Souza and Gardénia Benros.

• São Vicente-mindelo

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HOSPITALITY NEWS

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We intend to train 30,000 tourism SMEs in the next 3 years- Awal Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal has stated that the government intends to train 30,000 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector in the next three years. According to him, small businesses are unable to survive and ensure sustainability when founders suffer demise. “In Africa, 90% of businesses are all SMEs. But there is a challenge; only 50% of the tourism SMEs survive after the demise of their founders and it is not the best”, he posited. The Minister in his address on the 2nd day of the 3rd edition of the African Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge also stated that “It is in this light that the President of Ghana will train 30,000 SMEs in the tourism industry. This will mean that it will build the capacity and strengthen the ability to compete and create jobs and equip young people” “In Africa, it is very important with a youthful population of 64% to 65%; as such, we cannot go without the support of the youth. However, the youth must also demonstrate that they are willing to take the bull by its horns”, he charged. He urged all young people to be passionate, obsessive, innovative, and creative. “It is not about thinking about past problems but instead what are the opportunities that lie before you and the government opportunities to support you.” The Minister revealed that government will provide a seed funding of GHC120 million for the initiative. The Regional Director for Africa, UNWTO, Elcia Grandcourt stated that “young people will play a key and active role in driving and playing a transformative transition of the tourism sector and in paving the way in future advancement within the real global scenario brought by Covid 19 pandemic.” According to her, ‘this is particularly true for us in Africa 26

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• Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Ghana's Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture

which is the youngest continent in the world with 60% of its population below the age of 25.’ She again said that capacity and training will be paramount if policymakers are to empower and cultivate the talents of the next generation of tourism professionals who will be required to identify instructive ideas and solutions in other to tackle the challenges the world is currently facing including building back better from the crisis. The three-day summit dubbed ‘Empowering African youth in Tourism through Innovation, Education, and Investments in a changed World’ was held in Accra and organized to encourage youth in tourism to take up the mantle of leadership in tourism through entrepreneurship and innovation. It also presented a platform for them to be innovative and be informed about trends in the aviation, tourism, travel and hospitality sector. Day two which took a more hybrid approach had sessions that bordered on accessing financial instruments for tourism start-ups, the future of travel and tourism, and the need to incorporate emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence and other digital innovations that not only guarantee businesses’ survival but ensure that they are able to adapt to future changes. A key highlight of the day was the pitch by six finalists of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge who made a case for support for their start-up ideas in the presence of a jury of experts drawn from academia, finance, tech, and social sectors. The winner was to be announced on day three of the Summit.

MICE

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Innovation, technology, and digitalization necessary for tourism evolution – Elcia Grandcourt In an ever-changing scene of the tourism world, occasioned by the onset of COVID-19, which has affected global travel and tourism, the sector is experiencing its most radical evolution yet. While this presents a myriad of uncertainties for businesses and livelihoods that are dependent on tourism and travel, Director of Africa Department, UNWTO Elcia Grandcourt believes technology and innovation is needed to keep up with the dynamics of the tourism industry. “Innovation, technology and digitalization are integral parts of the evolution process of the tourism industry. The COVID-19 has sped up the urgency to integrate digital technology into the tourism and travel industry to reimagine businesses and destinations, design innovative tourism experiences, create or modify existing business operating processes so as to adapt to the new conditions and features of the global context,” she said at the justended Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge in Accra, Ghana recently. She added that UNWTO Agenda for Africa – “Tourism for Inclusive Growth” places sustainable development, innovation, and technology as well as youth and women empowerment as core priorities to be achieved for the advancement and progress of the sector within the continent. TOURISM AND RURAL TOURISM The outbreak of COVID-19, Ms. Grandcourt said, has deeply transformed the international context bringing an abrupt stop and decline of the world´s economic growth, with unparalleled consequences and unprecedented effects especially on the tourism and travel industry. She stated: “The sector has been most affected due to the travel restrictions and the closure of borders that countries had to introduce to counter the negative effects of the pandemic. “However, alongside the challenges of recovery posed by the global health and economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has also provided the tourism sector with the unique chance to reflect on traditional and profit-oriented models and on unsustainable practices and to move towards the adoption of more respectful, socially inclusive and responsible paradigms of development.” Against this backdrop, Ms. Grandcourt indicated that the role of tourism in rural development is more relevant than ever, offering important opportunities for recovery which might enhance the attractiveness and the vitality of rural areas by celebrating the values of the territory and preserving both tangible and intangible heritage. “Tourism deems key for the economic, social and

• Elcia Grandcourt, UNWTO Regional Director for Africa

environmental revitalization of rural areas and for the empowerment of traditionally disadvantaged groups within local communities, namely women, the youth and indigenous people,” she maintained. UNWTO BEST TOURISM VILLAGES INITIATIVE The UNWTO Best Tourism Villages initiative which was launched recently in order to look for the best examples of rural villages worldwide seeks to harness the power of tourism to provide opportunities and safeguard communities, local traditions and heritage. The challenge aims to identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation.

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MICE

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Africa Youth in Tourism & Innovation Summit in Pictures (July 28-30, Accra Ghana)

• Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority speaking at the conference

• Kwakye Donkor, CEO of Africa Tourism Partners

• Panel Session

• Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority speaking at the conference

• Emmanuel Frimpong, Executive Secretary of Ghana Tourism Federation

• Panel Session

28 VOYAGESAFRIQ • The audience attentively listening in to the conversation

• The Founder of Afrochella, Kennedy Agyepong receiving his certificate of participation

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• Family photo of speakers with Ghana’s Minister of Tourism Dr Ibrahim Awal

• The MC for the event Yasmine Fofana walks to receive her certificate of participation

• Yasmine Fofana and Nnena Fakoya-Smith

• Akwasi Obeng Adjei- Director of Audit; Investment Management at Absa Bank, South Africa

• Assia Ricccio , Founder Evolvin Women, Dubai

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MICE

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Ghana on course to position itself as MICE hub in West Africa- CEO of GTA The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyemang has stated that Ghana is on track to becoming a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences Events/ Exhibition (MICE) hub in West Africa. Speaking on the State broadcaster’s, GTV Breakfast Show, ahead of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge, he said the country’s ability to host such an event in the midst of an ongoing global crisis was a testament to Ghana’s readiness to be a competitive MICE destination. “We are also excited that so many people have registered to be part of this already. We set out to get 500, but we’ve had to do about 1000 people who are registered globally so it is a big deal for us,” he averred. Mr. Agyeman said the importance of the Summit could not be underestimated considering that “the youth are future tourists and so they are the future innovators of the sector.” “With the new normal that we are in, I think it is important innovation plays a key role and so if you look at the theme innovation, challenge, entrepreneurship all those things come together very well”, he added. Making a presentation on Destination Ghana on the first day of the event, acting MICE Director of GTA, Ms. Betty Kobi stated that Ghana has facilities for MICE “with the highest seating capacity of 800 with COVID protocols in place. Again hotels, universities, corporate organisations, events centres

• Betty Kobi, Acting MICE Director, GTA

have meeting rooms, conference rooms and auditiorium for the use of event organisers”. “Ghana has hosted international conferences of great magnitudes such as UNWTO Regional Congress on Women Empowerment, African Tourism Leadership Forum, African Green Revolution Forum 2019, and the African Insurance Organization Conference all at the Accra International Conference Centre”, she revealed. The three-day Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge assembled significant players of the tourism sector and gave platform to young individuals to pitch their businesses. It culminated with the declaration of FOCAS, a Ghanaian based start-up as winner of the Innovation Challenge.

• Akwasi Agyemang, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA)

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MICE

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FITUR 2021 Succeeds in Boosting Tourism’s Recovery

August 1 2021 marked the end of the International Tourism Fair, (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain. The fair is a special edition highlighting the urgent need for recovery in the global tourism industry. Tourism Ministers from 28 countries, the World Tourism Organization, and the Spanish national and regional authorities took the unique opportunity provided by FITUR to announce their strategies and extraordinary measures to boost tourism’s recovery. The figures recorded by FITUR confirm that there has been a turning point: 5000 companies 55 countries, over 62,000 attendees (42,000 trade visitors and more than 20,000 general public visitors attended). In addition to these numbers, there were more than 40,000 online visitors as this was the first hybrid edition of the Fair, which has helped widen FITUR’s international scope, with almost a hundred countries taking part. The fair generated over £100 million economic impact in the city of Madrid. IFEMA MADRID’s resolve to stage Europe’s first in-person international fair has been welcomed by the industry players and has contributed decisively to arousing optimism about the coming summer season. FITUR 2021 also aimed at bringing the tourism industry value chain together on the starting line on the road ahead towards recovery in the international tourism

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sector. Exhibitors at FITUR’s seven halls (44,000 sq. m) also expressed their satisfaction with the way it helped arouse optimism and hope among industry professionals. There were over a hundred country delegations and improved business networking opportunities. Strong Institutional Support FITUR also had solid institutional backing, with support from Spain’s Royal Family, which, once again, was climaxed on to the opening day with the presence of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain. The Government of Spain also supported the event by declaring FITUR attendance as essential travel for qualified trade visitors from abroad and declaring the Fair an Event of Exceptional Public Interest. Furthermore, the President of the Government of Spain chose FITUR to present the European Union Digital COVID Certificate to the organizers. FITUR also served as the leading institutional event for tourism reactivation. After thirteen months of the pandemic, the fair provided a platform for meetings of tourism ministers from 28 countries and 371 authorities, including Spanish ministers, presidents, tourism ministers of all the regions of Spain, and mayors of different towns and cities.

