5 Global Travel Destinations You Should Be Travelling To.

As we head into the second month of the new year, we find ourselves on the look out for new travel experiences and adventure, making it the perfect time to consider some of the world's lesser know destinations. Yes, it may be tempting to want to revisit the old favourites and Paris, New York and London always be a draw, but there really is no substitute for adventure, discovering new cultures, people and places. 

If you are ready to step off the beaten path to a region that is yet to be fully explored or a journey few have experienced, here is a list of the 5 best travel destinations in 2017 – and I'm thrilled to see our beloved country featured.

1. Nicaragua

Sorry, Costa Rica, but there is a brand new hot spot in Central America. Nicaragua has quickly become Central America's must visit destination. This beautiful country has so much to offer both short and long-term travellers. This is the perfect place for those of us who love to absorb their surroundings and engage in some slower travel. Ometepe Island is in the middle of lake Nicaragua. It is quite a relaxed place with very little traffic and hammocks as far as the eye can see. Look for the surfer spots on the pacific coast. Here you can rent a place right on the beach that won't break your budget. It is extremely affordable and is now starting to attract many solo travellers from all around the world. This is definitely an excellent budget option for 2017.

2. South Africa

A safari is the one travel experience that just about surpasses them all. South Africa is beautiful country, which embraces tourism and welcomes visitors from all over the world to share and enjoy their unique and vibrant country. It is home to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, which offers you some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa. This gigantic national reserve is home to many wonderful private reserves and world-class safari lodges . South Africa's neighbours may offer some amazing wildlife safaris, but rest assured you would have the best chance of seeing the Big Five in South Africa. Visit world famous wine farms, explore the beautiful beaches, including Boulders Beach for it's resident African penguins, and immerse yourself in a truly diverse culture as you take the time to visit the jewel of Southern Africa. 

3. Vietnam

Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, is quite often cited as a must visit when travelling to Vietnam. The busy and chaotic streets mask a city that is brimming with an abundance of art and culture. It is home to a distinct blend of influences: particularly the Southeast Asian, Chinese and French influences. Vietnam, however, has much more to offer. You can visit stunning Ha Long Bay or the quaint and beautiful Hoi An. Get your dose of history at Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum or see the Cu Chi tunnels, which represents the sheer grit and determination of the Vietnamese people. Visiting the War Remnants Museum brings the harsh realities of war into focus, while the My Son Sanctuary and marvellous Hue Monuments will awaken your soul. An all time favourite travel experience of mine.

4. Chile

If you've ever wondered what's at the end of the world, then maybe 2017 is the time to find out. Chile tends to surprise many and take everyone else's breath away. You can find an amazing blend of natural splendour, history and art. The more adventurous of you should consider hiking the W trek in Patagonia, which is probably one of the biggest trophies a traveller could have on their travel wall of fame. Visit the enigmatic and isolated Easter Islands or track down some of the significant architectural work done by Gustave Eiffel (designer of the Eiffel Tower). Consider visiting during the off-season for the most authentic and grounded experience. 

5. New Zealand

Many travellers regard New Zealand as their number 1 travel destination. This geographically isolated country is filled with relatively untouched, awe-inspiring wilderness. It's easy to see why travellers are starting to flock there. New Zealand's beautiful and dramatic scenery has been featured on the big-screen in a range of acclaimed international movies, with the most famous of these films being The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Trilogies. Many of the attractions and activities, like Weta Studios and the Hobbit on Movie Set, offer travellers the chance to visit some of the film locations for themselves. For those looking to relax there are beautiful hot pools, countless cultural attractions and galleries to keep you entertained. 

Besides the lion pic, rest supplied. With Pondoro Game Lodge.

Source: 5 Global Travel Destinations You Should Be Travelling To.

best hotel suites in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean

The rapid development of the Middle East's tourism industry and luxury-hotel sector means it has become something of the go-to destination for extreme extravagance. With that being the case it's no surprise that its best hotel suites are among the most lavish to be found anywhere, but don't dismiss Africa and the Indian Ocean. Exceptional safari lodges and unparalleled wildlife-watching opportunities distinguish the former, while access to remarkable sea life and a remarkable sense of romance are on offer in the latter. Read on for our experts' guide to the best hotel suites in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian Ocean.

The Private Reserve; Gili Lankanfushi - MaldivesSituated some 1,000ft from the resort's nearest villa, The Private Reserve at Gili Lankanfushi offers privacy on a scale unequalled in the Maldives. A recent refurbishment has seen the addition of a new bedroom, glass infinity pool and split-level bathing deck. The pick of the three double-bedroom suites has a 100sq ft bathroom partly open to the heavens, with a glass shower, a plunge pool and an oversized bath over coral gardens. The huge living area has a library, dining room, cinema and bar, plus spa, sauna, steam room and gym, even a slide… Sections of glass flooring remind you that you're in an over-water villa – easy to forget in a property this size. Daybeds, sunbeds and breakout areas offer numerous options to sunbathe or siesta, but the twin over-water hammocks are many guests' favourites – happiness is being suspended over the ocean, water lapping at your feet, fish flitting below and no sound but the roar of th e reef. A small boat is yours to visit the main resort as you please – most people, though, never want to leave. Sleeps 6; 18,300sq ft; from £10,665; gililankanfushi.comCharles Starmer-SmithRead more: the best hotels in the Maldives

Riad D'Honneur; Royal Mansour, Marrakech - MoroccoLocated close to the centre of Marrakech, but away from its bustle, the Royal Mansour hotel is a showcase for exemplary Moroccan craftsmanship. Its owner, King Mohammed VI, enlisted the country's most skilled artisans to create its interiors, and their handiwork is handsomely displayed throughout its immense Riad d'Honneur, or Grand Riad. Witness, for example, the delicate wrought ironwork of the lift – which resembles black lace, a style found only in Marrakech. Elsewhere, there is painted zouak woodwork to admire and geometric zellige wall tiles in bespoke colours; in one bathroom, the locally made standalone bath is crafted from maillechort (nickel silver) and adorned with filigree carvings. Other attractions are more immediately apparent: there's a cinema, for example, plus a library, bar, gym, solarium, hammam and spa treatment room. But it's on the rooftop that you'll find the suite's standout feature: its panor amic two-level terrace, complete with a tented living area, dining room, a small pool and views over the medina and Koutoubia Mosque to the distant High Atlas mountains.Sleeps 8; 19,375sq ft; from £30,000; royalmansour.comChristoper SylvesterRead more: the best hotels in Marrakech

Source: best hotel suites in the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean

Amina’s election will rest on her own clarity of vision for Africa

By PETER KAGWANJAMore by this Author

Fundamentally, Kenya is the best-suited country to lead the African Union after South Africa. For decades, Kenya's founding fathers have contributed immensely to the African dream of a continent free of colonial domination, poverty, ignorance and disease.

As the Chair of the AU Commission, Kenya's Foreign Minister, Amina Mohamed, will move Kenya's African-centred and assertive foreign policy under President Uhuru Kenyatta to a whole new level.

Conceptually, Amina will mark the triumph of Kenya's growing soft power capacity now driving its foreign policy.

However, Kenya's soft power approach to African affairs has always had its ideological naysayers. Writing in Pambazuka news on November 17, 2016, Horace Campbell argued that: "Kenya cannot lead the African Union".

But Campbell has a hard task backing up his boorish assertion with sensible evidence. Instead, he resorts to parroting of the run-of-the-mill lingo and half-truths – routinely masked for centuries as "knowledge of Africa" – about those African states considered non-leftist.

His assertions are disquieting: "From championing impunity for suspected masterminds of crimes against humanity, to frustrating total African liberation and unity by working in cahoots with Empire; from publicly supporting Israel's desire to join the African Union, to being a major conduit for illicit financial flows from Africa; Kenya is fundamentally unfit to lead the AU."

Even more bizarre is his conclusion: "Its [Kenya's] candidate for Chair of AU Commission in the January (2017) election, Amina Mohamed, is part of a deeply entrenched kleptocracy that has ruined Kenya and actively undermined African interests for over half a century."

However, beyond the fireside prattles and posturing by churlish armchair scholars, an Amina election will reveal Kenya as an epitome of new Africa – a continent reborn and steered by a new assertive African leadership, the "Uhuru generation".

