South Africa is understandably cautious as it approaches winter, and doing all it can to stave off a health crisis. But its strict and prolonged protocols might end up doing more harm than good.
For Africa to realize a lot of its economic potential, especially within hospitality, elevating women to positions of leadership will help power and accelerate growth. Asilia's Dunia Camp in Tanzania, run by General Manager Angel Vendeline Namshali and her team of all women, is an example of this positive change.
Connecting luxury travelers to the local community and fostering a better understanding of a destination is hard to do well. Here are two examples that the industry can draw inspiration from.
In a region that has historically struggled in the aviation field, state-run Ethiopian Airlines is truly a success story, playing a key role in the country's economic development and helping solidify its status as a tourist destination. A new airport takes it to the next level.
Kirsty Henderson has arguably one of the coolest jobs in aviation: She’s a bush pilot, ferrying passengers across scenic African landscapes like Botswana. What’s more, she’s helping show aviation as a viable career path for young women.
If leaders continue to look at African conservation as a charitable cause, it is doomed. As a growth industry — yes, an industry — that creates jobs and economic mobility, there is still hope for a sustainable future driven by the very young population on the continent.
The luxury safari market in southern Africa is a competitive space, and it pays to leverage any unique selling points. Now savvy lodge operators are trading on the darkness of the night skies to encourage bookings.
Conservation is too soft a word to describe the measures being taken to address the crisis facing land and wildlife in Africa. But the Grumeti Fund is an example of best-in-class anti-poaching. This, coupled with large-scale systemic change, education, and community empowerment, is the one-two punch that can counter the imminent dangers facing wildlife and ecology in Africa.