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CONSERVATION, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

DRC’s Salonga National Park removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger The World Heritage Committee at its meeting(online) on 16th of July, 2021 has decided to remove the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Salonga National Park from the List of World Heritage in Danger due to improvements in its state of conservation. The Committee welcomed the clarification provided by the national authorities that the oil concessions overlapping with the property are null and void and that these blocs will be excluded from future auctioning. It also observed that the management of the park has been greatly improved, notably with regard to the strengthening of anti-poaching measures Regular monitoring of wildlife shows that bonobo populations remain stable in the property despite past pressures and that the forest elephant population has slowly begun recovering. The Committee recognized the efforts made during all these years by the national authorities, UNESCO’s World Heritage Center and IUCN to reach this important achievement. Inscribed in 1984 on the World Heritage List and in 1999 on the List of World Heritage in Danger, Salonga National Park is Africa’s largest tropical rainforest reserve. Situated at the heart of the central basin of the Congo river, the park is very isolated and accessible only by water. It is the habitat of many endemic endangered species, such as the bonobo, the Congo peacock, the forest elephant and the African slender-snouted or ‘false’ crocodile.

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CONSERVATION, RESPONSIBLE & SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

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Serena Hotels Camps retain Eco-Tourism Gold Certification Nairobi, Kenya. The Serena Hotels’ Camp portfolio in Kenya that includes, Sweetwaters Serena Camp and Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp have retained their Gold EcoRating Certification by the Eco-Tourism Society of Kenya since year 2013 and 2015 respectively. The Certification program is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council since 2016 and is at the same level with other international standards across the globe. Sweetwaters Serena Camp and Lake Elmenteita Serena Camp went through an in-depth biennial on-site audit that resulted in the Gold Eco-rating Certification. A ‘Gold Ecorating’ is awarded to facilities that have shown innovation in responsible resource use, environmental conservation, community empowerment, cultural preservation and promotion and holistic business practices. Some of the notable projects both Camps were commended for but not limited to includes: Trees planted by guests, staff and the local community school children. Both camps have their own seedling nursery with efforts focused on reforestation while in the recent past, on agroforestry which includes the planting of fruit and herb trees. It is contributing towards reducing carbon footprint. It is hoped to enhance food security in the long run. Serena Hotels’ camp has made conscious efforts to reduce ‘single-use plastic’ through initiatives such as: transitioning to a replenishable large format of guest amenities that replaces the traditional single-use miniature bottled shampoo, shower gel and lotion; elimination of plastic straws; and transitioning to the use of glass mineral water bottles from single-use plastic mineral water bottles. Lake Elmenteita Serena and Sweetwaters Serena both run on a grid-tied solar system and have solar water heating systems. The camp supports and empowers the local community 34

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through the provision of employment, training, internships, priority towards sourcing of fresh food produce, sale of artefacts and handicrafts from the local community groups at the gift shops among others. Water conservation at the camp is achieved through efficient laundry and kitchen washing process formulations and wastewater recycling. Treated effluent water is re-used for irrigation and the excess effluent is let back into the environment. Serena Clinics are in place at each property and accessible to guests, staff and the local community who receive free medical and wellness consultation. Mr. Mahmud Jan Mohamed, Managing Director, Serena Hotels, says, “It is an honor to have our camps in Kenya retain this top-tier eco-rating certification that is recognized by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. Despite the adverse effects of the pandemic, our daily interactions and business processes continue to be guided by various policies that focus on responsible business along our value chain so as to create shared value between our business and the eco-system within which we operate.” The Eco-Tourism Kenya Certification places emphasis on standards for running sustainable travel and tourism businesses. The Gold Certification represents the highest level of standard that can be attained by a business as a result of the adoption of best practices in the use of tourism resources, working with local communities, and managing waste and emissions. Grace Nderitu, CEO Eco-Tourism Kenya, says, “We applaud Serena Hotels for meeting eco-tourism standards to achieve the Gold Certification Rating. This certification is a true testament of how Serena Hotels is making remarkable continuous improvements to uphold sustainable tourism business practices.”

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#ExperienceGhana #ShareGhana launched to drive domestic and regional tourism Ghana has launched a new campaign dubbed, “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana” to stimulate domestic and regional tourism. The new campaign which builds on the current ‘See Eat Wear Feel Ghana’ is intended to accelerate the pace of tourism through a renewed focus on both domestic and visitations from the West African region. The launch of the campaign which took place at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Tuesday, June 1, 2021 saw key industry players including the Tourism Trade Associations, Media, Diplomats, public officials, entertainment celebrities and several other public figures in attendance. Also in attendance were the Ministers of Roads and Highways, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration who Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal said are partners in developing and growing Ghana’s tourism. He averred that, “We are targeting and planning to have at least two iconic tourism sites in each of the 16 regions to promote domestic and international tourism. We are also reviewing our tourism policy to allow for current demands.” He added that government will also promote educational tourism where schools can go around the country, business tourism, where private and public institutions will travel to see the country and religious tourism where religious bodies will go to see what the country offers.

• Ministers of Tourism and Foreign Affairs pose with other officials of the GTA at the launch

“Through that we are creating a sense of national cohesion. We are determined to put tourism on the next level but with the help of supporters and so our doors are opened to help in any form of assistance,” he added CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman also said the campaign is based on collaborations and built on togetherness. “So the focus is to bring back our numbers during preCovid-19 days. We know that despite the easing of restrictions we still have a long way to go in bringing in the international arrivals but domestically we know that when we put our minds to it and push we can get the numbers and that is why we are here today,” he said.

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2024 while the West African regional target is to increase arrivals from 180,000 presently to 400,000 by 2024,” the President stated. The “Experience Ghana, Share Ghana” campaign will feature various activities spread over a period of 18 months. Some of the activities earmarked include: • Travel, Share and Win Campaign where people are expected to travel anywhere in Ghana and share their photos and videos on social media to get the chance to win prizes. Other activities include: • Discover, Write and Win The President, whose speech was read by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway disclosed that government has made an additional budgetary allocation of 100 million Ghana Cedis to the Ministry of Tourism Art and Culture to carry out several initiatives aimed at improving accessibility to tourism, marketing brand and promotion strategy and reducing higher cost of doing business in the sector. “The programme launched today seeks to increase domestic arrivals to 600, 000 by 2022 and one million by

• PANAFEST/Emancipation • Taste of Ghana (Gastronomy Fair) • Meet In Ghana Travel Show • See Ghana on STC and VIP coaches • December-In-Gh. A double-decker open-air tour bus and mummy truck (Boneshaker) were unveiled as part of the launch of the campaign. They are to serve as modes of transportation for tours in and around city centres.

President Akufo-Addo swears in 13-member “Beyond The Return” Committee President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn into office, a 13-Member Committee for the “Beyond The Return” initiative. The Committee is co-chaired by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, and the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta. It has Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta and Coordinator and CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority Akwasi Agyeman amongst its members. “Beyond The Return” is a follow-up to the 2019 “Year of Return” initiative which saw Ghana recording its highest number of international tourists with over 1.1 million arrivals. President Akufo-Addo is hopeful Beyond the Return “will help intensify our engagement with Africans in the diaspora and all persons of African descent more positively in areas such as trade and investment co-operation and skills and knowledge development.” The 10-year long "Beyond the Return" is hinged on seven pillars including: Experience Ghana, Invest in Ghana, Diaspora Pathways to Ghana and Celebrate Ghana. The rest are Brand Ghana, Give Back to Ghana and Promote Pan African Heritage and Innovation. “Beyond the Return” Committee Members are as follows: 1. Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture 2. Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta, Ministry of Finance 3. Hon. Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Ministry of Roads and Highways 36

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4. Mr. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO, Ghana Tourism Authority 5. Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio, Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President 6. Aci. Edith Penelope Arhin, Regional Commander for KIA Immigration 7. Madam Stella Appenteng, Ghana Tourism Federation 8. Prof. Esi Sutherland Addy, Panafest 9. Mr. Yofi Grant, GIPC 10. Mr. Kwame Acheampong Boateng, Private Sector 11. Mr. Reginald D. Laryea, Media Majique 12. Mr. Rabbi Kohain, Diaspora Coalition 13. Mrs. Worwornyo Agyeman, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration 14. Mr. Dominic Afriyie Agyemang, Ministry of Interior 15. To Be Determined, GTA Board member

