The Nation Newspaper

Category: Travels on Saturday

  • Tsogo Sun invests US$100m in hotels in Nigeria, Mozambique

    Tsogo Sun Group has announced that its plans to invest US$100 million (R900 million) in two projects in Nigeria and Mozambique . This is in line with the group’s growth strategy.

    The project in Nigeria involves the acquisition of an approximate 75 per cent stake in Ikoyi Hotels Limited, the holding company of the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel in Lagos . This hotel has been managed by the group for the original developers since opening in 2009. The group’s expected investment, including loan funding, is approximately US$70 million (R630 million).

    The acquisition is subject to several conditions precedent, including regulatory approvals. Shareholders will be notified once these have been fulfilled and the acquisition becomes effective. The acquisition is not a categorized transaction in terms of the listings requirements of the JSE Limited.

    The Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel has 195 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, a business centre as well as meeting room facilities. The hotel also has additional land available for future expansion.

    Says Von Aulock: “This acquisition will cement our presence within the fast-growing and progressive Nigerian economy as well as provide a base from which to expand our operations in Nigeria.The investments totalling US$100 million will be funded through a combination of existing offshore cash and new US$–based borrowing facilities’’.

    Tsogo Sun will spend US$30 million (R270 million) to expand its hotel in Mozambique, the Southern Sun Maputo. This will involve a complete refurbishment of the existing 158 rooms , including the bedrooms and public areas as well as an expansion of the restaurant, the addition of 110 new rooms as well as new conferencing facilities. The expansion takes advantage of the unique location of the hotel, extending along the beachfront on the Avenida de Marginal.

    Says Marcel von Aulock, CEO of Tsogo Sun: “The Mozambican economy has shown encouraging signs of growth in recent years, and Tsogo Sun has benefited from a strong trading performance at the Southern Sun Maputo. The group has for some time been planning to utilize the additional land owned next to the hotel and believe that this exciting expansion programme will cement the Southern Sun Maputo as the destination hotel of choice in the city.”

    Tsogo Sun operates hotels in seven African countries, including South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria and the Seychelles.

  • Tower: London’s iconic bridge

    Tower: London’s iconic bridge

    It is one of the most iconic images of London. A tour of London would not be complete without a visit to Tower Bridge. Due to its popularity, many tourists have come to wrongly associate it with the famous song, London Bridge is Falling Down. London Bridge is a little further from Tower Bridge, but rather drab compared to the spectacular piece of engineering that is Tower Bridge of London.

    For an average tourist in London, the commonest and cheapest of transportation to its scattered tourist sites is through the underground trains. The nearest London underground station is Tower Hill on the Circle and District lines, and the nearest Docklands Light Railway station is Tower Gateway. Alighting from the tube station, one could negotiate one’s way through the old monuments of ancient London, that is, by the famous River Thames.

    Outside the aesthetics of the bridge, it also has its share of history being one of the early modern bascule bridges.

    The idea of building the bridge first came up in the in the second half of the 19th century.The increased commercial development in the East End of London led to a requirement for a new river crossing downstream of London Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge could not be built because it would cut off access by tall-masted ships to the port facilities in the Pool of London, between London Bridge and the Tower of London.

    Construction started in 1886 and took eight years with five major contractors – Sir John Jackson (foundations), Baron Armstrong (hydraulics), William Webster, Sir H.H. Bartlett and Sir William Arrol & Co. – and employed 432 construction workers. E W Crutwell was the resident engineer for the construction. The total cost of construction was £1,184,000, that is, £100 million as of 2013.

    It was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII) and his wife, the Princess of Wales (Alexandra of Denmark).

    The bridge connected Iron Gate on the north bank of the river with Horselydown Lane on the south. The gate and lane are now known as Tower Bridge Approach and Tower Bridge Road respectively.

    Until the bridge was opened, the Tower Subway – 400 m to the west – was the shortest way to cross the river from Tower Hill to Tooley Street in Southwark. Opened in 1870, Tower Subway was the world’s first underground (tube) railway, but closed after just three months and was re-opened as a pedestrian foot tunnel. Once Tower Bridge was open, the majority of foot traffic transferred to using the bridge. Having lost most of its income, the tunnel was closed in 1898.

    Tower Bridge is one of five London bridges now owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. It is the only one of the trust’s bridges not to connect the City of London to the Southwark bank, the northern landfall being in Tower Hamlets.

