Ethiopia’s tourism revenue jumped 20.7 percent in 2015 to a record high of $3.5 billion from $2.9 billion in the previous fiscal year lifted by increased number of foreign tourists visiting the East African nation, data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed.
The country’s revenue was more than what it more tourist established neighbors, Kenya and Tanzania, earned last year combined. The two east African neighbors cumulatively earned $2.77 billion.
Kenya’s revenue from its tourism sector dropped about 3 percent in 2015 to $837 million as visitors numbers continued a four year drop due to increased insecurity caused by frequent al Shabaab militants attacks, Reuters reported.
In Tanzania, a reduction in number of visitors last year also saw a fall in foreign exchange earnings from tourism to $1.93 billion, from $2 billion in 2014, The Exchange reported.
The number of visitors to Ethiopia increased by 136,000 to 910,000 in 2015, an estimated 88,000 foreign tourists per month, as the country hosted a number of high profile international business conferences and exhibitions, Ethiosport reported.
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Ethiopia, home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, wants to become one of the top five tourist destination in Africa by tripling the number of foreign tourists visiting the country to 2.5 million in 2020.
This will make tourism making the leading sector in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. It had targeted to raise $3.5 billion from the sector this fiscal year.
– See more at: http://afkinsider.com/129574/ethiopias-tourism-revenue-hits-record-high-beats-kenya-and-tanzania-combined/#sthash.OFvtd7si.dpuf
Zimbabweans in South Africa protest against Mugabe
Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Zimbabwean embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Cape Town today
On Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria and about 70 Zimbabweans marched from the Grand Parade to the Zimbabwean Consulate in Cape Town to demand that President Robert Mugabe step down.
Laswet Savadye, who was protesting, said: “We will make sure that this whole week we are here [outside the consulate] protesting. They must tell their master [Mugabe] to step down. I am working as an auditor and have a decent life here, but I would love to do the same work in Zimbabwe.”
“We want to go back home and build Zimbabwe, but for that to happen, Mugabe and the system in place should be dismantled,” said Sayade.
He said he is fed up with government corruption, human rights abuses and failed economic policies.
A young woman, who did not want to give her name, said: “Living in Cape Town is painful. I am tired of working as a domestic worker. I want to go back home, but what will I do there? There are no jobs, our health delivery system is down, and nothing is functioning well.”
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Ethiopia’s Tourism Revenue Hits Record High In 2015, Beats Kenya And Tanzania Combined
Ethiopia’s tourism revenue jumped 20.7 percent in 2015 to a record high of $3.5 billion from $2.9 billion in the previous fiscal year lifted by increased number of foreign tourists visiting the East African nation, data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed.
The country’s revenue was more than what it more tourist established neighbors, Kenya and Tanzania, earned last year combined. The two east African neighbors cumulatively earned $2.77 billion.
Kenya’s revenue from its tourism sector dropped about 3 percent in 2015 to $837 million as visitors numbers continued a four year drop due to increased insecurity caused by frequent al Shabaab militants attacks, Reuters reported.
In Tanzania, a reduction in number of visitors last year also saw a fall in foreign exchange earnings from tourism to $1.93 billion, from $2 billion in 2014, The Exchange reported.
The number of visitors to Ethiopia increased by 136,000 to 910,000 in 2015, an estimated 88,000 foreign tourists per month, as the country hosted a number of high profile international business conferences and exhibitions, Ethiosport reported.
Source
Ethiopia, home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, wants to become one of the top five tourist destination in Africa by tripling the number of foreign tourists visiting the country to 2.5 million in 2020.
This will make tourism making the leading sector in one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. It had targeted to raise $3.5 billion from the sector this fiscal year.
– See more at: http://afkinsider.com/129574/ethiopias-tourism-revenue-hits-record-high-beats-kenya-and-tanzania-combined/#sthash.OFvtd7si.dpuf
SA property market grows to R5.8trn
Cape Town – The South African property sector is worth R5.8trn according to results from the latest study undertaken to determine the size of the country’s property sector.
The Property Sector Charter Council released a reviewed market size estimation this week that provides a snapshot of the South African Property Sector using figures from the financial year 2014/2015.
It reveals the property sector’s size at R5.3trn with a further R520bn land officially zoned for commercial and residential development. The study was compiled by MSCI for the Property Sector Charter Council.
This report builds on baseline research that measured the size of the property market in SA at a massive R4.9trn at the end of 2010. It shows a meaningful increase of nearly R1trn in four years.
The study also supplements the Property Sector Charter Council SA Property Sector Economic Impact Report that estimates the property sector’s contribution to GDP at a significant R191.4bn in 2012 in terms of annual income and expenditure flows generated by the sector and a R46.5bn contribution to the fiscus.
The research is part of a larger project by the council, which provides a point of departure against which various transformation charter imperatives can be assessed.
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Zimbabweans abroad call for change
HARARE – Zimbabweans across the globe are speaking out against the current situation at home.
They’re calling on President Robert Mugabe to step down.
Around 11,000 people have signed an online petition, calling for change.
Activist Francisca Mandeya says 15,000 signatures are needed, before the petition can be handed to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon.
Meanwhile, students at Wits University have also voiced their support for Zimbabweans. They say Mugabe has failed to protect the democratic rights of the country’s people.
Jamie Mithi said, “The Mugabe regime has no idea, it has no credibility. And truthfully speaking, it is an evil regime run by a mad man and a monster. That mad man has to go. So I’m asking for a favour from you to stand with Zimbabwe as they try to stand up for themselves. And what that means is calling personally at your level for Mugabe and his compatriot and Mugabe regime to step down. I don’t think that they can be a new Zimbabwe if those old man continue to run the country. I think there’s a lot on investors waiting to come back to Zimbabwe. I think Zimbabweans want to rebuild Zimbabwe but nobody trusts the Mugabe regime specifically. Whether it’s ZANU-PF or MDC.”
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