HOW INTERNET IS INFLUENCING HOTEL AND TOURISM BUSINESS IN NIGERIA/NEW FLIGHT ROUTE IN SOUTH AFRICA AND TANZANIA

how Internet is influencing hotel and tourism business in Nigeria

There’s never been a better time to be a tourist, with tech solutions easily helping people to get the best hotel and flight, book a choice meal in a stranger’s home and ultimately make the most of your time away from home. The impact of technology on tourism has been widely overlooked in the past, but thanks to innovative companies like Jovago.com and others that have made tourism to be attractive as ever. With their solutions, hitting the road has been exciting for thousands of Nigerians who flock the internet on a daily basis.

The impact of technology on travel and tourism in Nigeria and other countries can be attributed more to the adoption of mobile devices, tablets and computers that are frequently being used in every aspect of trip planning. Though there are still constrains in the adoption of technology in tourism, a business traveler in any part of the country can easily book accommodation in any hotel in multiple states and countries on just one hotel booking portal. The growth of the sector can be hinged on the mobile platform, playing an important role in the business strategies of travel and tourism businesses throughout the country. A check shows about 85% of business travelers used mobile apps, 62% used them on every business trip and about 90% claimed that mobile apps improved their travel experience. Although there are concerns, but using technology is more convenient in the long run. Using technology saves you time, boosts your chances of getting the best prices and provides you with security with payment options, this is novel and has taken a huge burden off tourists. People now rely heavily on technology to get the best of travel and tourism. According to Jovago, acclaimed Africa’s No. 1 hotel booking website, technology allows tourists to get the best prices. “Although there are concerns, but using technology is more convenient in the long run. Using technology saves you time, boosts your chances of getting the best prices like the ones we have on Jovago and provides you with security with payment options,” Marek Zmyslowski, Jovago’s Managing Director said in an email response to ITPulse’s queries. He said Nigeria is observing a greater adoption of technology in the tourism sector, as a result of more people using the Internet, adding that the internet plays an integral role in the operations of any e-commerce business. “At the moment, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics states that there is about 60 percent penetration which is a good thing but it can be better. The higher number of people with cheap and constant access to the internet, the more willing they will be to engage tourism activities in general,” he submitted. Presently, Jovago boasts of giving their clients access to more than 200,000 hotels around the world. But Zmyslowski said this is just scratching the surface, and that Nigerians should expect more innovations, as the company is currently raising the bar when it comes to the ease with which services are booked via its portal. The impact of technology on travel and tourism in Nigeria and other countries can be attributed more to the adoption of mobile devices, tablets and computers that are frequently being used in every aspect of trip planning. From browsing to booking hotel and flight, and even post-travel reviews, the availability of these devices is playing a key role as tourists and hotel management utilize them to engage themselves. The tech savvy, growing populations (youths) are not left out of the travel and tourism landscape. They are more engaged; creating a more connected and personalized experience in the midst of an extensive internet use via the online and mobile platforms. Even the industry players are deeply involved throughout all stages of the travel experience; they are adapting marketing strategies in order to maximize their visibility and to maintain competitive advantage.

For Mark Essien, the Co-founder of Hotels.ng, a Lagos based online travel agency that specialises in hotel bookings within Nigeria; travel booking is currently being dominated by the online segment in Nigeria and across Africa. Thus, hotel owners and players in the tourism industry are being inspired to create new ways to reach customers at a faster and more convenient ways. “I was inspired to create the Hotels.ng app when I discovered the number of hotels available online before we started were only 200 hotels in Nigeria. Now, we have over 7,000 for booking in Nigeria,” he said. Stressing further how the app works, Essien said “You visit the website hotels.ng. Once there, you type in the location you are going, for example ‘Abuja’ or ‘Lagos.’ You will see a list of all hotels in that location, sorted by popularity, you pick your favorite hotel based on the pictures and book a room. We will confirm your reservation and you can go lodge on the day of arrival. If you want, you can also pay before arriving.”

Tourism in today’s world is a very big economic and social activity, generating a large amount of income, employment and foreign currency and investment opportunities. Though, the developed nations are getting the lion’s share of the benefit of tourism currently, there is a promising future for the developing nations also. Travel booking is currently being dominated by the online segment in Nigeria and across Africa. Thus, hotel owners and players in the tourism industry are being inspired to create new ways to reach customers at a faster and more convenient ways, the paramount thing is to leverage on available technology to create activities around the industry and then advance its contribution to the overall development of Nigeria. Information and Communication Technology in tourism sector can be used for tourism product development, marketing, distribution and training of personnel in the sector. This is important in order to satisfy the ever-changing demands for tourism products.

FlySafair unveils flight schedules for new routes

FlySafair has unveiled the flight schedule for its new routes, DUR-ELS, and DUR-PLZ, which were launched after the airline conducted a survey in May which determined these as the winning routes.

