Rwanda’s Airline eyes American destinations

The Rwanda national flag carrier, RwandAir, could start flying to the United States of America by 2019, officials have revealed Monday.

According to the airline's chief executive, John Mirenge, the national flag carrier targets to enter the US market with a route to New York "if all goes according to plan".

Africa's youngest and fast-growing airline recently announced it would start flights to Gatwick, London's second-busiest airport, next year. This is part of the airline's strategy to penetrate overseas markets and open Kigali to the rest of the world.

Mirenge further said the airline would acquire another Airbus A350 XWB wide-body plane for the Kigali-US route.

The A350 XWB is Airbus' all-new family of wide-body aircraft that is shaping the future of medium-to-long haul airline operations. It is gaining popularity among airlines because it is fuel efficient and helps address increasing environmental concerns, as well as match growing passenger exp ectations, sector experts say.

The aircraft consumes 25 per cent less of fuel compared to its current aluminum long-range competitors. They also provide superior passenger comfort and have more personal space and bigger seats, particularly in the economy class.

This new-generation jetliner, which entered commercial service in January 2015, offers seating capacities of between 250 and 440. The aircraft comes with its three passenger versions: A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000.

According to Mirenge, the ultra-long range configuration for the A350-900, the A350 XWB enables the aircraft to fly for up to 19 hours "making it a perfect match for RwandAir and its expansion strategy".

He said Airbus and RwandAir were in discussions about the acquisition, but was non-committal on whether they have reached any agreement.

Recently, the airline acquired its first A330-200 Airbus aircraft to boost its fleet and capacity to compete globally. And it is waiting deliv ery of another wide-body A330-300 Airbus plane to further boost its fleet to serve planned destinations in Europe and East Asia.

Experts say RwandAir's ambitious expansion strategy could help position it as a major aviation player in the next five years.

Mirenge said RwandAir plans to enter more markets soon, including Mumbai in India, Conakry in Guinea, Bamako in Mali, as well as Dakar, Senegal, Harare in Zimbabwe, Lilongwe in Malawi and Durban in South Africa.

Last month, the airline launched commercial flights to Cotonou in Benin and Abidjan in Ivory Coast as part of its strategy to expand its footprint and enhance connectivity in West Africa.

Presently, the airline operates 19 destinations, including Nairobi, Entebbe, Mombasa, Bujumbura, Lusaka, Juba, Douala, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro, Cotonou, Johannesburg, Dubai, Lagos, Libreville and Brazzaville.

RwandAir is IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certified. The globally-recognised and accepted e valuation certification confirms that the airline's operational management and control systems meet international civil aviation safety and other standards.

Source: Rwanda's Airline eyes American destinations

Africa's most Insta-famous tourist destinations: Cape Town takes the crown

Disneyland might be the world's most Instagrammed tourist attraction, but when it comes to Africa, Cape Town is the magic kingdom.

A recent survey revealed that Disneyland, in California, US, is the world's most shared tourist attraction when it comes to posts on Instagram.

The US amusement park comes in with an incredible 12-million hashtags, according to the report by the UK-based accommodation website City Base Apartments.

It's noteworthy, though, that in the entire top 20, all the attractions are either in the US, Europe or Asia.

Curious about tourists in Africa and what makes their Insta-hit parade, we undertook an - admittedly unscientific - exercise.

We took the top 10 tourist destinations in Africa - according to Tripadvisor's 2016 Traveller's Choice Awards - and cross-checked these to see how they ranked on Instagram.

While Marrakech, Morocco, is at No 1 in the Tripadvisor awards, when it comes to Insta-fame, Cape Town (second on the Tr ipadvisor list) is the hands-down winner, with more than 4,3-million hashtags.

#Marrakech (adding in #Marrakesh) trails behind in second place with 1,8-million.

The rest of the top 10 is as follows:

3) #Zanzibar (585,000);

4) #Nairobi (433,000);

5) #Fes (419,679);

6) #VictoriaFalls (10,1000, including #VicFalls);

7) Knysna (98,000);

8) #Arusha, Tanzania (60,000);

9) #DianiBeach, Kenya (18,000);

10) #GrandBaie, Mauritius (14,016).

According to the City Base Apartments survey, the world's top three "Insta-tractions" are in the US: Disneyland, California; Walt Disney World, Florida; and Central Park, NYC.

Source: Africa's most Insta-famous tourist destinations: Cape Town takes the crown

Beaches 101: The ultimate summer guide to Cape Town

Cape Town - South Africa has over 2 500km of coastline, which explains why come summer, most of Mzansi's people can be found lounging away on the world-renowned beaches. 

