Eritrea ITB

Eritrea will participate in the world’s largest tourism exhibition ITB in Berlin taking place March 10-14.

Organizers are expecting 11,000 companies and organizations from over 180 countries keen to promote their tourism products.

Over 30 African countries will promote their national tourism products and destinations. Despite the global economic crisis, Africa is enjoying the world’s highest growth rates for international arrivals.

Air traffic to Africa increased in the first quarter 2009 by 33 percent fuelled by growing business, government tourism investments and improved quality standards.

Euromonitor International has estimated that 42 million international tourist are going to visit Africa in 2010 with the World Cup in South Africa, increasing business and tourism, and a growing African Diaspora community contributing to that.

In 2007 Eritrea started to actively participate in the ITB together with Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Niger and Benin. During last year’s ITB organizers introduced Eritrea with the following statement,

“Although the country faces numerous hardships, it paradoxically remains one of Africa’s most peaceful, secure and welcoming destinations. Eritrea’s nine colourful ethnic groups are diverse and individual, and are a major highlight.”

The stand of Eritrea will be in Hall 20./127 for more information visit  ITB

Eritrea’s  Exhibitor profile reads as follows:

LOCATION: N. E. Africa, by the Red Sea. Latitudes 12° to 18° N; Longitudes 36° to 44° E.

Eritrea MapAREA: 124,330 Sq. km.

POPULATION: 3.5 to 4 million.

RELIGIONS: Christianity & Islam.

LANGUAGES: Tigrinya & Arabic; English & Italian spoken.

HISTORY: Former Italian and British colony, federated with Ethiopia. Later annexed by Ethiopia, but liberated in 1991 after 30-year war.

CLIMATE: Climatic Zones – Highland plateau (2,000m.) including capital, Asmara, 10° to 22°; Western lowlands, cool to warm; Eastern coastal plain, pleasant in winter months & hot in summer. Rainfall – Short rains in March & April. Longer heavier showers with occasional hailstorms from late June to end-August.

GETTING THERE: By air through Cairo, Dubai, Frankfurt, Khartoum, Nairobi and Sana’a. By land through Sudan, Ethiopia and Djibouti by sea through Red Sea ports of Massawa and Assab.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport with appropriate visa obtainable from any Eritrean Diplomatic Mission abroad. No visa required for i.) Employees of air/shipping lines represented in Eritrea travelling on duty; ii.) Boat tourists arriving in Massawa and Assab for 48 hours, but shore pass required. Visa on arrival available to Group Visitors, upon prior notification through travel agents or tour operators in Eritrea.

CUSTOMS: Personal effects admitted free. Duty free allowance of 1 litre alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes and ½ litre perfume. Fire arms prohibited.

Egyptair

Egyptair has increased the number of weekly flights to Asmara, Eritrea from three to four flights for the summer schedule 2010. The fourth frequency will be introduced by the end of May 2010 departing from Cairo International Airport Terminal 3 to Asmara International.

The airline will operate Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays with Airbus A320 aircrafts and is promoting the route on its website.

Roundtrip special offers to Asmara are available from 2329 Egyptian Pound or 300 Euros according to the airline’s current promotional campaign for Asmara on;

http://www.egyptair.com/English/Pages/SpecialOffersDetails.aspx?OfferId=262.

Egyptair is joining other African airlines in the battle for the growing African aviation market. Speaking to reporters at a media event in Cairo last October, new EgyptAir group chairman and chief executive Hussein Massoud said the airline was restructuring its network.

“We have already finished the first phase and now we are working on the second phase to enlarge our network, with the co-operation of Star Alliance.

We are concentrating our co-operation with Star Alliance to be a hub for Africa. We have several points in east Africa and have more (to follow) and are selecting some destinations in west Africa.

Bly Harish Kohli

If you’re looking for an adventure that is physically active yet relaxing, mentally stimulating and spiritually uplifting, diving amid the wonders of a coral reef may be the ultimate answer. But where should you go, especially if you have a taste for something and somewhere a bit out of the way?

Here are four corners of paradise for the discerning reef diver, which are teeming with wondrous wildlife but not yet with truckloads of tourists.

ERITREA

Eritrea has perfect coral reefs untouched by humans and teeming with aquatic life in all the colours of the rainbow. At the bottom of the sea youll find sunken wrecks, ships, tanks, rocket launchers and even a complete dry dock. In the Dahlak coral reefs you can find 250 species of fish, as well as sharks, dolphins, barracuda, tuna, caranx narrow-bodied fish with widely forked tails and dugong, the near extinct sea cow. Dugong are large enough not to have many predators; on the other hand, they have a long life span and are slow breeders, which make them vulnerable to threats. See them while you can. You need a visa to visit Eritrea. There are good hotels to stay in but sleeping on the beach is free and fun.

