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Gambia’s minister of tourism, Hamat Bah, has declared sex tourists unwanted in the country. “We are not a sex destination. If you want a sex destination, you go to Thailand. The Gambia is not a sex destination. We are not, we are not and please every Gambian must sing that song,” Bah said in an interview in January. He went …

Morocco recorded a bumper year for tourist arrivals in 2017, breaking through the 11-million barrier for the first time, the tourism ministry announced on Monday. Visitor arrivals numbered some 11.4 million, a 10% increase over 2016, with tourists from “emerging markets” such as China and Brazil joining those from France, Spain and Germany. Revenues from the sector jumped to 69.7 …

Ethiopian Aviation Academy (EAA) Addis Ababa has been ranked among the top World Aviation Training Centres by Aviation Voice, a global aviation news provider engaged in the ranking of global aviation training centres. The ranking is against 18 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced ranking covering the full range of a training centre’s areas of …

Rapid scanning of passports will mean shorter border control queues for travellers at Africa’s second busiest airport, enhancing border crossing experience for millions of visitors. Gemalto, the world leader in digital security, is supplying Cairo International, the second busiest airport in Africa, with automated document readers that will enable faster border crossings for millions of travellers, whilst ensuring rigorous security …

Lufthansa has overhauled its livery, changing the background of its iconic century-old logo from yellow to blue. The crane, remains the airline’s iconic symbol, but it has been slimmed down in this incarnation and is surrounded by a thinner ring giving it more space. The German airline officially unveiled its new brand image on Wednesday (7 February) at company events …

German airline group Lufthansa said Monday it plans to hire more than 8,000 people in 2018, the latest step in a relentless push for growth at one of Europe’s largest carriers. Taking into account workers leaving the company, a Lufthansa spokesman told AFP that the net effect of the hiring spree would be “several thousand” new jobs — an increase …

Following is the Joint Declaration of the Member Countries on the Regional meeting for Europe, Central Asia and North America on the International Decade for People of African Descent: Representatives of States from Europe, Central Asia and North America participated in a regional meeting which took place in Geneva on 23 and 24 November 2017, with the participation of experts …

China has announced a new visa waiver policy for visitors from 53 countries to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei for up to six days. The measure, which takes effect from 28 December, applies to visitors from Germany and other members of the European Union’s Schengen area, as well as the US, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Argentina, the official People’s Daily reported …

A British woman has been convicted of smuggling 300 painkiller tablets into Egypt and jailed for three years and fined the equivalent of $5,611. Laura Plummer, 33, was arrested on 9 October at Hurghada International Airport on the Red Sea after police reportedly found 290 tablets of tramadol in her suitcase. Tramadol is a strong painkiller used to treat moderate …

Senegal has a new airport as the West African country seeks to underline its status as an airline hub in the sub-region. The Blaise Diagne International Airport was officially opened on 7 December by President Macky Sall. He called it a “source of satisfaction and legitimate pride” for the country. The airport is named after the first African to be …

Nationals of African countries travelling to Kenya will no longer be required to apply for a visa before leaving for the East African country. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced the abolition of the pre-visa requirement when he took the oath of office for a second and final term on 28 November in Nairobi. “Today, I am directing that any African wishing …

A British woman has been imprisoned in Egypt after flying into the country with painkillers. Laura Plummer, from Hull, was arrested at an Egyptian airport after authorities found 290 tramadol tablets and some naproxen for her husband’s sore back. It is understood she signed her name below a 38-page statement in Arabic, believing she would be able to leave the …

According to the latest MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index, two South African cities, Lagos, Casablanca and Cairo received the highest number of visitors in the continent last year. Johannesburg has emerged as the most popular destination city in Africa in 2016, followed by Cape Town, according to the annual MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. Johannesburg welcomed 4.57 million international overnight …

Air Berlin will stop flying by 28 October at the latest as the administrators for the insolvent airline continue discussions with prospective buyers. The airline had already announced the end of its long-haul routes as aircraft lessors started taking back planes from the bankrupt carrier, now all Air Berlin flights will cease, although subsidiaries Niki and LG Walter will continue …

Hilton Worldwide plans to spend $50 million over the next five years to renovate and rebrand 29 hotels in Africa, it said on Thursday, joining other chains keen to tap growing business and international travel on the continent. One property will open in the Kenyan capital Nairobi by the end of this year and another in the Rwandan capital Kigali …

A British Airways hostess has been sacked after a Snapchat video she recorded slamming Nigerian passengers went viral. Joanne Wickenden, who was wearing her uniform in the minute-long video, was complaining about excessive demands by Nigerian passengers while making references to male genitals. “All the Nigerians are gonna be there like ‘gimme Coca Cola, gimme beef, why you have no …

Crisis-stricken German airline Air Berlin is seeking protection from its creditors after running out of cash to stay solvent. But the airline says it wants to remain in operation following a government bailout. In a stock market filing Tuesday, Germany’s second largest airline said it had filed for bankruptcy protection after its main shareholder, Gulf carrier Etihad, had withdrawn funding …

In a development that will make crossing the Mediterranean for migrants more dangerous, German aid group Sea-Eye has announced it will suspend rescue operations. The announcement comes a day after Doctors without Borders (MSF) took a similar decision citing security concerns. Italian co-operation with Libyan authorities in the policing of the coastal waters of the North African country seems to …

French national carrier, Air France, will soon resume flights between Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in Paris and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi after an 18-year absence. Air France served Nairobi until March 2000. Air France, a subsidiary of the Air France–KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance, announced the decision on Tuesday …

After several years of turmoil, Cameroon’s national carrier has embarked on a recovery plan at an estimated 91.5 million euros over the next 5 years. Yaounde, April 5 (Reuters) – Nearly a year after selecting a consortium led by Belgium’s SN Brussels to buy a majority stake in struggling national airline, Cameroon’s government abandoned the sale on Thursday and said …