Paying tribute to the architects of African liberation during his inaugural speech on April 9, 2013, President Kenyatta urged the spirits of the founding fathers to "rest in peace with the knowledge that this generation is committed to fulfilling their dreams."

Amina Mohamed is heir to Kenya's historic role fashioning the future of Africa. In the 20th century, Jomo Kenyatta, the country's founding father, was one of the conveners of the seminal Fifth Pan-African Congress (PAC) held in Manchester from October 15-21, 1945, who subsequently led their countries to political independence and galvanised the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the AU predecessor, in May 1963.

Additionally, Amina is a proud heir to one of humanity's most spectacular armed freedom struggles in Kenya, which inspired Africa's liberation icons such as Nelson Mandela, Ben Bella (Algeria), Agostinho Neto (Angola), Samora Machel (Mozambique) and Sam Nujoma (Namibia).

In the 21st century, Uhuru captures Kenya's commitment to the African dream in his message to the nations of Africa and the African Union: "We assure you that in Kenya, you will continue to have a partner and an ally".

In 2013, he unfurled Kenya's most ambitious and assertive and Africa-centred foreign policy. "The future of Kenya", he declared, "depends not only on our national unity but also on deepening our bonds with our brothers and sisters in East Africa and Africa as a whole." The mantle of implementing this policy fell on Amina, Kenyatta's topmost foreign affairs manager.

But Amina has rightly based her election bid on Kenya's pivotal role in building the AU as a vehicle for what Mandela and Thabo Mbeki popularised as African Renaissance.

In the 2002-2004 hiatus, Kenya joined Africa's efforts to establish a continent's peace and security architecture as the primary instrument for promoting peace, security and stability as enablers of sustainable development on the continent.

In the pursuit of this agenda, from 2005, Kenya has been the custodian of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that saw the birth of Africa's newest nation – South Sudan – in 2011. In Somalia, Kenya has spearheaded the search for lasting peace, war on terrorism and hosted Somali refugees.

In January last year, Kenya was elected, for the second time, one of the five member states serving for a three-year term in the powerful 15-member Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union.

Projecting its soft power on the continent, Kenya has invested heavily in humanitarian diplomacy and disaster management.

In September 2014, the country gave $1 million (KSh 100 million) to Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia to help in the fight against the Ebola disease.

"Standing in solidarity with our African brothers and sisters during times of adversity is part of our foreign policy," President Kenyatta said.

Further, Kenya has contributed to bolstering the capacity of Africa's criminal justice system. During the AU Summit in January 2015, Kenya contributed $1 million (Sh100 million) towards the establishment of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, the continent's version of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

But Amina will bring to the AU leadership her immense experience, skills and solid achievements. "My credentials, especially in building consensus and carrying out reforms, are critical in bringing everybody together," she said.

In less than four years as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Amina has successfully rebooted Kenya's global image from a country facing the threat of international sanctions to a preferred destination for global trade, investment, massive flow of foreign direct investments (FDI) and events and people shaping the 21st century.

Significantly, Amina served as the host and co/chaired the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) 10th Ministerial Conference on December 15-19, 2015; the 14th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) on July 17-22, 2016; and the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) on August 27-28, 2016, the first on African soil.

But Amina's election will rest on her own clarity of vision on the future of Africa.

Prof Peter Kagwanja is the Chief Executive of Africa Policy Institute and Visiting Scholar at the University of Nairobi's Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS).

The official's care collided with a matatu on Kisii-Nyamira road.

The Saleh Nabhan group are believed to be responsible for the El-Adde attack.

Source: Amina's election will rest on her own clarity of vision for Africa

Sancturyspaholidays.co.uk Introduces Of New Spa Locations For 2017

Sancturyspaholidays.co.uk is your one stop destination for international Spa Holiday. They now bring to you some of the most exotic and fantastic spa destinations.

EAST GRINSTEAD, British IOT - Jan. 28, 2017 - PRLog -- Sancturyspaholidays.co.uk is your one stop destination for international Spa Holiday. They now bring to you some of the most exotic and fantastic spa destinations for 2017. Start th new year with a bang and enjoy the great spa holiday experience with Sanctuary Spa in more than 50 cities around the world.

Sanctuary Spa Holiday is now offering the most vibrant and exotic luxury spa holiday travel packages for 2017. There are more than hundred Spa resorts located in more than 50 global cities offered by  Sanctuary Spa Holidays.

They are now adding more spa destination and spa resorts to their tally and making it more wider portfolio to choose from. They provide only top rated and top ranked global spa that offer 100% customer satisfaction.

Sanctuary Spa Holidays offer a wide range of spa holiday packages across Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and North and Latin America. Presently you can browse through the most attra ctive spa holiday packages for singles and couples at Sanctuary spa holidays. If you want to spend spa holiday in Bali, or perhaps in the crystal water of Cyprus, there is no other place better then the Sanctuary Spa Holidays to select your desired destination.  It has also included various new luxury spas Caribbean and East Asia. The goal of Sanctuary Spa is to provide a wide range of spa holiday packages abroad at the most affordable price.

Spa holiday range offered by Sanctuary Spa Holidays

Special Holidays:  This package include the awesome and truly luxuries spa holiday packages that include medical spa holidays, luxury spa holiday retreat, Hen spa breaks, luxury safari and spa holidays and luxury spa breaks.

Seasonal Holidays: The season holidays offered by Sanctuary spas is the complete in and body rejuvenation for a particular season break. The seasonal spa holiday include spring spa renewal and winter spa breaks.

Customized Holidays: This holiday r ange include the popular and customized holiday packages for cycling holidays, fitness holidays, ski holidays, diving holidays, sky diving holidays, trekking and climbing holidays and much more.

For more information on Sanctuary spa Holidays visit their website http://www.sanctuaryspaholidays.co.uk

About Sanctuary Spa Holidays:

Sanctuary Spa Holidays specialise in providing the most relaxing and rewarding spa breaks. Choose from a wide selection of Spa Hotels and Resorts throughout the world at incredible and affordable prices.

End

Source: Sancturyspaholidays.co.uk Introduces Of New Spa Locations For 2017

Victorian opposition leader's comments 'unfortunate', says South Africa's ANC

Matthew Guy made the comment after 15 detainees escaped a youth detention centre following a 'disturbance' involving 30 inmates. Photograph: Helen Velissaris/AAP

The ruling party of South Africa has criticised the Victorian opposition leader, Matthew Guy, for saying Melbourne could become "the Johannesburg of the South Pacific" over a perceived increase in crime.

The African National Congress (ANC) released a statement saying Guy's comments were "unfortunate" and "seek to portray South Africa in a negative manner".

"These comments are regrettable, and feed into lazy stereotypes of African cities as crime havens," it said. "They serve to tarnish the reputation of the City of Johannesburg – known widely as the gateway to Africa; and regularly cited amongst several indices as world-class city.

"Drawing South Africa – with a well established reputation as a leading tourism destination – into the political frays of Victoria state, is unfortunate and unbecoming of a senior Australian politician."

Guy made the comment several times at a press conference in Melbourne on Wednesday after 15 detainees escaped a youth detention centre following a "disturbance" involving 30 inmates, in which one staff member was injured.

The escapees allegedly stole three cars. Six were arrested in cars an hour after their escape and two were found on foot soon after. Four more were found on Thursday morning, and the remaining four on Thursday afternoon.

"Every day we're seeing riots, we're seeing crime waves," Guy said on Wednesday. "This is a government who is standing by and allowing Melbourne to become the Johannesburg of the South Pacific."

The ANC called on the Australian high commissioner in Pretoria, Adam McCarthy, to "clarify" Guy's comments.

It also used the statement to criticise the Johannesburg mayor, Herman Mashaba, a rightwing politician from the opposition Democratic Alliance party who has pledged to "transform" the city's image.

The ANC, which was the party of Nelson Mandela and has ruled South Africa for 22 years, said Guy's comments showed the "far-reaching impact" of Mashaba's "disparaging remarks".

It added: "In essence the leader of the opposition in Victoria, Australia, is merely paraphrasing mayor Mashaba."

Guardian Australia has approached Guy for comment.

