Africa

Twin Bombings Roil Tunisia’s Tourism Rebound

Bouazza Ben Bouazza, The Associated Press

Tourism to Tunisia is on the rebound after 2015’s deadly extremist attacks. Thursday’s twin bombings are a setback to the progress made.

Botswana Tries to Appease Both Sightseers and Elephant Hunters

Mbongeni Mguni, Bloomberg

Despite lifting a ban on hunting elephants, Botswana says the animals won’t be killed in areas popular with photographers. However, the country risks harming its tourism industry and conservation efforts with the move.

Cape Town Hopes Muslim Travelers Can Stave Off Winter Woes

Richard Holmes, Skift

Touting the city’s attractiveness for Muslim travelers — particularly in markets that are already strong drivers of tourism — is a savvy move by tourism authorities and operators in Cape Town.

Battered Mozambique Tourism Looks Beyond Cyclone Devastation

Richard Holmes, Skift

There’s some hard work ahead to correct public perceptions, but luxury tourism in northern Mozambique should be able to weather the fallout from Cyclone Kenneth. And the local economy needs it now, more than ever.

Accor to Open 30 Hotels in Egypt Citing Strong Rebound

Bella Genga, Bloomberg

Accor will open 60 hotels in Africa, half of them in Egypt. Remember it bought the Movenpick chain, which has a strong footprint in Egypt? That comes in handy now as the brand is well-recognized in the region and will open doors for an Accor expansion there.

First Direct U.S. Flights to Cape Town in 15 Years Will Be Boon to Tourism

Richard Holmes, Skift

United’s plan to launch direct flights between New York and Cape Town, South Africa, is a potential bonanza for tourism in the city and the wider region. Now local operators are holding thumbs the seasonal route becomes year-round.

Uganda Deals With Bad Publicity After U.S. Tourist Abduction

Fred Ojambo, Bloomberg

President Donald Trump’s effort to score domestic political points with Twitter-based diplomacy makes addressing the problem of traveler security and kidnappers demanding ransoms more difficult by antagonizing foreign leaders, rather than wooing them.

Progress Finally Being Made on a Single African Passport

Richard Holmes, Skift

Will 2019 be the year that the African Union passport is made freely available to the continent’s 1.2 billion citizens? Probably not, but technocrats at the 55-nation union say progress is being made.

Will the Nairobi Attacks Dent Kenya’s Tourism Boom?

Richard Holmes, Skift

After this week’s terror attacks in a Nairobi hotel complex, a question mark hangs over the continued growth of Kenya’s lucrative tourism industry. But tourists have been here before, and as long as there are no follow-up attacks, mass cancellations seem unlikely.

A Turnaround at Rwanda’s Oldest National Park Is a Model for Tourism

Pauline Bax, Bloomberg

Tourists pay up to $1,300 a night for steak and luxury suites in a national park full of wildlife that, merely a decade ago, seemed unsalvageable because of poachers. The turnaround by a nonprofit is a compelling example of creative problem-solving for national parks across Africa and the world.

Courting a New Generation of Safari Goers

Colin Nagy, Skift

As African countries continue to grow their tourism markets, travelers are learning that a safari doesn't necessarily have to be a luxury, once-in-a-lifetime thing. Rather, some innovators are creating reasonably priced experiences that can serve as a great entry point for a wider range of visitors.

Cairo Attack Kills Two Vietnamese Tourists

Ahmed Khalil El-Sayed, Bloomberg