BELIZE

The Barrier Reef off Ambergris Caye (island) lies about a kilometre off the windward side of the island. At about 300 km, it is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland.

Inside the reef the water is shallow and blue-tinged; outside the reef, the water is deep and seen from the air looks a dark royal blue. Near Ambergris Caye the reef almost touches land and here it is a magnificent, almost so!id wall of coral formations, broken only by narrow channels called “quebradas”. The coral is astonishing in its endless variety of shapes and colours: rainbow-tinged tropical fish, delicate sea fans, sponges and gorgeous coral gardens.

Beyond the reef, the seabed drops sharply in a series of layers to enormous depths, where gamefish such as mackerel, tuna, sailfish and marlin.

To the east of the Barrier Reef there are three separate atoll reefs, which run northeast-southwest and are separated by deep marine trenches. Just to the north, in Mexican waters, is a fourth atoll reef, Banco Chinchorro, where there are abundant wrecks to explore. UK-based operator AwimAway.com (020 7430 1766, http://www.awimaway.com) an adventure specialist undertakes some interesting tours to the region.

SOUTH AFRICA

Tropical sunshine and the warm Aughlas current have allowed the formation of a unique coral reef at Sodwana, about 400 km north of Durban near the Mozambique border. The reef is home to over 1200 species of reef fish and also hosts visits from mantas, whale sharks, Zambezi sharks, humpback whales and dolphins.

Sodwana Bay the name means little one on its own in Zulu – is one of the most popular of the dive sites, being easily accessible by road from Durban and enjoying temperatures averaging a pleasant 2428C. There are many shallow coastal pools suitable for snorkelling, with interesting reef formations and fish life. Check out with http://www.awimaway.com for your customised tour to the region.

AUSTRALIA

Yes, of course theres the Great Barrier Reef, but for something a bit different, think about Ningaloo Reef, which is off the town of Exmouth, pretty much as far west as you can go in Australia (flights from Perth daily). Ningaloo Reef is a fringing, rather than a barrier reef, because it is quite close to the shore and only shallow water separates land and reef.

This intricate reef system stretches over 260 km and, at some points, is only metres from the beach. It is home to myriad marine animals, including the largest fish in the world, the rare whale shark, some specimens of which grow to 18 metres in length. Whale shark visit the Ningaloo Reef between March and June looking for plankton to eat. Humpback whales, manta rays and green, loggerhead and hawksbill turtles can also be seen in their season.

The little damselfish, which hide in the coral, the colourful and conspicuous wrasses, the exquisitely patterned and graceful butterflyfish and the similarly gorgeous angelfish, abundant cardinalfish and parrotfish all contribute to making this an environment of rare splendour, impressive as a diving destination all year round.

Concluding our globetrotting review of the decade, Lonely Planet’s European Travel Editor Tom Hall takes us through his highlights of the past ten years.

Best place visited in the past ten years?

Echoing Frances, it’s another vote for Ethiopia. Nowhere else comes close for the sense of adventure, amazing history which still feels hidden and unsurpassed scenery. Lalibela’s rock churches are the highlight of a country stuffed with surprises.

Asmara’s Tagliero Building

Eritrea is a close second, even if it is a mess at the moment. Asmara is an astonishing city, stuffed full of wonderful modernist buildings and superb cafes If only the two country’s governments would open the border: Addis Ababa to Asmara would be a road trip to beat anything in Africa.

Biggest let-down?

I splashed out on a first-class sleeper from Brussels to Hamburg (a bargain at €49, in fact) expecting to have some kind of fancy night train compartment to myself. Instead, I got a five hour delay followed by a grubby berth shared with a very smelly naked man. He at first refused to unlock the door to let me in and then talked loudly on his phone in the middle of the night. Then, after only two hours sleep I was told to get off in Dortmund and transfer to a series of increasingly crowded and slow trains. I arrived in Oslo, my final destination, a whole 24 hours late and exhausted.

Biggest surprise?

St Enoch’s Station building, Glasgow

I went to Glasgow for an evening football match and wished I was staying  a week. The city centre is stuffed full of great buildings, interesting shops and cafes. A special shout to the 1%ABV ginger beer brewed at the Mono bar. There’s a circular railway which is fast and fun, a brilliant football museum and the rejuvenated Clyde riverside. Edinburgh seemed a bit tame after that.

Best or funniest single moment on the road?

