Amidst optimism and hope in reviving the tourism sector, Botswana Tourism organised a press briefing to announce the Botswana Tourism Month at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Set to be on display until the 8^th  of February 2022, the one-of-a-kind showcase promises to highlight the Southern African country as a globally competitive force in tourism with a rich natural resource base and investment potential. The event will showcase Botswana’s diverse culture, its food, song, dance and the long-standing principles of sustainability.

Participating delegates included Botswana’s Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng; her Permanent Secretary Dr Oduetse Oldman Koboto alongside Botswana Tourism Organisation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Tshoganetso Carl-Ponoesele. Also present on the occasion were officials from Botswana’s government entities and Botswana’s finest tourist operators hoping to share the travel packages on offer and potential investment projects with investors and travellers seeking to learn more about the country’s opportunities first-hand.

Speaking at the engagement, the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng said: "Botswana is known for its exclusive experiences, dramatic wildlife encounters, picturesque landscapes and off-grid vacations. The country boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites - Tsodilo Hills with the rock art filled spiritual sites, and the Okavango Delta which is the desert’s unexpected wetland wonder.’’

It is not by coincidence that Botswana hosts the world’s largest elephant population. The country’s high-value and low-volume tourism escapades are focused on minimising the negative environmental impacts. Botswana has also seen substantial growth in business and investment opportunities due to its stable political environment.

Furthermore, with the advent of COVID-19, the Government of Botswana together with tourism industry stakeholders has developed Tourism Industry Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all tourist enterprises. Through the use of these SoPs, the tourism industry has committed to protect their health and that of travellers to ensure their readiness to host domestic and international tourists.

Botswana is a promising destination for both business and leisure, and today boasts some of the world’s most pristine safari experiences, hotels, entertainment facilities and malls. Throughout the month, Botswana Tourism has lined-up a variety of executive and cultural activities to showcase the country’s vast offerings.

The Botswana Tourism Conference held at the Address Hotel Dubai Mall, was a platform for dialogue between Botswana and its international trade partners and potential investors, especially those in the UAE and neighbouring GCC counties. The conference gathered key stakeholders from across the Middle East and focused on travel and tourism as well as investment opportunities in Botswana. The conference officially launched ‘Destination Botswana’ campaign attracting over seventy delegates amongst them being the Middle East investors and visitors. 

Botswana Tourism Sundowner networking at end of the tourism conference showcased the culture, food, song and dance of Botswana to experience the feel of the loved country and its welcoming people.

Ethiopia plans to attract more tourists from the Middle East to its ancient cultural heritage and historical monuments located in Harar, or the Holy City, known for its centuries old ancient Islamic heritage.

However, the city of Harar is underdeveloped and lacks basic tourist infrastructure. The major problem facing the local authorities is the lack of water supply. Consequently, the government has earmarked a substantial amount of $34 million fund to be invested to deal with this problem. hararThe regional government has also given a 10-year tax break to any potential investors who would establish the much needed tourist facilities – specially world-class hotel accommodation is an important aspect which will attract potential tourists.

Harar is one of the truly magical cities. It lies 250 miles from the country’s capital, Addis Abeba. Its nickname, ‘The Holy City’, comes mainly from the number of mosques and shrines which have been built here in the course of more than ten centuries. Since 2006, Harar belongs to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

For centuries, this ancient city was an important commercial centre, many vital trade routes used to lead through Harar. It is deemed to be the fourth holiest city of Islam – right after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. There are 82 mosques here, three of which date back to the 10th century, and 102 shrines.

Tourism: Important Contribution to Ethiopian Economy

Tourism contributes approximately 5.5% to the Ethiopian GDP. It also generates nearly a million jobs and $2 billion in revenue. Ethiopia was also voted the world’s best destination by European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT) a few years back.

A must-see site is the Medhane Alem Cathedral or the sixteenth century Jamia Mosque. Another major attraction of Harar is a mansion, which was once home to the famous French symbolist poet Arthur Rimbaud. The mansion has been turned into a museum.

The tourists will certainly enjoy the traditional feeding of hyenas; this ritual originated in the 1960s and took place only once a year. Nowadays, this strange ‘show’ takes place on daily basis. Visitors may also stride through the wonderfully charming streets of the old town or visit the locally famous market.

Now you can live and work amidst amazing beaches, gorgeous rainforests, the world’s third-largest coral reef and beautiful lagoons by applying for a Premium Longstay Visa introduced by Mauritius to attract longterm visitors to the island nation.

Mauritius has launched a new long-stay visa for those looking to relocate to the Covid-secure island for work, leisure or retirement.  The country’s new Premium Visa is valid for one year, with an option to renew, and is open to those who want to relocate to allow them to work remotely, have a long-term second home on the islands or to retire here.

Retire, Live Work in Mauritius

The new Premium Visa is expected to attract thousands of individuals and families who will invest in the country for the long term, particularly those whose jobs allow them to work remotely and those looking for their ideal retirement location.

The Premium Visa provides the opportunity for individuals and families to relocate to a country that delivers work-life balance through a developed and advanced infrastructure, making it an ideal location for those looking to maximise their business productivity and leisure time.

The Republic of Mauritius government’s new visa offer is in response to strong international demand to relocate to this Indian Ocean country. Thanks to Mauritius’ widely-praised handling of the global pandemic and implementation of one of the world’s most rigorous national arrival testing provisions, the country is now seen as a perfect destination for long-term relocation as it provides a Covid-secure environment in conjunction with economic, political and legal stability. The collective response by the Mauritius government, and the country as a whole, to Covid means that the country provides an opportunity for long-stay visitors to escape their domestic lockdown restrictions and relocate with the minimum of effort to live and work on Covid-secure islands.