Source: Victorian opposition leader's comments 'unfortunate', says South Africa's ANC

Africa Sky Relaunches For 2017 With A Whole New Approach To Safari Holidays

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Africa Sky has relaunched their luxury holiday business with a brand-new website to show case new safari experiences and destinations.

East Grinstead, United Kingdom - January 26, 2017 /MarketersMedia/ --

The African continent is as large as China, India and the United States put together. Fortunately, however, it is not nearly as densely populated. This leaves room for large expanses of untouched natural vistas with just about every climate imaginable, from deserts to jungles, mountains to coastlines, savannahs and more. This wilderness is home to much of the most beautiful wildlife on earth, making it a popular holiday destination. Africa Sky is a luxury holiday business that has relaunched for 2017 and aims to create the ultimate bespoke safari experiences.

Africa Sky's brand-new website is designed to meet the needs of discerning holidaymakers in search of new adventures and seeks to offer comprehensive safari experiences to inspire holidaymakers with detailed information on the destinations and experiences available. The website also showcases a broad range of luxury accommodation that spans the length and breadth of Africa, including Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia and Namibia.

The company's team of twelve product experts has just completed a comprehensive tour of every country within their portfolio, in order to provide the most up to date African safari trip information guides available. The company has also established new partnerships with top luxury lodge providers, enabling it to offer the most complete set of fully tailored itineraries for travellers, whether these are for safari novices or experienced lovers of the African world.

Africa Sky's Managing Director Mike Collins explained, "We have relaunched our business with a whole new approach focusing on bespoke holidays. I'm always overwhelmed by the beauty of Africa and its unforgettable experiences. It's been the home of so many firsts for me, and for so many of our clients. From elephants strolling past my tent to trekking to Gorilla communities in the wilds of Uganda, my passion for this business is based on sharing the exhilaration I have felt a thousand times over in this amazing place. This redefinition of our priorities has been designed to help us do just that."

About Africa Sky: Africa Sky offers tailor made African experiences, including handpicked destinations and accommodation, taking a range of bespoke activities to ensure the perfect safari trip and once-in-a-lifetime experience. Their experienced team has extensively travelled throughout Africa, identifying the best game reserves, luxurious lodges and camps.

Contact Info:Name: Mike CollinsEmail: info@africaskysafari.comOrganization: Africa SkyAddress: Tropical House, Garland Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1NJPhone: 01342 547 004

Source URL: http://marketersmedia.com/africa-sky-relaunches-for-2017-with-a-whole-new-approach-to-safari-holidays/164650

For more information, please visit http://africaskysafari.com/

Source: MarketersMedia

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Source: Africa Sky Relaunches For 2017 With A Whole New Approach To Safari Holidays

Doing business in Africa? Here are four things you should know

Africa is rapidly becoming one of the most desirable investment destinations.

Picture: pixabay.com

DAVOS - Africa is home to seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, and despite the pre-conceived ideas of a continent forever plagued by disease, war and turmoil, it is rapidly becoming one of the most desirable investment destinations.

Of course, the past two years have not been easy for the continent. In 2015, an economic slump saw GDP growth slow to 3.0%, down from 4.5% in 2014. In 2016, low commodity prices continued to impede growth, and expansion decelerated to lows not seen since the 2009 global financial crisis.

But I believe 2017 will be the year the continent bounces back. Here's why.

2017: AFRICA'S YEAR?

While the headlines might be all about falling commodity prices, here on the ground I'm seeing something different: an environment where private sector-led investments is starting to flourish, in large part thanks to government-led far-reaching economic and political reforms

Indeed, the business landscape has been rapidly changing, due to increased regional mobility, rapid urbanization and population growth, all of which has boosted demand for African-manufactured products and services. This, coupled with strong interconnectedness and a sense of pan-Africanism, has brought much optimism for businesses operating in the region. With the public sector facilitating the establishment of Africa's biggest economic bloc – that may culminate in a Free Trade Area spanning Cape to Cairo – the next great investment destination for 2017 may very well be Africa.

Take the example of agri-business, which has and always will be at the centre of growth in the continent. Recently, the continent has seen a surge of innovations that are accelerating agricultural productivity. For example, new platforms are providing farmers with information on commodity prices, the availability of buyers and sellers, and guidance on best practices in harvesting and disease management.

FOUR SIGNS THAT THINGS ARE LOOKING UP IN AFRICA

The rise of these innovations speaks to the progress and potential of Africa's economy more broadly, its people and their ability to identify localized solutions for growth. But this isn't the only clue as to Africa's potential.

In fact, I see four key trends driving large-scale private sector growth on the continent. These trends are not only shaping the strategies for existing companies but have also influenced the nature and appetite for joint venture projects across the continent.

1. Processing and value addition

For a long time, development practitioners have emphasized need to give more attention to the processing of raw agricultural produce rather than exporting unprocessed agricultural commodities. Indeed, African governments have been promoting value addition for economic development for years, and yet there are still plenty of investment opportunities.

Over 80% of value in the global food industry is in value-added components such as sorting, cleaning and packaging fruits and vegetables. The various forms of value-addition provide opportunities for the private sector to expand their commercial activities and access higher-value markets, either for domestic consumers or exports.

Not only do they provide employment at all levels, but they have proven time and time again to drastically change the economic landscape of countries. A brilliant example of this is Kenya – the export value of fresh vegetables grew by as much as 250% after it stopped simply exporting raw material and started incorporating value-added tasks such as cleaning, packaging and freezing products.

Similar to the fruit and vegetables sub-sectors, Africa's cotton and apparel value chain have joined forces to integrate the global textile supply chain. In South Africa, the Aid by Trade Foundation entered into a partnership with the African Cotton and Textiles Industries Federation to promote the sustainable cotton and textile industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this partnership was to increase productivity, competitiveness and sustainability of cotton production, and thus strengthen textile production in Africa.

In Tanzania, the MeTL Group started out with cotton ginning operations for export. We then opened four textile factories for spinning and weaving of cotton in Tanzania and Mozambique. Today, we have launched our first ever garmenting factory which manufactures school uniforms, T-shirts and several cotton-apparel by-products.

2. Fast-moving consumer goods for Africa by Africa

Africa is home to one of the world's fastest growing populations and an exploding middle class with more disposable income than ever before. As a result, there is high demand for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), such as apparel, hygiene products, food and electronics. Currently, almost all these products are still being imported.

FMCG retailers tend to operate in low-margin environments, and as a result, large markets are crucial to their growth and success. With a rapidly growing continent and changing livelihoods, the potential for private sector actors in the FMCG space is promising for 2017 and beyond. McKinsey projects the growth of these consumer-facing industries will surpass $400 billion by 2020.

Over the past few years, several African entrepreneurs have started local production using locally available material in manufacturing soaps, edible oils, household cleaning products, and even school uniforms. From local companies like Del Monte Kenya Limited, Tongaat Hulett, to foreign conglomerates like Unilever and Procter and Gamble, Africa's FMCG sector has provided plenty of business opportunities, and there are some who say this could be the next "gold rush". US retail giant Wal-Mart's recent $2.5 billion dollar investment into South African retailer Massmart points that way.

McKinsey have described this sector as the "single-largest business opportunity in Africa". If these figures from the A.T. Kearney 2015 African Retail Development Index (ARDI) are anything to go by, that prediction is accurate.

3. 'Bottom of the pyramid' consumers

Despite rapid socio-political advancements in Africa, only around half of people there earn more than $4 a day. While in Africa this might be categorized as "middle class", manufactures locally and globally would still label them as low-income consumers, or the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) market.

The competitive advantage of African owned and run businesses is that, unlike their foreign counterparts, they understand the purchasing decisions of the world's more than 5 billion low-income consumers, which gives them a competitive edge.

Despite rapid socio-political advancements in Africa, only around half of people there earn more than $4 a day. While in Africa this might be categorized as "middle class", manufactures locally and globally would still label them as low-income consumers, or the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) market.

The competitive advantage of African owned and run businesses is that, unlike their foreign counterparts, they understand the purchasing decisions of the world's more than 5 billion low-income consumers, which gives them a competitive edge.

When CK Prahalad's published The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, he was speaking directly to the many African entrepreneurs that understood the world's poor and their untapped buying power. Companies on the continent are learning how to serve these consumers while making money in the process.

