Category: Travel News Page 16 of 60

From a slow start in 2022 at around 70 percent of pre-pandemic traffic levels, European air traffic steadily climbed through the end of the year to a total of 9.3 million flights, or 83 percent of 2019 levels, said a recently released report from Eurocontrol’s Aviation Intelligence Unit. Eurocontrol expects further strengthening this year, projecting an increase to 92 percent of pre-Covid levels.

The positive performance last year came despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which saw the lack of availability of airspace alter traffic flows and significantly affect traffic in Moldova and states adjacent to Russia and Belarus, said the report. The report also projects an uneven recovery across airlines, airports, states, and air navigation service providers, as well as regional flows—all of which varied between 70 percent and 110 percent of 2019 levels on average. Read More

Local tourism industry agents are wary of a drop in demand amid declined economic growth in key traditional source markets and Covid-19 closures in China.

Kenya has been reliant on international source markets for visitors including the USA, North America, Europe and Asian nations.

However, the looming global recession and higher inflation in some of these countries are expected to weigh on consumer spending and tourism demand, and in turn, cut passenger bookings to and out of the country.

“As the recession affects those countries obviously travel will not become a priority. Kenya is also a long-haul destination. And while people may choose to travel local or short distances, the long haul will definitely take an impact moving forward,” said Kenya Association of Travel Agents (KATA) chairperson Shazmin Manji. Read More

The 2022 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) report shows African countries making progress in their freedom of travel policies, most of which had been severely curtailed by the Covid-19 crisis.

The annual publication, prepared by the African Development Bank Group in collaboration with the African Union Commission, is now in its 7th edition and was launched on Sunday on the sidelines of the 2022 African Economic Conference in Mauritius.

The report tracks visa policies adopted by African governments on three main criteria: whether entry to citizens from other African countries is visa-free, if a visa on arrival can be obtained, and whether travellers are required to obtain visas ahead of traveling to other African countries. Read More

President Joe Biden hailed cooperation with Africa and said he looked forward to visiting the continent soon as he endeavors to expand ties in a region where China and Russia have been making inroads.

Speaking at the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, Biden announced billions of dollars in new commitments on financing and bolstering democracy, and affirmed he supported a permanent seat for the African Union at the Group of 20.

He sought to dissuade the impression his promises could be short-lived, naming a top diplomat to ensure the summit’s commitments are executed. And he said a host of Cabinet officials – along with his wife – would also soon visit Africa to demonstrate American interest there. Read More