NewYork Senator Charles Schumer has threatened legislation if airlines continue to monetize every atom, the Senate minority leader said Sunday. His target: Overhead bin fees. American Airlines recently announced that it would join United Airlines in instituting such a policy and Schumer feared a ripple effect the move will have on other carriers. United announced late last year that it would adopt an overhead bin fee as part of the company’s change in pricing model. Under the new “Basic...
The announcement yesterday by Mauritius Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth that he was stepping down in favor of his son, who is the current Minister of Finance in the ruling coalition government, did not come entirely unexpected but nevertheless rattled the country, and more important, the crucial tourism sector. In 1984 Mauritius’ president named veteran politician Sir Anerood Jugnauth as prime minister, after the 84-year old won a landslide victory taking nearly three-quarters of...
Elephant poaching in southern Tanzania wildlife conserved parks is under spotlight by wildlife conservation groups worried over negative economic consequences with losses in tourist gains. Recent report on elephant poaching had indicated that Tanzania has been losing big numbers of elephants in southern parks, mostly in Selous Game Reserve which is counted the biggest wildlife reserve in Africa. Covering 50,000 square kilometers, Selous Game Reserve has badly hit by poaching, losing almost...
The recent announcement by the central government of China to ban all domestic ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017 offers a glimmer of real optimism in the fight against elephant poaching. The decision is set to disrupt the global’s major marketplace for the product, as it will compel legal ivory processing industries to close down—thereby eliminating the cover under which the illicit ivory trade had flourished. Similarly, the ban will put in place strict mechanisms of ivory...
Today the Hon. Eng. Dr. Walter Mzembi made his emotional case why he wanted to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Mr. Mzembi looked pleased when he was able to make his case in a packed room after a busy day at FITUR in Madrid. This is a transcript of his presentation. Your Excellencies; Honorable Ministers; Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corps; a very special salutation to His Excellency, Dr Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the...
Tanzania is looking to attract Israel tourists and business stakeholders, while Tanzanian Christian pilgrims are looking up to visit Israel in rising numbers through visa application between Dar es Salaam and Tel Aviv. The Embassy of Israel in Nairobi has established a visa handling center in Dar es Salaam to strengthen bilateral relations with Tanzania, looking to process travel documents between Dar es Salaam and Tel Aviv. Tanzania President John Magufuli had expressed his intention to open...
Three Chinese appeared in court in Dar es Salaam yesterday charged with ivory possession worth some 7 billion Tanzania Shillings according to the prosecution. The have been remanded in custody until the end of January to advance investigations further. The offenses on the charge sheet related to over 1.000 pieces of blood ivory transported between the Tanzanian mainland and Zanzibar in 2013 and there have been suggestions that the accused were reported to the authorities by other suspects...
Today at FITUR in Madrid the 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development was officially opened with an all-star participation. The presentation at the opening day of Spain’s largest travel and tourism trade show in Madrid was attended by more than 60 ministers of tourism, by Georgia’s prime minister, a First Lady from South America, and a member of the Royal Family from Jordan, as well as many other dignitaries and tourism leaders. Two days before a new uncertain...
2017 is the UNWTO International Year of sustainable tourism for development. The event for the opening was today at FITUR 2017, a travel and tourism trade show that opened today at the Madrid Convention Center. The first speaker at the event and guest of honor, the Honorable Giorgi Kvirikashvili, prime minister of Georgia showed no hesitation to be the first to take the gloves off in the developing fight on who would become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism...
The Gambia tried hard for years to become an attractive travel and tourism destination. The destination exhibited at major trade show around the world and often it’s colorful stand design as a green destination won awards.Hundreds of British tourists are to be flown back from Gambia by Thomas Cook after the Foreign Office warned “the potential for military intervention and civil disturbance is high” in the west African nation. Now hundreds of British tourists are to be flown...
Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO, has suggested that the travel and tourism industry should get additional incentives in the coming union budget, so that the India tourism sector gets developed. He said that greater investment must be made so that infrastructure development takes place. OYO, set up in 2013, today has a presence in 200 Indian cities, as well as Malaysia. There are about 7,000 OYO hotels in India. In recent months, Ritesh Agarwal has been much sought after for his views, as...
On January 15, 2017, the Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) sent an alert to the public on confirmed cases of the avian flu in wild birds. The statement reads: The MAAIF has informed the public that: fishermen reported to the management of Uganda Wild Life Education Center Entebbe about the massive death of wild birds around Lutembe beach. The report was received by the Commissioner Animal Health of MAAIF on the 2/01/2017. This prompted an integrated team from...
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett today (January 16, 2017) signed an agreement at the Palacio Neptuno in Spain, to host a major global conference to commemorate the 2017 United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. The event, which is a collaborative effort between the Government of Jamaica, international development firm Chemonics International and the UNWTO, will be staged from November 27 to 29 at the...
Mountain resort Villa Zolitude is just 20 minutes from Phuket Town in Thailand. During a recent road trip to Phuket I wanted to experience a new kind of accommodation that was causing a buzz. As we arrived at the resort we pass from the main road up through a winding jungle road. You’re in a rain forest and as you climb ever higher you notice a slight drop in the temperature. We park the car at the spa building near the entrance to the resort and are then transferred with luggage by the...
An Avian Flu outbreak in Uganda is bad news, also for the travel and tourism industry. However, tourists heading to Uganda have been reassured that they are most unlikely to come into contact with infected birds and need not fear or resort to canceling their safari vacations in Uganda or anywhere else in East Africa for that matter. Tests carried out on dead birds found on the shores of Lake Victoria between the capital Kampala and Entebbe, the location of the international airport, but also in...
