Richard Holmes

Travelstart is taking a logical next step in expanding from its core leisure travel business into corporate travel through an acquisition.

Do airlines need non-airline businesses to survive? If one company’s unbroken 72-year run of profits is anything to go by, the answer is a resounding yes.

The Travel Corp. is taking three of its core brands to Africa for the first time. It’s a savvy move, leveraging the local knowledge and infrastructure of its sister companies on the continent, with the feel-good upside of boosting inbound tourism to Africa.

Accountants at Emirates, British Airways, and South African Airways must be breathing a sigh of relief. A combination of economic carrots and airline sticks — smoothed over by IATA diplomacy — has helped international carriers recoup more than $500 million in blocked funds from African governments since the start of 2018.

Millennial-friendly products and services are finally on the rise in South Africa’s tourist industry, and the desire for immersive experiences could see a much-needed trickle down of tourism spend.

Despite its infrastructure challenges and a reputation for red tape, the world’s biggest hotel brands can’t seem to get enough of Africa. With thousands of rooms in the development pipeline, African cities will soon be festooned with a slew of international brands. It’s good news for global travelers and local economies alike.

Airbnb is booming in Africa, but the first cracks in the success story are beginning to show – in hotels griping about the lack of regulations, and locals priced out of prime property. Can African cities avoid the side effects of the sharing economy that already blight more-developed markets?

For tourism operators surrounding Victoria Falls, the fabled Zambezi river god Nyami Nyami appears to be smiling on them at last. After years in the tourism wilderness, the tide has turned and business is booming in the northern reaches of Zimbabwe.

While many African carriers are struggling to stay afloat, let alone turn a profit, Ethiopian Airlines is firmly in the black and planning aggressive expansion. The magic formula? The right aircraft and routes, and a government that lets the experts get on with it.

From wild safari getaways to its vibrant colorful cities, Africa has more than enough to tempt the 200 million Chinese tourists forecast to be trotting the globe by 2020. But is enough being done to roll out the welcome mat? It depends where you look.