Tourism Trends Archive
Ele on the Runway!
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on August 20, 2010
There’s an elephant on the Jomo Kenyatta runway, and everybody thinks it’s a peacock! Cool it. Wait for the real figures, will ya?
Yesterday’s blogosphere was alive with premature (I prefer, preternatural) celebration. The Kenya Tourist Board said preliminary figures show it headed to the “best year ever” in tourism.
Say, again.
Half of Keekorok [...]
Tears of Rain as Camping Ends
Posted by jimheck in Planning Travel, Tourism Trends on April 27, 2010
The ending of the recession and its accompanying surge in bookings are redefining the American safari travel market. One important change: luxury camping is OUT!
Yesterday I discussed how the market will evaluate permanent lodging, but it’s with some sadness that I conclude the era of camping might be over in East Africa.
And it might [...]
Ndutu Lodge IN; Crater Lodge OUT
Posted by jimheck in Planning Travel, Tourism Trends on April 26, 2010
Reliability and Substance over Fluff ‘n Fantasy. That’s the read from the surge in new travelers to East Africa.
‘Reliability over Fluff’ – This is one of the important redefinitions of the post-recession market in East Africa. It’s the reason that places like Ndutu Lodge will do well, and why places like Crater [...]
Can Africans Afford the “African World Cup”—Does it Matter?
Posted by jimheck in South Africa, Tourism Trends on March 7, 2010
By Conor Godfrey
World Cup fever is in full swing as the FIFA countdown clock hits 95 days, 22 hours, and 10 minutes. China’s olympic sized debutante ball in 2008 has made it all too easy for pundits to bill the upcoming World Cup as a continental coming out. I admit—I’ve fallen for the [...]
Want a deal at the kill?
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on February 9, 2010
So you’re ready to make a killing in East Africa? And I don’t mean lions.
The savvy investors are gathering like vultures and tiny predators at the kill. Next month in Berlin several deals may consummate at ITB, one of the two most important tourism conventions each year. It’s sort of the tourism [...]
Quick investment in East Africa?
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on February 8, 2010
There are incredible deals available for tourist investors in East Africa right now, but everyone is sitting on their hands waiting for a crucial report due out in the next couple weeks.
The world famous Davos meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) ended several weeks ago with headliner Bill Gates announcing the “Decade of Vaccines” [...]
Bonobos as Peace Makers
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Research on February 1, 2010
In this so troubled time for East Africa there are some exciting glimmers of hope for societies and conservation.
Stand on any of East Africa’s high mountains and look east to some terrifying developments. Al-Qaeda militia are gathering on Kenya’s borders. The drought in Tsavo decimated the hippo population and spurned the bushmeat [...]
What a Deal!
Posted by jimheck in Air Travel, Planning Travel, Tourism Trends on January 4, 2010
At last East African tour companies are doing the right thing to try to get back on their feet, and there are incredible deals for new bookings.
The New Year arrived with a plethora of tour deals, and they’re real. They include ridiculously cheap airline tickets, internationally and domestic, 3rd and 4th nights free, and [...]
Slower Tourism in Rwanda
Posted by jimheck in Economy, Tourism Trends on December 16, 2009
Travel is a leading indicator of the economy, and the evidence is mounting that the recovery will be slower than in the past. Rwanda is today’s example.
Since the end of the Rwanda turbulence in 1994, so much money has flowed into Rwanda in all its sectors, that this little country has emerged as an [...]
Fewer Tourists/Prices Drop
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on December 3, 2009
The first hard indication of how much tourism in East Africa has been effected by the global downturn was revealed, today: Down 25-30%.
The announcement was made by Richard Rugimbana, a spokesman for the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania, during a conference in Dar-es-Salaam this morning.
Tourism numbers are very hard to get from East Africa and are [...]
BORDER CLOSED
Posted by jimheck in History, Politics, Tourism Trends on October 22, 2009
The border between Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Maasai Mara has been closed since 1977. Despite hopeful signs earlier this year, it won’t be opening, soon.
Yesterday, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TBT) announced forcefully in Dar-es-Salaam that the rumors of a Balanganjwe border crossing reopening after more than 30 years were incorrect.
As I reported in June, [...]
BOATS & PLANES
Posted by jimheck in Safety, Tourism Trends on October 8, 2009
The troubled Indian Ocean combined with the troubled skies of air carriers is causing great pain among long-haul travelers, now.
Seabourn Cruises is the latest to suspend its cruising in the Indian Ocean. CEO Pam Conover said today the piracy issue was the main reason, and it probably is, but so is reduced demand. [...]
Art of Living?
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on October 1, 2009
The travel industry used to be an industry of rampant scams, but it has improved. I’ve now found a different industry that’s worse than travel ever was: cable TV.
This week Ron Posner, assistant producer for the Cable TV show Art of Living set up an appointment to speak with me about filming EWT safaris. Skeptically, [...]
Tourism Plummets
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on July 17, 2009
As tourism to East African continues to plunge, Kenya’s mistaken approach is to lie about the statistics.
Last week Kenya’s Central Bank reported that “tourism continues to do well” and that visitor numbers were up nearly 55.4% over last year. Read a bit further. Actual revenues, which the CBK can’t lie about as easily, [...]
Voodo Prices!
Posted by jimheck in Tourism Trends on April 23, 2009
Safari travelers are getting taken for a ride!
The price of a new car is way down, as is the price of butter. But safaris are getting more expensive! Consumers beware and Fair Trading be damned!
I remain astoundingly dumbfounded at how ridiculously high safari prices are being kept in this economic downturn. The [...]