The long road to Namibia

Entering a Lonely Planet relay team on the Tour d’Afrique bike ride was astupendously silly idea, but one that came to glorious fruition. The ribbing I took for getting lost* on the longest straight road in Botswana gave my fellow riders plenty to laugh at, especially when I spent the night in sweaty lycra as all my gear was a hundred miles behind me.

There’s a video about this stage of the Tour d’Afrique.

Name one way travel has changed in the past decade

Budget flights transformed getting around Europe. Despite gripes about service and being dumped at obscure airports a long way from town centres have largely been a boon to travellers. Ten years ago I paid £99 to travel from London to Stockholm and thought it was a bargain. Today the same flight is less than a third of that price.

Thing you most wanted to do, but missed?

My brother and I were going to spend a week in Iceland, trekking round glaciers and sleeping in our hire car. Work commitments meant the trip was cancelled at the last minute and we haven’t been back. In the meantime Iceland has got more and more popular and I’ve got a little bit older, meaning the idea of sleeping in a car with my brother has lost some of its charm. There’s always the next decade.

First thing you’re going to do in 2010?

After thirteen countries in 2009 I’m going to spend much of 2010 revisiting old favourites at home, which means Devon, the Lake District and Northumberland.

*I should point out that I was, in fact, not lost. I knew where I was at all times. I just managed to overshoot our bush camp by 80 miles and end up in the next town. Source: (Lonelyplanet)

Continental

United States based Continental Airlines has entered into codeshare agreements with Lufthansa Airlines offering a wider range of destinations worldwide.

Houston based Continental Airlines will offer flights to Asmara on codeshare agreement with Lufthansa via Frankfurt. All Continental flights to and from Frankfurt will operate through its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport connecting to over 25 domestic airports in the United States.

Since last week, Continental flight numbers appear on 50 routes operated by Lufthansa, including the routing Frankfurt- Jeddah- Asmara. On the Continental home page lowest fares available start from approximately US$ 4500 for return flights departing in the next two months to Asmara. Continental operates flights to Frankfurt with a fleet of Boeing 767-400.

During a 16-month transition the airline changed its membership from the Skyteam Alliance to the Star Alliance group. Analysts, believe that this is the first step in a planned joint venture between Air Canada, Lufthansa, United and Continental.

“Since making the strategic decision 16 months ago to join Star Alliance, Continental has been intensely focused on making preparations for this change,” said Continental Chairman and CEO Larry Kellner in October. “For our customers, the change will be seamless and will deliver significantly improved travel opportunities.”

Middle Eastern carriers Yemenia and EgyptAir have avoided being included on the European Commission’s blacklist of banned airlines, having faced scrutiny over the past few months.

Yemenia’s case has been discussed by the air safety committee responsible for drawing up the blacklist, notably following the fatal loss of an Airbus A310 in June, but it has concluded that the airline should remain unfettered.

EgyptAir had also been warned of possible restrictions over concerns about the number of safety issues turning up during inspections. The carrier does not appear on the latest blacklist update, issued today.

But the revised list extends a European blanket ban to another three states – the Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, and Djibouti – after the identification of deficiencies in safety oversight by the national regulators. The extension means that practically all airlines from a total of 15 countries are forbidden from conducting European Union operations.

Ukrainian carriers have been lifted from the blacklist, although two of these – Ukraine Cargo Airways and Volare – were removed by default, having had their air operator’s certificates withdrawn.

Ukraine’s Motor-Sich Airlines has been removed from the list after the “receipt of certain information” from Ukrainian authorities, says the Commission.

It adds that Ukrainian Mediterranean Airlines (UM Air) has had restrictions partially lifted, but is still only allowed to operate a single Boeing MD-83 within Europe.

“We cannot afford any compromises in air safety,” says European transport commissioner Antonio Tajani.

“Our aim is not just to create a list of airlines that are dangerous. We are ready to help those countries to build up their technical and administrative capacity to guarantee the safety of civil aviation in their countries.”

Progress on addressing concerns at Angolan flag-carrier TAAG has also resulted in the carrier’s being permitted to operate four Boeing 737-700 aircraft on European services in addition to its Boeing 777s. Source: (RATI)

Massawa

Meals are available in all hotels. There are also hotels and guest houses in smaller towns whose prices are generally slightly lower than for those in the main centers.

When making reservations, check for service charges and sales taxes. Hotel bills must be paid in hard currency known as Nakfa. Credit cards are accepted in major hotels, airlines and majortravel agencies.

Foreign currencies can be exchanged at the Commercial Bank of Eritrea in Asmara which provides the best exchange rate, private exchange offices and major hotels. Source: (PR-inside)

Major Banks and hotels in Asmara and Massawa accept traveller’s cheques, US Dollar traveller’s cheques being the most recommended. Don’t hesitate to go out and taste the food and drink in the restaurants. Italian cuisine dominates in larger cities while Massawa is renowned for its excellent seafood, especially prawns and lobster.

