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. Vaccines and Reopen Borders driving Tourism’s recovery process
Most destinations reporting data for June and July 2021 saw a moderate rebound in international arrivals compared to 2020. Nevertheless, 2021 continues to be a challenging year for global tourism, with international arrivals down 80% in January-July compared to 2019. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the weakest results in the period January to July, with a 95% drop in international arrivals compared to 2019. The Middle East (-82%) recorded the second largest decline, followed by Europe and Africa (both -77%). The Americas (-68%) saw a comparatively smaller decrease, with the Caribbean showing the best performance among world sub regions. Meanwhile, some small islands in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia and the Pacific, together with a few small European destinations recorded the best performance in June and July, with arrivals close to, or sometimes exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Courtesy Photo by National Geographic
02. As domestic travel in UK rises, Airbnb rival Plum Guide raises $9 million in funding
The round, which brought total funding since launch to $57m, was led by Beringea, with participation from existing investors Talis Capital, Hearst Ventures and Latitude.
The company, which is also offering its community of hosts, guests and fans a chance to participate in this round via a crowdfunding campaign with Crowdcube, intends to use the funds to accelerate its growth.
03. Not Non-Stop: Ethiopian Airlines’ North American Network
Ethiopian Airlines has five passenger routes to North America this October, all operating outbound via Dublin or Lomé. The B787-9 is the most used, followed by the B777-200LR, B787-8, and B777-300ER. In this month, Ethiopian has more flights between North America and Africa than any other airline, trailed by Delta, EgyptAir, Royal Air Maroc, and United Airlines.
04. Long-haul travellers cautious about planning trips to Europe
Results suggest that as long as COVID-19 safety concerns persist, many will remain cautious about visiting European destinations. However, with vaccination rates continuing to improve across the globe, there is a greater appetite from long-haul travellers to visit Europe than this time last year.
The LHTB from the European Travel Commission (ETC) and Eurail BV anticipates short-term travel intentions in five overseas markets – Canada, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States every four months. Intention to travel is measured in an index that reflects the dominant sentiment expressed by a market, either positive or negative. Values above 100 indicate a positive evolution, whereas values below 100 indicate negative attitudes towards travel in a given period.
05. Talent Africa shifts the Party to Fort Portal Tourism City
There are people who simply transform everything they touch into gold and when it comes to events management, Talent Africa are the people.
From managing successful corporate events to bringing major International artists like Neyo, Jidenna, Major Lazer, Chronixx and Nyege Nyege, which is undoubtedly the biggest African Music festival, the party planners are taking on the Fort Portal, Tourism City, in what is yet to be an annual cultural and Tourism festival, dubbed “Ekyooto Ha Mpango”.
06. ‘’Ladies and gentlemen’’ – British Airways says no more
After becoming the latest airline to remove the term “ladies and gentlemen” from all onboard announcements, British Airways has been accused of trying to appease the woke brigade.
Instead of using gender-specific language, the airline will begin using gender-neutral language on all of BA’s flights in the coming days.
The choice to stop using gendered announcements was a good one. British Airways is the latest airline to acknowledge that gender is not the only factor determining one’s identity. When Lufthansa began using gender-neutral announcements in June, the airline realised that customers would need some time to get used to the change.
07. Guide2Uganda Profiles: Making the shift to a brighter future
John Mukasa Junior (not real names) is the most documented member of his family. Aged 9 years, he has more pictures in one month than his great grandfather Masimo Mukasa, his grandfather Peter Mukasa and his father Isiah all had in their entire lifetimes. His generation is the future.
When he comes of age his digital footprint along with technologically enabled record keeping shall ensure an account of his first dance or travel but also his first business. If he goes into the family’s coffee growing and fruit business – the difference between him and the generation past is sometimes what we refer to as informal versus formal.
Bob Twinomugisha – an economist with the Uganda Development Bank
08. Europe becomes Strategic Partner of ITB China 2021
Many Chinese are looking forward to travelling abroad according to recent data collected by the European Travel Commission (ETC), who is strengthening ties with ITB China as a Strategic Partner in 2021. ETC will have a strong presence at this year’s hybrid show, reflecting the optimism of Chinese tourism returning to Europe, maintaining close ties with Chinese agents & buyers and learning more about new market trends and changes in consumer behavior.
ITB China 2021, the Marketplace for China’s Travel Industry will take place as physical event in Shanghai from 24 – 26 Nov this year, with a virtual extension from early November until the end of December.
09. UNWTO opens call for ‘Best Tourism Villages’
The search is on for the best examples of rural villages harnessing the power of tourism to provide opportunity and safeguard their communities, local traditions and heritage. The initiative of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will identify villages taking innovative and transformative approaches to tourism in rural areas in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With the vision of making tourism a positive force for transformation, rural development and community well being, ‘Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO’ aims to maximise the contribution of the sector to reducing regional inequalities and fighting against rural depopulation. It also seeks to advance the role of tourism in valuing and safeguarding rural villages along with their associated landscapes, knowledge systems, biological and cultural diversity, local values and activities, including gastronomy.
10. Tourist Numbers down by 83% but confidence slowly rising
International tourist arrivals were down 83% in the first quarter of 2021 as widespread travel restrictions remained in place. However, the UNWTO Confidence Index shows signs of a slow uptick in confidence.
Between January and March 2021 destinations around the world welcomed 180 million fewer international arrivals compared to the first quarter of last year. Asia and the Pacific continued to suffer the lowest levels of activity with a 94% drop in international arrivals over the three-month period. Europe recorded the second largest decline with -83%, followed by Africa (-81%), the Middle East (-78%) and the Americas (-71%). This all follows on from the 73% fall in worldwide international tourist arrivals recorded in 2020, making it the worst year on record for the sector.
Courtesy Photo: Sipi Falls, Kapchorwa – Eastern Uganda
About Guide2Uganda
Guide2Uganda (www.guide2uganda.ug) is the most comprehensive source of travel information about Uganda that exists on the web, with more content on its cities & towns, accommodation, attractions, events, museums and galleries than any other online guide that currently exists for Uganda; as well as being a dynamic travel news and events driven site with fresh content added daily.
According to WeFollow & Peer Index (that measure online influence), we are among the most influential online media organizations in Uganda. Guide2Uganda was also awarded ‘’Best Destination Website in Uganda’’ by Jumia Travel Uganda in the 2018 Africa Travel Awards.
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