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SHERIN FRANCIS

JENIFER SINON

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Seychelles Tourism Board undergoes major changes The Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr Sylvestre Radegonde, has announced the new structure and key appointments for the Department of Tourism at a staff meeting, held virtually, on Friday, 25 June from Botanical House. This follows the Assent by the President of the Republic on Friday, 25 June 2021 of the Repeal of the Seychelles Tourism Board Act of 2005, approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday, 22 June 2021. The new Department which falls under the purview of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism merges the functions, staff, resources and assets of the former Department of Tourism which focused on regulatory and policy issues, and the destination’s independent marketing entity, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), to bring efficiency and synergy in operations to ensure better results with fewer resources. The Minister assured staff of the Seychelles Tourism Board and the Department of Tourism who joined the meeting from Botanical House, Praslin, La Digue, and overseas that none of them would be made redundant as a result of the restructuring, and that moreover, STB staff moving to the Department will retain their length of service an accumulated leave and will, as much as possible, retain their remuneration packages. Under the new structure, the Department will be headed by the newly-appointed Principal Secretary (PS), Mrs. Sherin Francis. Mrs. Francis has served as the Chief Executive of the STB since 2013 and replaces former PS Ms Anne Lafortune. Commenting on her appointment, incoming PS Francis said, “The country is going through one of its most challenging times and it is important that we remain focused on the main priorities from the outset. The efficient use of our resources is very important in that process for us to achieve our objectives. I am definitely

looking forward to the challenge and I count on the support of our staff and, not least, our various partners in the process.” The Principal Secretary will be supported by four core units headed by seasoned tourism professionals with sound knowledge of the industry. This will include a Secretariat, responsible for PR and Communications, as well as the International Cooperation role of the Department. Ms. Jenifer Sinon, the Deputy Chief Executive of STB since November 2016, and prior to that, Executive Director of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, has been appointed as Director-General, Human Resources and Administration Division. Mrs. Bernadette Willemin, who has been serving as the Regional Director for STB based in Paris for the last 11 years will head the Destination Marketing Division. Well-known and respected by travel and tourism industry professionals both locally and overseas, with a strong marketing, dataled and relationship-driven approach, Mrs Willemin, who joined STB in 1994, will be responsible for driving the destination’s promotional and marketing efforts across all the main markets, ensuring that Seychelles remains visible and that demand for travel to the country remains high. The Destination Planning and Development Division will be headed by industry professional Mr Paul Lebon who has worked for many years in the private sector. As Director-General, Mr. Lebon, who brings much needed product as well as market knowledge and relationships to the role, will oversee the planning and advancement of the destination, focusing on the product development diversification, policy and standards setting as well as the Industry Human Resources planning and development. Both Mr. Lebon and Mrs. Willemin will assume their new roles on September 1, 2021.

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Kenya to benefit from World Safari Rally Championships Kenya’s tourism sector is positioning itself to reap from the World Rally Championship (WRC) which took place in June 2021.

• President Uhuru Kenyatta pose with the drivers as he flagged of the event

About 15 countries are represented in the event billed as a score for the destination’s positive brand visibility. Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala welcomed the rally saying that Kenya was set to benefit from the return of the event which comes back after 19 years “We welcome the WRC safari rally, it has been 19 years since it took place in Kenya, we are all excited and welcome the event even beyond 2021. I also welcome the rally drivers, teams and visitors who came from various parts of the world to enjoy our destination,” said CS Balala. The event was born as the East African Coronation Rally in 1953. It was a motoring event to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England who had been on a safari holiday at the Aberdare National Park in Nyeri. Her stay was cut short by her father, King George VI’s death. The Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip were at the Treetops Hotel located at the Aberdare Park during the night of February 5 and 6, 1952. She descended the forest floor as the new Queen of England. According to KTB Ag, CEO Allan Njoroge, the history around the Safari rally is significant to Kenyans and East Africans at large as well as the United Kingdom (UK) which is one of the key source markets for Kenya’s tourism. He also added

that hosting of the event will continue to show the world that Kenya is ready for visitors. “Coming after the Magical Kenya Open (MKO) and Savannah Classic in March this year, this is yet another major show of confidence on the destination’s resilience and preparedness for global events,” says KTB’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Allan Njoroge. The Acting CEO alluded that the connection of the event with Kenya’s fame as an authentic safari destination cannot be over emphasised. A tour guide, Mr. Stephen Kabatha attached to the Tree Tops Hotel disclosed that when she visited for the second time, Queen Elizabeth enjoyed a game drive in Aberdares park sighting different attractions including waterfalls and caves. “One of the caves was named after her- Queen’s cave and has today become a big attraction for visitors from the UK and other countries besides Karuru falls which is the second longest waterfall in Africa” added the guide. Njoroge said, the safari rally as is known for many years, showcased what the destination had for both the domestic and international traveller. “The scenic views of Kenya’s landscapes in the background of rally cars, has provided a perfect connection between the Safari competition and a safari tour of the destination’s tourism attractions. It is also offering an opportunity for the participants to enjoy the rally and the country’s attractions through a safari”, he added. The 2021 WRC event which had been postponed from 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic came at a significant time when Kenya is looking forward to fully open for tourism and gives an opportunity for the world to see some of the best destinations and also showcase the destinations’ preparedness for post Covid 19.

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Yacine Hammadi appointed Algeria’s new Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts The Algerian Government has appointed Yacine Hammadi as the North African country’s new Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts. He replaces Mohamed Ali Boughazi, who leaves the government after latest reshuffle by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. At a handing over ceremony at the headquarters of the Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts and in the presence of the sector’s executives, the new Minister expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the President of the Republic of Algeria, H.E. Abdelmadjid Tebboune for the confidence he had put in him to manage the sector which is considered

• Yacine Hammadi Algeria's new Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts

a strategic and important sector, as well as a driver of economic development and growth. Hammadi pledged to “continue efforts and work to propose a plan that qualifies the sector to face-up to the current challenges through the integration and cooperation with all actors.” The Minister also expressed his readiness “to intensify work to promote domestic tourism and exploit its various components in order to market the Algerian destination locally and internationally.” Algeria is the largest country in Africa; one of the main tourist attractions is the Sahara, the second largest desert in the world. Algeria has been a member of the World Tourism Organization since 1976.

South Africa Tourism reappoints Sthembiso Dlamini as Acting CEO The Chief Operations Officer of South Africa Tourism, Ms. Sthembiso Dlamini has been appointed the Acting Chief Executive Officer. She was expected to assume her position on 1st June following the voluntary resignation of former CEO, Sisa Ntshona on May 31st. This is the second time Ms. Dlamini has been appointed as the Acting CEO of South Africa Tourism. She acted as CEO back in 2019. “The Board in concurrence with the Minister of Tourism, appointed Ms. Sthembiso Dlamini to be the Acting CEO from 1st June, 2021 until further notice.

• Ms. Sthembiso Dlamini, Acting CEO of South African Tourism 40

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Let’s Embrace Domestic Tourism as a Long-Term Strategy The Country Manager of Serena Kigali Hotel, Mr. Daniel Sambai has stated that domestic tourism should be considered as a long-term strategy for turning the industry’s fortunes around and not as a temporary thing. To do that, he says, requires building resilience and sustainability. According to him, building resilience means planning strategies that will help the sector get through disruptions. “We need to learn how to get through these shocks and one of the ways to get through these shocks is coming up with strategies that will ensure that when there is a disruption in one’s market segment, you have others to cover that gap”, he stressed. In an interview with VoyagesAfriq, Sambai postulated that ‘for a very long time we’ve always resorted to the domestic travel in times where we had a low period of occupancies and time where we have low seasons”. He however added that the biggest opportunities found in the tourism sector amidst Covid 19 are in the domestic markets. “Through Covid-19 we learnt that even with city hotels when we come up with stay vacations and nice offers, people do come on weekdays and weekends and want to spend these vacations in the hotel. “Domestic tourism is here to stay and we will continue coming up with innovative strategies and enticing offers because we’ve seen the value of domestic tourism and once we have a good base it will keep the sector afloat at all times,” he stressed. He also said intra-Africa travel is another opportunity the sector had in the current Covid-19 era and needs to be improved upon as a long time strategy. “It became easier for neighbours to travel within the continent than others

• Mr. Daniel Sambai, Country Manager of Serena Kigali Hotel

from outside and through the government, there have been incentives by the Rwanda Development Board and permit have been given to entice Africa travellers”. Sambai revealed that his hotel had had to map up several strategies to gain travellers’ trust in the midst of the pandemic. “We had to adopt flexible cancellation policies for travellers who book rooms yet are unable to occupy them due to some reasons beyond them. The monies of customers who are unable to occupy the rooms they’ve booked after payment will be saved as credit for their next visit.” He stated that it was imperative to involve the staff of hotels in the strategic plan since they play a significant role in the affairs of the hotels. “We shouldn’t forget our staff who have been key in enabling us to get through now." ‘When the staff get to know what we are going through they begin to understand and adjust. They pass on the right information to our clients, and they know the roles they are supposed to play because again, Covid has taught us to work together so we can completely overcome the pandemic,” he emphasised.

Botswana rolls out e-visa regime to boost tourism and investments Botswana's Ministry of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship has launched the Online Visa Application Platform. Speaking during the launch, the Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs Ms. Anna Mokgethi said through the platform, applicants will be able to apply for visas online as opposed to the manual process. Minister Mokgethi revealed that the ministry was looking for innovative and customer-oriented solutions to meet the diverse needs of citizens, visitors and businesses. She explained that the innovation was part of the threefold mission to increase efficiency, customer satisfaction and Botswana’s footprint in the digitalization sphere. She highlighted that the platform will ease the current tedious and taxing application process “It is government’s intention to attract as much Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) as possible and the Online Visa Application Platform will help address this since more people will have easy access.” she said Minister Mokgethi added that the initiative will also shorten 42

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• Ms. Anna Mokgethi, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs

the turnaround time for issuance of visa which is currently 14 days. For his part, the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), Chief Executive Officer Mr. Keletsositse Olebile concurred with Minister Mokgethi that the platform will significantly reduce the turnaround time as well as the overall issuance of Visas. Mr. Olebile added that with a seamless application process anticipated the system will go a long way in improving Botswana’s global competitiveness which will propel the country to become a preferred destination for both tourism visits and investments.