    The bridge is 800 feet (244 m) in length with two towers, each 213 feet (61 m) high, built on piers. The central span of 200 feet (61 m) between the towers is split into two equal bascules or leaves which can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees to allow river traffic to pass. The bascules, weighing over 1,000 tons each, are counterbalanced to minimise the force required and allow raising in five minutes.

    In 1974 ,however, the original operating mechanism was largely replaced by a new electro-hydraulic drive system, designed by BHA Cromwell House. The only components of the original system still in use are the final pinions which engage with the racks fitted to the bascules. These are driven by modern hydraulic motors and gearing, using oil rather than water as the hydraulic fluid.

    The original hydraulic machinery has been retained, although it is no longer in use. It is open to the public and forms the basis for the bridge’s museum which resides in the old engine rooms on the south side of the bridge. The museum includes the steam engines, two of the accumulators and one of the hydraulic engines that moved the bascules, along with other related artefacts.

    Vessels passing through the bridge had to display signals too. By day, a black ball at least 2 feet (0.61 m) in diameter was to be mounted high up where it could be seen. By night, two red lights were in the same position. Foggy weather required repeated blasts from the ship’s steam whistle.

    If a black ball was suspended from the middle of each walkway (or a red light at night), this indicated that the bridge could not be opened. These signals were repeated about 1,000 yards (910 m) downstream at Cherry Garden Pier where boats needing to pass through the bridge had to hoist their signals/lights and sound their horn, as appropriate, to alert the Bridge Master.

    The control mechanism for the signalling equipment has been preserved and may be seen working in the bridge’s museum.

    Tower Bridge is still a busy and vital crossing of the Thames. It is crossed by over 40,000 people (motorists, cyclists and pedestrians) every day.

    The bridge is on the London Inner Ring Road, and is on the eastern boundary of the London congestion charge zone. (Drivers do not incur a charge by crossing the bridge).

    To maintain the integrity of the structure, the City of London Corporation has imposed a 20 miles per hour (32 km/h) speed restriction and an 18 tonne weight limit on vehicles using the bridge. A camera system measures the speed of traffic crossing the bridge, utilising a number plate recognition system to send fixed penalty charges to speeding drivers.

    A second system monitors other vehicle parameters. Induction loops and piezoelectric sensors are used to measure the weight, the height of the chassis above ground level and the number of axles of each vehicle.

  • Ethiopian Airline eager to get Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying

    Ethiopian Airline eager to get Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying

    The chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines says it is seeking approval from America’s Federal Aviation Administration and from Boeing to put its grounded Boeing 787s back into service.

    Ethiopian Airlines chief executive officer, Tewolde Gebremariam, told agency press that the company expects FAA approval within a few days.

    Meanwhile, FAA Administrator, Michael Huerta, told lawmakers on Tuesday that the Chicago plane maker “has completed all required tests and analyses” of battery fixes to its 787 Dreamliner, including providing an extensive set of documents intended to demonstrate their safety.

    Mr. Huerta in written testimony told the Senate Commerce Committee that the agency is reviewing Boeing’s submission and will give final approval to put the planes back into commercial service when the agency is satisfied that the redesigned battery system meets FAA requirements.

    Without providing a timetable for allowing the planes to resume commercial flights, Mr. Huerta said Boeing and the FAA had negotiated the specific fixes and had agreed on detailed ground and airborne testing procedures to ensure “maintaining the highest levels of safety.” Under the best-case scenario, some airlines that operated 787s have said they anticipated a limited return to passenger service as soon as next month.

    After the hearing, Mr. Huerta told reporters he expected the decision to come “very soon,” though he didn’t elaborate.

    Mr. Huerta’s testimony came amid growing frustration and concern expressed privately by some senior Boeing executives about what they said was the government’s extended decision-making process.

    After a seemingly successful test flight on April 5, Boeing had hoped that the FAA would give a mid-April go-ahead to start helping carriers install the new battery systems. But many Boeing and airline executives now anticipate a delay until the end of the month, if not later.

    The final decision is up to Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, who on Monday said it would come “soon,” but suggested that he wouldn’t be rushed.

    Senator Jay Rockefeller, the West Virginia Democrat who chairs the Senate panel, said the redesign of the 787s lithium-ion batteries “is a perfect example of where the regulators identified and acted swiftly to address a serious safety problem.”

    But in other testimony Tuesday, the committee heard criticism of the FAA’s overall approach to certifying the safety of new aircraft and cutting-edge technology, such as the 787’s batteries.

