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The Kingdom of Eswatini Tourism Authority joins African Tourism Board

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The Eswatini Tourism Authority joined the African Tourism Board as an observer today. Under the leadership of CEO Linda Nxumalo.
Eswatini is also known as Swaziland, a Kingdom in the southern part of Africa.

The Eswatini Tourism Authority is a Public Enterprise established through the Swaziland Tourism Authority Act, 2001 and its objectives are to: 

a. develop the tourism sector as a national priority in an environmentally sustainable and culturally acceptable manner;
b. co-ordinate and facilitate the implementation of Government policies and strategies on tourism;
c. market Eswatini as a tourism destination through the provision of a platform for industry stakeholders;
d. encourage, facilitate and promote local and foreign investment in the tourism industry; and
e. ensure the contribution of tourism to the socio-economic development and continued improvement of quality of life in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

According to Ms. Nxumalo, the objectives for participating in the Africa Tourism Board are to:

1) Share ideas with other Tourism Boards and also learn from their experiences.
2) Identify stakeholders that we can partner with in promoting tourism for our country.

African Tourism Board President Alain St. Ange said: “We are excited to also officially welcome Eswatini. We thank CEO Linda Nxumalo who I met at our launch event at the World Travel Market in Cape Town. Eswatini has been active on our discussion board and we had been in constant contact. We’re looking forward to working with the Kingdom’s tourism authority for even more visibility for this beautiful and peaceful African destination.”

More information on Eswatini Tourism can be found on www.thekingdomofeswatini.com

Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from the African region. More information on www.africantourismboard.com

Eswatini Tourism Authoriy, Eswatini
The Kingdom of Eswatini Tourism Authority Teams up with African Tourism Board

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Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa expands horizon for African Tourism Board

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The Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA) with members in 9 African Countries joined the African Tourism Board today. PMAESA is a non-profit intergovernmental body based in Mombasa, Kenya.

PMAESA is made up of Government Line ministries, Port Operators, Logistics and other Port and Shipping stakeholders from Eastern, Southern African and Western Indian Ocean Region.

MAESA’s primary objective is to offer a platform where all the above stakeholders and key maritime players converge regularly to exchange and share current ideas in the industry.

Andre Ciseau, the Secretary-General of the association said: “Our participation to the African Tourism Board will offer the two associations opportunity to interact and share best practices with an aim of growing and developing Africa continent.

African Tourism Board Chairman Juergen Steinmetz said. “The Port Management Association joining African Tourism Board is an important milestone for our your board and opens the door to expand our horizon of cooperation. We welcome PMAESA to the African Tourism Board.”

Kenya Ports Authority

Overview Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is a state corporation under the Ministry of Transport with the responsibility to “maintain, operate, improve and regulate all scheduled seaports” along the Kenyan coastline including principally Port of Mombasa and other smaller ports including Lamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Mtwapa, Kiunga, Shimoni, Funzi and Vanga. It is also responsible for the…Read More

Tanzania Ports Authority

Overview The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) presently owns Dar es salaam, Tanga, Mtwara Ports and all lake ports in Tanzania. Tanzania Ports Authority was established on 15th April 2005 following the repeal of THA Act No. 12/77 and enactment of TPA Act No. 17/2004. To establish and coordinate system of Harbours. TPA is mandated to:…Read More

Maputo Port Development Company

Overview Maputo Port Development Company (Port Maputo) is a national private company, which results from the partnership between the Mozambican Railway Company (Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique), Grindrod and DP World. On 15 April 2003 Port Maputo was given the concession of Maputo’s Port for a period of 15 years, with an extension option of…Read More

Mauritius Ports Authority

Overview Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) was setup under the Ports Act 1998. MPA’ s primary objective is to be the sole national ports authority to regulate and control the port sector and provide marine services. Chief Executive Officer Mr Shekur Suntah Total Cargo Throughput 2012: 7,075,186 Tons Total Container Traffic 2012: 417,467 TEUs Port Tariffs…Read More

Ministry of Works and Transport of the Republic of Uganda

Overview The Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) of the Republic of Uganda is a Government institution mandated to: Plan, develop and maintain an economic, efficient and effective transport infrastructure; Plan, develop and maintain economic, efficient and effective transport services by road, rail, water, air and pipeline; Manage Public works including government structures and; Promote good standards…Read More

Namibian Ports Authority

The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), operating as the National Port Authority in Namibia since 1994, manages the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz. The Port of Walvis Bay is situated at the west Coast of Africa and provides an easier and much faster transit route between Southern Africa, Europe and the Americas….Read More

Port de Djibouti

Overview The Port of Djibouti is located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, at the intersection of major international shipping lanes connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. The port is a minimal deviation from the principal East-West trade route and provides a secure regional hub for transhipment and relay of goods. Since 1998, the…Read More

Sea Ports Corporation

Sea Ports Corporation (SPC) is an independent state corporation of Sudan that governs, constructs and maintains the ports, harbors and lighthouses of Sudan. The company was founded in 1974 by the government of Sudan to be the national port operator and port authority. SPC operates and manages the following ports of Sudan: Port Sudan Al…Read More

Transnet National Ports Authority

Overview Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is a division of Transnet Limited and is mandated to control and manage all seven commercial ports on the 2954km South African coastline. Situated at the tip of the African Continent, the South African ports are ideally situated to serve both the eastern and western seaboards. Transnet National Ports…Read More

Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from the African region.

