Igihe

Category: Tourism

  • Pope Names first Native American saint

    Pope Benedict XVI will name 17th century Mohawk Kateri Tekakwitha the first Native American saint.

    Another newly named saint is Marianne Cope, a German-born woman who emigrated to the United States as a child, became a nun and went on to devote 30 years of her life helping lepers in Hawaii.

    Their canonization, along with that of five other saints, will be celebrated at a special Mass in St. Peter’s Square Sunday morning.

    “This is a great weekend for America in the Vatican, and it’s really a great weekend for Native Americans. Sainthood is the guarantee that this person is close to God,” said Vatican senior communications adviser Greg Burke.

    “There’s a vast history of people the Catholic Church has made saints over the centuries. Holiness is absolutely a matter of equal opportunity, but this certainly is special because it marks the first time a Native American becomes a saint.”

    Kateri Tekakwitha’s canonization follows what has been judged a miracle by the Roman Catholic Church in the 2006 case of an American boy with a flesh-eating bug.

    Jake Finkbonner was only 5 when he became infected by the bacterium after falling down while playing basketball, CNN affiliate King 5 News in Seattle reported. The infection spread quickly through the tissue of his face, with drugs and surgeries apparently powerless to stop its progress.

    “It was dire,” his mother, Elsa Finkbonner, told the network. “He was air-lifted to children’s hospital, and he was fighting for his life at that point.”

  • Tourists to Africa to Double in 15Years

    The number of tourists visiting Africa is predicted to double in the next 15 years, improving prospects for the industry.

    There has sincee been an increase in number of both natural and cultural attractions.

    According to WTO, the tourism industry in Africa is currently growing at a respectable average rate of 7.2%. One out of every 20 jobs in Africa is in the tour and travel industry.

    However, developing tourism in the world’s poorest continent requires a host of factors besides the lovely lodges.

    They include improved safety and security, health and hygiene, infrastructure, education and training, according to industry analysts.

    Available statistics indicate African continent received about 50 million tourists last year — a mere fraction of the world total. But supporting and investing in tourism benefits have had a multiplier effects.

    This comes on the sidelines of the first 5-day Pan African Conference on Sustainable Tourism Management in Tanzania (from October 13) at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC).

    Tanzania’s Deputy minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu said, ” the conference aims at addressing challenges facing toursim industry and conservation, its most important component.”

    It becomes the fourth largest meetings to be organised in Arusha this year after the 2012 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) last May and the recent African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) and African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF).

    A total of 412 official delegates from about 40 countries in Africa are attending.

  • Pastors Warned Against Mixing Politics & Religion

    A French Missionary Emmanuel Rapold has asked evangelical pastors operating in the great Lakes region to avoid mixing politics with religious matters.

    Emmanuel told pastors to spread word of God and not support activities aiming at destabilizing their countries sovereignty.

    Rapold said since the region is increasingly facing political instability, pastors should not be among people standing for conflicts, but, teach members of their church how to solve conflicts within the region.

    Pastors who were gathered in Rusizi District came from Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • Tanzanian Moslems Attack Churches

    Violence has erupted in Tanzania after a 14 year boy urinated on the Quran-the holy book of Islam.

    The incidence took place in Dar es Salaam’s Mbagala suburb Friday forcing moslems to attack a police station demanding that a 14-year-old boy be handed over to them.

    In the aftermath of the confrontation, at least five churches were attacked, several car windows smashed and passersby injured as the angry mob moved from street to street at Mbagala Kizuiani protesting the desecration of the holy book.

    Dar es Salaam Chief Sheikh Alhad Mussa Salum urged Muslims not to pursue the issue out of proportion, adding that there wasn’t ample grounds to mess up national security.

    “The incident doesn’t need emotions in dealing with. Islam means peace; we can deal with such issues peacefully. This matter involved children. Islam considers age; it shouldn’t lead to a breach of peace in our country,” said Sheikh Salum.

    He added that attacking churches would mean the boy was sent by Christians to desecrate the Quran, which he said he believed wasn’t the case.

    Police used teargas canisters and water cannons to quell the unrest and open up Kilwa road as the protesters hurled stones and burned tyres to block the road.

    Police were still engaging the demonstrators at Mbagala Zakhem late in the evening as the attacks on churches continued to rage.

