Tourism in Southern Africa

  • UNWTO: International tourism – strongest half-year results since 2010

    AFGHANISTAN, 2017/09/09 Destinations worldwide welcomed 598 million international tourists in the initial six months of 2017, some 36 million additional than in the same period of 2016. At 6%, increase was well above the trend of recent years, making the current January-June period the strongest half-year since 2010. Visitor numbers reported by destinations around the world reflect strong request for international travel in the initial half of 2017, according to the new UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. Worldwide, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) increased by 6% compared to the same six-month period last year, well above the sustained and consistent trend of 4% or higher increase since 2010. This represents the strongest half-year in seven years.
  • International Arrivals To Africa Reach More Than 18 Million In 2017

    BOTSWANA, 2017/09/09 Market Research Company Euromonitor International revealed before this week the key trends shaping travel and tourism in Africa at the 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. According to Euromonitor International’s new data, international arrivals to Africa grew by 6.5 % in 2017, to reach 18,550 million, up from 16,351 million in 2012. Key markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Mozambique, Cameroon, Mauritius and Tanzania accounted for 70 % of international trips to the Sub-Saharan African region.
  • South Africa Tourism issues statement on amended immigration regulations

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2016/11/11 Since 2014, the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) has been working to help its members and those of the tourism to understand two regulations that are included in the Amended Immigration Regulations as it pertains to travel. The TBCSA issued a statement to address the persisting challenges that the travel and tourism industry faces with the implementation of the Amended Immigration Regulations. The specific challenges faced by the industry are with the unintended consequences of biometric data capturing for international visitors into the country and the continued requirement of unabridged birth certificates for minors under the age of 18 traveling into the country.
  • Tourism Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands: Africa's latest adventure destination

    ZIMBABWE, 2016/06/13 The Aberfoyle Lodge was the destination of my initial day on safari in Zimbabwe and at the same time as I arrived, over 7 hours next leaving the capital Harare, was the long journey over thankfully good roads swiftly forgotten and forgiven. Next getting into my room it was a quick dash, even before turning my attention to the waiting lunch, to take some photographs as the sun threatened to disappear behind the surrounding mountains.
  • Zimbabwe boasts of rich tourism resources inclunding the mighty Victoria Falls.

    CHINA, 2015/09/29 Zimbabwe's tourism minister Walter Mzembi on Wednesday revealed that his government is negotiating with Beijing to arrange visa-on-arrival for Chinese tourists to visit the southern African country. Zimbabwe boasts of rich tourism resources inclunding the mighty Victoria Falls. Mzembi told journalists and ambassadors at a tourism workshop in Harare that plans were underway to ensure that Chinese nationals will be issued visas on arrival. Currently, the Chinese must obtain their Zimbabwean visas before traveling.
  • Botswana desert turned into race track

    BOTSWANA, 2015/09/29 Known for its rich diamonds resources and magnificent tourist attractions of the Okavango Delta, a lot of would at no time think motor racing would become one of the majority sought next activities of Botswana's tourism industry. The Kalahari Desert, covering most of the western part of the country, has just turned out to be a hub for off-road racing in this landlocked southern African country. This year marked a historic 30th edition of the Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000km Desert Race, the biggest off-road racing event in southern Africa, with the winner getting a ticket to the world renowned Dakar Rally. It's the wee hours of the morning and large motor engines can be heard roaring and disturbing the tranquil often experienced in the small mining town of Jwaneng, at the entrance of the vast sands of the Kalahari Desert.
  • Zimbabwe: Unbeatable destination for inspired travel adventure

    ZIMBABWE, 2015/08/24   "All I wanted to do presently was get back to Africa. We had not left it from presently on, but at the same time as I would wake in the night, I would lie, listening, homesick for it by presently." - Ernest Hemingway. A sentiment shared by most who visit Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a country with extravagant scenery and exciting activities. The country offers winding rivers for exploration and relaxing natural parks with beautiful views that vividly displays the country's efforts in wilderness conservation. Zimbabwe shares the remarkable Victoria Falls, the world's biggest waterfall, with its neighbor Zambia.
  • South African tourism sector pulling through challenges

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/05/21 Improved competitiveness and significant government support have strengthened South Africa’s claim to be the leading sub-Saharan tourism destination, though new visa regulations and fallout from anti-immigrant protests could affect its appeal in the short term. In its new world Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) statement, the World Economic Forum (WEF) found that South Africa’s performance in the tourism sector has improved significantly since 2013, at the same time as the previous study was conducted. The statement, released on May 6, ranked South Africa as the leading country in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of competitiveness and increase drivers, and 48th out of the 141 markets assessed in general.
  • Can Tourism Unite Africa?

    SOUTH AFRICA, 2015/05/10 While tourism increase of 2% for 2014 shows an increased interest in Africa - infrastructure development, visa facilitation, air connectivity and lack of financing all pose a risk to rapid increase. These key issues formed the crux of a round-table ministerial discussion and debate on the current national of tourism in Africa, with a view of collectively formulating solutions to grow and develop tourism on the continent. Hosted by SA Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, and extended to thirteen African Ministers and key tourism industry players ahead of the Pan-African Tourism Indaba 2015 in Durban, Hanekom said the African market is undergoing unprecedented increase in tourist arrivals.
  • Foodie travelers explore the cuisines of Angola, Botswana and DRC

    AFRICA, 2014/11/08 For a lot of travelers, food is the central focus of their journeys. They are often called “foodie travelers,” and enjoy partaking in the various types of food found in the myriad of cultures around the world. How else does one get to take in and savor the culture of a place than through an experience of food that involves all the senses? Hearing the sizzle coming from the kitchen, smelling the aromas of the dishes being prepared, seeing the plates of delightful food being served, tasting the delectable flavors, and in a lot of cases, eating without utensils and reveling in the feeling of picking up one’s food and licking one’s fingers like a delighted child. The fifteen nations of Southern Africa - Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – offer a wide variety of delicious dishes for the foodie traveler to enjoy. Today, we explore some of the foods of Angola, Botswana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo