Andrew Stegmann

Kenya: UK Visas & Immigration launches a new Visa Application Centre in Mombasa

On Monday 19 September 2016, UK Visas and Immigration’s global commercial partner for UK visa services, TLScontact, will open a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Mombasa. This is a new centre, in addition to the TLScontact VAC already operating in Nairobi, and its launch will extend the range of services we offer to customers across Kenya, including increased access to premium and priority products.

UK visa customers will continue to complete their applications and pay their visa fee online at Visa4UK before choosing an appointment at one of the TLScontact VACs in Kenya.

The Visa Application Centre in Mombasa will be open every day between 0800 – 1530hrs. Customers will be able to make appointments to submit visa applications in Mombasa on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 0830 and 1300, and can collect their passports on any week day.

To use the VAC in Mombasa customers will need to pay a fee of £55 in addition to the visa application fee. This “User Pay” fee allows UK Visas and Immigration to expand and improve its customer service offering in Kenya. A choice of centres offers convenience for customers who would otherwise have to travel to the capital to apply. This User Pay fee is payable online at the time of application, before customers visit the VAC in Mombasa. There will be no changes to the VAC in Nairobi, which will remain free to use.

Applications made in Mombasa will be processed in line with UKVI’s global customer service standards. All UK visa applications will continue to be decided by UK Visas and Immigration staff in a fair and objective process. Staff at the Visa Application Centre have no influence at all over the outcome of any visa application.

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Andrew Stegmann

Bookings For Travel To Africa Are Up 11 Percent Through December

Overall international air travel to Africa has grown 5.6 percent this year through August compared to the same period last year, but North Africa has seen slow growth or even decline — people are scared to travel there — while East Africa has seen double-digit growth.

Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia have seen little growth, ETurbo News reported. However, despite the weak growth,”North African countries still made it into the top 10 destinations in terms of volume of traffic but they have suffered from political instability and terror activities in the region,” said Olivier Jager, CEO of ForwardKeys.

Based in Spain, ForwardKeys focuses on big data and business intelligence for the travel industry, predicting future travel patterns by analyzing 14 million booking transactions a day.

Among the worst-hit are Egypt and Tunisia, CNN reported. Visitor numbers peaked above 14 million in 2010 but sank to around 9 million in 2015 following aviation disasters and turmoil following the 2011 Arab Spring, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization. Numbers are expected to suffer as well in 2016.

Tunisia saw a 20 percent drop in international visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2016 following terrorist attacks that targeting tourists. ISIS claimed responsibility.

Tourism tends to take up to two years to recover after terrorists attack tourists, according to David Scowsill, CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council, CNN reported.
“People will come to Tunisia again… but right now (the country is) having a very tough time and people are losing their jobs,” said Scowsill.

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Andrew Stegmann

HOAX: Home Affairs debunks DNA birth certificate announcement

Cape Town – The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has released an official statement debunking a hoax article stating that SA’s DHA Minister Malusi Gigaba introduced compulsory DNA testing requirements for registration of new births.

The fake news article reads, “From 2017 onwards, all babies born to South African parents will be required to undergo DNA tests to confirm their paternity before they can be allowed to take on their fathers’ surnames, Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Malusi Gigaba has said.”

The Minister, however, came on record saying, “no such interview was ever conducted”. He says, “The Department will always utilise official communication platforms to create awareness around any changes in policy should there be such pronouncements, including those made by the Ministry.”

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Andrew Stegmann

Africa : Future Urban Cities for the 21st century