    The FAA relied heavily on Boeing’s expertise and allowed the company to run all testing before the agency gave the initial green light for the 787 batteries six years ago.

    The FAA faces significant budget constraints and other challenges in “maintaining up-to-date knowledge” in its role of approving new equipment, according to prepared testimony from the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog.

    Gerald Dillingham, a senior GAO official, reiterated that FAA experts broadly “have not been able to keep pace with industry changes” and, therefore, may face a “struggle to understand the aircraft or equipment they are tasked with certifying.” Those difficulties will grow, according to other experts, as industry activity ramps up, but government spending on certification is unchanged.

    Written testimony by the Department of Transportation’s inspector general’s office criticized the FAA for, among other things, failing to ensure the competence of company staff who were designated to certify aircraft or components for the agency. The statement also said that FAA headquarters hadn’t issued “clear, written guidance on how to oversee” choosing such industry employees.

    Mr. Huerta for the first time also said that the FAA is reviewing whether the 787 should be permitted to resume flying routes over water that would take it up to three hours from airports suitable for emergency landings. Industry experts generally expect the FAA to reinstate that approval, though Mr. Huerta declined to tell lawmakers his position.

  • Ncpc boss John Opara honoured

    Ncpc boss John Opara honoured

    The Executive Secre tary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara, was honoured with an award of the Champion of Above and Beyond by the Centre for Africa Development in collaboration with Feed One Feed A Family recently in his office in Abuja

    At the presentation of the award, the President of the centre , Pastor Sally William Chinebu, said “God has used the NCPC boss to touch the lives of many Christians and has impacted positively on the Christian community in Nigeria.”

    She said “the administration of Mr. Opara has added more value to pilgrimage than it used to be.A lot of Christians in Nigeria are eager to visit the holy land to see for themselves that the Bible is real”

    While presenting the award, the President of the Feed One Feed A Family, Bishop Amen Howard, stated that the award was meant to honour Mr Opara for his efforts in making pilgrimage in Nigeria become valuable.

    In his words, “you have made a dilapidated system functional and back to life”.

    He also commended the Executive Secretary for enlarging the scope of pilgrimage to Rome and Greece and other holy lands linked to God.

    He assured the NCPC helmsman that his ministry would continually pray to God to strengthen him and give him the vision to carry on in his work

    In his response, Mr Opara thanked the President and the members of his ministry for the award. He appreciated them for their commitment to God’s work.

    The NCPC boss stressed the need for every Christian to strive and live in uprightness and integrity.

    He emphasized that our lives should be such that would draw people unto God.

    In his words, “the greatest gift you can give to anyone is bringing him to God”.

    He encouraged Christians to evangelize the gospel to the world because “we are all supposed to be preachers and evangelists through the lives we live”.

    Mr. Opara told his guests that the theme “for our pilgrimage is “Pilgrimage as a Tool for Transformation and Spiritual Rebirth”.

    He stressed that it is the believe of the Commission that as many people that would have the opportunity to go on pilgrimage would have a spiritual rebirth and in turn come back to affect the people around them positively.

    The NCPC Chief Executive promised that the Commission would be willing to support the Ministry whenever the need arises.

  • La Campagne Tropicana’s package

    La Campagne Tropicana’s package

    La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Lagos last Easter hosted a four-day package for guests of the Nigeria’s foremost holiday resort by inviting a group of musicians who came all the way from the United States of America [USA] taking up African names on the beach front.

    The group, Club Nouveau R&B-pop band members- made up of Jay King [Kolawole], Samuelle Prater [Seun] and Valerie Watson, put up a superlative performance to the delight of the several guests and people within the Ikegun environ.

    The Easter package, which was put together by Wanle Akinboboye, founder of the resort and the Tourism Ambassador of World Conference of Mayors for Africa, commended the management’s generosity for bringing the American group and Nigeria’s top acts.

    Apart from Club Nouveau that thrilled the crowd, Iyanya Mbuk [popularly known as Iyanya], in-house super star, Oluwatoyin Oluwaferanmi Akinola [Afe Onikoko], world’s known only female potter, Ibukun Ayoola, fondly called [Olo], and Anu Azigbu, both of Atunda Entertainment also performed.

    The Easter celebration was an unforgettable one for fun lovers.

    The package tagged “Easter and More” was a mixture of music, beach fun and culinary experience.

    Apart from the aforementioned, the beach offers opportunity for nature walk on the mangrove forest at the beach front.

    Like Akinboboye often says, “As our tradition, La Campagne will always offer exquisite experience”.