For more information and to become a member visit www.africantourismboard.com 

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TSA: New airport security scanner poses “privacy risks” to passengers

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US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is demanding modifications of a new airport security system because it poses “privacy risks” to passengers by showing too much of them on display, a newly published document has revealed.

Following a demonstration, the Transportation Security Administration has requested changes to the contract because the scanner they received “has privacy risks associated with the Graphical User Interface,” says the document dated March 26 and made public by Quartz on Monday.

While the document provides no further details on the exact nature of the privacy risks, the TSA required the scanner’s manufacturer to add additional security features before it would consider using the device in a “live environment.”

Using another government database, Quartz identified the contractor – whose name is redacted in the document – as Virginia security firm ThruVision. The document refers to ThruVision’s TAC scanner, which the company describes as a “proven people-screening camera that sees any type of item.”

The device is supposed to be part of TSA’s “Future Lane Experience” (FLEx), an effort to speed up security checks that have become a major headache for passengers in many airports.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority partnered with the TSA last year to deploy ThruVision’s portable TS4 scanner, which the TSA claims to have vetted “extensively” prior to using it on LA commuters. It is unclear whether the TSA had similar concerns about the TS4 before the device was used in the field.

Revelations about the TSA concerns over the new scanner come after last week’s report by ProPublica that accused the agency’s current hardware of “discriminating” against African-Americans by misreading their hair, requiring a disproportionate number of pat-downs.

The ACLU slammed the TSA in 2009 for using scanning technology to conduct “virtual strip searches” that provided TSA employees with photos of passengers’ genitals, breasts and buttocks. More was revealed in 2010, when the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) published TSA documents which further detail the scanners’ invasiveness.

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Hawaii hotels: Flat average daily rate, lower occupancy so far in 2019

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For the first three months of 2019, Hawaii hotels statewide reported flat average daily rate (ADR) and lower occupancy, which resulted in lower revenue per available room (RevPAR) compared to the first quarter of 2018.

According to the Hawaii Hotel Performance Report published by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), statewide RevPAR declined to $236 (-3.3%), with ADR of $292 and occupancy of 80.8 percent (-2.7 percentage points) in the first quarter of 2019.

HTA’s Tourism Research Division issued the report’s findings utilizing data compiled by STR, Inc., which conducts the largest and most comprehensive survey of hotel properties in the Hawaiian Islands.

For the first quarter, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 4.7 percent to $1.13 billion compared to the $1.18 billion earned in the first quarter of 2018. There were more than 74,300 fewer available room nights (-1.5%) in the first quarter and approximately 190,500 fewer occupied room nights (-4.7%) compared to a year ago. Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during the first quarter.

All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR declines in the first quarter of 2019 except Upper Midscale Class properties ($134, +0.6%). Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $452 (-5.4%) with ADR of $594 (-1.2%) and occupancy of 76.1 percent (-3.3 percentage points). At the other end of the price scale, Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $155 (-5.0%) with ADR of $187 (-0.5%) and occupancy of 83.1 percent (-3.9 percentage points).

Comparison to Top U.S. Markets

In comparison to top U.S. markets, the Hawaiian Islands earned the highest RevPAR at $236 in the first quarter, followed by the San Francisco/San Mateo market at $210 (+15.9%) and the Miami/Hialeah market at $208 (-3.5%). Hawaii also led the U.S. markets in ADR at $292 followed by San Francisco/San Mateo and Miami/Hialeah. The Hawaiian Islands ranked fifth for occupancy at 80.8 percent, with Miami/Hialeah topping the list at 83.0 percent (-2.1 percentage points).

Hotel Results for Hawaii’s Four Counties

Hotel properties in Hawaii’s four island counties all reported RevPAR decreases in the first quarter of 2019. Maui County hotels led the state overall in RevPAR at $337 (-2.7%), with ADR at $428 (-0.9%) and occupancy at 78.6 percent (-1.5 percentage points).

Kauai hotels earned RevPAR of $228 (-10.2%), with flat ADR at $305 (+0.2%) and lower occupancy of 74.8 percent (-8.7 percentage points).