Single-use and/or low-cost products have been experiencing solid demand. Products like SC Johnson's individual mosquito coils for $0.01 and returnable 200ml bottles of Coca-Cola continue to be profitable because these companies have invested heavily in the logistics needed to reach BOP consumers, and have carried out market research on the packaging and disposable income required for poorer consumers to be able to buy their products.

4. African export market

Export-led growth has been a successful strategy for several developing economies. Through incentive programmes and policies, African governments and multilateral donors have encouraged exports, which have allowed companies to further diversity their operations and reap the financial benefits.

For a long time, the continent was not able to meet global export requirements. However, with the multiplicity of opportunities today – increased market linkages, partnership support, consultation, information sharing and tailored training for export trading – we've been able to take advantage of the global demand for African exports.

With a growing world population and an imminent danger of global food shortages, Africa is well poised to become the breadbasket of the world. Africa's exports will be critical to our development as a global society. The graph below illustrates the importance of commodities to different economies (dark blue and orange areas). These exports that continue to dominate many national economies will become extremely important in the growth of Africa's private sector in 2017 and beyond.

These four trends have been a long time in the making, but after a slow 2016, it looks like 2017 could be a good year for all those doing business in what is now one of the most exciting and dynamic regions in the world.

This article was republished courtesy of the World Economic Forum.

Written by Mohammed Dewji, the president and CEO at MeTL Group.

For more news, analysis and insights on Davos 2017 go to EWN's WEF portal in partnership with Ashburton Investments.

Source: Doing business in Africa? Here are four things you should know

Africa’s First Privatised National Carrier celebrates 40th Anniversary

Kenya Airways the first African flag bearer carrier to be privatized, in 1996 and listed across East Africa celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sunday January 22, 2017 since its inception in 1977.

The airline launched its inaugural flight on 4th of February, after the company was incorporated on 22nd January 1977.

Kenya Airways has become a leading player in Africa connecting the region to the World and the World to Africa through its hub in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi.

Mbuvi Ngunze, Kenya Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive, speaking at the celebration held at JKIA Terminal 1A said: "Today Kenya Airways connects directly from Nairobi to more than 54 destinations in four continents, with a fleet of 36 aircrafts from the initial 4. It has been an interesting journey and we believe our best years are ahead."

He noted Kenya Airways growth has been characterised by a strategic network expansion focusing on Africa, fleet modernisation, and high quality service among other facets of development.

The airline has commercial partnerships with various global carriers, including a joint venture with KLM and codeshares with airlines in Europe, Asia and Africa. Through its membership in the Sky Team Alliance, Kenya Airways offers service to 1,057 destinations in more than 177 countries.

Beyond Kenya, Mbuvi cited that the growth and economic transformation of the region and African continent is largely tied to success of Kenya Airways owing to its pivotal role in promoting trade; cultural exchanges, enabling an exchange of ideas as well as promoting peaceful co-existence among people of different beliefs and cultural backgrounds.

He commended the staff, guests, partners and shareholders for their tremendous support."We sincerely thank everyone who have been a part of this journey in the past and today, and look forward to many more years of being the Pride of Africa. Kenya Airways is committed to continue serving the region promoting trade, and offering quality service to our guests," he said.

As part of the celebrations, Kenya Airways had launched a sales campaign offering customers up to 40% discounts on tickets to various destinations across its network. The offer also includes a special US$ 1977 price for its business class tickets to Europe; Paris, London and Amsterdam.

Source: Footprint to Africa

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Source: Africa's First Privatised National Carrier celebrates 40th Anniversary

Lonely Planet's budget and luxury honeymoon destinations

Lonely Planet has released its first and only travel guide for newlyweds, "The Honeymoon Handbook," that features over 25 of the most exciting locations — from Andalucia to Zambia. It starts with a quiz to determine what kind of trip to take based on what you two love the most: whether it's backpacking in Borneo, touring Tuscany or cruising around Cuba. Take a look at some of these breathtaking destinations.

"Reproduced with permission from The Honeymoon Handbook, © 2017 Lonely Planet"

© Sean Pavone/Shutterstock; Peter Adams/Getty Images; Matt Munro/Lonely Planet; wildestanimal/Getty Im...
Source: Lonely Planet's budget and luxury honeymoon destinations

Making Nigeria an Interesting Destination for FDI

As the Federal Government seeks both local and foreign private sector investment to help revive the economy, two experts and founders of Helios Investment Partners, Temitope Lawani and Babatunde Soyoye, have proffered useful tips on existing opportunities to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Abimbola Akosile writes

Nigeria, which was rebased as Africa's largest economy in 2014, is in need of more investments, after taking huge hits from global crashes in prices of crude oil – its main source of revenue – with resultant impacts on the economy, local currency, employment, infrastructure and poverty.

Many analysts and experts have suggested various ways to help get the Nigerian economy back to its feet, with options like intensive mechanised agriculture and agro-processing, economic diversification, and greater foreign direct investment among the tips to help rescue the economy from the current recession.

Two financial experts and investment consultants, Temitope Lawani and Babatunde Soyoye, who are founding partners of Helios Investment Partners, a global investment firm with Nigerian roots, speak extensively on what could be done to turn the situation around for the better.

Continental Impact

Highlighting Helios' impact on Africa and Nigeria's growth, Lawani and Soyoye explained that, "Today, Helios is one of the few independent pan-African private investment firms founded and led by Africans. We believe that the firm effectively serves as a "bridge" between Africa, on the one hand, and Europe, North America and Asia, on the other, and that our investment approach yields opportunities to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for our investors while at the same time contributing to the socioeconomic development of the continent.

"The Helios private equity platform invests across a full range of investment types, including business formations, growth equity investments, structured investments in listed entities and large scale leveraged acquisitions. To date, Helios has successfully raised three private equity funds and manages approximately $3 billion. Last year the firm established Helios Credit Partners, a dedicated credit platform to address what we believe is an unmet need in Nigeria and, more broadly, Africa for appropriately structured, flexible, commercially viable and tailored credit to support the growth of African companies."

Retaining FDI

With regards to retaining and increasing foreign direct investment in Nigeria, they noted, "In our view the current administration is making headway on the priorities outlined by the President, and we are encouraged by this. As business builders and investors, we believe the key issues to tackle within government are transparency, accountability, empowerment and legal protection for investor rights. At the same time real, sustainable momentum needs to be injected into the economy if we are to stave off present and future social instability.

Nigeria has such a massive youth population and, if we are to improve the productive capacity of the economy, we need to improve labour productivity. Put simply, the quality of the labour force has to get better.

"Aside from the scale of its economy, Nigeria has immense comparative advantages including rising incomes, growing urbanisation and increasing diversification into service sectors such as financial services and telecommunications. However, without structural reform, it will continue to lurch from one crisis to another letting these opportunities pass it by."

Notable Investments

Speaking on their organisation's investments move to showcase their faith in Nigeria, Lawani and Soyoye noted that, "Over the past ten years, Helios has made private equity investments in 23 businesses, 10 of which operate in Nigeria, including starting one business, HTN Towers, from scratch.

In each case, the capital we invest is to drive growth within a business, which has a positive effect, not only on the company itself but more broadly on consumers. For example, by enhancing lives through access to information and technology as in the case of HTN Towers, Interswitch and Mall for Africa; creating financial security and financial inclusion at ARM Pensions, Crown Agents Bank and Investment Management, FCMB and Interswitch; improving environmental care and quality for example with Eland Oil & Gas and Petrobras Africa, and providing clean energy access through Oando Gas and Power."

"We have also made one credit investment in Nigeria. Last year, Helios Credit completed a secured asset financing of Starzs Investments, a leading indigenous Nigerian offshore oil and gas company", they added.

Positive Commitment

According to them, "Our commitment to Nigeria is commensurate with the country's position as the largest economy on the continent, and consistent with our investment strategy, which is to buy and build market-leading, diversified platform companies operating in the core economic sectors of key African markets like Nigeria.

For Helios, making financial investments entails a focus on driving value creation throughout the course of our ownership.