Scattered all the way from Namibia's border on the Atlantic, to the tip of Mozambique on the Indian Ocean side, there's enough sandy shores for everyone and their cousin to enjoy. 

The south-western tip of SA - Cape Town - is without a doubt one of the most popular beach spots in the country - and worldwide. Earlier this year, for example, US News & World Report voted the Mother City the 11th Best Vacation Destination to Visit globally. 

Cape Town's beaches, specifically, have been ranked 2nd best in the world by National Geographic too, with the iconic Clifton beaches making their mark. 

This summer, Cape Town's beaches are to be as popular an attraction as ever. And with 20% of some 31 000 News24's readers indicating that they'll be making their way to the coast this holiday season, it's best you get schooled on where, what and how to make the best of your Cape Town beach holiday this summer.

Here's what you need to know: 

Alerts & Info – Summer safety 

With the festive season fast approaching, the City of Cape Town has been making an effort to increase the safety for beach-goers over the summer season. 

Sharks are very prevalent in the cool Atlantic waters around Cape Town, but excellent structures are in place to prevent any incidents that may be damaging to humans or sharks. 

The Shark Spotters Programme - aimed at protecting ocean lovers and ocean creatures - will operate in eight beaches in Cape Town from Saturday 1 October to Monday 1 May 2017. 

A total of 30 shark spotters and 10 net crew members were employed to boost the safety on the beaches during the upcoming summer season.

To make summer shark safety even easier, Shark Spotters has also released their app ahead of the festive season. The Shark Spotters app provides water users with current and accurate shark safety information on their smartphones so they can make informed decisions about shark risks, even before arriving at the beach. 

The app gives users access to real-time information, allowing the Shark Spotters to render a more efficient and effective service to the community.

SEE: Safe surfing with new Shark Spotters app!

It also contains the vitally important flag system online, able to indicate to ocean lovers which flag is currently flying, and why. 

The flags fly for various reasons, including: 

poor spotting conditions due to cloud cover

confirmed shark sightings

an indication of water temperature

the lunar phase

an indication of whether the shark exclusion barrier in Fish Hoek has been deployed or not

You can familiarise yourself with the colour-coded flag system here: 

A red flag indicates a Shark Alert. This flag will be flown during periods of increased shark activity, after a shark has recently been spotted in the area and the beach cleared, or when conditions are conducive to high shark activity. 

A green flag means that the spotting conditions are good and no sharks have been seen. 

A black flag means that the spotting conditions are poor, but no sharks have been seen. 

A white flag with a black shark diagram means that a shark is currently near the beach, and beach users must get out of the water. A siren is sounded and the white flag is raised. 

Shark Spotters will operate at the following beaches throughout summer: 

Muizenberg: Monday – Sunday, 08:00 – 18:00

St James/Kalk Bay: Monday – Sunday, 08:00 – 18:00

Fish Hoek: Monday – Sunday, 07:00 – 18:45

Caves, Kogel Bay: Monday – Sunday, 08:00 – 18:00

Noordhoek (The Hoek): Monday – Sunday, 08:00 – 18:00 (September to May)

Clovelly: Weekends, public holidays and school holidays, 10:00 – 17:00

Glencairn: Weekends, public holidays and school holidays, 08:00 – 18:00

Monwabisi: Weekends, public holidays and school holidays, 08:00 – 18:00

Cape Town's most popular beaches 

Now that you have safety under the belt, you're free to have a good time. But be advised: most beaches forbid the use of alcohol - to ensure beach-goers' safety and curb pollution. 

Unless you're heading to the secret beaches (see below) with your own picnic pack, be sure to stick to the rules of the official Blue Flag Beaches of Cape Town. 

Blue Flag Beaches are beaches that meet the national standards for accessibility, facilities and amenities, safety (lifeguards), cleanliness and responsibility towards the environment. The Blue Flag beaches also always forbid the use of alcohol on the beach, unless the local municipalities state otherwise. 

READ: Cape Town Beach Bars to visit in Summer

In and around Cape Town, the official Blue Flag Beaches for the 2016/2017 season are: 

Silwerstroomstrand 

Clifton 4th  

Camps Bay   

Llandudno   

Muizenberg  

Strandfontein  

Mnandi  

Bikini   

Melkbosstrand   

Fish Hoek  

Kleinmond 

Hawston   

Grotto 

Navigate your way through Cape Town busy streets to the most popular beaches using our handy map: 

SEE PICS: Top 10 Cape beaches to visit this summer!

Cape Town's Specialised beaches

Nothing is as relaxing as having a beach day - lounging away in the sun for the whole day... But five consecutive days of lounging can get a bit boring, let's be honest. If you're after some activity, here are our favourite beach activities to do this summer. 