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IATA Warns Governments on High Cost of Testing

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to take action to address the high cost of COVID-19 tests in many jurisdictions and urged flexibility in permitting the use of cost-effective antigen tests as an alternative to more expensive PCR tests. IATA also recommended governments adopt recent World Health Organization (WHO) guidance to consider exempting vaccinated travelers from testing requirements. According to IATA’s most recent traveler survey, 86% of respondents are willing to get tested. But 70% also believe that the cost of testing is a significant barrier to travel, while 78% believe governments should bear the cost of mandatory testing. “IATA supports COVID-19 testing as a pathway to reopen borders to international travel. But our support is not unconditional. In addition to being reliable, testing needs to be easily accessible, affordable, and appropriate to the risk level. Too many governments, however, are falling short on some or all of these. The cost of testing varies widely between jurisdictions, with little relation to the actual cost of conducting the test. The UK is the poster child for governments failing to adequately manage testing. At best it is expensive, at worst extortionate. And in either case, it is a scandal that the government is charging VAT,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director-General. The new generation of rapid tests cost less than $10 per test. Provided a confirmatory rRT-PCR test is administered for positive test results, WHO guidance sees Ag-RDT

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antigen testing as an acceptable alternative to PCR. And, where testing is a mandatory requirement, the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHRs) state that neither passengers nor carriers should bear the cost of testing. Testing also needs to be appropriate to the threat level. For example, in the UK, the latest National Health Service data on testing arriving travelers show that more than 1.37 million tests were conducted on arrivals from so-called Amber countries. Just 1% tested positive over four months. Meanwhile, nearly three times that number of positive cases are being detected in the general population daily. “Data from the UK government confirms that international travelers pose little to no risk of importing COVID-19 compared to existing levels of infection in the country. At the very least therefore, the UK government should follow WHO guidance and accept antigen tests which are fast, affordable and effective, with a confirmatory PCR test for those who test positive. This could be a pathway for enabling even unvaccinated people access to travel,” Walsh said. Restarting international travel is vital to supporting the 46 million travel and tourism jobs around the world that rely on aviation. “Our latest survey confirms that the high cost of testing will bear heavily on the shape of the travel recovery. It makes little sense for governments to take steps to reopen borders, if those steps make the cost of travel prohibitive to most people. We need a restart that is affordable for all,” said Walsh.

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Ethiopian Renews Partnership with Liege Airport Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services and Liege Airport have announced that they have renewed their long standing partnership agreement until 2026. Liege Airport, Belgium’s largest cargo airport and the 6th largest cargo airport in Europe, will continue to be Ethiopian Airlines cargo hub serving as a freighter gateway between Africa and Europe for the next five years. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services, Africa’s largest cargo network operator, has been working with Liege airport for its freighter operations between Africa and Europe. Ethiopian Airlines Cargo and Logistics Services Acting Managing Director, Mr. Enquanhone Minyashal said “We are glad to have renewed our partnership agreement with our long-standing partner airport at a time when we are registering tremendous growth in our cargo destinations and capacity. In collaboration with Liege Airport, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services has been providing fast and secure cargo transportation services across Europe and beyond for the last 15 years of successful cooperation. In the next five years, we will work to transform our freighter operations to serve Europe better with our renewed commitment to Liege Airport. As the largest pan African carrier, Ethiopian Airlines will continue to strengthen its partnership with Liege Airport to boost its freighter operations between Africa and Europe.” Steven Verhasselt, VP Commercial of Liege Airport said “First of all, Liege Airport would like to wish Ethiopian Airlines and all its staff and partners a very happy 75th birthday. It is with great pride that we are part of Ethiopian’s success story for almost 15 years and LGG will continue to be Ethiopian Airline’s cargo hub in Europe. Looking back from the start to where we are today, Ethiopian has already

operated 15,000 freighter flights into LGG, approaching an incredible 1 Million Tonnes of cargo carried. Still, Steven Verhasselt highlights, this is the past and can be considered as a very impressive start. Today, we celebrate the future. Ethiopian and LGG have renewed their partnership agreement that not only confirms the European Cargo hub in LGG for the next 5 years but also states that Ethiopian will become much more than an airline flying into LGG. In the future, a dedicated cargo hub can be established in Liege North, for which Ethiopian was the launch customer to start with. We are very much looking forward to this next step that will help Ethiopian to serve its customers even better. More than ever, LGG will be the hub for Ethiopian and the main freighter gateway between Africa and Europe.” According to the African Airlines Association’s (AFRAA) report, Ethiopian was ranked first by passenger and cargo traffic in 2020. Ethiopian carried 500 thousand tons of freight and 5.5 million passengers through its main hub, Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Ethiopian recently has been honored with a gold award for the volume of cargo transported to and from Guangdong Airport in 2020 by Logistics of Guangdong Airport Authority Co. Ltd. at a seminar held in 2021 in Guangzhou. In the same month, Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services won the World Air Cargo Customer Care Award 2021 during the virtual Air Cargo Weeks Award program held on 05 May 2021. Ethiopian contributed to saving the world during the pandemic. So far the airline has operated 450+ charter flights of PPE shipment to combat COVID 19 and transported more than 30 million doses of vaccine to more than 24 countries.

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RwandAir and Qatar Airways ink loyalty Partnership Deal RwandAir has become the first – and only – Sub-Saharan African airline to launch a loyalty partnership with Qatar Airways. The two carriers have joined forces to offer RwandAir Dream Miles and Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty members access to each other’s destination with the opportunity to ‘earn and burn’ points across their reciprocal route networks. Under the new deal, RwandAir Dream Miles members will be able to fly to more than 140 Qatar Airways destinations using miles earned by flights bought through RwandAir. Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will have the ability to earn miles on RwandAir’s flights, both within Africa and on long-haul routes, to destinations such as New York and London. Yvonne Manzi Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, said: “RwandAir is incredibly proud to be the first Sub-Saharan African airline to enter into partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club. “Customer loyalty is of huge importance to both RwandAir and Qatar Airways. We both strive to put the customer experience first and give recognition to our most frequent fliers. “Now RwandAir Dream Miles customers will be able to earn and burn points to give them access to flights across Qatar Airways’ extensive route network, with the same reciprocal benefits to Qatar Airways Privilege Club members. “We believe this initiative is a major step forward to greater cooperation between Africa’s most ambitious airline and one of the world’s most prestigious international carriers, and we look forward to further enhancing the benefits of our Dream Miles members. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H.E. Mr Akbar Al Baker said: “Our partnership with RwandAir opens up a world of possibilities for the customers of both airlines, allowing them to discover exciting destinations. Members of Privilege Club and Dream Miles can enjoy significant benefits including world class travel experiences on our strong complementary networks. Since RwandAir launched its Dream Miles loyalty programme in 2011 it has grown in popularity and become a favourite of the airline’s frequent fliers. The Dream Miles programme has four tiers of membership, with Emerald forming the entry level, entitling members to a free ticket using award miles, eligibility for a flight

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upgrade, as well as last minute cabin upgrades and up to 40kgs excess baggage using award miles. In addition, Silver tier members, who have earned 25,000 ‘Tier Miles’ or taken 20 flights in a year, are entitled to an additional 10kg of checked-in baggage, can earn 25% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights and be given priority on the waitlist. Gold tier members, who have earned 50,000 miles or taken 40 flights a year, enjoy a wide range of benefits, including 50% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights and 15kg extra checked-in baggage allowance. They can also receive a free ticket and complimentary upgrade to the higher cabin using miles, as well as priority check-in, baggage tagging, Business Class lounge access and high priority on the waitlist. RwandAir’s most highly-valued frequent flyers can benefit from Diamond tier status in reward for earning 100,000 miles or taking 60 flights a year. Benefits include 100% bonus miles on all RwandAir flights, an additional 23kg of checked-in baggage and one free upgrade to Business Class per year when travelling in the Economy cabin. Following two years of consecutive Diamond status, their tier will be automatically extended for a further two years.

Naturally distanced islands, ensuring a safe haven

Fly from South Africa to Maldives via Air seychelles, Emirates and Qatar

UNWTO FILES

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Global Economy could lose over $4 trillion due to Covid-19 impact on Tourism The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report published on 30 June, 2021. The estimated loss has been caused by the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and its ripple effect on other sectors closely linked to it. The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020 due to direct and indirect impacts of a steep drop in international tourist arrivals. A similar loss may occur this year, the report warns, noting that the tourism sector’s recovery will largely depend on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines globally. “The world needs a global vaccination effort that will protect workers, mitigate adverse social effects and make strategic decisions regarding tourism, taking potential structural changes into account,” UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Isabelle Durant said. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is a lifeline for millions, and advancing vaccination to protect communities and support tourism’s safe restart is critical to the recovery of jobs and generation of muchneeded resources, especially in developing countries, many of which are highly dependent on international tourism.”

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With COVID-19 vaccinations being more pronounced in some countries than others, the report says, tourism losses are reduced in most developed countries but worsened in developing countries.

COVID-19 vaccination rates are uneven across countries, ranging from below 1% of the population in some countries to above 60% in others According to the report, the asymmetric roll-out of vaccines magnifies the economic blow tourism has suffered in developing countries, as they could account for up to 60% of the global GDP losses. The tourism sector is expected to recover faster in countries with high vaccination rates, such as France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, the report says. But experts don’t expect a return to pre-COVID-19 international tourist arrival levels until 2023 or later, according to UNWTO. The main barriers are travel restrictions, slow containment of the virus, low traveller confidence and a poor economic environment. Up to $1.8 trillion loss expected in 2021 A rebound in international tourism is expected in the second half of this year, but the UNCTAD report still shows a loss of between $1.7 trillion and $2.4 trillion in 2021, compared with 2019 levels.

