Kenya: New Airport Fees to Increase Cost of Air Travel

Kenya's civil aviation regulator has raised its service charges in a bid to return to financial health.

Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) announced plans to increase the fees for services rendered to airlines and other players by an average 90 per cent besides introducing a safety and security charge of Sh134 ($2) for every international passenger leaving the country.

Passengers on domestic flights will pay Sh50 per ticket of departure while departing cargo will attract a safety fee of Sh67 ($1) per tonne.

With the number of passengers taking international flights at 1.5 million in 2006, the levy will increase to Sh75 million.

Eight African leaders speak on continent`s travel opportunities

The Africa Travel Association (ATA), a 33-year old global travel trade association promoting tourism to Africa, held its Second Annual Presidential Forum on Tourism in New York City on Friday, September 28 at New York University’s Law School in Greenwich Village. Hosted by New York University’s Africa House, the theme of the event was "positive news on Africa."

The forum provided African leaders with the opportunity to present the continent’s rich travel opportunities to almost 200 leaders from government, non-government and business communities, the tourism industry, travel trade media, and education. Each leader spoke of the need to market “Destination Africa” in a way that benefits both the continent as a whole and each individual country.

South Africa comes out tops

South Africa has been voted the best and most interesting African travel destination in an annual Dutch online travel survey, SA Tourism said on Wednesday.

"We know that the Dutch are enthusiastic safari goers and that they also enjoy other nature and outdoor activities, so we're pleased that our marketing efforts in these areas have paid off," said Annemarie Ferns, South African Tourism's country manager in The Netherlands.

Africa Travel Association Hosts its 2nd Annual Presidential Forum on Tourism

The Africa Travel Association (ATA), a global travel trade association promoting tourism to Africa since 1975, will organize ATA’s Second Annual Africa Presidential Forum on Tourism in New York City on Friday, September 28 from 8:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at New York University’s Law School in Greenwich Village. Hosted by NYU’s Africa House, the event will take place parallel to the United Nations General Assembly meetings. The Presidential Forum provides an opportunity to hear from African leaders about the continent’s rich travel opportunities. Ali Velshi, CNN’s Senior Business Correspondent, will introduce the distinguished leaders.

South Africa: Kulula Launches One-Stop Portal

LOW-cost airline kulula.com yesterday announced its new business venture - a first-of-its-kind online travel portal - and unveiled one of its 10 planned aircraft purchased to replace the old MD82 planes. The airline invested R4m and two years in development of the travel portal. It will offer flights, car rental, hotel accommodation and travel packages. Later there will be client reviews, travel tips, and community forums and travel blogs. "Few South Africans have had the opportunity to explore our country and this portal will bring this within reach," said Gidon Novick, the airline's joint CEO.

Africa from a Bike Seat

Andrew Cameron was pedalling his mountain bike up the left side of a double-track dirt road in Tanzania. The sun was shining and the 27-year-old Canadian was admiring the lush green landscape when he spotted a dark shape in his peripheral vision to the right on the road ahead. As he got closer, the black form suddenly rose a metre into the air and assumed an attack posture. It was a black mamba, Africa's deadliest and most aggressive snake. Just before Cameron passed, it darted into the bush. "It was only after I passed that I realized what I had just seen," Cameron recalls. "I began yelping, 'Holy crap! That was a black mamba!' I was lucky to be in the left track that day, rather than the right."