Author: Chukwu Godlove
The commission said the Saudi authorities will no longer grant grace periods once the registration portal is closed. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has cautioned all stakeholders to strictly adhere to the Saudi Arabian timetable for the 2026 Hajj, sating that deadlines for payments, visas, and contracts will not be extended. This was the key message at NAHCON’s post-Hajj meeting with licensed tour operators in Abuja on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by the Commission’s Chairperson, Abdullahi Usman, alongside other commissioners, was monitored by PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Usman, a professor, commended the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, private operators, and…
The Nest officially opened on August 20 with an on-site launch event featuring music, room tours, and a first look at the newly designed spaces. The 19-room boutique hotel was built with a focus on purpose, not luxury, and everything from the materials to the furniture was made in Rwanda. With a woven twig entrance and an in-house restaurant called Tweet, The Nest is taking a new direction. Now located in Gishushu, it’s not just reopening, it’s offering an alternative to the typical hotel experience. Also read: Beyond beauty and a thousand hills, Rwanda offers abundant opportunity According to the…
Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi witnessed on Thursday 21/8/2025 the first recovery operation of sunken antiquities in 25 years at Abu Qir area in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. The recovery event was attended by Alexandria Governor Ahmed Khaled in addition to other senior officials at the Tourism Ministry. The minister thanked all workers at the Sunken Antiquities Department and Alexandria City Hall for their efforts to complete the retrieval operation successfully. The Underwater Antiquities Department has recovered several artifacts from beneath the waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Abu Qir area in eastern Alexandria governorate. The minister of…
Addis Ababa — The Ministry of Tourism has announced that new tourist destination development projects are playing a vital role in revitalizing Ethiopia’s tourism sector and strengthening the national economy. State Minister of Tourism, Endegena Abebe, stated that, following recent government reforms, tourism has been prioritized among the five key sectors aimed at accelerating Ethiopia’s economic transformation. Despite Ethiopia’s vast tourism potential, the country has historically reaped limited benefits from the sector. However, Endegena noted that special emphasis by the government has significantly expanded development projects nationwide. These initiatives have not only rejuvenated the tourism industry but also increased its…
Nigerian travel and tour agency, Finchglow Holidays, has partnered with Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian Holidays to stimulate tourism, boost trade opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic relations between Nigeria and Ethiopia. Head of Business, Finchglow Holidays, Oluwaseun Afolabi, said through the partnership, doors were being opened to hidden tourist treasures and fostering deeper cultural exchange between both countries. Afolabi said given that Nigerians were moving away from their regular travel destinations, Ethiopia offers some of the most captivating yet underexplored experiences on the continent. He said: “By offering thoughtfully curated tour packages alongside streamlined visa processing, we are removing barriers, enhancing…
When you travel, do you consider the part you play in its legacy? The power of your consumer choice can make travel more sustainable. Still, it requires conscious effort along every touchpoint of your journey.Solar panels play their part in a sustainable safari, Image Credit: andBeyond Sossusvlei LodgeFinding Your Way Back to Africa Returning to the same holiday destination can feel deeply comforting. This is because it activates the brain’s Default Mode Network, which is responsible for memory, self-reflection, and emotional grounding, as explained in “The Brain’s Default Mode Network” (Neuron, 2015).Your first trip may skim the surface, offering a…
Preparations are underway for the fourth Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference, Exhibition, and Familiarization (Fam) Trip, set to run from October 27 to 29 at Ocean Beach Resort & Spa in Malindi, Kilifi County. Launched on Tuesday by the Consulate-General of Uganda in Mombasa alongside key tourism stakeholders from both countries, the event will run under the theme: “Leveraging Youth, Innovation & Technology for Responsive & Inclusive Tourism.” The launch was graced by Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro, county executives, the Kenya Tourism Board, Uganda Airlines, tour operators, and a special appearance by Ugandan brand ambassador Akothee. Uganda’s Consul General in…
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille has dissolved the South African Tourism Board in terms of section16(3)(a) of the Tourism Act. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Tourism said the decision takes effect immediately. Section16(3)(a) of the Act empowers the Minister to dissolve the board on good cause shown. “The Minister has also decided to remove the members of the Board of South African Tourism in terms of sections 16(1) of the Act which states that a member of the Board must vacate office upon removal by the Minister.” Additionally, the Minister informed members of the Board of her…
Situated on the banks of an oshana (seasonal water course), the name Engela has variously been said to mean ‘a wet place’, or that it is an abbreviation of the name of a trader, Engelbrecht, who died under a jackalberry tree in the area. Two Rhenish Mission church elders, Simson Shituwa and Wilhelm Kafita, established a parish at Omafo following the expulsion of the Rhenish Mission Society from southern Angola in 1916 and requested the Finnish Mission Society to open a mission station in the kingdom Oukwanyama. Permission was granted to the society on 20 December 1920 after it took…
The Uganda Tourism Board has partnered with the communication regulator, Uganda Communications Commission(UCC) in a bid to promote the country’s tourism. The heads of both agencies met at UTB offices in Kampala and mooted a plan through which they can collaborate. Speaking during the meeting, UTB CEO, Juliana Kagwa said under the National Development Plan IV that seeks to see a tenfold growth for the economy, the country’s tourism earnings are expected to grow 25 times. “This growth means we need enablers in the private sector, banking sector and telecom company among others. These need to understand our strategy and…