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UNWTO FILES

The results are based on simulations that capture the effects of international tourism reduction only, not policies such as economic stimulus programmes that may soften the pandemic’s impact on the sector.

It assumes a 75% reduction of tourism in countries with low vaccination rates, and a 37% reduction in countries with relatively high vaccination rates, mostly developed countries and some smaller economies.

The report assesses the economic effects of three possible scenarios – all reflecting reductions in international arrivals – in the tourism sector in 2021.

JOB LOSSES ACROSS COUNTRIES

The first one, projected by UNWTO, reflects a reduction of 75% in international tourist arrivals – the most pessimistic forecast – based on the tourist reductions observed in 2020. In this scenario, a drop in global tourist receipts of $948 billion causes a loss in real GDP of $2.4 trillion, a two-and-ahalf-fold increase. This ratio varies greatly across countries, from onefold to threefold or fourfold. This is a multiplier and depends on the backward linkages in the tourism sector, including the unemployment of unskilled labour, according to the report. For example, international tourism contributes about 5% of the GDP in Turkey and the country suffered a 69% fall in international tourists in 2020. The country’s fall in tourism demand is estimated at $33 billion and this leads to losses in closely linked sectors such as food, beverages, retail trade, communications and transport. Turkey’s total fall in output is $93 billion, about three times the initial shock. The decline in tourism alone contributes to a real GDP loss of about 9%. This decline in reality was partly offset by fiscal measures to stimulate the economy. The second scenario reflects a 63% reduction in international tourist arrivals, a less pessimistic forecast by UNWTO. And the third scenario, formulated by UNCTAD, considers varying rates of domestic and regional tourism in 2021.

According to the report, the reduction in tourism causes a 5.5% rise in unemployment of unskilled labour on average, with a high variance of 0% to 15%, depending on the importance of tourism for the economy. Labour accounts for around 30% of tourist services’ expenditure in both developed and developing economies. Entry barriers in the sector, which employs many women and young employees, are relatively low. LOSSES WORSE THAN PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED In July last year, UNCTAD estimated that a four- to 12-month standstill in international tourism would cost the global economy between $1.2 trillion and $3.3 trillion, including indirect costs. But the losses are worse than previously expected, as even the worst-case scenario UNCTAD projected last year has turned out to be optimistic, with international travel still low more than 15 months after the pandemic started. According to UNWTO, international tourist arrivals declined by about 1 billion or 73% between January and December 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer points to a decline of 84%. Developing countries have borne the biggest brunt of the pandemic’s impact on tourism. They suffered the largest reductions in tourist arrivals in 2020, estimated at between 60% and 80%. The most-affected regions are North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Oceania, North Africa and South Asia, while the leastaffected ones are North America, Western Europe and the Caribbean.

First-ever Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit set for 2-day September spectacle The South African Department of Tourism and Tourism will host the first-ever Africa Travel and Tourism Summit. The hybrid summit, which coincides with Tourism Month in South Africa, will take place from September 19 to 21, 2021. The summit aims to be a catalyst for engagement on the current state of tourism on the African continent. Speaking ahead of the summit, Acting CEO of SA Tourism Sthembiso Dlamini said that given the challenges facing the global tourism industry, the Africa Travel and Tourism Summit will bring together, through various sessions engagement, the tourism industry to share ideas and ideas to explore collaborative efforts that can lead to healing.

With an array of issues currently facing the sector, Dlamini said the summit aims to attract delegates from the

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UNWTO FILES

African community, African tourism ministers, industry associations, tourism boards, destination marketing organizations, as well as various partners in the tourism value chain. He said some of the main topics to be discussed at the summit include aviation, innovation, technology, health and safety protocols currently in place, as well as the continent’s positioning after the COVID-19 pandemic. “The African continent is resilient and this summit is important, as it will help rekindle momentum within the sector as it works towards an inclusive recovery. “The COVID-19 pandemic may have dealt a heavy blow to business and leisure tourism, but we are now in the recovery phase, and a summit of this nature is essential to ensure that we are aligned as that continent, while reviving the tourism industry, ”said Dlamini.

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Department of Tourism and Tourism have not been able to host Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) editions focused on Africa meetings and Africa’s Travel Indaba 2021 recreation, which typically takes place in February and May each year. Africa Tourism Partners CEO Kwakye Donkor said that while the Africa Travel and Tourism Summit should not be seen as a replacement, it provides a platform to showcase leisure tourism offerings and capabilities. business events of the African continent. “In the absence of Africa’s Travel Indaba in 2020 and 2021, the Africa Travel and Tourism Summit is an innovative initiative to promote intra-African tourism and also to share information on ‘readiness’ for South Africa and the rest. [of] Africa will welcome the world during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dlamini noted that delegates attending the summit will have the option to attend virtually or at a identified location across South Africa, or at three additional locations across the rest of the African continent, pending COVID-lockdown regulations. 19.

“I congratulate South African Tourism and the South African National Convention Bureau for once again showing commitment and leadership in promoting tourism across the continent. It will be so great to meet traditional and emerging business partners again during the summit. We look forward to a very successful summit, ”said Donkor.

“All sites will have COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place. We have opted for the hybrid format so that we, as a continent, show the way by demonstrating how tourism can be enjoyed safely while respecting health protocols. It is important that we are diligent in reviving the sector, as it contributes significantly to the African economy, ”said Dlamini.

Committed to the continued transformation and development of the South African tourism industry, the Africa Travel and Tourism Summit will offer on September 19 a day dedicated to the empowerment of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in the sector, as a prelude to the two-day conference. September 20 and 21, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the South African

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Registrations for the summit will open in the afternoon of August 20, 2021. – SAnews.gov.za

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AVIATION NEWS

Capt. Sandy Benoiton takes over as Acting CEO at Air Seychelles

• Sandy Benoiton, Acting CEO, Air Seychelles

The Ministry of Transport of Seychelles has appointed Captain Sandy Benoiton as the new acting Chief Executive Officer of Air Seychelles. The Air Seychelles management team and staff members have welcomed and congratulated the airlines’ new acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Sandy Benoiton, and acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Tyrian Gendron in their new roles. Sandy Benoiton, a certified airline pilot, has been working with the national airline for more than 20 years. Having occupied the position of chief operations officer, overseeing the general operations of the airline since 2018. The newly appointed acting CEO has also been exposed to various facets and challenges of the business. Sharing a wealth of experience and vast knowledge in the field, the new acting CEO will continue to drive the transformation plan forward to further strengthen business

• Tyrian Gendron, Acting CFO, Air Seychelles

operations amidst the unprecedented environment. Tyrian Gendron, the new acting CFO joined the Air Seychelles finance team in 2017 and was most recently occupying the role of financial controller. The certified chartered accountant will be responsible for the planning, forecasting, and management of the airline’s financial systems including the collation of the annual budget. As part of his new role, the finance professional will also focus on cost management, ensuring continuous implementation of cost-benefit initiatives across the business, to further build on the airline’s revenue streams. The management and staff members of Air Seychelles also took the opportunity to thank the outgoing chief executive, Remco Althuis, and chief finance officer, Michael Berlouis for their strong contribution to the airline and wishes them all the best in their future plans.

Air France announce services to Zanzibar Air France is continuing to adapt its network and increase services to “leisure” destinations. For the 2021 winter season (October 2021- March 2022), the airline will be offering its customers new services to sunny destinations around the world, on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Effective October 18, 2021, Air France will fly to Zanzibar (Tanzania), a brand new destination for the airline. Two weekly frequencies will be operated by Boeing 787-9, as a continuation of the flight to Nairobi (Kenya).

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South African government sells majority stake in airline SAA to consortium The South African government is selling a 51% stake in South African Airways (SAA) to Takatso consortium, which will initially commit more than 3 billion rand ($221 million) to give the struggling airline a new lease of life. SAA has been under a form of bankruptcy protection since December 2019, but its fortunes worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic and all its operations were mothballed in September 2020 when funds ran low. The airline is one of a handful of South African state companies that depend on government bailouts, placing the national budget under huge strain at a time of rapidly rising debt. The partnership with Takatso will alleviate that financial burden, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan told journalists on Friday as the state would no longer provide any funding to the airline, which exited administration in late April after receiving 7.8 billion rand from the government.

The government could dispose of more of its ownership stake going forward, he added. “They aren’t married to this 49%,” he said. “They won’t be putting more money into this asset.” An initial public offering for the airline is unlikely to happen within the next three years, and SAA would first need to become profitable, Takatso Chief Executive Gidon Novick said. He said Takatso would seek to relaunch SAA as soon as possible, prioritising first domestic service followed by regional destinations.

Gordhan added that the government will retain a 49% stake with the intention of eventually listing the airline to address future funding requirements.

International long-haul routes would follow but would be selected carefully, and SAA would also work to forge partnerships with major carriers.

“The objective of bringing in an equity partner to SAA is to augment it with the required technical, financial and operational expertise to ensure a sustainable, agile and viable South African airline,” he said.

“We’re going to be competing with the greatest airlines in the world, and we need to be mindful of that,” Novick said.

The consortium includes pan-African investor group Harith Global Partners and aviation group Global Aviation, Gordhan said. Following the announcement, co-founder and consortium Chair Tshepo Mahloele told Reuters that 3 billion rand should be sufficient to operate the airline for 12 to 36 months.