Touchies hubs

Touch rugby on the beach in summer is a South African favourite. Despite it being all fun and games for spectators, the touchies tournament is a series championship for participants. The games travel all along SA's beaches to the most popular hubs, including Stillbay and Hartenbos. 

The fun kicks off in Cape Town, of course. 

This year, the 2016 Touchies tournament will be in Cape Town for the following dates: 10 December – Muizenberg16 December – Strand18 December – Onrus21 December – Muizenberg

Dog friendly beaches

Not all beaches are pup-friendly in Cape Town, unfortunately. But don't fret, there are places where your pawed pal can enjoy the summer vibe too.

These are the beaches where dogs are allowed without a leash: Clifton 1stBeta beach in BakovenSunset in Sea PointFroggy PondThe middle section of Hout Bay beachLong beach KommetjieLong beach Simon"s Town

Dogs are also very welcome on the Sea Point promenade. 

Kite surfing beaches 

Kiteboarders flock to Cape Town's Big Bay and Blouberg along the West Coast like surfers do to Hawaii's Big Island. And while the notorious South-Easter might be a bummer for many Capetonians, kiteboarding locals and international kiteboarding professionals pray for these winds to never settle. 

SEE: Blouberg – the Capital of Kiteboarding

Apart from Blouberg, the Langebaan Lagoon further up the West Coast also makes for the ideal kite surfing conditions - especially if you're just starting out. 

Surfing

The Mother City is home to some of the best waves in the world - you just need to know where to catch them. Our favourite hides include Muizenberg beach, Long Beach, Big Bay, Scarborough Beach, Glen Beach, Llandudno and the ever-feared Dungeons.

If you're only still testing the waters with surfing, Cape Town is also the place to be. Many surf schools operate around the major beaches. And as traveller Nadia Krige will tell you, there's a lot surfing can teach you about life... 

READ: A South African traveller's perspective: What surfing can teach you about life

PS - Apart from surfing, the Cape Town water is also great for kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding. Clifton 4th beach rents out gear to ocean explorers, if you're looking for an exciting beach activity to do. 

Kids 

If you're looking for some family fun with the little ones this holiday season, you've got you covered. Just make sure you pack enough sunblock to cover the kids! 

Our favourite family beaches in Cape Town are Blouberg, Boulders, St James and Clifton 1st. 

Do you have a different favourite? Share your beach secrets with us at info@traveller24.co.za 

Secret beaches of Cape Town and surrounds

Crowded beaches are fun and vibey, but it can get tiring to have to share your umbrella shade with the masses. 

If you're after a more secluded beach experience, Cape Town and surrounds have a few secret spots the locals don't want you to know about... 

If you want to combine your beach day with a little bit of a road trip, a journey up the West Coast is just the thing. Apart from the exquisite secret beaches up the Atlantic, the Weskus is also a hub for foodies and adventurers alike. 

And in the Mother City's midst, Beta Beach steals our hearts for being such a sly sweet spot in the heart of Cape Town. Check out: 7 Secret beaches in Cape Town for more. 

What to read next on Traveller24: 

- PICS: Blue Flags fly high along the KZN coast this summer

- PICS: Top 10 Cape beaches to visit this summer!

- Table Mountain Cableway opens half-price Sunset Special for summer

Source: Beaches 101: The ultimate summer guide to Cape Town

East African tour operators in joint UK roadshow to market region

04-11-2016 11:06:46 | by: Bob Koigi | hits: 59 | Tags: , , , ,

In a move meant to market East African community as a prime destination for international tourists, tour operators in the region are conducting a joint road show in UK.

The drive, organized by East African Tourism Platform (EATP), will cover three major cities, including London, Cambridge and Broadstairs in Kent.

It seeks to create awareness among international travel agents and tour operators on EAC's tourism products and to exploit opportunities presented by the forthcoming World Travel Market London 2016, Boniface Byamukama, the chairman of EATP, said in a note to participants. The annual World Travel Market London, scheduled for November 7-9, is a leading global event for the travel and tourism industry.

Byamukama said the road show is a partnership between private and public sector operators from the Northern Corridor members states - Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Regional tour operators will also participate in the Luxury Travel Fair that offers an opportunity to meet global tour operators and 12,000 showgoers.

The event coincides with the annual World Travel Market London 2016, which attracts over 50,000 participants, including tour operators, travel industry experts, government officials and the international media.

Rwanda will be represented by a delegation of 25 tour operators, government representatives and RwandAir officials.