    The clashes could be traced back five days to an incident in which a Christian and Muslim boy got into an argument over the power of the Quran to turn anyone who defiled it into a snake.

    According to those reports, the Christian boy swore he would not be harmed if he played with the Quran while his Muslim friend maintained that he would turn into a snake or run mad if did so.

    The Christian boy then urinated on the book—and set off a chain of events that would turn the area into a battleground for what the Muslims described as a defence of their faith.

    The protesting group initially arrested the boy at around 9am on Monday and took him to a police station.

    The incident turned deadly after the angry Muslims mobilised more support during Friday prayers, reportedly in an attempt to grab the boy from the police station and behead him.

  • Pope Prays in Arabic For First Time

    Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday pronounced a blessing in Arabic at his weekly audience in front of 20,000 pilgrims on St Peter’s Square — the first time the language has been used at such an event.

    “The pope prays for all Arabic speakers. May God bless you all!” the pope said in Arabic at the audience, after a bishop read out an Arabic translation of the pope’s comments praising the results of the Second Vatican Council.

    The landmark Council, which began 50 years ago this week, is a “compass” for the Catholic Church “in the middle of the storms”, the pope said.

    As a young reformer, the then Joseph Ratzinger took part in the Council, better known as Vatican II, which revolutionised Catholic rituals.

    The Council brought together 2,250 bishops and lasted from 1962 until 1965.

    The pope has always defended the 15 “constitutions” adopted by the Council despite complaints from traditionalists in the Church over several reforms.

    Benedict will celebrate mass on St Peter’s Square on Thursday to launch a “Year of Faith” on the exact anniversary of the start of Vatican II.

  • Gorillas Rescued From Traffickers

    DRCongo wildlife authorities have rescued two baby gorillas from traffickers.

    The rescued gorillas are being protected by the Dian Fossey Fund awaiting transfer to the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) centre in the DRC’s North Kivu.

    Clare Richardson president and CEO of Fossey Fund noted, “We are committed to saving gorillas in Congo in every way, primarily by supporting law enforcement in combating poaching and monitoring of gorillas the way we have done for 45 years with mountain gorillas in Rwanda.”

    “We have been caring for confiscated gorillas in temporary facilities since 2003, and the continuing problem of gorilla trafficking in this region requires us to focus both on prevention and on making plans for their future,” Richardson added.

  • Nyungwe Forest Lodge Wins Best International Hotels Award

    On September 9 2012, Nyungwe Forest Lodge owner, Dubai World Africa together with associates, representatives of government, tour operators and valued guests came together to celebrate Nyungwe Forest Lodge’s most notable achievements since opening its doors for business in March 2010.

    The property recently received 5 star grading, making Nyungwe Forest Lodge the only 5 star lodge in Rwanda and the celebrations have continued with the announcement that Nyungwe Forest Lodge received the prestigious “Best International New Small Hotel – Construction & Design” award for 2011 – 2012 at the highly respected International Hotels Awards event, held on the 18th January 2012 at The Savoy Hotel in London, beating other regional and continental winners and entries from 73 countries.

    At the ceremony held to unveil the award plaques, Nick Webb, Managing Director of Dubai World Africa recalled “when I first visited the site, I was overwhelmed by its beauty and tranquility but also by the obligation to develop the site with extreme care, ensuring that the lodge would in fact complement the magnificent forest which gave rise to this once in a life-time opportunity.

    Webb also noted the extreme logistical challenges involved during the construction of the lodge “there were no services or infrastructure to speak of on the site and all materials, furniture and equipment had to be transported over great distances to this remote and spectacular project location.

    He also reminded the gathering that the lodge was built through a period of recession and its completion was at times at risk.

    “For all these reasons and more, the lodge is a great achievement and a tribute to the creativity, sacrifices, dedication and perseverance of many.”

    Nyungwe Forest Lodge is set in Rwanda’s mountainous southwest Gisakura region and lies in a tea plantation on the edge of the Nyungwe closed-canopy rain forest.

    It is a 250 km drive from Kigali City Centre or a 30 minute scheduled flight from Kigali to Kamembe airport followed by a 30 minute scenic drive to the lodge.