"While the Nigerian economy has indeed entered a recession, with a slowing of domestic demand, investment and private sector activity, we continue to find interesting opportunities to invest in companies we believe are core to the functioning of the economy; and we are confident that the current environment is a good one in which to continue to make long-term investments in the country. We believe that the next few years provide a real opportunity for businesses with strong fundamentals to differentiate themselves, and really contribute to the recovery and growth of the economy in the medium term; and we remain excited about the opportunities to partner with such businesses", they added.

Clarion Call

Considering the federal government's call for vital foreign direct investment (FDI) and how this can be achieved, the investment experts said, "There are indeed many investment opportunities in Nigeria, which make it an interesting destination for FDI, evidenced by the fact that in the last 10 years, Nigeria has received nearly a fifth of FDI flows into sub-Saharan Africa.

As with all our investments, we ensure that the integrity of the Helios investment process is maintained as we rigorously follow our investment strategy, and the way in which we conduct our business and our disciplined investment approach is therefore designed accordingly", they added.

Fresh Plans

Responding to inquiries on whether the firm is planning other investments in Africa and Nigeria after investing billions of dollars already, Lawani and Soyoye noted that, "While we have indeed invested over $2 billion across the continent, our total investment into Nigerian businesses is more than 30 per cent of the total invested, which is consistent with our guidelines on prudent diversification by country. "We are now halfway through the investment period of our third private equity fund, and have to date committed over half the available capital. We have built a strong pipeline of opportunities across the continent, and look forward to making additional investments into businesses that operate in Nigeria. We continually evaluate a wide variety of opportunities, and remain active in many areas" they added.

Future Outlook

Situating Helios in the development process of Nigeria and Africa in the next five years, they said, "By investing across the capital structure, in both our private equity and direct lending businesses, we help businesses in Nigeria and across Africa to grow. Over the next five years, we foresee the impact of our existing investments increasing, and we expect that Helios will continue to commit significant amounts of capital.

"As Nigerians who have had the good fortune to be exposed to various cultures, and to have built successful careers outside of the continent, we decided to turn our attention and energies to Africa in the desire to contribute to the economic and social development of the continent. We believe that, as individuals, we have an obligation to use our capabilities and resources to make a positive and sustained impact on the region.

"As a firm, we believe that the greatest contribution to regional development will come from the building of profitable, value-creating, and socially responsible private enterprises. In so doing, we hope to demonstrate that the duty of firms such as Helios to earn acceptable risk-adjusted returns for their investors is not in fact at odds with the goal of social and economic development in Africa", they added.

Source: Making Nigeria an Interesting Destination for FDI

Ethiopian to Link Chengdu with Africa….Plans Record Expansion in its Network with Seven New Destinations in the First Half of 2017

Africa's largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, is delighted to announce that it has concluded preparations to start new flight to Chengdu, China three times weekly as of June 3, 2017. Chengdu is the capital of China's Sichuan province and is the 7th-largest city in China. Chengdu is the country's western center of logistics, commerce, science and technology, as well as a hub of transportation, manufacturing and communication. Chengdu is also a major hub for Air China, Ethiopian Airlines' Star Alliance partner. With this new flight, passengers from Ethiopian vast and growing network in Africa will be able to quickly connect to dozens of cities in China partnership with Air China, including Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Xiamen, Wuhan, Changsha, and Urumqi.

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said: "We are glad to launch services to Chengdu, our fifth gateway to The Republic of China. Since our first flight 43 years ago, China has been a key market and it is now the largest per country market in our system. Using the geocentric location advantage of our hub in Addis Ababa we are connecting China, the world's second largest economy and Africa's biggest trade and investment partner, with 52 cities in the continent of Africa. With the addition of Chengdu, we shall offer the best and fastest connectivity options with a total of 34 weekly flights to China, operated with the latest and most comfortable B787 and B777 aircraft. Our Chinese customers will also enjoy seamless connection on Ethiopian vast intra African network and farther to São Paulo in Brazil."

Ethiopian is investing to make Addis Ababa a Chinese friendly hub airport for the continent. We now have Mandarin translators and signage available at the airport transit area and in the Cloud Nine Business Class Lounge. Chinese New Year is also marked every year at Addis Abba Airport. Ethiopian was the first African carrier and the fourth in the world to fly to China back in 1973. In addition to the three weekly flights to Chengdu to be launched in June, Ethiopian currently operates daily nonstop flights to Beijing, 10 weekly nonstop to Guangzhou, and 6 weekly nonstop to Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines, is delighted to announce that it will launch seven new destinations within five months during the 2017 calendar year. This is one of the greatest expansions in Ethiopian's long and illustrious history. From February to June, Ethiopian will launch new service to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Conakry (Guinea), Oslo (Norway), Chengdu (China), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Singapore (Singapore). With the addition of these stations, Ethiopian will have service from Addis Ababa to 98 different international cities located across the world.

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said: "Africa's share of the Global Aviation is the smallest which is only around 3%. As the largest airline group in the continent, we are highly concerned on the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and between the continent and the rest of the world. Looking beyond the current economic slowdown especially in the oil export dependent economies of Africa, we firmly believe that the continent will become the magnet for foreign direct investment, trade and tourism, which are the engines of air travel growth and in turn efficient air connectivity also drives socio economic development and we are happy to contribute our share in the 21st Century African Transformation."

In the just ended calendar year alone, new flights to Moroni (Comoros), WindHoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) were launched, as well as three cities in Ethiopia: Hawassa, Kebridahar and Dembidolo. Ethiopian is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, and we are expanding our wings every year. Ethiopian envisages to reach 120 international destinations worldwide by the year 2025. 98 down, 22 to go!

Source: Ethiopian to Link Chengdu with Africa….Plans Record Expansion in its Network with Seven New Destinations in the First Half of 2017

Zimbabwe is the most expensive tourist destination

Zimbabwe is by far the most expensive tourist destination compared to other destinations in the Sadc region and beyond. But for the benefit of all and sundry, let me restrict this instalment to the Sadc region.

The effect of the high price regime has been that the country, despite being among the most attractive in the region, risks out-bidding itself through a prize regime that is deterrent to tourists.

In a global village as necessitated and dictated by the technology, tourists have many options to visit and such high prices certainly have a knock effect on Zimbabwe, as a priority.

There are too many taxes and as if that is not enough, the Government's introduction of 15 percent VAT on accommodation for foreign tourists last year further worsened things.

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Source: Zimbabwe is the most expensive tourist destination

Zimbabwean startups raised over US$1.2 million in 2016 – country ranked as Africa’s 7th most popular funding destination

In 2016 Zimbabwean tech startups secured over US$1.2 million in investment and the country was ranked as the 7th most popular destination in Africa in terms of total funding for tech startups.

This information was shared in the Disrupt Africa African Tech Startups Funding Report for 2016. This annual report documents tech startup investments across Africa, detailing the funding round (the investment stage), amounts, investors and the work done by the startups.

Disrupt Africa's report also provided data on 2016's startup acquisitions and the information gathered from surveys on African entrepreneur and investor community preferences.

According to the report, African tech startups raised funding in excess of US$129 million in 2016, while the number of startups that secured funding went up by 16.8% in comparison to 2015 figures.

There was significant growth in the number of startups securing investment compared to 2015 numbers. However, the overall total amount of funding recorded declined.

According to Tom Jackson, co-founder of Disrupt Africa,

The general theme of 2016 has been more rounds, but with fewer standout tickets than in 2015. The African tech space has not been immune to the economic pressures faced by other sectors, but it is proving extremely resilient. The fact more startups raised funding in 2016 than ever before demonstrates the vitality of this sector, and we expect investor interest to grow and grow over the course of 2017.

Of the nine sectors analysed in the report, the fintech sector received the most backing in 2016, with startups in this space raising a combined US$31.4 million.

South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya the continent's 3 traditional anchor markets for tech startup investment were once again Africa's most popular investment destinations. They registered 80.3% of all funding secured in 2016.

Investment in Egypt tech startups more than doubled during the year and it is now the fourth-ranked destination.

Zimbabwe's own growth in investments, up from just one angel investment round in 2015, was recorded from three startups – Zazu which an agri-tech startup which provides a digital marketplace linking farmers and buyers; Esaja.com which is a Pan African B2B marketplace for intra-continent trade and BitFinance a crypto-currency startup with a Bitcoin exchange.