The Zimbabwe Herald summed up an evaluation of the current run for the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General post. More and more candidates are getting into the picture and are heading to FITUR this week to launch the competition for the highest post in tourism. Not all candidates have laid out their plans yet, and some have not mentioned their educational and practical qualifications, but the run up for this position is definitely becoming interesting. As quoted from The...
Just because you do not have or do not want to spend big bucks on a hotel room does not mean you must stay home. Savvy travelers are learning that terrific accommodations can be scored by accessing the Meininger brand. It may be hard to believe, but a frugal traveler can get a single room at a Queens Gate location in London for 120 Euros per night (January). If you are ok sharing (with strangers), dormitory accommodations (shared bath) can be reserved for approximately 22 Euros per night. No –...
Alain St.Ange has confirmed he is a World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Candidate. The Former Seychelles Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine was born on 24 October 1954 on the island of La Digue where he spent much of his youth on his family’s agricultural estate, primarily dedicated to vanilla and coconut plantations, before pursuing his formal education at the Seychelles College in Mahé. He later continued his studies in Hotel Management in Germany and Tourism in...
The Hon. Dr. Walter Mzembi, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, is on a diplomatic tour of Europe. With Rasim Ljajić, Serbia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Trade and Telecommunications In his capacity as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister, he has so far visited Serbia and Croatia and met with Ivica Dacic, Serbia First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Rasim Ljajić...
ECPAT-USA, a world-renowned nonprofit combatting child sex trafficking, will hold a special screening of SOLD the movie with guest appearances by David Arquette and breakout star Niyar Saikia at Regal Cinemas Live 14 on Tuesday, January 17, 2016. Tickets are on sale now. Sponsored by leaders in the travel sector including HRS Global Hotel Solutions, The Parking Spot, Delta Air Lines, Marriott International, and the The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Los Angeles LA LIVE, the event will align the...
SUN – the Strong Universal Network – is a new movement to respond to existential climate change and supports the intensifying 2050 carbon targets of the Paris Agreement. It is a legacy of the late Maurice Strong, the visionary who led many historical sustainable development initiatives, including the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. He was a champion of climate resilience and green travel. We are spearheading SUN to underscore the reality of climate change and the imperative of rapid, continuous...
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Industries HE Walter Mzembi says his department has remained one of the few relatively well-performing portfolios because of his ability to remain focused on deliverables when others dwell on unproductive debates. Despite Zimbabwe’s image in the world seen negatively the minister. “We arguably in sub-Saharan Africa, one of the few internationally acknowledged to have registered growth in tourism by nine percent at the end of 2015...
Rwanda’s only savannah national park, Akagera, was in the news two years ago when a lion relocation from South Africa brought these predators back. Seven lions were released at the time and according to reports have the numbers since then grown to around 15. Initially opposed by Kenyan ‘conservationists’, clearly individuals with their own agenda set to deny Rwanda to go through with a similar deal to bring in lions from Kenya, have all their objections been proved to be...
Heavy snow paralyzes Istanbul airports and national carrier Turkish Airlines canceled more than 650 flights. Turkish Airlines is a member of Star Alliance. It appears this usually great airline is clearly not equipped to handle an emergency situation. Thousands of stranded passengers feel left alone by Turkish Airlines again. The award winning 4-star airline with a mostly great reputation seems to be failing again. This time due to bad weather and snow storms in Istanbul Hundreds of flights...
The Hon. Danny Faure, President of the Republic of the Seychelles regrets to announce the passing of founding President Sir James Richard Mancham, who passed away peacefully in his sleep at his residence in Glacis this morning. President Sir James Mancham, the founding President of the Republic of Seychelles, was a true patriot, a veteran politician, and a committed advocate of national reconciliation. He was a defender of liberty and champion of human rights. “The world has lost a global...
eTN has learned that the Founding President of Seychelles, Sir James R. Mancham, has died. According to the source, it may have been a stroke that ultimately took his life after suffering a heart attack not too long ago, although that did not appear to have slowed him down any. eTN received an article written by him just yesterday, as he was a regular contributor, about his concern over the transition taking place in Seychelles’ government. He also just received a Lifetime Achievement...
If you do not like to eat, and eat well, then you may want to consider another destination. Since the beginning of time, food has been an important part of the daily life of Romans. Ancient Roman cuisine was influenced by the Greeks and, as the empire expanded, the citizens of Rome were exposed to many new, provincial culinary food opportunities and cooking techniques. In the beginning, social class did not determine what to eat. Disparities developed as the empire grew and by the Renaissance...
The new chief of the United Nations has vowed to combat sexual abuse by UN “peacekeepers” around the globe, declaring plans to devise a fresh “game-changing” approach to address the issue. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who succeeded Ban Ki-moon on January 1, designated a nine-member task force on Friday to come up with a new strategy aimed at enhancing the response to the string of damaging and growing reports of sexual abuse carried out by UN peacekeeping forces. According...
Why was the U.S. House of Representative Oversights Committee ignoring an urgent letter delivered on April 28, 2016 by Washington DC attorney Paul Hudson, president of FlyersRights.org ? The United States of America aviation system is not safe according to Flyersrights, and Hudson may have a point, and he may have had a valid warning delivered to the US House committee in April 2016. Could Mr. Hudson’s warnings, if they were followed by the oversights committee helped to avoid an attack...
He is not a terrorist, but an American hero. He is Esetan Santiago, gunmen and a terrorist who killed 5 people, injuring 8 others today at Ft. Lauderdale International airport in Florida, USA. Why did he do this? Did ISIS tell him? Most likely not. His attack has a known issue. It’s about a broken profit driven mental health system in the United States of America. Mental health care covered by insurance or affordable treatments will be a dream of the past. Who can afford $30,000.00 a...
