This brand new week, we bring you our fresh new weekly Top Ten (10) digest for the most important things in Uganda’s Tourism, the world of Aviation and Travel that are trending especially in this Post COVID-19 Era. As always, we will be giving you highlights that make News rounds all through from start of the week. Below is our Weekly Newsletter for your readership.
01. Kenya Airways unveils new Fahari Innovation Hub
Kenya Airways PLC has launched the Fahari Innovation Hub, a centre for innovation that acts as a springboard for new ideas and data-driven innovations to accelerate impact-driven solutions that address some of the societal and business challenges.
The Fahari Innovation Hub is part of KQ’s strategy in contributing to the sustainable development of Africa by empowering, partnering, and co-creating innovative ideas and strategies with local start-ups and the small-medium enterprises (SMEs) ecosystem.
02. Emirates restarts Passenger Services to Mauritius
The airline has also announced it will deploy its iconic Emirates A380 aircraft to Mauritius starting 1 August to serve market demand. Fully vaccinated travellers can enjoy a relaxing and safe getaway in a list of pre-approved COVID-19 safe resorts across the island.
Emirates’ flights to Mauritius will operate on Thursdays and Saturdays. Starting from 15 July, the route will be served utilising a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and from 1 August, utilising the Emirates A380 aircraft. Emirates flight EK 701 will depart Dubai at 2:35hrs and arrive in Mauritius at 9:10hrs local time. The return flight will operate on Fridays and Sundays. Emirates flight EK 704 will leave Mauritius at 23:10hrs and arrive in Dubai at 5:45hrs local time the following day.
03. Travel demand showed ‘marginal improvements’ in May 2021
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that both international and domestic travel demand showed marginal improvements in May-2021, compared to the prior month, but traffic remained well below pre-pandemic levels and is lagging the increasing consumer confidence. Recovery in international traffic continued to be stymied by extensive government travel restrictions.
Total demand for air travel in May-2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) was down -62.7% compared to the May-2019 pre-pandemic performance. That was a gain over the -65.2% decline recorded in Apr-2021 versus Apr-2019. International passenger demand in May was -85.1% below May-2019, a small step-up from the -87.2% decline recorded in Apr-2021 versus two years ago. All regions except for Asia-Pacific contributed to this modest improvement.
04. Qatar resume tourist and family visas from today
Qatar is to resume issuing family and tourist entry visas starting on 12 July, in line with new travel and return policies and based on health ministry COVID-19 recommendations, the interior ministry said.
The health ministry said in a statement that the new entry policies include providing a COVID-19 PCR test and classifying countries into three categories that would determine the quarantine policies.
Entry for family visits, businessmen and tourists including GCC citizens who do not have Qatari ID numbers will be limited to vaccinated and recovered cases.
05. UNWTO launches digital tools to revitalize tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has partnered with MUST Travel & Tech to place a digital tool at the service of tourism, allowing users to share their experiences to promote the reactivation of the sector with a view to sustainability.
Presented during the UNWTO Mayors’ Forum in Porto, Portugal, the tool is an opportunity for the advancement of smart cities, as well as destinations that incorporate technology and innovation in their development. Already operating in 60 countries, MUST aggregates all the information of interest to travellers in one place. By also integrating key information and analysis from UNWTO, it aims to become a leading tourism application and generate opportunities for destinations.
06. Pandemic continues to erode strength of Premium Passports
International leisure travel remains less than 10% of pre-Covid levels and is largely regional as opposed to trans-continental and likely to remain so throughout the upcoming northern hemisphere’s summer tourism season. Altundal and Zarpli also highlight that while most countries are now gradually relaxing inbound travel restrictions for international visitors, the impact of the coronavirus on tourism has been severe.
Since the pandemic was declared, the EU has seen a drop in tourism of nearly 90%, the UK has had a 73% decline in tourist numbers, and the US has experienced a 69% decrease in visitors. Some countries continue to retain strictly closed borders, with those holding the top spots on the Henley Passport Index — Japan, Singapore, and Germany — among them.
Travel or tourism concept. Old suitcase with open passport with visa stamps and globe. 3d illustration
Facebook will invest in the fibre build and support network planning. Liquid Technologies will own, build and operate the fibre network, and provide wholesale services to mobile network operators and internet service providers. The network will help create a digital corridor from the Atlantic Ocean through the Congo Rainforest, the second largest rainforest after the Amazon, to East Africa, and onto the Indian Ocean. Liquid Technologies has been working on the digital corridor for more than two years, which now reaches Central DRC. This corridor will connect DRC to its neighboring countries including Angola, Congo Brazzaville, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Mr Mark Zuckerberg – Facebook CEO
08. Two poachers sentenced to 12 years for killing a Bush Buck
The Acting Chief Magistrate Kyenjojo Her Worship Nambozo Joy on June 30, 2021 sentenced Habimana Sabanitah and Sobomaana Augustine residents of Rwamwanja refugee settlement in Kamwenge district to 4 years in jail for illegal entry into a protected area and 12 years in jail for killing a wildlife protected species.
The two were arrested on 28th June, 2021 by Uganda Wildlife Authority personnel inside Katonga Wildlife Reserve. They were found in possession of dead bush buck, 02 pangas, 02 sharp spears and 08 wire snares that were used to kill the animal.
Upon arrest, the suspects were transferred to Kyegegwa police station and later produced before the Chief Magistrate court of Kyejonjo to take plea. The accused pleaded guilty to the counts as charged of illegal entry and killing a protected wildlife species.
Two Bush Bucks graze in the wild
09. Another lost summer for the Brits with no European breaks in sight – WTTC
UK families face yet another ‘lost summer’ thanks to the controversial traffic light system, quarantines, costly COVID-19 tests and confusing travel rules and regulations, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The global tourism body, which represents the global private travel and tourism sector, says this combination has effectively made much of Europe off-limits to holidaymakers for the second successive year, despite the success of the vaccination rollout. As well as being hugely disappointing for those yearning for a summer break, it has also brought the beleaguered UK travel and tourism sector almost to its knees.
WTTC has urged government leaders across Europe to take a coordinated approach to reopen borders and allow the safe resumption of travel for double-jabbed holidaymakers. However, the call came on the day the EU launched its Digital Covid Certificate, designed to reopen safe travel on the continent.
10. No more Visas on arrival, Uganda issues online visa application directive
As the lockdown takes toll on in-country travels, Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has directed that all visa applications must be made and paid for online.
The directive was issued and signed off by Major General Apollo Kasita-Gowa the Director of Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control. Only travelers with approved visas having applied online will be granted entry into the country.
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