Friday, October 31, 2014

AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION (ATA) STATEMENT ON EBOLA...


The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA members include African governments, tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel agents, tour operators, and a media. ATA partners with the African Union Commission (AU) to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa.
 
ATA remains concerned about the Ebola virus and its far-reaching effects, and related perceptions, on the travel and tourism sector in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most severely affected countries are Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, however, the Africa tourism industry has felt stark repercussions across the continent through economic losses, cancelled flights and bookings, closed borders, and negative perceptions. These impacts reach far beyond the borders of those affected countries.
 
ATA urges the travel industry and traveling public to remain cautious, however, to acknowledge the immense size of the continent and to continue to travel to the vast majority of the countries that remain safe. With a landmass of 30.2 million square kilometers, the African continent is larger than China, India, and the United States combined, with its 54 independent countries.
 
ATA does not support the cancellation of flights to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone as this creates further isolation, impeding the delivery of critical medical supplies and travel by aid workers, which can exacerbate the situation. According to the WHO, the countries affected “have very weak health systems, lacking human and infrastructural resources, having only recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability.”
 
Now, more than ever, ATA hopes you will join our association in supporting, and standing in solidarity with Africa. ATA calls on travelers to make educated and rational decisions and cautions against the influence of sensationalized media. Africa has always suffered from challenges of perception relating to ignorance and a lack of understanding of the continent by citizens from around the world.
 
Despite these challenges, ATA remains optimistic about travel and tourism to the African continent. In 2013, Africa welcomed over 65 million visitors, consistently increasing its share in the global travel marketplace. Africa is an exciting travel destination, one of world’s most dynamic travel destinations for tourists seeking for adventure, exceptional cultural exchange and heritage tours, diverse culinary experiences, unparalleled safari and wildlife opportunities, first-class beaches, and a wealth of investment opportunities. In pursuit of its mission, ATA believes that tourism is a powerful tool for promoting economic growth, job creation, investment and cultural exchange.
 
Additionally, ATA encourages travelers to find the most up-to-date information here: 
For more information on ATA, please visit www.africatravelassociation.org or call +1.212.447.1357.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

KENYA/UNESCO MARK 50 YEARS’ CELEBRATIONS


This celebration was under the theme " Together for Peace and Sustainable Development"

The 3-day fete was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and  brought together different organizations and counties that have benefitted from UNESCO’s activities in Kenya. 

Different groups from the counties showcased their cultural products.


UNESCO’s overarching objectives include attaining quality education for all and lifelong learning; mobilizing science knowledge and policy for sustainable development; addressing emerging social and ethical challenges; fostering cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace; and building inclusive knowledge societies through information and communication.

Pictorial of the Exhibition








Welcome To NDULA HOMESTAY! A Unique Lakeside Experience...

Ndula Homestay is located in Yala Town, Siaya County, Western Kenya. It is a stone’s throw away from Yala Railway Station along the Kisumu Butere railway line, half a kilometer from Kisumu Busia road, a few minutes’ walk to the scenic river Yala, Ndanu falls, the famous St Marys Secondary School, Yala and the Odera Kango University Campus.

It is about 35 minutes’ drive from the Kisumu International Airport and 20 minutes’ drive to Kogelo village, the ancestral home of the father of Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America.

Facility

The facility comprises a blend of traditional and modern living, within a radius of 200 metres. The modern facility has a tastefully furnished living room, dining room and three bedrooms-one of them master ensuite, well equipped kitchen, three roomed guest house, a gazebo and guard house. 

It is connected to DSTV with a large TV screen and standby generator. The traditional homestay consists of upgraded traditional farm cottages within a setting of planted trees, banana plantation, a greenhouse and cow shed for dairy cows.

Experience

While at Ndula Homestay, you will be able to visit and savour the picturesque meandering of river Yala, the awesome Ndanu falls, local cuisine of 'kuon gi rech' and traditional vegetables and tour the Obama ancestral home, Kit Mikayi, Lake Victoria, Kakamega rainforest to watch beautiful species of butterflies, the weeping stones of Kakamega, just to mention but a few. 

Of course you will at the same time be able to mingle with the local community and melt into their daily cultural experience during the planting and harvesting seasons, market days and other social activities.

For more information and bookings Please Contact

Mauirce Abuom
Email: maurice.abuom@gmail.com
OR
Kenya Community Based Tourism NetworkTel: +254 20 231 9458
Email: info@kecobat.org, info@homestayskenya.org
URL: www.kecobat.org / www.homestayskenya.org

Scroll Down For More Pictures...