Free vaccination

Visitors holding the Premium Visa as well as residents of Mauritius holding a Work Permit, Residence Permit or Occupational Permit are eligible to receive their vaccinations free of charge.

Mauritius is the only country in the world which offers long-term visitor visas free of charge and a free Covid vaccine to holders of these visas.  The expanded vaccination programme is part of the national campaign to continue keeping Mauritius Covid-secure and to allow the full reopening of international borders once herd immunity is reached. 

Mauritius is using the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.  MTPA are encouraging all those eligible to accept this offer and is working across the tourism sector to promote take-up. 

Ranked first in Africa in the last World Bank’s Doing Business Report, the country provides unparalleled support to work remotely including a transparent financial ecosystem,  state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and a reliable ICT connectivity with high capacity undersea fiberoptic network (SAFE and LION) linking Africa to Asia and Europe via Middle East.

International business and tourist destination

Mauritius is a well-known hub for banking, financial and legal services with infrastructure which has developed to support the needs of global business and a large international professional services community.  Mauritius already provides world-class connectivity, banking, office space and other business facilities meaning that Premium Visa holders can seamlessly transfer their business operations to the country.

Mauritius provides a fully operational Indian Ocean base in a time zone ideal for working remotely with Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East and is a perfect base for remote workers and digital nomads.

Mauritius also remains open to tourists who are looking for a shorter term Covid-secure holiday destination. Mauritius is best known to international visitors who are looking for an authentic Indian Ocean paradise. Tourism is focused around beautiful beaches, coral reefs, stunning scenery and marine environment as well as leisure activities such as golf, hikes and trails, water sports and scuba diving. Medical tourism, conferences, weddings and honeymoons have all been at the heart of tourism in Mauritius for decades. The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that some of these groups of short-term visitors are understandably unable to meet Mauritius’ world-leading 14-day quarantine requirements and Mauritius looks forward to welcoming back these tourists when they are ready to travel again.

Mauritius has long been a favourite of retirees, primarily from South Africa, France, Germany, United Kingdom and other European countries, looking for a second home that provides world-class leisure facilities, homes and activities that only a larger island destination can provide. The Premium Visa provides this group of visitors the long-term security to relocate and maximise their retirement in a Covid-secure destination.  

Accommodation in Mauritius

Mauritius also offers a diverse selection of long stay rental accommodation options ranging from serviced apartments to beach-side homes. Residents are also permitted to purchase property including luxury villas, penthouses, apartments and duplexes under specific investment programmes.

An arrival concierge service helping new residents find homes, cars, banking services and telecoms will be in place and Premium Visa holders will also no longer need to leave the country at the end of their visa to renew their temporary visitor status, which will help keep the island more Covid-secure for the longer term.

Strict Covid-secure protocols keep Mauritius safe

In order to keep the country Covid-secure, Mauritius has implemented one of the world’s most rigorous heath monitoring regimes.  The condition of entry requirements mean that all visitors are required to follow health measures. All new arrivals to the island are required to undergo a 14-day quarantine period combined with a pre-departure PCR test, arrival test and follow up tests on 7 and 14 days. Returning Mauritians, diaspora, short and long-term visitors are all asked to follow the same procedures to help keep Mauritius Covid-secure. Some of Mauritius’ finest hotels are allocated as arrival facilities.  Health protocols are regularly reviewed in line with the country’s requirements and the status of the global pandemic.

Launch of the Premium Visa

The Premium Visa was launched at the direction of the Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth and led by Minister of Finance, Renganaden Padayachy, who said: “Mauritius is open. Visitors are welcome to our country who are looking for a long term safe and secure second home. On arrival we ask all visitors to comply with our strict health requirements and in return we offer visitors a Covid-secure destination with world-class business and leisure infrastructure to help facilitate remote working and retirement plans.”
Central to the new Premium Visa service is the private sector as well as individual citizens.  Businesses are working closely with government to ensure a smooth transition from arrival health protocols to ensuring new residents have access to the facilities and services they require. An arrival concierge service helping new residents find homes, cars, banking services and telecoms will be in place and run by the business community under the Mauritius Now brand.

Individual citizens will benefit from increased job opportunities and economic activity. Citizens are also being encouraged to act as ‘Welcome Ambassadors’ showing the country’s new guests around their new home and showing the very best of Mauritius. New residents will be invited to events to meet each other and the communities in which they live.

The Chairman of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), Nilen Vencadasmy stated: “Mauritius is welcoming long term visitors who are looking to live and work remotely in a Covid secure location. The Mauritius tourism sector has developed innovative packages to welcome visitors as well as facilitate the work of digital nomads. Our island is Covid-safe and with its modern infrastructure is an ideal spot for them to work remotely and to be part of our wider community”.

Visa eligibility and how to apply

The Premium Visa allows for visitors from countries listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Passport Regulations. The following categories of visitors are eligible:

• Repeat tourists who had planned to retire and migrate to Mauritius before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Retirees seeking a Covid-safe haven.
• Investors and professionals who wish to come with their family and work remotely from Mauritius. They also have the possibility to offer this facility to their staff members.
• Visitors who have children studying in Mauritius.
• The visa application is open to all nationalities looking for a longer-term temporary residency solution whilst the world is dealing with the pandemic.  Mauritius’ new Premium Visa is valid for a period of one year and renewable. Applications are open now via the Economic Development Board (EDB) and from 15 November 2020 via a digital application portal.   