The schedule for Durban-East London is as follows:

From November 27 until May 2, 2018, flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight FA 440 will depart from Durban at 09h50 and arrive in East London at 11h05. Return flight FA 441 will depart East London at 11h30 and arrive in Durban at 12h45.

From December 2 until April 28, 2018, an additional flight will operate on Saturdays. Flight FA 442 will depart from Durban at 11h20 and arrive in East London at 12h35. Return flight FA 443 will depart from East London at 13h00 and arrive in Durban at 14h25.

The schedule for Durban-Port Elizabeth is as follows:

From November 27 until May 2, 2018, flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight FA 421will depart from Durban at 13h35 and arrive in Port Elizabeth at 14h45. Return flight FA 422 will depart from PLZ at 15h10 and arrive in Durban at 16h30.

From December 2 until April 28, 2018, an additional flight will operate on Saturdays. Flight FA 423 will depart from Durban at 14h55 and arrive in PLZ at 16h15. Return flight FA 424 will depart from PLZ at 16h40 and arrive in Durban at 18h00.

Air Tanzania eyes Burundi route

Air Tanzania has set its sights on direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Bujumbura, Burundi, as part of its route expansion in East Africa.

Ladislaus Matindi, Air Tanzania DG, said the service would enable tourists from Tanzania to access Burundi’s Kibira National Park, Rurubu River and Lake Tanganyika.

“We will expand our network to Burundi, strategically targeting passengers flying to Dar es Salaam from Bujumbura, for travelers to enjoy their trips in the two East African countries,” said Matindi.

He said the airline also planned to expand its services to the region and other parts of the world.

Last year, the carrier received two Bombardier Q400 aircraft that were bought by the Tanzanian government from Canada.

The Tanzania Government Flight Agency also ordered a CS300 aircraft, a Q400 and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to bolster Air Tanzania’s route expansion programme.

Recently, Tanzania’s Transport Minister, Makame Mbarawa, while presenting budget estimates for the financial year 2017/2018, said the government would purchase two new aircraft next year.

He said the CS300 can carry 127 passengers and the Boeing 787, 262 passengers. FlySafair has unveiled the flight schedule for its new routes, DUR-ELS, and DUR-PLZ, which were launched after the airline conducted a survey in May which determined these as the winning routes.

From November 27 until May 2, 2018, flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight FA 440 will depart from Durban at 09h50 and arrive in East London at 11h05. Return flight FA 441 will depart East London at 11h30 and arrive in Durban at 12h45.

From December 2 until April 28, 2018, an additional flight will operate on Saturdays. Flight FA 442 will depart from Durban at 11h20 and arrive in East London at 12h35. Return flight FA 443 will depart from East London at 13h00 and arrive in Durban at 14h25.

From November 27 until May 2, 2018, flights will operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight FA 421will depart from Durban at 13h35 and arrive in Port Elizabeth at 14h45. Return flight FA 422 will depart from PLZ at 15h10 and arrive in Durban at 16h30.

From December 2 until April 28, 2018, an additional flight will operate on Saturdays. Flight FA 423 will depart from Durban at 14h55 and arrive in PLZ at 16h15. Return flight FA 424 will depart from PLZ at 16h40 and arrive in Durban at 18h00.

Air Tanzania has set its sights on direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Bujumbura, Burundi, as part of its route expansion in East Africa.

Air Tanzania DG, said the service would enable tourists from Tanzania to access Burundi’s Kibira National Park, Rurubu River and Lake Tanganyika.

“We will expand our network to Burundi, strategically targeting passengers flying to Dar es Salaam from Bujumbura, for travellers to enjoy their trips in the two East African countries,”

said Matindi

He said the airline also planned to expand its services to the region and other parts of the world.

Last year, the carrier received two Bombardier Q400 aircraft that were bought by the Tanzanian government from Canada.

The Tanzania Government Flight Agency also ordered a CS300 aircraft, a Q400 and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner to bolster Air Tanzania’s route expansion programme.

Recently, Tanzania’s Transport Minister, Makame Mbarawa, while presenting budget estimates for the financial year 2017/2018, said the government would purchase two new aircraft next year.

He said the CS300 can carry 127 passengers and the

Annual tariffs increase at Mpumalanga’s nature reserves

The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) will implement an increase in its tariffs, including the entry and accommodation fees, at various nature reserves around the province, from November 1.

The increase will address some of the infrastructure maintenance challenges. MTPA’s intention is to improve facilities and the viewpoints at all main nature reserves in the province, in order to provide visitors with the best possible experience.

The MTPA says it is committed to ensuring that all their visitors enjoy a comfortable, safe and unforgettable experience at all its facilities, hence the need to review tariffs, to ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of the nature reserves.

The increase in tariffs will be charged in South African rands, and they will be reviewed annually, guided generally by inflationary pressures.

Gate entry has increased by R5 to R15 (€1), with accommodation and camping increasing by R20 to R300(€19), either per night or per camp site. Various rate increases on activities are also applicable.

The MTPA has said that they will continue to inform the public of these changes.

For a detailed list or rates.