The airline’s subsidiaries meanwhile will be evaluated, in particular, Air Chefs, SAA Technical and low-cost airline Mango, Gordhan said, noting that “anything can happen” when asked if some could be shut down. SAA will continue to be domiciled in South Africa and the government will have a “golden share” of 33% of the entity’s voting rights and certain areas of national interest, Gordhan said. Source: Nqobile Dludla –Reuters

ASKY RESUMES FLIGHTS TO MALABO Pan-African Airline, ASKY has announced the resumption of flights to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea as from August 23, 2021. Malabo will be connected to ASKY’s network from Lomé hub (Togo) to all other destinations once a week as instituted by the Government of Equatorial Guinea due to COVID restrictions. We will avail additional frequencies as soon as the restrictions are lifted. The flight plan is as follows: •

Lomé -Lagos – Malabo – Douala

•

Douala – Malabo Lagos – Lomé

ASKY, a Pan-African Airline, is a 100% privately owned airline created by regional banking institutions in Africa that includes The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and 52

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Development (EBID), The West African Development Bank (BOAD) and ECOBANK Group (ETI) in partnership with Ethiopian Airlines.

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Brand new leisure airline Eurowings Discover begins operations in Windhoek Furthermore, our corporate travelers can look forward to an attractive and sophisticated Business Class product. Lufthansa Group has a long-term commitment ensuring that Namibia remains connected to Europe and the rest of the world, which is underlined by our plans to further enhance our flight services to a daily schedule between Windhoek and Frankfurt, starting from March 2022”, says Dr. Andre Schulz, General Manager Lufthansa Group, Southern and East Africa.

• Officials of Eurowing Discover and Namibia Airport Company cut the ribbon to signal the arriving of the flight

Lufthansa Group’s newest leisure airline, Eurowings Discover has touched down in Namibia for the very first time. The new carrier departed from Frankfurt on August 10, 2021, with an Airbus A330-200. Flight 4Y132 arrived at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Wednesday 11th August, 2021 at 8:05 local time. Eurowings Discover operates five weekly connections from Frankfurt to Windhoek in 2021, with return flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. From summer 2022, the leisure carrier will even increase its service to daily flights with three weekly onward tag flights to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Captain Wolfgang Raebiger, who is also the CEO of the new airline, operated the first flight to Windhoek, which was welcomed by an airport event and special guests including the German Ambassador Herbert Beck. “This flight marks an important milestone for our new airline Eurowings Discover: starting from today, we will take over the route between Germany and Namibia, which has been served successfully over the past years by Lufthansa Group already. Windhoek has always been a popular holiday destination for travelers from all over the world and we are happy to continue offering our customers the possibility to travel to this beautiful country – even with an increased schedule. By handing over this route to its new leisure airline, the Lufthansa Group emphasizes both the importance of Namibia as a destination in its touristic portfolio as well as its commitment to the Southern African region,” says Wolfgang Raebiger, Chief Executive Officer of Eurowings Discover.

Esther Kaapanda, Executive Director of the Ministry of Works and Transport appreciates the launch of Eurowings Discover on the Frankfurt – Windhoek route which has come at an opportune time. “The Lufthansa Group continues to be a strategic partner in promoting Namibia to become a logistics hub in Southern Africa and a preferred tourist destination in line with national development endeavors. The arrival of Eurowings Discover at our international airport brings renewed hope to revive tourism, generate economic development, business and trade during these challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Namibia Airports Company (NAC) Bisey /Uirab welcomes Eurowings Discover to Hosea Kutako International Airport. “This inaugural flight will offer wider air connectivity to the European market and the rest of the world. The continuation and expansion of the direct flight connection from Frankfurt to Windhoek will contribute in making the travel experience more convenient and seamless. This will culminate in an increase in passenger movements and revenue generation. We remain committed in providing improved customer services to our airlines at our airport currently under renovations.” About Eurowings Discover Eurowings Discover is the new leisure airline of the Lufthansa Group. Operating out of Frankfurt (Germany), this new carrier takes travellers to the world’s most beautiful short and long haul leisure destinations. The mission of Eurowings Discover is to tailor the travel experience to the guests’ individual needs and to make the flight a special experience.

“In celebrating the launch of Eurowings Discover touching down for the first time on Namibian soil, not only are we making history today, but also offering our Namibian customers an opportunity to reconnect with their families and friends abroad, at very competitive fares. VOYAGESAFRIQ

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Ethiopian Starts Operating Flights with Fully Vaccinated Crew Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest carrier, has started operating flights with fully vaccinated crew against COVID-19 to keep travelers safe in the light of the pandemic. Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam said “We are pleased to operate flights with fully vaccinated crew – a significant step in protecting our employees’ and customers’ health and safety. We are encouraged by the increasing number of passengers travelling for business, VFR and tourism supported by the confidence of vaccination across the world. We have been squarely focused on working very hard to ensure the safety of our staff and passengers since the pandemic broke out and this is another testament to our continued commitment. We have bought and imported more than 37,000 vaccine shots for our employees and stakeholders.”

Ethiopian has been rigorously implementing COVID-19 precautionary measures including the launch of its own testing and isolation center and digitization of its operation among others. It has been at the forefront in the fight against the pandemic carrying essential medical supplies and vaccines across the globe as well as repatriating stranded people back to their homes.

Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways boost connectivity between U.S. and Africa Delta Air Lines and Kenya Airways PLC have expanded their codeshare agreement, increasing the choice of destinations offered by Delta in Africa and extending Kenya Airways’ reach to North America via the U.S. gateway of New YorkJFK. The new agreement enhances the airlines’ already extensive codeshare network to offer seamless travel to a total of 39 cities across Africa, the U.S. and Canada. The enhanced agreement enables Delta customers flying nonstop on the airline’s services from New York-JFK to Accra, Ghana, to connect with Delta-marketed codeshare flights to Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) operated by Kenya Airways. Delta-marketed codeshare

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flights will also be available on Kenya Airways’ services from Nairobi to Cape Town, (South Africa), Harare, (Zimbabwe); and Kigali, (Rwanda). From New York-JFK, Kenya Airways has placed its code on Delta’s services to Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport, offering customers increased access to the U.S. capital, as well as to Indianapolis (Indiana). Delta and Kenya Airways are both members of the SkyTeam alliance. Frequent Flyers can earn and redeem miles on both airlines, while Elite Plus travelers benefit from SkyPriority services.

Q&A with... Connect Me is our networking and meeting tool that will help you find buyers that match your business needs so you can arrange meetings in advance of WTM London and WTM Virtual. The Digital Influencers’ Speed Networking will also be back at this year’s show taking place during WTM Virtual. We aim to target 120 travel digital influencers who will have pre-scheduled business meetings with exhibitors.

WTM London Exhibition Director, Simon Press What is the theme for WTM London 2021? WTM London is the leading global event for the travel industry. It aims to support the industry in recovering, rebuilding and reconnecting as quickly, efficiently and sustainably as possible after COVID-19. With over 40 years of experience, we are considered a solid knowledge centre for the tourism economy and a reliable source of data and ideas for our exhibitors, buyers, visitors and media. WTM London is the brand that unites the industry and facilitates businesses to build their businesses across physical and online platforms. In essence, WTM London is a strategic partner supporting all members of the global travel industry to promote their assets and attract targeted travellers.

What is new for WTM London 2021? So much is new for WTM London 2021. This year WTM London will be held for the first time in an innovative hybrid format. The physical event will occur at ExCeL London on Monday, November 1-Wednesday, November 3, 2021, and will be followed by WTM Virtual – November 8-9, 2021. I have already highlighted the recovering, rebuilding and reconnecting concept – essential for this year’s show to help exhibitors get back on track reconnecting with the right buyers, suppliers, visitors and media. Responsible Tourism is one of our core pillars. We’ll run content sessions around the topic and host the Responsible Tourism Awards during WTM London on November 2. The awards recognise and reward businesses and destinations contributing to a more sustainable and responsible tourism industry. Entries can be submitted until August 31 by clicking here. Travel Forward, the travel technology event co-located with WTM London at ExCeL, will also take place physically from 1-3 November and virtually from 8-9 November. The show inspires the travel and hospitality industry with the next generation of technology. Across the WTM Portfolio, WTM Buyers’ Club has over 10,000 qualified international buyers, and as before, we will be focusing on quality over quantity. We are pleased to announce that we will be running our very successful buyers speed networking again – in person. This is where buyers and exhibitors have short meetings then hold longer meetings during the show open hours.

London Travel Week will be a seven-day travel celebration over the week of WTM London – taking place from 30th October-5 November. It will allow the travel industry to come together and collectively shape the next 12 months of travel and tourism.

What is WTM London doing to ensure the health and safety of its attendees during the show? WTM London and Travel Forward are working closely with local authorities, ExCeL London, Public Health England, and Transport for London to ensure attendees’ highest possible levels of health and safety. We’ve been following the UK Gov’s guidelines and will deliver an event whose main priority is the health and safety of all those attending. Back in May this year, we organised a very successful Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai – the largest face-to-face travel and tourism event in the world since the pandemic. ATM also hosted a virtual show the following week.

What will the conference programme include? At this year’s WTM London physical show will bring two seminar theatres – WTM Global Stage and Travel Forward. We’ll be live streaming all content sessions during the physical event, and those will be available during WTM & TF Virtual shows. WTM London 2021 will host a series of high-profile industry conferences that will formulate the future of global travel and help guide the industry after COVID-19. Informative and fascinating conferences will take place, allowing delegates to get insights from industry-leading professionals. Conference-goers will have the chance to hear from global ministers during our traditional UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit on Tuesday, November 2; an extensive Responsible Tourism programme throughout WTM London also includes the WTM Responsible Tourism Awards. The International Tourism & Investment Conference Summit (ITIC) is also taking place during the 3-day show. Investment in tourism will create new jobs and economic growth, and the ITIC event will facilitate vital financial and business partnerships that will pave the way for innovation and recovery. At Travel Forward, we’ll bring a Start-Up competition, Digital Marketing Sessions - in partnership with The Five Percent, content Payment Solution and many other topics.