In order to qualify for the Premium Visa visitors must provide evidence of their long stay plans and must have adequate travel and health insurance for the initial period of stay. The visitor’s main place of business and source of income should be outside Mauritius. They will not be allowed to enter the Mauritius Labour Market. All other entry requirements for Mauritius will also apply.

The management of the programme is headed by the Economic Development Board and Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.  The government authorities are working in partnership with the private sector of the country in order to deliver a full package of services for visitors.  MTPA and EDB are launching an international marketing campaign targeted at some of the nations hardest hit by Covid. Citizens of France, United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, South Africa, India and Russia have all expressed an interest in relocating.

Prior to the introduction of the Premium Visa, foreign nationals were granted a tourist visa for a cumulative period of stay not exceeding 180 days in a calendar year. A tourist visa is normally granted for a short period of leisure travel. 

Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce its first resort and third hotel in Zambia, with the signing of Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya, Livingstone, Zambia. Due to open by the end of 2022, this new addition places the Group firmly on track to achieving its objective of reaching 150 hotels in operation and under development in Africa by 2025.

Nestled on the banks of one of Africa’s longest rivers, the Zambezi, in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, 5km south of the historic city of Livingstone, just 4km northwest of the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and an UNESCO world heritage site. Convenience is amplified with Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport located just 15 minutes away.

For an immersive experience of the destination, situated right next door, is Safari Par Excellence, offering unique on and off the river adventure activities, from Victoria Falls bridge activities, water rafting, canoeing and game drives to helicopter rides, river cruises and elephant encounters.

The hotel will be constructed and operated with the greatest respect to its close proximity of the natural wonders and aims to obtain the EDGE green building certification as well as sign the UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Pledge, becoming a best practice in the implementation of Radisson Hotel Group’s leading Responsible Business program.

The construction of the new hotel is currently underway, and the design fully integrates local materials and focuses on employing and upskilling local craftspeople. It will consist of a contemporary 174-room main hotel and 26 luxurious villas. Guests can indulge in their favourite cuisine at the all-day dining restaurant and sit back with their favourite drink at the coffee bar. To bask in the fresh African evening air in comfort, guests can gather around the outdoor boma and firepit. During their stay, guests can also enjoy the hotel’s expansive swimming pool, find serenity at the spa or maintain their health at the sports and fitness gym. Ideal for all occasions, the hotel’s meetings and events facilities will include a ballroom of over 500sqm, boardrooms as well as meeting rooms, perfect for leisure and business use.

Ramsay Rankoussi, Vice President Development, Africa & Turkey, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We have been present in Zambia for many years and have long recognized the potential of the country. It was essential for us to complement our presence in Zambia with a resort offering in one of Africa’s most visited leisure tourism destinations – the Victoria Falls.

This marks our third hotel in the country, complementing our existing portfolio of one hotel in operation, Radisson Blu Hotel, Lusaka, and the under-development Park Inn by Radisson Lusaka, Longacres, due to open early next year. Through this unique resort, we look forward to demonstrating our strong Responsible Business heritage and sustainable programmes and initiatives which will further promote the destination and ensure the preservation of this unique reserve and location. We are truly proud to have partnered with NAPSA for the launch of the Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya, Livingstone as we further seek to reinforce our collaboration in promoting tourism across Zambia.”

Radisson Hotel Group operates to high standards of performance and advocates socially and environmentally sustainable business practices. More than ever, Radisson Hotel Group’s highest priorities remain the health and safety of its guests and employees. The Group partnered with SGS, the world’s leading inspection and certification company, to implement the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol, which ensures the highest hygiene standards and strengthens the Group’s existing rigorous sanitation guidelines. In the run-up to the opening of Radisson Blu Resort Mosi-oa-Tunya, Livingstone, Zambia will implement the Radisson Hotel Group brand standards including the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol related to safety and security.

The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) elected Civy Tumusiime as its new Chairperson at the 25th Annual General Meeting held at Hotel Africana in Kampala. The election was presided over by Stephen Masaba, Business Development Director of Uganda Wildlife Authority as returning officer; Bradford Ochieng, Deputy CEO of Uganda Tourism Board (UTB); Innocent Asiimwe, Quality Assurance Officer of UTB; and Ronnie Mulongo of the Private Sector Foundation.

It was down to youth verses seniors when the youthful Civy, who is Director at Acacia Safaris at Pakuba and Mpogo Lodges in Murchison Falls and Lake Mburo National Parks, respectively garnered a landslide of 162 votes followed by Swan Airs Eugine Nsubuga Wndt with 64, and 14 votes for Bonifence Byamukama of Lake Kitandara Tours and Travels.

Other members on the new board include another young face in Tony Mulinde, Vice Chair; Herbert Byaruhanga, General Secretary; Wilberforce Begumisa, Treasurer; and Marinka Sanc-George, Robert Mugabe, and Yvonne Hilgendorf completing the seven-member board for 2020 to 2022.
 
Congratulatory messages streamed in  from Doreen Katusiime, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities (MTWA), who said: “On behalf of the technical team at MTWA, I congratulate Civy and the entire team of new leadership at AUTO. We look forward to working with you closely to build a vibrant association for the benefit of its members.”

The Chairman of the Uganda Tourism Board, Daudi Migereko, said: “Congratulations, Madam Civy and the entire executive [team], on being elected to provide leadership to the tour operators.  We wish you a successful term of office and look forward to working with you.”

Richard Kawere, CEO of the Uganda Tourist Association (UTA), said: “Congratulations, Civy and team. The industry has a lot of expectations from your leadership, and I am certain you will deliver with Almighty as the guide on your leadership path.”