Source: Zimbabwean startups raised over US$1.2 million in 2016 – country ranked as Africa's 7th most popular funding destination

Team SA to position country as an investment destination

Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address a session entitled Coalition for African Research and Innovation today, on the second day of the annual World Economic Forum (WEF).

The Deputy President will also on Wednesday lead Team South Africa to the Business Interaction Working Group where South Africa will be positioned as an investment destination of choice, and participate in a discussion, Africa's Road to Prosperity.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is leading a senior government, labour and business delegation to the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Held under the banner, "Responsible and Responsive Leadership," Team South Africa will share with international delegates how South Africa aims to respond to this theme. 

The National Development Plan is a key driver of how South Africa will enable the creation of an increasingly equitable and inclusive society.

According to the Presidency, Team South Africa convenes in Davos with a view to position South Africa as open for business and a globally competitive destination which is committed to achieving inclusive growth and employment, restoring investor confidence, achieving a more supportive business environment, actions to support growth and employment and refining government spending efficiency.

"Participants at WEF Davos will grapple with very challenging political and socio-economic issues including changing geopolitics, lowered global economic growth and most importantly, the creation of equitable and inclusive nations. 

"Delegates will strongly deliberate on how to respond to the message being communicated by citizens worldwide in that they are increasingly looking to access opportunities for growth and development," said the Presidency.

Thursday, on day three of the meeting, will see Deputy President Ramaphosa participating in an informal gathering of world economic leaders looking at responsive and responsible leadership in a multipolar world.

Team South Africa will engage in a range of bilateral discussions in Davos while also participating in sessions organised by the World Economic Forum. - SAnews.gov.za

Source: Team SA to position country as an investment destination

Ethiopian Airlines Plans Record Expansion with Seven New Destinations

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Ethiopian Airlines announced that it will launch seven new destinations within five months during the 2017 calendar year. 

This is one of the greatest expansions in Ethiopian's long and illustrious history.

From February to June, Ethiopian will launch new service to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Antananarivo (Madagascar), Conakry (Guinea), Oslo (Norway), Chengdu (China), Jakarta (Indonesia) and Singapore (Singapore). With the addition of these stations, Ethiopian will have service from Addis Ababa to 98 different international cities located across the world.

Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, said:

"Africa's share of the Global Aviation is the smallest which is only around 3%. As the largest airline group in the continent, we are highly concerned about the low base of air connectivity in the continent and we are setting record expansion to enable Africans to enjoy safe, reliable and economical air connectivity both within the continent and between the continent and the rest of the world. Looking beyond the current economic slowdown especially in the oil export dependent economies of Africa, we firmly believe that the continent will become the magnet for foreign direct investment, trade, and tourism, which are the engines of air travel growth and in turn efficient air connectivity also drives socio-economic development and we are happy to contribute our share in the 21st Century African Transformation."

In the just ended calendar year alone, new flights to Moroni (Comoros), WindHoek (Namibia) and Newark (United States) were launched, as well as three cities in Ethiopia:  Hawassa, Kebridahar and Dembidolo.  Ethiopian is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world, and we are expanding our wings every year.

Ethiopian envisages to reach 120 international destinations worldwide by the year 2025. 98 down, 22 to go.

Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian) is the fastest growing airline in Africa. In its seven decades of operation, Ethiopian has become one of the continent's leading carriers, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Ethiopian commands the lion's share of the pan-African passenger and cargo network operating the youngest and most modern fleet across five continents. Ethiopian fleet includes ultra-modern and environmentally friendly aircraft such as Airbus A350, Boeing 787,

Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 777-200LR, Boeing 777-200 Freighter, and Bombardier Q-400 double cabin. Ethiopian was the first airline in Africa to own and operate each of these aircraft.

Ethiopian is currently implementing a 15-year strategic plan called Vision 2025 that will see it become the leading aviation group in Africa with seven business centers:

Ethiopian Domestic and Regional Airline; Ethiopian International Passenger Airline; Ethiopian Cargo; Ethiopian MRO; Ethiopian Aviation Academy; Ethiopian In-flight Catering Services; and Ethiopian Ground Service. Ethiopian is a multi-award winning airline registering an average annual growth of 25% in the past seven years.

Source: Ethiopian Airlines Plans Record Expansion with Seven New Destinations

Algarve remains cheapest holiday destination for UK tourists

Best for British value … Praia Da Oura, Albufeira Algarve, Portugal Photograph: Alamy

The Algarve has been named the cheapest destination for UK tourists in 2017, a year that may be defined by the "currency conscious holiday".

The popular Portuguese region has topped Post Office Travel Money's worldwide holiday costs barometer for the second year running. The survey looks at the average price of tourist staples at 44 resorts and cities.

In the Algarve, the average price of a three-course evening meal for two, including a bottle of house wine, is £18.27 – more than £150 cheaper than the equivalent meal in Dubai (the most expensive destination) and half the price of similar European tourist spots, such as Corfu or Malta.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was the second-best-value resort, where a bottle of local beer costs 69p and an evening meal for two £23.15. In third place is Spain's Costa del Sol, which has seen a drop in local prices over the last year.

Other good-value destinations include Marmaris in Turkey, Prague and Budapest, where a meal costs around £30 and a bottle of beer about £2.

Outside of Europe, destinations such as Cape Town and Cancun, Mexico, continue to offer good value for money, with the weak peso and stable prices being a factor in Cancun's affordability. One surprise entry is Tokyo, which is ranked eight best-value destination, ahead of other Asian cities and resorts. In Tokyo the average price of an evening meal is £37.96, making it the best value long-haul destination this year.

A view of the Table Mountain Cable Car descending from Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa. Photograph: Neil Austen/Getty Images/Gallo Images

According to the survey, this is the result of prices falling in Tokyo over the past two years following an economic downturn. While the yen has risen in value over the past year – particularly against the pound, post-Brexit referendum– costs have still remained low in Tokyo.

James Mundy from Inside Japan Tours is surprised it is among the cheapest destinations, but says it is a misconception that Japan is an expensive destination.

"Japan has always been good value despite the reputation as 'an expensive country,'" he says.

"Once you have paid for flights and accommodation, eating out in Japan and travelling around is relatively good value. There are some great options for eating out – such as all you can eat and drink at a traditional izakaya for around £30."

While the falling value of the pound will have affected UK tourists' spending power abroad, Post Office Travel Money says this is only part of the picture, with local costs playing a far bigger role in how far the holiday budget stretches. This is one reason why Portugal continues to be among the most affordable: the local price of a meal is down almost 5% year-on-year. Bulgaria has also seen a 1.5% fall in local prices, while the Costa del Sol has experienced a 3% drop.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: "Europe is looking unbeatable value with nine of this year's 10 cheapest destinations, not to mention local price falls in half the European resorts and cities we surveyed."

He added: "Further afield, Tokyo and Cancun are good bets for bargain hunters but don't discount Cape Town or Bali. If the rand and rupiah fall in value, low costs on the ground could make these great choices too."

According to another report released this week by hotel booking site trivago.co.uk, there is a similar disparity of prices between different cities within the UK.

It found Blackpool to be the cheapest place in the UK for hotel accommodation, with an average price of £63 a night in 2016. This is followed by Great Yarmouth and Scarborough, at £72 and £80 respectively.

Unsurprisingly, London was found to be the most expensive destination, with an average hotel price of £156 a night, followed by Bath, Oxford and Cambridge, with prices between £130-£144.

Source: Algarve remains cheapest holiday destination for UK tourists

How to Experience the Magic of a Kenyan Safari

A Kenya Safari can be one of the most memorable and exciting experiences you could ever have.

If you are planning to go on a tour in Africa, then you can certainly be sure you will not regret your choice of choosing to travel to Kenya out of all the magnificent safari destinations in Africa.

A well known destination for tourist to travel to all around the world, the beautiful and scenic grasslands, as well as a multitude of wildlife, make this a prime location to see not only the "Big 5" but many other things as well.

There really is no better place to grab your travel buddy and get such a rich, surreal experience.

The word "safari" is mainly used in East Africa, and whenever it is used, everyone knows that some wild animals and bush riding is in the itinerary.

