Last weekend, the tourism stakeholders met in Mwanza, Tanzanias lakeside port town on Lake Victoria, to discuss the way forward of how to better promote travel into this part of the country and have a greater share of tourism receipts. Members of the Tourism Development Initiative and other groups came together to map out how best this will be possible and amongst the key issues mentioned to this correspondent...

The annual Earth Hour, promoted by the World Wide Fund for Nature, in short WWF and others to raise environmental awareness, has clearly taken roots across the hospitality industry in Kenya, and the region for that matter. At The Sarova Stanley, now 110 years old and located right in the heart of the city, posters remind guests that this Saturday night and every email sent out to clients has a header...

Information was confirmed overnight from sources in Nanyuki that indeed sections of the Mt. Kenya National Park, high up on the mountain, are ablaze with forest and moorland fires. Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service have mounted joint fire fighting operations assisted by personnel drafted in from various fire brigades but the high elevation, lack of helicopters to douse the flames with...

Remote controlled cameras have been introduced in Masai Mara National Park in Kenya which is famous for the lions. These cameras will help people know what is taking place in the park and they have been introduced by the brainchild of brothers William, Mathew and Burrard-Lucas from London. The remote controlled device completed with a canon 1Ds Mark III and in 2009, the brothers designed the very first...

A regular conservation source in Nairobi confirmed that the long awaited 10 year plan of how the Kenya Wildlife Service intends to deal with elephant conservation over the next decade, has been released last weekend in the Kenyan capital. The Minister for Forestry and Wildlife Dr. Noah Wekesa officially presented the strategy document and was quoted to have said: The strategy provides a clear road...

The diversity and heritage of the Turkana people and region in Kenya will be celebrated once again this year in May at Loiyangalani, for the fifth year running. Supported by the German Embassy, the Kenya Tourist Board / Magical Kenya, the National Museums of Kenya, the local communities and Private Safaris (K) since its inception in 2008 the festival brings together the cultures and traditions of the...

Information from Mahe indicates that work has now began at the new campus of the Seychelles Tourism Academy, where when complete some 500 students will be able to undertake certificate, diploma and degree courses in hospitality and tourism studies. Demolition of some of the existing buildings has been going on for a month now and construction is now commencing on the first tuition block with as many...

The travel industry of German has warned Kenya that its image as a tourist destination will be affected if it does not find a quick solution for the current evictions of the Samburu tribe. A number of brutal evictions by the Kenya police have forced a big number of people that belong to the tribe from Eland Downs. Their houses have been burnt, livestock stolen and people have been beaten. Land has...

In another first has Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Sunday received a plane load of Korean tourists, flown into the country by Korean Airlines. Korea, as are other Far and South Asian countries, have been identified by the Kenya Tourist Board as a potentially rich emerging market but has been lacking nonstop flights to make visits to Kenya, and East Africa for that matter, more attractive. It...

Players in the tourism sector of Kenya have disagreed about the different plans to hold general elections in August or December because they are both high seasons for tourists therefore it could scare them away. The Chairman of the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association, Mohammed Hersi said if the elections are held during one of those two months, it could ruin the sector like in 2007 yet it has taken...