We understand the need for the industry to reconnect. We are anticipating a huge demand to gain access to speed networking from both exhibitors & buyers. The new formats deliver better connections and more meetings, all in a safe environment.

Registration is now open for the event.

WTM London and WTM Virtual – Don’t miss out on: £3.71 billion in business deals

50,000

senior travel professionals (physical and virtual)

10,000 buyers

5,000 exhibitors

3,000 media

180+

countries and regions

WTM London & Travel Forward – Physical Events Monday 1 November – 10:00-18:00 Tuesday 2 November – 10:00-18:00 Wednesday 3 November – 10:00-17:00 Location: ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway, London E16 1XL

WTM & TF Virtual – Online Events Monday 8 November 07:00-22:00 Tuesday 9 November 07:00-22:00

Visit: www.wtm.com/london/en-gb.html

HOSPITALITY NEWS

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Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra celebrates decade of doing the ordinary in extraordinary ways For ten years, Movenpick Ambassador Hotel, Accra has been at the fore of providing unparalleled hospitality services making it one of Ghana’s finest accommodation facilities. The hotel has begun celebrations of its tenth anniversary with the launch of activities and anniversary logo. At a media briefing today, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal impressed upon management and staff of the hotel to continue to be a beacon of excellent customer service delivery, saying that it is only when service exceeds guests’ expectations that Ghana becomes a competitive tourism and hospitality destination. “Let the discipline that has brought you this far, permeate the next 10 years. In this regard, I want you to pay attention to customer care. We are in a global village competing for the same customers so how we differentiate your hotel from others is how you treat the customer. Customer care, training and building capacity of staff should be paramount for the next ten years and beyond. “May the next ten years and beyond bring more creativity, excellent service, profitability and care for everyone within this company,” he said. The Movenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra Story as retold by General Manager, Deborah Siversten "A vision once sold in the late 90s (1998), along with one man’s willingness to pioneer the government’s desire to restore the once vibrant Ambassador Hotel, has today become a genuine success.

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The year 2011 is a significant milestone in the history of the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra. When the Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud re-opened the hotel under the global Swiss brand, a national landmark, once graced in splendour, was reborn. And like the phoenix rising from the ashes, continues to serve as a beacon of excellence in the tourism and hospitality industry of Ghana. Indeed, our history is deeply woven in the fabric of Ghana’s Independence and our heritage continues to link our past, present and future. Mövenpick Accra Hotel History Gifted to the government of Ghana upon attainment of its independence in 1957, the once vibrant Ambassador Hotel stood tall with 150 rooms, 4 floors and beautiful gardens graced with several colourful birds. The hotel played host to several high-level social events at a time the country was filled with hope and aspirations to not only attain political freedom but economic liberation/progress. Today, we are honoured to have in our midst, Mr Joseph Hammond, who not only worked studiously for the grand hotel then but fought for this country and the welfare of staff as a leader of the union. A number of the paintings, crafts and artefacts from the Ambassador Hotel have been lovingly restored and are currently on display at the hotel. This mural on the right is one such treasure. Although the original succumbed to deterioration over time, this replica was repainted by students of the original artist, Kofi Antubam – people who knew him best and believed in him as an exponent of Ghanaian culture and of international repute.

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Mövenpick History

Commitment to sustainability

Swiss heritage, yet Ghanaian at heart. With over 1500 pieces of Ghanaian and West-African art, we are proud to tell the tale of this country’s rich culture and its vibrancy.

We are intimately involved in the lives of our guests and have a long-term commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness. Under SHINE, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ global sustainability initiative, we have successfully maintained our Green Globe Certification over six consecutive years with initiatives tackling waste management, energy conservation, among others. Green Globe is an international independent non-profit organisation that audits sustainability in the tourism and travel industry.

Ghana is famed for its genuine and warm hospitality. Being my first time in Ghana, I’ve witnessed and experienced the undeniable authenticity through the personalities of our staff, our HEARTISTS. These values are what define the Mövenpick brand; demonstrating quality, reliability, care for guests, partners and fellow HEARTISTS, and doing it all with a personal touch. We are proud to have achieved sustained excellence over the last 10 years, serving as market leaders with standards others aspire to attain and being driven to attain higher heights. For the late Ueli Prager, the founder of Mövenpick, the key to a successful business was a simple idea. “We aren’t doing anything extraordinary,” he was fond of saying. “We are simply successful because we are doing quite normal things in an extraordinary manner.” It was a philosophy that revolutionised the European restaurant business and inspired a completely new generation of hospitality. It has been an astonishing journey that started when Prager and a friend were strolling the shores of Lake Zurich more than 60 years ago. He had been searching for a name for his new restaurant concept. It was another simple idea, serving the highest quality food at affordable prices in the fastest possible time. As he considered possibilities, a seagull (or Möwe in German) swooped down to skillfully pick up food mid-flight. That one elegant movement encapsulated everything Prager was working towards and Mövenpick was born. It was the right idea at the right time. Prager’s first restaurant Claridenhof opened in Zurich in July 1948. Today Prager’s words continue to resonate throughout Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts as the company balances a portfolio of upscale properties in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Represented in over 24 countries and over 16,000 staff, the hotel brand was in 2018 acquired by Accor, a world-leading travel & lifestyle group offering unique experiences in more than 4,500 hotels, resorts and residences across the globe.

Under our Corporate social responsibilities, we have been privileged to serve our local community in partnership with some amazing organisations such as Chance for Children, Kinder Paradise and Shelter for Abused Children. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful guests and corporate societies for supporting our annual global charity campaign, (a Kilo of Kindness). You have always shown generosity by donating kilos of food, clothes and non-perishable food items when we called on you in September of every year. Together, we create moments and jointly contribute to making this world a better place for the underprivileged. Today’s business A year ago, unforeseen circumstances brought most global businesses to a halt, including ours, but we are thankful that today, we can take a minute to celebrate together, virtually holding hands under masked and hidden smiles, 10 years of doing the ordinary in extraordinary ways. Most importantly, we celebrate our HEARTISTS, who have dedicated 10 years of their lives to this hotel in service, loyalty and truth. We shall also unveil our anniversary logo which will be key in our communications throughout these celebrations till our climax in November. Donations, clean up exercises, food festival and corporate soiree are some of the activities earmarked from now till when the celebrations come to a head in November."

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HOSPITALITY NEWS

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GHANA BUSINESS STANDARD AWARDS 2021: Accra City Hotel is Hospitality Service Provider of the Year Accra City Hotel was adjudged the ‘Outstanding Hospitality Service Provider of the Year’ at the Ghana Business Standard Award 2021 held on Friday, August 13 at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The Ghana Business Standard Awards (GBSA) celebrates organizations committed to remarkable business standards in their sectors and industry leaders breaking barriers of excellence across the Ghanaian business region and the world at large. GBSA provides a platform to encourage the introduction of standard processes, services, or products and the improvement of existing methods or practices to affect positive change in businesses in Ghana. The Awards recognizes standard makers, excellence achievers and responsible organizations and individuals who adhere to the local business requirements while consistently improving their organizations performance. Accra City Hotel became Ghana’s first international branded Hotel in 1988 and has since gone on to win numerous international awards for its standards of excellence and multiple amenities offered to its guests. Located in Ghana’s commercial hub Accra, the first ISO-certified Hotel in West Africa offers 196 well-furnished guest rooms ranging from Queen-size rooms to Studio units. In addition to its wellness centre is a tennis court and an open lawn area for weddings and other large events. Accra City Hotel enjoys a close proximity to market scenes and art centres and as well lend a rich Ghanaian culture which guests of the hotel can delight in.

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• Roman Krabel General Manager of Accra City Hotel

The 4 – star Accra City Hotel harmonizes a unique concept with contemporary accommodation, fine dining restaurant, high–class facilities and legendary service. The Accra City Hotel provides the perfect stay in downtown of Accra, either for a business meeting, a magical holiday or a romantic wedding and honeymoon.

HOSPITALITY NEWS

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VoyagesAfriq and Okay Fm bring Tourism Drive to Audience VoyagesAfriq and Accra-based Okay Fm have partnered to present a new tourism development and show segment dedicated to discussing tourism-related issues to the station’s far-reaching audience and the general public. First episode of the show -Tourism Drive - aired on Thursday, 15th July, 2021 where conversations generally centred on how Ghana can churn out professionals to feed its hospitality industry with President of the Tour Operators Union of Ghana, Mrs. Alisa Osei-Asamoah as guest. Host of Tourism Drive and industry expert, Gilbert “Abeiku Santana” Aggrey, said “We intend to make this segment a tourism development show with the overarching aim of promoting domestic tourism and helping patrons get value for they spend when they patronise tourism-related businesses by advocating for high service standards and engaging with relevant stakeholders.”

Content Editor of VoyagesAfriq and a Producer of the show, Samuel Obeng Appah said, the show is put together to help bring tourism to people through the power of radio. “We want to make it a show that does not just encourage people to see and experience the many attractions in Ghana, but also one that provides a platform for dispassionate discussions on happenings in the tourism, travel and its sub-sectors,” he said. Tourism Drive airs on Okay Fm’s late afternoon drive-time show, “Ekwanso Dwoodwoo” on Thursdays at 4:30pm.