    He said: “The Easter festivities, which kicked off on Good Friday when the guests started arriving for the weekend of fun, ran through Monday for the main performance when Club Nouveau and Iyanya mounted the stage.

    “Activities for the first day included dance aerobic, swimming, canoeing, among other outdoor sporting activities. The atmosphere was a mini-carnival in which people paraded on the beach front and danced to good music.”

    Akinboboye, who is also the CEO of Atunda Entertainment, stated that Club Nouveau R&B was picked among the very many artists considered for the Easter celebration because the group possesses one of the most memorable, distinctive music ever heard in popular music with their hit song, Lean on me.

    One major aspect of the Club Nouveau group activities was their adoption of African [Yoruba] names, a function performed by His Royal Highness, Musiliu Habib Sanni, Bale of Ikegun in the Ibeju Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

  • ‘Tourism stakeholders must develop human capital’

    ‘Tourism stakeholders must develop human capital’

    The Chairman of the Fedration of Tourism Associations of Nigeria, Manpower Development and Standards Committee, Mr. Abiodun Odusanwo, has called on stakeholders to rally round to develop the human capital in the Nigerian tourism industry.

    He said this in a commendation letter he wrote to the Assocciation Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), an affiliate of the world body, FIJET.

    He said: “ Nigeria is a wonderful country in all ramifications. This is especially so when you look at the aggregation of its people, the landscapes, culture, character, history and traditions. Our culture of hospitality is remarkable, while our festivals are embedded in deep-rooted cultural legacies, impacting, therefore, a sense of socio-cultural successes that are not only long-standing, but are also one of the pointers to our future in terms of the visions and potential to develop. These are the indicators of our uniqueness as a nation which we hold as a matter of proud inheritance. They are also potential factors to galvanise people from around the world to want to see our vast array of cultures and to know and understand Nigeria.

    Odunsanwo said tourism is central to how people from across the country and from abroad can begin to do that and continue to do that and “It is incumbent on the ANJET to disseminate cohesive and abundantly rich information that reflects good appreciation of the tourism industry in its entirety to everyone, whether they’re from different parts of Nigeria or from different countries around the world, to be able to enjoy the rich diversity of what Nigeria has to offer’.

     

  • O’dua Museum, Hall of Fame: Preserving a people’s legacy

    O’dua Museum, Hall of Fame: Preserving a people’s legacy

    The transformation was rapid and dramatic. Suddenly one was transported from the sophistication of a cosmopolitan high-rise building in the centre of a city to a rural setting more than 40 years ago.

    Such is the transformation that one experiences on visiting the recently commissioned O’odua Museum and Hall of Fame in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    As the guard opened the wooden door with intricate designs to usher one in, the voice of the late Hubert Ogunde could be heard singing in Yoruba. It was as if he was just around the corner. As one climbed the staircase to the museum floor, one was no longer on the 20th floor of the Cocoa House.

    One was transported back in time to the years gone by. What one felt all around was the African essence.

    Both sides of the wall are decorated with batiks. A traditional African mat is rolled out on the floor.

    The next point is the corridor with a signpost signalling that the museum is on the right, while the Hall of Fame is on the left. Museums, all over the world, always have special appeal. So, the first place to visit was the museum. Even before seeing some of the artifacts, the ambience created was purely rural: local mats used on the floor, red earthen walls, bamboo sticks used as part of the declaration.

    The museum captures the totally of Yoruba way of life in the old days. Pots and bronze carvings of different sizes are displayed. The different kinds of Yoruba drums are also arranged neatly.

    Appurtenances of royalty such as beads, horse-tail, crowns and walking sticks are displayed at the royalty section.

    One of the most interesting section of the museum is the war section where old war weapons such as guns are on display. The treaty that brought an end to the Yoruba war of the 19th century titled Proclamation of Peace at Kiriji-Mesin Battlefield was boldly displayed.

    Professor Wole Soyinka, who declared the place open early this month, commended the management of O’dua Investment Limited and had this to say: “The museum showcases the beginning of Yoruba technology and the ingenuity of our forbearers, but I want to say there is still more to do now that an appeal has been made to people to donate materials to enrich the arts, crafts and antiquities contents of the museum.

    “Let me say that it is with a thought of nostalgia that I return to the Cocoa House and I must say I am very happy with what I have seen here.