Perhaps the most pertinent message summarizing the mood was from Andrew Kijooma of Prepaid Services Ltd. who said of Civy’s victory: “You represent a generation that is in tandem with your ideas to move the sector forward. A big handshake to our seniors that participated in the election. Please keep them close, as old brooms know all the corners.”

The composition of the new board includes “old brooms” Marinka Sanc-George, a founder member of the association in 1995, and veteran birder, Herbert Byaruhanga.

The election was preceded by the Annual Report presented by outgoing Chairman Everest Kayondo and AUTO CEO Gloria Tumwesigye both of whom opted to step down from reelection and reappointment respectively.

This was followed by the External Auditors Report for the years 2018/19 as well as the Treasurer’s presentation of the Budget 2020/21 for ratification.

Kayondo outlined the achievements of the Association including:

• Increasing membership from 272 to 320
• Outstanding tax liability was resolved saving the association UGX 80 Million (us$22,000) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) refunded US$41,000 in tax claims
• AUTO managed to renew the existing MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with UWA for discounted gorilla permits
• AUTO partly sponsored Vakantiebieus Travel Expo in the Netherlands from proceeds generated from discounted gorilla permits
• Procurement of AUTO premises in Muyenga, Kampala, at UaGaX1.2 billion (US$326,000)
• Hiring a retainer lawyer and internal  auditor resulting in output policy manuals including a procurement manual, accounting and finance manual, and a human resource manual
• Save Murchison Falls Campaign in light of the intending hydropower dam project at the Top of The Falls
• Destination market training
• Submission of tourism act amendments
• Negotiating with UWA to reschedule gorilla and chimpanzee permits that had been reserved prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Donation of relief to UWA rangers at the front line of protecting wildlife through trying times
• Participation in the revival of the East African Tourism Platform (EATP)
• Securing representation in the Private Sector Foundation, Uganda Wildlife Authority, and Uganda Tourism Boards
• Waiver of membership fees for 2020 in light of the pandemic

Association of Uganda Tour Operators

The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) is Uganda’s leading tourism trade association, representing the interests of the country’s leading and experienced professional tour operators. Members offer a range of services, which can be broadly divided into the following categories Special interest safaris Air safaris Incentive travel group safaris Custom safaris for individual travellers Camping safaris (luxury & budget).

The Association of Uganda Tour Operators (AUTO) which is the voice of Uganda’s leading tour companies was founded in 1995 and remains a respected player in Africa’s tourism with over 300 registered businesses.

Nigerian startup Nwanndo has launched a groundbreaking web app offering users access to what is essentially an “Airbnb for Africa”.

Founded by Okereke Ikenna and Venetia Grant, Nwanndo connects people with places to stay and things to do around Africa, and allows individuals to monetise their extra space or travel expertise.

The startup’s goal is to open up a new type of tourism trade in Africa, removing the need for travel agents and helping locals make money while showcasing the best the continent has to offer.

“Nwanndo solves many problems in our society,” says Ikenna. “It allows travellers a less expensive option, and it allows local renters to mitigate the high costs of rent and to have more flexibility. Thirdly, it helps small investors that want to be more involved than just being a traditional landlord, which only gives very small returns.”

The startup is currently operating in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania, and is looking to expand to the rest of Africa and overseas as it enters into discussions with investors. The platform, which charges hosts a 10 per cent commission on any booking, did not launch at an opportune time, given the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns and travel bans, but has so far rented out two rooms.

Ikenna acknowledges that the timing was not great, but said there has never been a perfect time to start a business.

“COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the tourism industry due to the resulting travel restrictions. The tourism industry has been massively affected by the spread of coronavirus, as many countries have introduced travel restrictions in an attempt to contain its spread,” he said. 

“Therefore it is a great time for us to look inwards, to the development and exploring of our tourism industry. COVID-19 is a phase, but tourism and travel are in us as humans,” he said.

Tanzania government is inviting international investors to open new hotels in the new capital city Dodoma in a bid to attract more international visitors and investors to the new capital. Although a popular tourist destination, Dodoma has limited high-class accommodation facilities.

Due to the fact that the new capital city of Tanzania is lacking hotels with prestigious standards to accommodate diplomats, international business executives, and high-ranking officials touring the city for business, political and diplomatic gatherings, the government is now offering added incentives for international investors to develop the city’s hotel and hospitality industry.

Despite an increase in the number of tourists visiting the city, Dodoma has only three hotels that too in Three Star category. These are Fantasy Village (22 rooms), Nashera Hotel (52 rooms), and Dodoma Hotel (91 rooms).

Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Natural Resources, Constantine Kanyasu, has expressed his desire to see the opening of new Five-Star hotels in Dodoma by attracting foreign direct investments in the hotel sector of Dodoma.

Hotels in Tanzania

Dodoma city has only 428 rooms in its 24 hotels offering standard accommodation of a Three Star Category.

Kanyasu said that the government had allocated areas for construction of hotels and other tourism facilities, aiming to raise the status of the new capital city of Tanzania as an attractive tourist destination in Tanzania.

Tanzania government had relocated its entire administrative political and government services to Dodoma with all ministries and key departments.

Dar es Salaam, now Tanzania’s commercial city is the leading tourism city with 242 hotels of international standards, ranging from three to Five-Star category. There are 177 hotels rated One to Three Star Class, 31 Four Star Class, and 19 Five Star Class, all established in Dar es Salaam with about 24,000 rooms.

Tanzania is now targeting Conference and Meeting tourism (MICE) market to attract more visitors.

Currently, under implementation, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has targeted to attract conferences and business visitors to hold international conferences in Tanzania, aiming to attract participants who would book hotels, mostly in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and other cities including the new capital, Dodoma.