As one of the seventh wonders of the world, every tourist traveling in Kenya talks about The Masai Mara National Reserve. This reserve is a perfect example of Savannah grassland of the African plateau. It covers 1,500 square kilometers of grassland and shrubs, and is best visited during one particularly striking attraction – the annual wildebeest migration in August.

Natural phenomena occur in the world, but few can compete with this annual migration of the Serengeti wildebeest. Up to two million animals which include wildebeest and zebras move in a clockwise direction around the huge ecosystem, driven by ancient instincts, pasture and fresh water.

A little earlier, during the months of June and July, the wildebeest will find their first big challenge in their quest – crossing the Grumeti River. Whenever the river is dried up, it will be diminished to a few pools and the herds quickly find their way between the crocodiles and also hippos in their depths. However in rainy years, the wildebeest are compelled to dive first into marine environments inhabited by a few of Africa's greatest crocodiles where they risk their lives to continue the migration.

From July to September, the herd moves north to the fertile plains of northern Serengeti and Masai Mara. Therefore, the next river crossing spectacular stage takes place in the river Mara, at any time between July and October. Thousands of wildebeest can stand along the river and graze green grass on the other side, waiting for their movement.

In the vast Serengeti plains and deep hills of the Masai Mara, the largest herd of animals on the planet moves in an endless natural pattern to find food to survive. This unique natural phenomenon is recognized as the biggest spectacle of wildlife in Africa.

The Meru National Park is compared to the Masai Mara National Reserve. This region experiences heavy rainfall and has fourteen permanent rivers and numerous permanent springs crisscrossing around it. Meru National Parks has a green, deep indigenous forest as well as tall grass and is a home to a larger amount of wild animals and birds compared to any other park.

Tsavo National Park is one of the popular Kenya Safari tour destinations and the largest national park in Kenya, which operates in 22,000 square kilometers. Nairobi-Mombasa highway divides the park. These areas have the highest amount of game in Kenya but were reduced considerably due to poaching, but the numbers are on the rise due to increased surveillance by the Kenya Wildlife Service.

With all these options available, there is no excuse to delay the desire to travel to exotic places like Kenya. Thanks to the exceptional ability to retain Kenyan parks in their natural form, visitors can see more of what is included in a Kenya Safari with lots of opportunities to experience a Kenyan safari the way it was meant to be experienced.

Would you ever travel to Africa and take a Kenyan safari tour?

Source: How to Experience the Magic of a Kenyan Safari

Algarve remains cheapest holiday destination for UK tourists

Best for British value … Praia Da Oura, Albufeira Algarve, Portugal Photograph: Alamy

The Algarve has been named the cheapest destination for UK tourists in 2017, a year that may be defined by the "currency conscious holiday".

The popular Portuguese region has topped Post Office Travel Money's worldwide holiday costs barometer for the second year running. The survey looks at the average price of tourist staples at 44 resorts and cities.

In the Algarve, the average price of a three-course evening meal for two, including a bottle of house wine, is £18.27 – more than £150 cheaper than the equivalent meal in Dubai (the most expensive destination) and half the price of similar European tourist spots, such as Corfu or Malta.

Sunny Beach, Bulgaria, was the second-best-value resort, where a bottle of local beer costs 69p and an evening meal for two £23.15. In third place is Spain's Costa del Sol, which has seen a drop in local prices over the last year.

Other good-value destinations include Marmaris in Turkey, Prague and Budapest, where a meal costs around £30 and a bottle of beer about £2.

Outside of Europe, destinations such as Cape Town and Cancun, Mexico, continue to offer good value for money, with the weak peso and stable prices being a factor in Cancun's affordability. One surprise entry is Tokyo, which is ranked eight best-value destination, ahead of other Asian cities and resorts. In Tokyo the average price of an evening meal is £37.96, making it the best value long-haul destination this year.

A view of the Table Mountain Cable Car descending from Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa. Photograph: Neil Austen/Getty Images/Gallo Images

According to the survey, this is the result of prices falling in Tokyo over the past two years following an economic downturn. While the yen has risen in value over the past year – particularly against the pound, post-Brexit referendum– costs have still remained low in Tokyo.

James Mundy from Inside Japan Tours is surprised it is among the cheapest destinations, but says it is a misconception that Japan is an expensive destination.

"Japan has always been good value despite the reputation as 'an expensive country,'" he says.

"Once you have paid for flights and accommodation, eating out in Japan and travelling around is relatively good value. There are some great options for eating out – such as all you can eat and drink at a traditional izakaya for around £30."

While the falling value of the pound will have affected UK tourists' spending power abroad, Post Office Travel Money says this is only part of the picture, with local costs playing a far bigger role in how far the holiday budget stretches. This is one reason why Portugal continues to be among the most affordable: the local price of a meal is down almost 5% year-on-year. Bulgaria has also seen a 1.5% fall in local prices, while the Costa del Sol has experienced a 3% drop.

Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: "Europe is looking unbeatable value with nine of this year's 10 cheapest destinations, not to mention local price falls in half the European resorts and cities we surveyed."

He added: "Further afield, Tokyo and Cancun are good bets for bargain hunters but don't discount Cape Town or Bali. If the rand and rupiah fall in value, low costs on the ground could make these great choices too."

According to another report released this week by hotel booking site trivago.co.uk, there is a similar disparity of prices between different cities within the UK.

It found Blackpool to be the cheapest place in the UK for hotel accommodation, with an average price of £63 a night in 2016. This is followed by Great Yarmouth and Scarborough, at £72 and £80 respectively.

Unsurprisingly, London was found to be the most expensive destination, with an average hotel price of £156 a night, followed by Bath, Oxford and Cambridge, with prices between £130-£144.

Source: Algarve remains cheapest holiday destination for UK tourists

Ethiopian Airlines adds a new destination

Africa's largest airline group, Ethiopian Airlines, will add Antananarivo, Madagascar to its 95 networks of worldwide destinations by March 28, 2017.

A statement issued in Accra by Mrs Hanna Atnafu, Manager Corporate Communications, Ethiopian Airlines, said Antananarivo was the capital and the largest city of Madagascar.

It said the island nation was known as a "biodiversity hot-spot" as over 90 per cent of its wildlife was found nowhere else on earth.

"Madagascar is home to lush rain forests and is famous for its curious lemurs," it said.

The statement said Ethiopian's new nonstop flight would operate three times weekly to and from Ethiopian's hub at Addis Ababa, where passengers could connect to and from cities throughout the world, including Washington, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Beirut, Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.

Mr Tewolde GebreMariam, Group CEO Ethiopian Airlines, said: "Ethiopian, as a flagship carrier of Africa, is pleased to add Madagascar to its wide route network."

He said having started serving Africa seven decades ago with their motto "Bringing Africa Closer", they were now continually enhancing their services and working to "Connect Africa to the World".

He said as air connectivity was an essential cause and driver of a nation's socio-economic integration, their new service would certainly contribute to a growing business and bilateral cooperation with other sisterly African cities.

The Group CEO said travelers from Madagascar would be seamlessly connected with Ethiopian Airlines ever-expanding network across five continents.

Ethiopian is a truly indigenous Pan-African global carrier that operates the youngest and the most modern fleet in the continent with an average aircraft age of less than five years.

Source: Ethiopian Airlines adds a new destination

The Cost Of Being An American Tourist

Good news for globe-trotting Americans: most countries around the world are free or very cheap to get in to. But, as this map from HowMuch.net shows, some countries do charge through the nose for a visa. And it's not the ones you would expect.

Source: HowMuch.net

First, let's get a persistent myth out of the way, the one that says Americans don't travel overseas. That so-called fact is proven by an oft-cited statistic: only 10% of U.S. citizens – or thereabouts – have passports. Wrong! According to the State Department, the actual figure is closer to 46%. And that corresponds to more than 131 million American passport holders.

And that passport is all you need to gain entry in most countries. The official at the border will stamp one of the pages at the back of your booklet and off you go, to explore other climes and cultures. But quite a few nations are not satisfied with passports alone. They require a visa – and to obtain that visa, you must pay. Sometimes you can purchase it on arrival, often you must get it at the embassy or consulate of your destination country. So, who wants how much?

Entry into Europe is completely free for U.S. citizens, from Monaco to Moldova, from Liechtenstein to Lithuania, from the UK to Ukraine. And just about anywhere nearby or in between. With a few exceptions.