The Northern Corridor states operate a single tourist visa, allowing visitors access to the three countries for 90 days at $100 payable at first point of entry.

www.ea-tourism-platform.org

  Follow Africa Business Communities on Twitter

  Join our LinkedIn Groups

  Follow us on our Africa Business Communities LinkedIn Company Page

Let your consumer voice be heard and join the Africa Consumer Panel: http://www.africaconsumerpanel.com/index.php/registration

Source: East African tour operators in joint UK roadshow to market region

Fast growing European destinations you’ll want to add to your 2017 travel list

You are here: Home » Destinations » Europe » Fast growing European destinations you'll want to add to your 2017 travel list

Posted on: November 3rd in Europe by Becky Padmore.Like this Post?

When it comes to travel breaks, Europe is hugely diverse – in every corner lurks a culture to discover, a picturesque landscape to explore or a beautiful historical building to unearth. When it comes to deciding where to head to you might just be tempted just to stick with all the usual tourists haunts. Although if you're looking for something a little under-the-radar, then these are some of best up and coming destinations in Europe you'd be foolish not to add to your 2017 travel list…

Malta

Malta, that tiny archipelago nestled in the central Mediterranean Sea (between Sicily and the North African coast) offers year-round sunshine, warm and clear blue seas, golden sands and a plethora of historical monuments so no wonder it's increasing in popularity. You may or may not realise that Malta has a greater density of historic sites than any other country. Seriously, you are spoilt for choice here!

Whether you're on the hunt for prehistoric temples or intriguing Medieval towns, this Southern European Island has something to suit all tastes. Thanks to its pristine seas, Malta is also the perfect place for a spot of diving, sailing yachting and snorkelling.

Riga, Latvia

The beautiful Latvian capital is one of our favourite under-the-radar city destinations and is practically bursting at the seams with art, culture, an intriguing history and architectural splendour. In 2014, it was voted as a European Capital of Culture and the Old Town has a lovely atmosphere filled with quirky cafes and eateries, unique boutique shops and some lively but tasteful bars. The number of UK tourists visiting Riga shot up by almost 50% in 2014, and that number is sure to rise as more tourists discover what a fabulous city destination it is!

Graz, Austria

When travelling to Austria, Vienna will probably be on your hit list but the vibrant, cosmopolitan city of Graz, located just a few hours to the South-West, is a great alternative. This increasingly popular city perfectly combines traditional and modern features, ensuring there is something for everyone. Futuristic buildings sit alongside ancient clock towers and mausoleums, and you'll probably never tire of getting lost in its maze of cobbled streets. Alternatively, opt for a European river cruise and hit many Austrian cities in one trip!

Tartu, Estonia

Estonia's second-largest city is centred around university life. Although Tartu isn't your typical student city. It's home to the biggest science centre in the Baltic region, while its beautiful Old Town is packed with Medieval landmarks and awe-inspiring educational structures. Head for a cafe to sample traditional Estonian fayre or for those with darker tastes, visit KGB Museum to see how their prisoners were treated. The numbers of both domestic and foreign tourists increased from 2015 to 2016 so the city has an increasingly buzzing atmosphere.

Seville, Spain

With scorching sunshine, a cosmopolitan vibe and a fine array of historical monuments, Seville's treasures are being discovered by more and more visitors. The compact cobbled streets hark at a time from centuries past, while the multitude of tapas and cocktail bars provide you with an authentic taste of Andalucian living – not much more you can ask for!

Ljubljana, Slovenia

The buzzing student population really brings the Slovenian capital to life – especially at night. Despite a student-focused population, Ljubljana has managed to keep its wonderful charm, and the European Commission even awarded it the title of Green Capital of Europe 2016. This city may be compact, but it still definitely packs punch. Whether you're sampling the city's sights and sounds by strolling down the Ljubljanica River or kicking back and unwinding in one of its elegant parks, this unique city makes a fabulous, under-the-radar city destination for 2017!

You might also enjoy these...

The best European winter destinations for travel snobs

Nordic dreams: my life in Sweden

Five great European activity breaks

10 of the prettiest river journeys in Europe

Posted by Becky Padmore

Co-owner, content gatherer, writer and photographer from the UK. Favourite travel destinations: Havana, Thailand, Galápagos Islands, Laos, Indonesia, California, Iceland, Italy, Amsterdam and Denmark. Follow Becky on Twitter and Google+.

Source: Fast growing European destinations you'll want to add to your 2017 travel list

The future is here, Swisatec to plan for Electric Vehicles at Blue Rock Village, Africa’s first green village

BMW i3 charging

Now selling

Site Map

Swisatec Architects and Project Managers of Africa's first green village: Blue Rock Village, believe in the reality of electric vehicles at Blue Rock Village.