The Ministry of Tourism is working jointly with Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) to attract conferences and events to take place in Tanzania where participants would book hotels then attract more investments in the hotel industry to increase the number of bedrooms and conference facilities.

The Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) and the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es salaam are the two leading conference centers in Tanzania with capacities to hold several meetings at the same time.

AICC has 10 meeting rooms with a seating capacity from 10 in the break-out rooms to 1,350 delegates in the main auditorium. The average total occupancy for all the meeting rooms when in use is about 2,500 delegates.

The Centre hosts an average of 100 meetings each year with a total average number of 11,000 conference delegates per year, mostly local meetings organized by the Tanzania government.

Regionally, Rwanda and South Africa have been rated the leading African nations in conference tourism with Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community (EAC) blocs.

Dodoma Tourism Sector

Situated in the heart of Tanzania, Dodoma is the official capital of Tanzania. It has a population of over 400,000 people making it the fourth largest city in Tanzania and it is home to the country’s parliament.

The city stands on the Great North Road that connects Cape Town in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt, famous for tourists driving from the southern point of Africa to the northern point of the continent.

Closer to Tanzania’s leading northern Tanzania tourist circuit and the Kenyan tourist capital Nairobi, Dodoma has been identified a sleeping tourist investment area.

Dodoma has a rich agricultural society and a budding wine industry, with small-scale farming being most dominant in the city. The sun-bathed landscape is impressive with a Safari feel to it. It has an abundance of sunshine all year round making worth a holiday breathtaking.

Lion Rock, an outcrop perching in the city outskirts, creating a beautiful natural attraction that brings memories of the famous cartoon, the Lion King. The rock gives an elevated view of Dodoma and is quite a breathtaking attraction. It is a favorite destination for families and friends.

Radisson Hotel Group plans to add six new hotels to its African portfolio, bringing the total to almost 100 hotels across 32 African markets. Building on the recent announcement of its reinforced African development team structure, the announcement of the six new hotels further demonstrates the Group’s commitment to the African continent's hospitality industry. Building on the recent announcement of its reinforced African development team structure, the announcement of the six new hotels further demonstrates the Group’s commitment to the continent.  

“We believe in the vast potential of Africa. The addition of the six hotels, following the announcement of Radisson Hotel Saint Denis earlier this year places us firmly on track to reach over 150 hotels in operation and under development across the continent within the next five years,” says Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group. “The new hotel announcements include our debut in new markets, the introduction of additional brands and the strengthening of our presence in cities we’ve identified for scaled growth. We thank our hotel partners for their invaluable trust in Radisson Hotel Group and its people”

The six new hotel deals include:

Radisson Collection Hotel Bamako, Mali

Scheduled to open within the next six months following a re-branding, the hotel introduces Radisson Hotel Group’s premium lifestyle brand to Africa, as the first Radisson Collection hotel to open in the continent.

The operational hotel is currently rated number one on TripAdvisor for its prime location in the heart of Bamako and proximity to the city’s diplomatic district and great accessibility. The 200-room affordable luxury hotel will offer exceptional dining experiences across its five food and beverage outlets, from an all-day dining restaurant and a specialty restaurant to a café, a bar and an executive lounge. The hotel also offers an expansive 1,200sqm meeting & events area consisting of a ballroom and seven conference rooms. For the ultimate contemporary living, guests can stay fit in the hotel’s fully equipped gym or unwind in a serene setting within the spa or alongside the pool.

With the introduction of Radisson Collection in the city, the existing Radisson Blu Hotel, Bamako is expected to commence a full renovation program towards year end.

Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja City Centre, Nigeria

The Radisson Blu Hotel Abuja City Centre, scheduled to open in 2024, is the Group’s first hotel in the city, complementing the existing nine hotels in operation and under development in Nigeria.

Located in the heart of the central business district of Nigeria’s Federal Capital, the 258-room hotel will boast five different food and beverage outlets from a specialty restaurant and all-day-dining restaurant to a Lobby Bar & Café, a picturesque pool terrace and a premium business class lounge. The leisure facilities will include a 555sqm wellness spa, a gym and a swimming pool to maintain guest’s wellness.

Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre Johannesburg, O.R. Tambo 

Scheduled to open before year end, the hotel will introduce the Group’s upscale Radisson brand to Johannesburg. Located on a private estate in Bredell, Kempton Park, the hotel has easy access to major highways joining Johannesburg and Pretoria and is approximately 10 minutes’ drive away from O.R Tambo International Airport, Africa’s biggest and busiest airport, facilitating over 21 million passengers in 2018.

The newly built hotel will offer an array of dining options, including four restaurants, three bars an entertainment deck and an executive lounge.

The hotels 289 modern and timelessly designed rooms comprise of 248 which are newly built and 41 which have been converted from an existing hotel. In addition, it has a large MICE facility, which includes a significant conference centre with a 1,260-seater auditorium and five conference rooms. The leisure facilities will include a gym, spa & wellness centre as well as three outdoor pools.

Radisson Hotel Addis Ababa

Radisson Hotel Group’s fifth hotel in Ethiopia, scheduled to open in 2021, is located just 4km from Ethiopia’s newly expanded Addis Ababa Bole International Airport terminal, now the biggest airport aviation hub in Africa, expected to accommodate 22 million passengers a year.

The 114-room hotel will boast a wide variety of food and drink outlets, the hotel will offer guests a truly local experience in a traditional Ethiopian specialty restaurant and bar and appease international taste buds in a bespoke all-day-dining restaurant which leads out into a pool bar. In addition, the hotel will also have a third bespoke panoramic bar.