    ”Cocoa House is one of those firsts Yoruba recorded in Nigeria. This area specifically used to be the centre of arts and Yoruba culture. But the negative side of it is that Nigeria once went into a downward spin, including Cocoa House and the University of Ibadan. The deterioration was much. Everything decayed and the famous Cocoa House could not save itself. But what we have seen so far impressed me, from the Ground Floor to the Top Floor of this building. This Cocoa House is the contemporary Oranmiyan staff for Yoruba.”

    The curator of the museum, Mr. Babajide Famuyiwa, explained the reason behind the establishment of the museum: “ It is created to showcase the essence of the Yoruba people. What the Yoruba call Omoluabi. The Yoruba people have played a major part in the economic development of the country. They have helped in the development of every sphere of endeavour in the country. So in that wise, it was decided that we should look at these and bring them in focus. That informed the creation of the O’odua Museum and Hall of Fame.

    “It is not only about the pre-colonial artifacts that are on display. Colonial era items that had influenced life in the past are also there. For those who may not have heard of gramophone, polaroid camera, type-writer and so on, they will find the museum useful. The museum would be a treasure trove for many young persons wishing to know more about the past.

    “The Hall of Fame section is a kind of pantheon for Yoruba personalities from all walks of life. They include the late Professor Awojobi, Hubert Ogunde, Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti , Rashidi Yekini and many others.

    “A tour of the hall of fame and museum has an icing. One has an opportunity for a wonderful bird-eye view of the Ibadan city. There are also strong binoculars that one could use to view any part of Ibadan.

    “There are two sections to it, the museum and the hall of fame. Let us start with the museum.

    In the museum, we try to showcase some Yoruba artifacts. There are certain peculiarities with the ancient civilization in the ancient time. This is reflected in the collections we have in the museum. We have musical instruments, pottery, craft in terms of traditional weaving. What we try to do is to exhibit and display some of the things that the Yoruba used in those days.

    “We tried to look at the concept of Omoluabi, that is, those who have lived according to certain Yoruba societal moral values and made remarkable success in life through these. We like achievements of Yoruba sons and daughters in the area technology, politics, sports, arts and many other endeavours. This is what have done.

    “At the Hall of Fame, we have people like Professor Soyinka, the late Hubert Ogunde, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo , M.K.O. Abiola, Rashidi Yekini, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Chief S.L. Akintola, the late Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti and many others.”

    He talked also about the media viewing centre: “The media viewing centre can take about 20 persons. The idea is that when people go round, they could come to see the video clips of some of these personalities on display in the hall of fame. They would hear there voice, see them in action through these video clips.

    “The place is opened to everybody coming to the city of Ibadan. We encourage school children, university students, researchers and so on. It is open for now from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. We believe as time goes on, the management would consider adding weekends to the opening days. For now, the fee has not been officially sanctioned. It is not likely to be more than 200 naira per person. “

    The O’dua Museum and Hall of Fame has succeeded in adding to the richness of the essence of the ancient city of Ibadan. Before it used to be the University of Ibadan and few other places.

  • New Frontiers Award’s shortlist announced

    Arabian Travel Market, the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the Middle East, has announced the names of the three global destinations nominated for this year’s New Frontiers Award, the results of which will be revealed at a special roundtable session featuring award recipients from the previous seven ceremonies.

    The three destinations shortlisted for 2013 are New York State, the Philippines and Pakistan, each of which suffered from the aftermath of the devastation wreaked by natural catastrophes in the last 12 months.

    “This year’s award coincides with our 20th anniversary celebrations and it is a poignant moment for the industry as a whole to reflect on the devastation that natural disasters can wreak on human life, habitat and infrastructure, irrespective of their international status,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

    Launched in 2005 by Arabian Travel Market, the New Frontiers Award was created to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism development in the face of overwhelming adversity, supporting the chosen destination by donating exhibition space at the event to the value of US$10,000.

    Now in its eighth year, the one-of-a-kind roundtable session will include previous award recipients, including Phuket, Thailand, which was devastated by the 2006 tsunami and last year’s recipient, Japan.

     

     

     

     

    “Participants will have a chance to share their experiences once again and report on how, in the intervening years, their respective tourism destinations have – quite literally – picked up the pieces and gone on to rebuild and recover,” remarked Walsh.

    “However it’s not just a question of physical recovery. Tourism strategies need to be re-evaluated and revised marketing plans put in place to reposition a destination and to create confidence amongst its target markets,” he added.

     

    The New Frontiers Award is a vital element of Arabian Travel Market’s commitment to support the global tourism industry, and provides a platform to drive awareness and assist destinations in the recovery process through participation at the show.