Hyatt Announces Plans for Debut of its House Brand in Johannesburg Hyatt has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with an affiliate of Millat Properties for Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton. The planned opening of the property will mark the introduction of Hyatt’s select service and extended stay brand, Hyatt House, to the continent and the third Hyatt-branded hotel in South Africa. The Hyatt House brand offers a flexible, elevated approach to extended-stay and helps guests enjoy the comforts of home when they are away from theirs. Built on guest insights, Hyatt House hotels drive satisfaction and loyalty by allowing guests to maintain familiar routines, with spacious suites and studios featuring full kitchens, comfortable living rooms, large bedrooms and stylish bathrooms. Slated to open in October 2021, the hotel will be situated in the well-established Sandton area, where business and leisure tourism blends together in Africa’s economical hub. Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton will boast 43 studio guestrooms and 19 apartment-style suites, all with fully equipped kitchens and separate living areas reminding guests of the conveniences of home. Additional amenities will include a unique concept for an alternative dining

experience in the Treehouse, H Market offering grab-andgo snacks and drinks, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an outdoor swimming pool in which guests can unwind and enjoy themselves. “We’re delighted to announce plans to introduce the Hyatt House brand to Africa, which will be Hyatt’s second hotel in collaboration with an affiliate of Millat Properties,” said Ludwig Bouldoukian, regional vice president of development for the Middle East and Africa Hyatt. “We are proud to hold such strong relationships with exceptional owners who share our ambition and values. They are essential to powering Hyatt’s brand growth.” Hyatt House Johannesburg Sandton will join two existing Hyatt-branded hotels in South Africa, Hyatt Regency Johannesburg and Hyatt Regency Cape Town. Hyatt’s portfolio in Africa consists of seven properties: Hyatt Regency Algiers Airport, Hyatt Regency Taghazout, Hyatt Place Taghazout Bay, Hyatt Regency Casablanca, Hyatt Regency Dar es Salaam, The Kilimanjaro, Hyatt Regency Addis Ababa and Park Hyatt Zanzibar.

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GET INVOLVED - INTER TOURISM EXPO ACCRA

Inter Tourism Expo, Accra (iNTTA 2021), the largest tourism and trade show in Ghana organized by Global Signature GH under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to be hosted in Accra, capital of Ghana to promote its brands, destinations, products and services in Ghana with Exhibitors, Buyers and Trade visitors from the African Continent and travel professionals all over the world. The event will Host 150 Exhibitors, 200 hosted buyers and 500 trade visitors at the Accra International Conference Centre from the 28th to 30th September 2021. The three-day event on the theme ‘’Optimizing destination Ghana- Our people, brands and culture’’ will see an exhibition and conference with expert international Speakers, with an eco-cocoa farm familiarization trip to celebrate the 2021 world tourism day. iNTTA 2021 is geared to scale new markets , set a platform that links the small and medium tourism enterprises with the international tourism markets, focused B2G and B2B platform to showcase the vast capabilities of tourism and trade industry to the highly qualified international buyers from around the world and aims at providing a cost - effective tourism business promotional platform for sellers and buyers in the tourism industry to network and do business in a friendly environment while putting the Culture and Warmth of Ghana in the limelight; Additionally, the event is being instituted with a view to position Ghana as preferred MICE Tourism destination. We envisage that iNTTA2021 will give impetus to the BEYOND THE RETURN activities and further promote sustainable tourism trade in Ghana.

The expo focusing on tourism promotion and sustainability and other related market issues, presents the benefits; •

To gain access to the latest travel trends in the Ghanaian travel market with leading local and international companies

•

Attend our daily keynote sessions and hear from the latest industry movers and shakers

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Hear case studies from Hospitality, leisure and Travel management companies, Tourism technology experts, Tourism Boards, DMOs and many more.

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Discover new destinations and technology as rising players share their products and solutions

•

Expand your knowledge and understanding of the Ghanaian travelers through real-world case studies

•

We look forward to hosting your presence to meet, connect and engage in the center of the world.

BRIEF FOR YOUR EVENT CALENDER Inter Tourism Expo Accra (iNTTA 2021), a leading tourism and trade show seeking to set a platform that links the small and medium tourism enterprises with the international tourism market to be hosted in Ghana under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture to promote its brands, destinations, products and services in Ghana with 150 exhibitors, buyers and trade visitors from African Continent and travel professionals all over the world at the Accra International Conference Center, 28 – 30 September 2021 Website: https://www.intertourismespo.com

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GASTRONOMY

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6th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism heads to Bruges Flemish Minister of Tourism, Zuhal Demir says: “We are very much looking forward to welcome participants, both live and online, to explore culinary Bruges during the Forum in November. This is a great opportunity for destinations to exchange experiences facing challenging times and putting gastronomy and tourism at the centre of recovery plans. Flanders, as one of Europe’s gastronomic hubs, is ready to lead the way for a sustainable future of gastronomy tourism.”

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Basque Culinary Center (BCC), VISITFLANDERS and the city of Bruges have announced new dates for the 6th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. To be held under the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism: Promoting Rural Tourism and Regional Development’, the Forum will take place from 31 October - 2 November 2021 in Bruges, Belgium. The event will focus on the contribution of gastronomy tourism to social and economic integration. It will also highlight its untapped potential for job creation, regional cohesion and sustainable growth. Building on UNWTO’s work on advancing innovation across the tourism sector, the Forum also represents a unique opportunity for experts from across the growing field of gastronomy tourism to share new ideas and best practices and place the two sectors at the center of plans for recovery. In order to welcome and connect participants from around the world, the Forum will be held in a hybrid format. This way, delegates meeting in the Concertgebouw of Bruges will be joined virtually by participants from every global region via a special online platform. UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili says: “There is no better time than now to re-shape the future for food and tourism. Gastronomy continues to prove its ability to help destinations diversify and to stimulate economic development in destinations all around the world. This is especially true for rural communities where it can help preserve the identity and authenticity of local traditions.”

The Forum has been co-organized by UNWTO and the BCC since 2015 with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences between experts in tourism and gastronomy, identify good practices and promote gastronomy tourism as a driver of sustainable development. About BCC Basque Culinary Center represents a unique ecosystem where training, innovation, research and entrepreneurship coexist with the aim of developing and propelling gastronomy, which is understood as reasoned knowledge about what and how we eat. Its mission is rooted in values such as passion, innovation, excellence and social commitment. Located in San Sebastian since September 2011, Basque Culinary Center is a pioneer institution conformed by the Faculty of Gastronomic Sciences, and the Centre for Research and Innovation in the field of gastronomy.

Joxe Mari Aizega, Director of the Basque Culinary Center, remarked that “We are currently in a particularly challenging and unique time, and rural communities, innovation and creativity will be key to transition successfully towards a new scenario. That is the reason why it is necessary to increase the contribution of the entire value chain of gastronomy for the future, generating a suitable institutional framework through specific policies. This kind of forums are essential to encourage projects that generate and develop sustainable gastronomic initiatives that transform and have a positive impact on the sector”.

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LIFESTYLE

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Seychelles pushes for Moutya dance to be inscribed as world heritage asset Seychelles’ moutya dance is now in the final stage of being considered as a world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). In a recent interview with SNA, a top official from the Culture Department said the island nation’s dossier has made the list for final recommendation. “UNESCO has informed us that technically the file is in order and has been put on a list to be considered as a world heritage. The list will be considered later in December. Given the fact that the dance made the list is a positive sign and gives a lot of hope,” said Julianne Barra the directorgeneral for Culture. It was in 2018 that Seychelles, after trying and not succeeding twice before, for the third time submitted a dossier to get the dance recognised. The application to UNESCO was accepted. In 2019, the dossier was sent to the committee level where the application was thoroughly analysed and evaluated to see if ‘moutya’ can be considered as a heritage. Moutya is a traditional dance similar to the sega. The rhythm for the dance is from a drum made with dried goatskin, which needs to be heated through an open fire before the drumming starts. The songs which accompany the dance are those that recount the hardship of everyday life. It is believed that the African slaves started the moutya. In a past interview with SNA, Principal Secretary for Culture, Cecile Kalebi explained that it is important for the Seychelles – 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean – to have a cultural heritage as currently there are two environmental World Heritage sites. These are Vallee de Mai, a nature reserve on Praslin, the second-most populated island, where the endemic coco de mer grows in its natural state. The second site is the

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Aldabra Atoll – one of the largest atolls in the world, home to the largest giant tortoise population in the world – the endemic Aldabra tortoises. “Cultural heritages link us to our history and also place our country on the world map. Already our two national heritage sites give Seychelles a good name out there. Many people who follow these applications want to see it happen in the original country. It is also our aim to keep these things alive in order to attract tourists but also to make us proud as a nation,” said Kalebi. A hopeful and excited Barra told SNA: “If the moutya is considered it will be an exceptional honour. It will be the first time one of our traditional music and dance is protected. For now, we are protecting it nationally, but now it will be protected internationally, it will get its protection. And another thing is that Seychelles will get recognition everywhere. We can also get financial assistance to do other projects affiliated with moutya and the people in Seychelles. We must continuously have national programmes to promote the moutya.” Source: Sharon Ernesta-

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VoyagesAfriq Travel Magazine (Sept 2021 Issue)

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