"The reality about transportation is that it's future orientated. If we're only planning for what we have now, we're behind the curve."

— Anthony Foxx

CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE , SOUTH AFRICA, November 2, 2016 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The future vehicle is here. Our dependency on oil, coupled with the pollution, natural resources consumption and economic turbulence it creates cannot continue if we hope to see a sustainable future for the transport industry. Globally the transport industry contributes around 23% of all carbon dioxide emissions per year, second only to electricity generation, which accounts for +-42%. It is estimated that vehicles throughout the world burn around 960-billion litres of fuel every year and this figure increases every year as 100 million new vehicles are being manufactured every year, keeping in mind that petrol powered cars only use 14-16% of energy to power the vehicle.

Research conducted by the uYilo e-Mobility Technology Innovation Programme at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University found that running an all-electric Nissan LEAF for a year can cost R18 000 less than a petrol vehicle, based on the avera ge South African annual mileage of 30 000 kilometres. A car with a fuel economy of approximately 6 to 8 litres per 100 kilometres at current price of R12,40 for 95 ULP translates to the following annual cost:6L/100km costs R74.4=R22, 320 annually and 8L/100km costs R99.2=29,760 annually. For an electric car, it would cost approximately R4,620 to charge over the cost of a year.

According to (Business Tech http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/106101/driving-electric-vs-petrol-cars-in-south-africa/)Swisatec plans to include EV charging stations on the design of Blue Rock Village, especially in key areas such as underground parking of the 5-star envisioned Blue Rock Hotel and Conferencing Centre, the Dollar House (a high-end corporate office space), the Wellness and Spa and the 40 000 sqm Santa Luzia Lifestyle Centre. Phase one of the village: Giovanni Luxury Terrace Apartments is already selling, starting from R3,3 million."Electric vehicles are a step in the right direction, being the first green village in Africa or achieving the first 6 – star Green Star Communities rating in Africa means nothing to us if we cannot transform the lives of people. Our objective is being a true green village hence we need to think and plan 20, 40, 60 years from now and make provisions for the future."

Soon Swisatec plans to make Blue Rock Village the first village to have an electric shuttle vehicle to service the whole village. Residents can summon the electric shuttle with a mobile app, like an UBER ride, and they will be transported to their destination within the village.Cars powered by batteries are nothing new. The fist vehicle was invented between 1832 and 1839. The first ever commercially available car with rechargeable batteries was available in 1881. After the end of the First World War petrol cars were more reliable and petrol was more available, unfortunately, the electric car died out.The likes of Nissan, BMW and soon Tesla have hit the South Afri can market and are proving to be successful hence the plan to expand EV charging infrastructure.

As Anthony Foxx said: "The reality about transportation is that it's future orientated. If we're only planning for what we have now, we're behind the curve."For more information about Blue Rock Village Giovanni Terrace Apartments, visit www.bluerockvillage.co.za or call +27 21 300 1722

Sindile MavundlaBlue Rock Village0213001722email us here

Blue Rock Village fly through

Source: The future is here, Swisatec to plan for Electric Vehicles at Blue Rock Village, Africa's first green village

Americans set international travel records last year despite terrorism, Zika and Ebola

Americans traveled abroad in record numbers last year, seemingly undeterred by fears of terrorism, Ebola or Zika.

A total of 74 million U.S. residents traveled internationally in 2015, up 9% from the previous year, marking the fourth straight year of increases, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

During 2015, the number of Americans traveling abroad climbed despite the threat of terrorist attacks in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia.

The U.S. State Department issued a warning after terrorists in Paris killed 130 people and injured hundreds of others in November.

In addition, travelers last year faced the spread of the Zika virus in South America and the Caribbean plus the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Still, nearly 33 million Americans traveled overseas — that is, to countries not including Mexico or Canada -- which set a record and was up 7% over 2014, according to the Department of Commerce.

The top five international destinations for U.S. travelers last year were Mexico (28.7 million), Canada (12.5 million), the United Kingdom (2.9 million), the Dominican Republic (2.8 million) and France (2.4 million).

The top five points of departure last year were New York, Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Newark, N.J.

When asked the purpose of their overseas trips, 53% of American travelers said they went for vacation or holiday, while 27% said they traveled to visit friends or relatives and 10% attributed their trips to business, according to the Department of Commerce. And 3% said they traveled overseas t o attend conventions.

hugo.martin@latimes.com

To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter.

ALSO

Surf Air shops for planes to expand into Europe

Delta loyalty reward points can get you on a private jet

Southwest Airlines wants more revenue, but it rules out bag fees

Source: Americans set international travel records last year despite terrorism, Zika and Ebola