    Lodge facilities include an outdoor heated infinity swimming pool with uninterrupted views over the forest, a boma area, an indoor restaurant flowing out onto an undercover terrace overlooking the tea plantation, a private dining / conference room, a tea lounge where guests can enjoy daily tea Ceremonies, bar area, a spa with two treatment rooms, a fitness centre and a helicopter landing pad.

    All 20 luxurious rooms and the 2 spacious two bedroom suites offer private decks affording views of the vast forest terrain which is home to innumerable tree species, flowering plants and over 13 primate species including chimpanzees and colobus monkeys.

    Other room amenities include; air-conditioning, en suite bathrooms, flat screen TV with satellite, wireless internet access, mini bar.

  • Miss Mauritius World Enjoys Rwanda Tour

    Miss Mauritius World Nathalie Lesage has expressed excitement at her visit to Rwanda where she had come to visit her relative Mélissa who lives in Rwanda.

    Nathalie was overwhelmed by the level of peace and unity in Rwanda saying it was interesting for her to meet new people and honoured by the way she was treated.

    The beauty queen also said she enoyed taking a ride on a motorcycle taxi which she said was such a great experience.

    She also noted there is very orderly traffic in Rwanda where motorists exhibit high level of discipline on the roads.

    Nathalie also visited the countryside where she came observed the livelihoods in the rural side especially seeing citizens working in their gardens and returning home with harvests with their children.

    She also was surprised about the tidy and neat roads and wondered how possible it is that citizens do the cleaning every end of month…’it’s a surprise’ she noted adding that her visit to Rwanda will be unforgetable.

  • EAC Tourists Targeted in South Africa’s New Tourism Plan

    South African Tourism will open an office in Nairobi next year in a bid to attract more tourists from East Africa.

    The office will cater to Kenya as a key base while targeting increasing arrivals from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan.

    “The large regional market potential suggests the need to establish a presence in the market rapidly,” said Phumi Ndlomo, South African Tourism director for domestic, Africa and Middle East.

    He said Nairobi’s reputation as an African commerce, trade and development hub had made it a strategic location for South African Tourism to establish its regional headquarters.”

  • Rwanda Tourism Reports 11% Growth in Revenue

    Tourism revenues have increased by 11% this year generating over US$ 128 Million of the first semester compared to US$ 115.6 Million fetched in the same period in 2011.

    The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) has said in a statement that it wishes to inform and reassure tourists and the business community that it is safe to travel to the Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda despite the on-going conflict in the neighbouring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB said that Rwanda’s tourism progress is attributed to peace and security: “Visitor safety is guaranteed as usual. We would like to reassure visitors to Rwanda that it is business as usual here and that it is extremely safe and secure to travel to and within the country.

    In addition to the all-in-one experience in Rwanda from diverse wildlife in the national parks, to the magnificent scenery, amazing climate and the rare mountain gorillas; peace and security continues to be a magnetic pool for visitors in Rwanda.”

    Rwanda also hosted an estimate of 493,744 visitors in the first semester 2012 corresponding to an increase of 22% compared to 2011 in the same period and recorded a remarkable 16% increase in leisure visitors as well as an 8% increase in business visitors.

    In terms of investment promotion, in the first semester only (January to June), the Tourism sector has so far registered projects worth US$ 184.1m. These projects are expected to create 1,328 jobs.

    Rica Rwigamba, Head of Tourism and Conservation at RDB said that “There was a noticeable increase in revenues, visits and value of registered tourism investments as well as projected jobs created in the first semester.

    We believe that if we continue to achieve as reflected by the results in the first semester, we will indeed surpass our targets and more importantly, this will drive growth and generate wealth for Rwandans.”

    Rwanda’s tourism and conservation efforts are also reflected in the commitment to the contribution towards the communities’ welfare under the revenue sharing framework, RDB recently increased the price of gorilla permits to US$750 which will consequently also increase the contribution to the communities as well as the activities in conservation.

    Indeed, Rwanda places conservation and community development at the core of the sustainable tourism agenda.

    In addition to the current room capacity of more than 6500 today, the government is encouraging more investment in accommodation facilities, hotels and restaurants in order to match the ever increasing visitors’ number.

    Tourism is the largest foreign exchange earner with US$251 Million earned in 2011.