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