A visa for Belarus costs $65. For that price, you get to visit the landlocked Russian satellite state often branded "the last dictatorship in Europe". It is highly advised to say only nice things about its president Alexander Lukashenko, in power since 1994.

Talking about countries with long-lasting leaders, the Russia of Putin (in power since 2000, alternately as president and prime minister) currently charges an entry fee of $160. That sounds like a lot, but Russia is the biggest country in the world.

Azerbaijan, that Maine-sized ex-Soviet republic on the extreme southeastern edge of Europe, wants exactly as much. In comparison, that seems a bit steep.

Lest you think that it's just post-communist near-autocracies that want a visa fee, check out the Czech Republic. Want to see the splendor of Prague? That'll cost ya $98 to get in. Not cheap, but still not as much as a day pass to Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. And all the Czech castles are real. Plus, this is if you want to stay longer than 90 days. Shorter visits are still free. Eat that, Mickey!

Free entry is a lot rarer in Asia, but there is still plenty of choice.

Americans can get in for free in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, Japan and South Korea, Taiwan and the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. There is also free entry for countries many not even have heard of – so why not go see Brunei or Kyrgyzstan? The diving is supposed to be good in the Maldives.

In the Middle East, you don't pay a cent to get into Lebanon, Israel or the United Arab Emirates, where out of the empty sand dunes the global metropolis of Dubai has arisen almost overnight. Get your Israeli stamp on a separate leaf if you plan to visit any other places in the Middle East: they don't take kindly to people who visit a state they see as mercilessly oppressing Palestine.

All the other Asian countries require visas. The cheapest ones, color-coded light green, are Nepal and Tajikistan (both $25); Cambodia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste (all $30); and Kuwait and Laos (both $35).

In the slightly more expensive yellow bracket, we find Bangladesh, India, Iraq and Oman ($50). Communist North Korea wants 70 of your capitalist dollars, and Bahrain ($77), Uzbekistan ($80) and Vietnam ($85) think you will afford a bit more for the privilege of visiting them.

In the orange band, things turn political – or so it would seem. Iran wants $100 before you get a visa. Even more like a shakedown is the $140 you need to get a Chinese single-entry visa... if you're an American. The same type of visa can be had for as little as $30, if you're not an American citizen. The Afghans ($160) want even more, but we doubt if it's that fee which is keeping away all those tourists.

Bhutan is a small kingdom jammed between India and China, trying hard to take from the modern world only what it deems culturally appropriate. Perhaps that is why the $200 visa seems a bit dissuasive. Same for the other pink-coded Asian country: Burma, a.k.a. Myanmar, tentatively emerging from decades of isolationist military dictatorship. By all means go see its fly-in-amber culture, but be prepared to fork out $250 for a visa.

The most expensive country in the world, visa-wise, charges more than double. For a visa to get into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, you will have to part with no less than 533 of your hard-earned dollars. Well, at least you won't be spending that amount of money on the Riyadh club and bar scene.

Africa is a mixed bag, visa-price-wise. Some of the continent's most fabled and popular holiday destinations can be visited free of charge. Island paradises such as the Seychelles and Mauritius. Fabulous South Africa and its neighbors Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia. Northern African dream destinations Morocco and Tunisia. Senegal in West Africa.

Egypt would like $20 before you get a live look at the pyramids. Togo and Zimbabwe want $30, while the island paradises of the Comoros ($32) and Cabo Verde ($43), also in the green category, are not as free as the others.

Many African countries charge an entry fee between $50 and $100, i.e. the yellow band. These include Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia (it'll be a while before its fee turns into a moneyspinner), Tanzania, Angola, Djibouti, Sao Tome and Principé, Malawi, Benin, Ghana, Mali and Madagascar – to be precise. Yes, buying the movie Madagascar is a lot cheaper, but the island itself is much more awe-inspiring.

The most popular color in Africa is orange ($100-$200), with Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Uganda all charging an entry fee equal to one Ben Franklin. Gabon charges you two Bens, as does the neighboring Republic of the Congo – not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which wants $175 for a visa. Both Congos are the only two countries in the world with their capitals right across from each other. Land in Kinshasa, take off from Brazzaville, and you'll have spent $375 on visa fees alone.

That is more than you would spend touching down in Lagos, although Nigeria is the African country with the highest visa fee: $253.

So what about Oceania?

There is a whole list of island paradises that you can fly to visa-free, from Fiji and Kiribati to Micronesia and Palau; from Samoa to the Solomon Islands, and from the Marshall Islands to Vanuatu; and of course Tonga and Tuvalu. Let's throw in another, slightly larger island paradise for free: New Zealand.

But cross the Tasman Sea, and be prepared to fork out $20 to enter Australia. That's half as much as Papua New Guinea wants, and a fifth of Nauru's entry fee.

For Americans, it is a bit cheaper to stay closer to home, even if you discount the air fare. You have to travel pretty far on the American continent to find a country that wants money for your visit. It's a pretty short list, even across the entire hemisphere:

Suriname, the former Dutch colony marooned on the northern shore of South America, wants $35 for your visit.

Paraguay charges at least $100 before you enter the country

and its neighbor Brazil takes the cake by taking $160 for your entry visa.

Some of the visa fees come across as deliberately dissuasive – Saudi Arabia nor Bhutan seem keen on becoming major tourist destinations. In general, the richer countries are visa-free, while the poorer ones charge higher fees, no doubt not in an attempt to keep out visitors, but to fill the state coffers. That should not keep away the determined visitor: all things considered, none of the fees is prohibitive, especially considering the fact that higher visa fees are likely to be offset by the lower cost of living in most of those destinations.

Source: The Cost Of Being An American Tourist

Sub-Saharan Africa: Meetings Africa 2017 Defines Business Events and the Achievement of Development Goals

Business Events has grown in international recognition over the past few decades across Africa and remains one of the driving growth drivers in the sector overall. As illustrated by the World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2015, business air arrivals are expected to by 5% for South Africa, and 6% for Kenya, for the period from 2015 to 2019. The benefits and impact of meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events on a destination can therefore create considerable opportunities for a city or country's economy and South Africa is no different. 

A caveat that the balance is maintained between the demand and supply sides of the industry is inherent and South Africa can successfully use business events to achieve pre-defined development goals. Meetings Africa 2017 is such an opportunity and can position South Africa as the hosting region, according to Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, Chief Convention Bureau Officer of the South Africa National Convention Bureau. 

"South Africa has everything it takes to become a major player on the global market for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events," Kotze-Nhlapo said. "Most importantly, there is no time better than the present to work as a unified collective to take advantage of business events trends and subsequently promote our regional destinations locally and internationally as value-for-money termini, given the industry's significant contribution to our country's economy." 

Kotze-Nhlapo emphasised the fact that there is a need for South Africa and other African countries to solidify efforts to ensure that disadvantaged communities start benefiting from it in a sustainable manner. 'Sustainability' is the theme at Meetings Africa 2017, and will ensure the empowerment of local citizens while helping to protect and conserve the often fragile ecosystems on which African tourism depends. 

With South Africa having created awareness that the country is more than capable of hosting large international meetings in recent years, coupled with the fact that the country is one of the world's fastest growing markets – it makes sense that the upcoming Meetings Africa 2017 event is already appealing to Africa's top exhibitors whose offerings promise to yield business opportunities. 

"Taking into consideration its magnitude, Meetings Africa 2017 is an ideal platform for Africa to showcase its respective business tourism capabilities," she said. "The event provides a platform for exhibitors to showcase their offerings to African associations, and international and local corporate planners. Therefore, this is the right opportunity to meet face to face with the most influential buyers in the world, and to be part of Africa's growth." 

Kotze-Nhlapo added that the event will not only heighten the impact of business events on South Africa's economy, but will draw attention to the positive influence of hosting large international meetings, which will subsequently make room for business, trade and capital investment. 

"Foreign arrivals continue to reflect the consistent growth of South Africa's tourism industry. Successively, foreign arrivals are very important to our industry," she concluded. 

Courtesy of the South Africa National Convention Bureau

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Source: Sub-Saharan Africa: Meetings Africa 2017 Defines Business Events and the Achievement of Development Goals