Hotels on the island of Hawaii reported a decline in RevPAR to $225 (-9.7%), due to a combination of decreases in both ADR ($285, -2.0%) and occupancy (79.1%, -6.7 percentage points).

Oahu hotels earned slightly lower RevPAR at $196 (-0.9%), with ADR at $236 (+0.8%) and occupancy of 83.0 percent (-1.4 percentage points).

Comparison to International Markets

When compared to international “sun and sea” destinations, Hawaii’s counties were in the middle of the pack for RevPAR in the first quarter of 2019. Hotels in the Maldives ranked highest in RevPAR at $575 (+4.5%) followed by Aruba at $351 (+11.2%). Maui County ranked third, with Kauai, the island of Hawaii, and Oahu ranking sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

The Maldives also led in ADR at $737 (+5.2%) in the first quarter, followed by French Polynesia at $497 (-1.1%). Maui County ranked fifth, followed by Kauai and the island of Hawaii. Oahu ranked ninth .

Oahu trailed Phuket (84.5%, -6.3 percentage points) in occupancy for sun and sea destinations in the first quarter. The island of Hawaii, Maui County and Kauai ranked fourth, fifth and ninth, respectively.

March 2019 Hotel Performance

In March 2019, RevPAR for Hawaii hotels statewide declined to $227 (-4.3%), with ADR of $285 (-1.1%) and occupancy of 79.6 percent (-2.7 percentage points).

In March, Hawaii hotel room revenues fell by 5.9 percent to $373.3 million. There were more than 27,200 fewer available room nights (-1.6%) in March and approximately 66,850 fewer occupied room nights (-4.9%) compared to a year ago. Several hotel properties across the state were closed for renovation or had rooms out of service for renovation during March. However, the number of rooms out of service may be under-reported.

All classes of Hawaii hotel properties statewide reported RevPAR declines in March. Luxury Class properties reported RevPAR of $443 (-7.2%) with ADR of $583 (-3.1%) and occupancy of 75.9 percent (-3.4 percentage points). Midscale & Economy Class hotels reported RevPAR of $150 (-2.9%) with ADR of $182 (+0.8%) and occupancy of 82.0 percent (-3.1 percentage points).

Hotel properties in Hawaii’s four island counties all reported lower RevPAR for March. Maui County hotels reported the highest RevPAR in March at $336 (-1.4%) with ADR of $421 (-1.6%) and flat occupancy (79.8%, +0.2 percentage points).

Oahu hotels reported lower occupancy (80.4%, -2.3 percentage points) and flat ADR ($230, -0.2%) for March.

Hotels on the island of Hawaii continued to face challenges in March, with RevPAR dropping 11.2 percent to $216, ADR to $272 (-4.9%) and occupancy to 79.2 percent (-5.7 percentage points).

RevPAR for Kauai hotels fell to $213 (-14.6%) in March, with declines in both ADR to $286 (-4.5%) and occupancy to 74.4 percent (-8.8 percentage points).

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Air Seychelles gets ready for delivery of their first Airbus A320NEO

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Air Seychelles has over the past few months started to implement its training calendar in preparation for the delivery of the A320neo set for July 2019.

Last week, key staff members from the Technical Operations and Project Management including the Flight Operations team, as well as representatives from the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, attended the A320neo general familiarization training held in-house at the Air Seychelles head office in Pointe Larue.

The training held over four days, delivered by Mr. Michael Mahn, an experienced engineer from Airbus, provided the participants a general overview of the airframe that is the whole mechanical structure of the new aircraft. Currently another batch of staff members from similar areas within the business are also taking part in the training which commenced on Monday, April 15, and lasted until Thursday, April 18, 2019.

During the month of February, the Airbus Hamburg Training Centre welcomed the first group of Air Seychelles aircraft engineers as part of its comprehensive A320neo training program. The agenda composed of both theory and on-the-job experience provided the technical operations team further knowledge on how to conduct maintenance on the A320neo besides having the chance to view the Airbus assembly line.

Held from Monday, February 18, until Wednesday, February 27, the sessions in Hamburg were attended by engineers Clyne De -Letourdis, David Saminaden, and Denys Assan.

In addition to that, as of Tuesday, February 5, until Thursday, February 7, Manager of Cabin Safety Standards, Magdalena Hubert, and Manager for Cabin Safety Training Programs, Dereck Charlette, also had the chance to participate in the Airbus A320neo safety training held at the Airbus Training Centre Europe in Toulouse.

The training will proceed over the next upcoming months as part of the entry into service program of the new Air Seychelles A320neo aircraft.

The Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority in the meantime is progressing the type approval of this new aircraft which had not been registered in the Seychelles before and, therefore, requires additional regulatory approvals and licensing measures.

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