     

    The 2013 nominees have all had to repair, rebuild and recover, with efforts ongoing in some destinations.

     

    New York State, USA – Hurricane Sandy.

    In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy spread a trail of destruction across the Eastern Seaboard of the US, leaving businesses and homes in New York State – and its tourism heart, Manhattan – without vital resources and inflicting billions of dollars of cumulative damage on the local economy.

     

    Philippines – typhoon.

    At the end of 2012, Typhoon Bopha caused substantial loss of life and hit the tourism economy hard when it ripped across the country, devastating large tracts of land and communities on the southern island of Mindanao, and sweeping across the popular tourist island of Palawan.

     

    Pakistan – floods.

    September floods, prompted by heavy monsoon rains, affected over five million people and the economy, with damage extending across the country from Southern Punjab and Northern Sindh to North-Eastern Balochistan. Over half a million acres of crops were lost as well as lifestock, critically affecting food supplies.

     

  • UN agencies to launch campaign against illicit goods, services

    UN agencies to launch campaign against illicit goods, services

    In the presence of the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have agreed to launch a new public awareness campaign, calling on tourists to help reduce demand for illicit goods and services linked to transnational organized crime.

    Preparations for the campaign were set in motion during the spring meeting of the Chief Executive Board of the United Nations in Madrid. A cooperation agreement was signed between UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, and UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov, in the presence of United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

    The joint campaign, to be launched later this year, aims to raise awareness among international tourists about the types of illicit goods and services to which they are often exposed during their travels and which directly or indirectly fund organized crime groups.

    Travellers can play a key role in reducing demand for these products through ethical consumer choices. The campaign will encourage tourists to make informed decisions and help reduce demand for trafficking in persons, cultural artefacts, wildlife, fauna and flora such as ivory products, as well as counterfeit goods, and illicit drugs.

    UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon commended this innovative joint initiative between the two partner UN agencies: “The illegal trade in goods and services often funds unscrupulous people involved in human trafficking, the illicit ivory trade and other areas that cause immense suffering and destruction. Well-informed tourists can make a real difference in turning the tide against these criminal acts.”

    Organized criminal networks generate money wherever there is demand and travellers are often exposed to objects which are illicitly sold. With more than 1 billion tourists now crossing international borders each year, there is a growing opportunity to call on tourists to act and reduce demand for these illicit products which in many cases are providing a funding source for organized crime.

    The campaign drives the message that while some products may seem harmless, the demand created and their sale can, in fact, have devastating effects on the lives of innocent people, on wildlife or on cultural property. The billions of dollars generated through such trade also fund criminal groups who use this money to branch out into other illicit and unethical lines of business.

  • Agm 2013: Atqnews.com partners Nanta

    Atqnews.com, the online travel news portal, will partner the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) for its 2013 annual general meeting,taking place in Lagos from April 18 as its online media partner.

    NANTA is the largest travel association in West Africa with over 1,000 members all around Nigeria. With Alhaji Aminu Agoha as its president, NANTA is at the forefront of growing the travel and tourism business in Nigeria.

    Promising a worthwhile event, the National Publicity Secretary, Mrs Ngozi Ngoka of Zigonia Travels, said: “There will be an overwhelming and fantastic representation by all travel professionals in Nigeria, especially the airlines beyond what NANTA has had in the past”.

    The partnership will see Atqnews.com propagating NANTA and its AGM to its subscribers globally. According to the publisher of Atqnews.com, Mr Ikechi Uko, “this is the first partnership we are doing in Nigeria. Already we have such partnerships with Zambia and UNWTO programmes in Africa”.

    Atqnews.com , a member of Travel Media Group, is the online platform for African Travel Quarterly (ATQ), the first travel magazine in West Africa which solely focuses on travel and tourism issues.

    Atqnews.com features reports that cover a wide range of topics within the travel and tourism sectors which are intended for an ever-increasing and passionate audience of readers and travellers from all over the world.

    Our reports and stories come from a multitude of professional travel and tourism journalists, experts and enthusiastic contributors who focus on travel corporations, tour organizations and business events and news that relate to our areas of focus; forecasts, market and political analysis which observe developments and in the areas of travel, transport and tourism from a global perspective, and the impact of these on the economies of countries in creating employment, appreciating nature’s blessing on mankind and the need for their preservation for posterity. ATQnews.com specializes on news about Africa and Travels with one of the largest databases of Travel professionals in West Africa. It is your most reliable source of African Travel news.