Radisson Hotel & Apartments Accra, Ghana

The hotel, scheduled to open in 2023, is a full renovation of an existing 121 room hotel and construction of an additional tower which will offer 54 hotel apartments, creating a mixed-use development. The hotel is located on Tema Highway, Ghana’s largest port located to the East of Accra. Within a 3km radius of the hotel is the Kotoka International Airport, Accra Mall and the Airport City complex, a mixed-use development with several Grade AAA office towers and retail outlets.

From an all-day dining restaurant, lobby bar and rooftop restaurant, bar and pool terrace, every culinary preference will be catered for. The versatile meeting and events facilities are made up of 12 different venues with an area of 1,173sqm. The hotel will also include a gym, spa and swimming pool. 

Park Inn by Radisson, Durban Intl. Airport, Dube, South Africa

The new-build hotel introduces the upper midscale Park Inn by Radisson brand to Durban and strengthens Radisson Hotel Group’s current portfolio of 15 hotels (3,007 rooms) in operation and under development in the country. It will also complement the national business circuit with a Park Inn by Radisson in each of the three major cities of South Africa (Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg).

Claiming its foremost milestone, it is the first hotel within Dube Trade Port Special Economic Zone, which forms the heart of the first purpose-planned aerotropolis in Africa, around King Shaka International Airport. The 168-room hotel scheduled to open in 2022, will have a lobby bar, rooftop all-day dining restaurant and rooftop pool terrace with eight different meeting & event venues.

About Radisson Hotel Group:

Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world's largest hotel groups with seven distinctive hotel brands, and more than 1,400 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries. Its signature service philosophy is Every Moment Matters.

Radisson Hotel Group portfolio includes Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, brought together under one commercial umbrella brand Radisson Hotels.

Radisson Rewards is our global rewards program that delivers unique and personalized ways to create memorable moments that matter to our guests. Radisson Rewards offers exceptional loyalty benefits for our guests, meeting planners, travel agents and business partners.

Many African countries rely on toursim earnings to run their economies. And the hard hit dealt to their tourism industry due to the coronavirus pandemic has had a deeply negative impact of several African economies.

• Provide relief packages to affected tourism businesses including small business within the tourism value chain.
• Provide a soft landing for the tourism industry as they re-open their enterprises to the market.
• Save and secure jobs from being lost in the tourism value chain.
• Re-establish contact with the local, regional and international tourism market.
• Reassure confidence in the marketplace and encourage visitors to travel to and within Zimbabwe thereby boosting tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.
• Rollout campaigns informing the marketplace that Zimbabwe’s tourism business is back. 

Zimbabwe Plans Tourism Recovery

• Financial and political support for recovery measures targeting the tourism sector in the most affected countries
• Recovery measures and incentives to be planned and implemented in coordination with international development and donor organizations  
• Tourism support to be included in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies. 

As in the past, UNWTO will provide guidance and support for recovery measures of its members, the private and public tourism sector, including organizers of tourism events and fairs.

• To reassure the world source markets of their safety in various destinations.
• To reassure the world source markets that tourism destinations   will welcome them back.

Kenya’s tourism is bouncing back after years of the slowdown in the country’s incoming tourist arrivals.

• The United States remained Kenya’s leading market, growing by nine percent with 245,437 arrivals.
• Kenya’s tourism earnings grew by 3.9 percent to $1.6 billion.
• Total of 2,048,834 foreign visitors visited Kenya in 2019 compared to 2,025,206 international arrivals in 2018.

Domestic Tourism

As you must have noticed, most tourism advertisements are targeted at foreigners, yet several African countries are experiencing a strong increase in domestic tourism – specially countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Rwanda.

With over 1.1 billion Africans  expected to be middle class by 2050. African governments are getting serious about promoting domestic tourism. Reducing local flight taxes and promoting new new tourist destinations among local and regional tourists can yield rich dividends for Africa’s tourism earnings.

In the East Africa region, Uganda and Tanzania continue to be major source markets for Kenya’s tourism sector. According to recent figures, Kenya received 245,437 tourists from America in 2019, the highest from one country, while Uganda and Tanzania were second and third with 223,010 and 193,740 respectively.

Arrivals into Kenya from neighbouring Uganda are expected to increase further this year following the introduction of Uganda Airline’s direct flight from Entebbe to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi and Moi International Airport (MIA) in Mombasa. Mombasa doubles as a business and holiday destination for Uganda and the new air link will boost both business and tourism between Uganda and Kenya.

On the other hand, Qatar Airways also started direct flights from Doha to Mombasa in December 2018. Ethiopian Airlines also increased the number of flights to Mombasa from one to two daily in 2019 boosting arrivals through MIA.

In 2018, Travel & Tourism grew 5.6% to contribute KSHS 790 billion and 1.1 million jobs to the Kenyan economy. This rate of growth is faster than the global average of 3.9% and the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.3%. This makes Kenya the third largest tourism economy in Sub-Saharan Africa after South Africa and Nigeria both of which grew substantially less than Kenya the last couple of years.

Surprisingly, Africa’s tourism industry is now the second fastest growing in the world.

In Ethiopia, for example, relaxing visa restrictions while improving flight connectivity has seen Addis transformed into a regional transport  hub, even overtaking Dubai as the world’s gateway to Africa. This has resulted in Ethiopia becoming Africa’s fastest growing travel country, growing by 48.6% in 2018, according to recent reports.

