TOURISM

ATC News by Wolfgang H. Thome Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has marked its first year of operations in Tanzania, as it continues to support the growing two-way flow of business and leisure travellers flying between Dar es Salaam and the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi. Over …

Tanzanian based -lowcost carrier Fastjet has announced plans to cut flights in East Africa starting this month as part of a route rationalisation exercise meant to match frequencies and customer demand. Fastjet, which launched direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Entebbe International Airport in 2014, says “rationalisation” of its …

Paris, France | AFP |  Ugandan traditional music, which is dying out partly because it requires materials from endangered species, has been placed on UNESCO’s protected “Intangible Cultural Heritage” list, along with Portuguese pottery and Ukrainian Cossack songs. A UNESCO world heritage committee, meeting in Addis Ababa Tuesday, decided to …

Sydney, Australia | AFP |  Foreigners in Australia on working holidays face paying a 15 percent levy on every dollar they earn after the government Monday compromised on a controversial “backpacker tax”, dumping plans for a higher rate. Canberra had initially sought a revenue-raising 32.5 percent tax for seasonal workers …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African police Thursday said they had arrested a Hong Kong-bound Chinese man found with 18 rhino horns hidden in his luggage. He was detained on Wednesday at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport after an anonymous tip-off. “The 28-year-old male, who was in transit …

Rwanda’s latest domestic tourism campaign dubbed “Tembera U Rwanda-Jump on the Bus” is geared towards marketing attraction sites to domestic tourists. And it is registering success, according to Rwanda Development Board (RDB),  writes Joseph Ondiek Just recently, this writer was part of a team of journalists from a cross section …

The world’s bird watching community has descended on Entebbe Botanical Gardens as Uganda hosts the annual African Birding Expo. Tourism, business clinics, birding challenges, conferences and exhibition awards will be some of the highlights Friday to Sunday. Several items for the birdwatching community will be available. These will include, scopes, binoculars, guide books, …

Jakarta, Indonesia | AFP | Skygazers were heading to high-rise buildings, ancient forts and beaches Monday to witness the closest “supermoon” to Earth in almost seven decades, hoping for dramatic photos and spectacular surf. The unusually big and bright Moon will appear at its most impressive just as night falls …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | A Zimbabwean high court has dropped charges against the professional hunter, Theo Bronkhorst, who led the expedition that killed prized lion Cecil last year, his lawyer said Friday. “The high court has said the charges were flawed and, therefore, should be set aside,” lawyer Perpetua …

ATC News by Wolfgang H. Thome Time flies goes the saying, especially in the aviation industry where flying is the order of the day. Qatar Airways, five years ago, commenced daily passenger flights from Doha to Entebbe, and on to Kigali, using Airbus A320 aircraft on the route. In addition …