A report compiled by Jumia states that:

• Africa’s travel and tourism remains one of the key growth drivers of the continent’s economy, contributing 8.5% (or $194.2bn) of the GDP in 2018; from 8.1% and 7.8% in 2017 and 2016 respectively.
• This growth record placed Africa as the second-fastest growing tourism region in the world, with a growth rate of 5.6% in 2018 after Asia Pacific and against a 3.9% global average growth rate.
• In 2018, the African continent received 67 million international tourist arrivals (+7% increase), as compared to 63 million in 2017 and 58 million in 2016. Africa received only 5% share of international arrivals in 2017.
• Morocco and South Africa were the top tourism destinations, with approximately 11 and 10 million arrivals per annum respectively.
• Ethiopia’s visa relaxation policies combined with improved connectivity as a regional transport hub placed the country as Africa’s fastest growing travel country, growing by 48.6% in 2018 to be worth $7.4bn.
• The travel and tourism sector directly and indirectly provided employment for about 24.3 million people in 2018, accounting for approximately (6.7%) of total employment.
• Leisure remains an important component of Africa’s tourism industry, taking up a majority 71% of the tourist expenditure in 2018.
• Moreover, more governments among them Kenya Rwanda, and South Africa are seen to be driving initiatives towards diversifying business tourism products through MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions). However, business expenditure remained at a staggering 29% in 2018 from 30% in 2017.
• In 2019, there was less hotel pipeline activity with 75,155 rooms in 401 hotels; as compared to 2018 which had a pipeline activity of 76,322 rooms in 418 hotels. Sub Saharan Africa recorded the highest pipeline with 45,861 rooms in 276 hotels, while North Africa had 29,294 rooms in 125 hotels.
• The decline in the total Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa has been largely attributed to chains deleting deals that were unlikely to happen and “cleaning” their pipeline from the previous year.
•  In terms of room revenue, it is expected that in the next five years, Nigeria will be the fastest-growing market with a projected 12% compound annual increase. It will be followed by Tanzania and Kenya, with a projection of 8.2% and 7.4% compound annual increases respectively.
• While Africa’s passenger traffic increased from 88.5 million in 2017 to 92 million in 2018 (+5.5%), it’s world share was only 2.1% (down from 2.2% in 2017). This was attributed to high competition from other regions such as the Asia Pacific. Africa’s share is however predicted to grow by 4.9% annually over the next 20 years.

Investment Opportunities

Due to its stable business environment and steady economic growth, Kenya’s hospitality industry is definitely set for greater heights. Major goals have been achieved: the improvement of infrastructure, as well as the simplification of permit acquisition for foreigners keen on investing in the hospitality sector.

Africa is fast emerging as a hot tourist destination for travellers from across the world as air connectivity and new road networks improve accessibility to the continent's remote natural tourist spots and attract visitors from all across the globe. Clearly, improved air and ground connectivity has resulted in an increase in the number of travellers visiting the African continent for leisure and tourism.

A record 67 million tourists visited Africa in 2018, up from 58 million in 2016, the African continent is ranked as the second fastest growing region for tourists. According to a recent report by World Tourism Organisation, the number of tourist arrivals in Africa will more than double to 134 million by 2030.

As the number of airlines flying into Africa continues to grow, Africa is sure to attract a growing number of both leisure and business visitors in the coming years.  As a result, new hotels are coming up in all parts of Africa in anticipation to accommodate these visitors.

Not surprising then that many multinational hotel chains are beginning to recognise the huge potential and investment opportunities opening up in Africa, specially in the tourism and hotel sectors. The Radisson Hotel Group, for example, has signed 11 new hotel deals in Africa during the first nine months of 2019, increasing its African real estate to almost 100 properties. According to industry experts, the Radisson Hotel Group is expected to reach more than 130 hotels and 23,000 rooms in Africa by 2022.

Investment Opportunities in Africa

Looking at the immense opportunities opening up in Africa's hotel sector, a new trend is emerging where multinational hotel chains are buying and rebranding existing hotels or acquiring smaller hotel groups in Africa. Marriott International, for example, acquired Protea Hotels in 2014 to expand their network in the African continent.

However, the growth and expansion of the hotel industry in Africa is not balanced across the continent – developed, fast-growing and stable cities in Africa are outperforming less prominent locations. Consider this: almost 30% of hotel chains in Africa are in South Africa, predominantly in Cape Town and Johannesburg, with over half of African capital cities having fewer than five chain hotels each.

Even Airbnb is reporting increased numbers in Africa. The popular accommodation online marketplace has over 130,000 listings in Africa and more that 3.5 million people have used the platform to book accommodation in Africa over the past five years.

• The majority of foreign visitors to Africa were holiday-makers with 71% of tourist spending across the continent spent on leisure activities.
• Africa’s tourism industry grew at a rate of 5.6% in 2018, second only to Asia Pacific. This compares to a global growth rate of  3.9% annually.
• Travel and tourism emerged as an important contributor to the African economy in 2018, accounting to 8.1% of GDP and contributing $194.2 billion to the continent’s economy.
• Around 67 million tourists flocked to Africa in 2018, a record 7% increase from 63 million arrivals in 2017 and 58 million in 2016.
• More relaxed visa rules in Ethiopia coupled with improved transport infrastructure gave the country's tourist industry a staggering 48.6% boost in 2018, raking in a total of $7.4 billion.
• The top African tourist spots were Morocco and South Africa, with around 10 and 11 million arrivals per year.

Visa Rules

Many African governments have also relaxed their visa formalities in order to attract more tourists. Initiatives such as the creation of the East Africa Visa programme which allows visitors to apply for a single visa online before visiting Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya are making these places evermore attractive to tourists.

Zimbabwe, for instance, has also simplified its visa rules to facilitate its tourism sector. "We have simplified the visa processing mechanism and offer visa on arrival for most nationalities," says Givemore Chidzidzi, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting Chief Executive during an interview with Holiday Guide magazine. "China has emerged as an important source market for Zimbabwe and we are keen to attract more tourists from China in the coming years," he said.

With more 142 million travellers, China is the world’s biggest outbound market and is growing faster than most traditional source markets. The market is characterised by high spenders and Zimbabwe is pulling out all the stops to attract a larger share of this market. in 2018, China was moved from category C to category B (visa at port of entry) of the current visa regulations in a bid to ease travel from China to Zimbabwe.

"The 35% growth in Chinese tourist arrivals to Zimbabwe is a reflection of the market's potential," said Givemore Chidzidzi.

Attracting Investments

African governments are also wooing international entrepreneurs to invest in their country's booming tourism and hotel sectors. In The Gambia, the government is offering investors free land if developers build hotels in designed areas, and gives investors a 10-year tax holiday if  they invest above a $250,000 threshold.

With impressive double digit growth, inbound traffic from Nigeria to Dubai grew by 28 percent year-on-year, cementing its position as the emirate’s 17th largest source market.

Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) has reported a steady increase in the number of visitors from Nigeria, Africa’s largest source market for inbound traffic to Dubai, welcoming 113,000 overnight visitors in the first seven months of 2019.

Dubai’s diverse business, entertainment and leisure attractions have been attracting a growing number of Nigerians. Ongoing promotions by Emirates Airline, Dubai Tourism and other government bodies hav also played a significant role in promoting Dubai's status as a popular destination amongst Nigerian visitors.

Nigeria: Dubai's Partner in West Africa

Building on ongoing efforts to provide a platform to broadcast Dubai’s multifaceted comprehensive offerings to African tourists, Dubai Tourism, led by the CEO, Issam Kazim, showcased its support at the Akwaaba African Travel Market for the fourth consecutive year with a strong delegation of 21 Dubai-based partners, which included a team from Expo 2020 Dubai.

West Africa’s most prestigious travel trade event brought together industry stakeholders from across the public and private sector to provide a platform to share key market insights, further cementing the emirate’s relationships with operators and offering the opportunity to promote Dubai’s ever-evolving destination offering to a highly targeted audience. 

Winning the ‘Best Stand’ award for the fourth year in a row, the Dubai Tourism stand, which was the largest at the show, welcomed visitors and set an Akwaaba record with over 700 delegates attending its industry panel session.

Nollywood Celebrities Promote Dubai

To the delight of the crowd, six of the nine Nollywood celebrities from the “Dubai Faceoff” campaign made a surprise appearance on stage to voice their experience and admiration for the city. During the session, Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) was joined by Fahad Obaid Mohamed Al Taffag, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nigeria to provide market insights and an update on visitor figures. Other highlights included Dubai’s diverse destination offerings and an overview of in-market campaigns.

Further fostering growth across the African continent, Dubai Tourism continues to leverage its multi-layered marketing strategy, delivering specialised communications programming that recognises the power of social media in influencing travellers’ decision-making processes. This approach saw the launch of the ‘Dubai Face Off’ campaign, where Dubai Tourism successfully collaborated with trade partners WONTRA and Tour Brokers International to provide an exclusive travel package that let fans travel with Nollywood celebrities.

As part of the campaign, nine well-known Nigerian celebrities gave fans the rare opportunity to accompany them to Dubai, with the package offering flight tickets, entry visa, airport transfers, four nights stay at a 4 or 5 star accommodation, a desert safari experience, city tour, tickets to IMG World’s of Adventure, world class dining experiences, as well as designated time with the celebrities.

The event also encompassed several strategic meetings with trade and media partners, including TBI, a key trade partner and one of the largest in Nigeria; Megaletrics, one of the largest owners of radio stations in Nigeria, as well as Dubai’s other key trade partners GHI Assets, NANTA, Seki, and Wakanow.com.

As Dubai Tourism continues to represent itself as a model case study for tourism to the African travel market, it maintains its focus on increasing overall marketing activities including training workshops, trade activities (sales activations, fam trips) and campaigns as well as expanding upon the number of Dubai-based partners that participate in roadshows and events in the Nigerian market.

“The immense hospitality and genuine welcome we received during our time in Nigeria paved the way for a hugely successful Akwaaba Travel Market 2019," said Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM). "Our continued presence at industry events such as these is testament to our globally diversified market strategy to engage with key strategic partners, cementing our positive relationship with the African travel trade ecosystem.”

As the department continues to build on and cement its strong relationship with the Nigerian market, Dubai Tourism has plans to launch a second targeted winter marketing celebrity campaign with out-of-home advertising, radio, and social media activations to further engage Nigerian tourists and position Dubai as the destination of choice.

Dubai Targets Visitors from Nigeria

With strategic support from stakeholders across the city, the celebrity figures and their fans participated in a series of challenges that incorporated social media engagement, asking fans to vote on their favourite winners throughout their stay. The campaign surpassed projected results with over 200 fans travelling to Dubai for the exclusive campaign, while the celebrities received just under 31 million engagements on social media to boost the department’s ‘always-on’ social media strategy – which, to date, has exceeded the entire year’s forecasted engagement targets by almost 300 percent.

Issam Kazim, CEO, DCTCM, commented on the campaign: “As Dubai continues to become a prime destination of choice for Nigerian travelers, we are committed to extending the potential of one of our fastest growing source markets by offering custom-made integrated marketing campaigns and trade activations that showcase the city’s world-class propositions and exceptional experiences on offer. The ‘Dubai Face Off’ campaign is a prime example of our endeavors to harness the power of user generated content and organic circulation in targeting segments eager for customized and diversified experiences.”