National specialities include kitcha (thin bread from wheat), injera (a spongy pancake), tsebhi and alicha birsen while national drinks include bun (coffee), shahi (plain tea), swa (beer from local grain) and fruit juices. Get yourself gold and silver jewelery, woodcarvings, leather items, spears, drums, carpets and wicker goods. A certain amount of bargaining is expected in market places but prices in shops are usually fixed.

Finding cheap flights to Eritrea is not that easy, you need to do researching as well as planning ahead of time. Airfares are usually the most expensive part of a vacation trip, next to it would be hotel accommodations, this is why most of those who plan to visit the Eritrea would surely want to go after those cheap flights to Eritrea. Nevertheless, once you arrive in the country, most of the things you will find there have adequately cheap prices, like food, transportation, souvenir items, clothing stuffs, and other accessories you may want to buy, way much cheaper compared to buying the same things from other countries.

There are many specially trained professional Travel Agents will always help you to book a convenient flight to the Eritrea and Travelhouseuk.co.uk is one of them so just call them to book flights which will best suit your budget and travel needs.

Departures

Planning to visit Eritrea this winter? You will have several options to get there by air during the coming winter schedule 2009/10, which will start by the end of this month.

According to the latest update Eritrean Airlines, Nasair, Lufthansa, Egyptair, Yemenia and Sudan Airways will operate flights to Eritrea from various destinations.

The number of weekly departures to Eritrea shows a net decrease of two for the coming month of November compared to the same month last year. This is mainly due to the reduction of number of flights operated by Eritrean Airlines and Nasair.

Although Eritrean Airlines ceased operating flights from Asmara to major European cities, the national carrier continues to serve flights twice a week between Asmara and Jeddah. Eritrea’s second carrier Nasair will operate scheduled flights from Asmara to Assab, Cairo, Dubai, Rome, Jeddah, Khartoum and Massawa.

United Airways offers flights to Asmara under a code share agreement with Lufthansa from the United States via Frankfurt. The most consistent schedule is offered by Lufthansa, which will continue to fly three times a week from Frankfurt to Asmara via Jeddah.

In terms of price Egyptair is one of the cheapest options to fly to Eritrea, if tickets are booked well in advance. In comparison to the same period previous year, the Egyptian carrier has increased weekly frequency from two to three on its route from Cairo to Amara .

Egyptair is connecting major European cities such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, Vienna and London via Cairo to Asmara.

Yemenia is going to operate two days a week to Asmara from Sana. Sudan Airways has posted flights operating on Saturday and Wednesday from Khartoum to Asmara on its official home page.

Traffic to Eritrea’s main Airport Asmara remains strong with passenger numbers reaching 117000 in 2008, which is an increase compared to 2007 (RATI).

Latest figures show that air traffic on the continent is growing faster than in many other regions.

“We are keeping a presence in all traffic regions and cancelling flight connections only when alternatives are available to our passengers. At the same time, we are opening up new markets in Africa, for example, so as to harness new growth opportunities” explains Lufthansa board member Karl Ulrich Garnadt in a interview last week.

At the same time Lufthansa is going to expand on its long-haul routes to Africa by cooperating with Brussels Airlines starting this winter season on a code share basis. African economic growth prospects, as well as the up coming 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, have caused a revival of many routes to Africa, which ceased many years ago due to low demand.

For many years Brussels Airlines has been developing a strong route network to African destinations long before other European carriers have realized the growth potential of African aviation. Lufthansa owns a 45% stake in Brussels Airlines and hopes to get a greater foothold in the African market through the current partnership and a possible future takeover of the Belgian carrier by 2011.

Asmara Tea

Marco Barbon travelled between 2006 and 2008 to Eritrea to make the pictures of his newly published book “Asmara Dream”. The book captures the timeless beauty of Asmara in Eritrea. The Author was born in Rome in 1972 and has a PHD in Asthetics of Photography from the Ecole Etudes en Science Sociales in Paris, France. He worked as a Photo Editor, Author and Film Director of a short film presented at the Italian Film Festival, Nice and at Cinema Le Latina, Paris.

Who is Marco Barbon?

I am an Italian photographer living and working in Paris. I was born in Rome but later moved to Paris the place of art, culture and inspiration.

What drives Marco Barbon?

The passion for travel, art and photography is what drives me. The places I visit and the things I see are my artwork. I try to capture them in a moment of time and space, revealing their beauty.

What is the subject of your work in Eritrea?

The subject of my book is the city of Asmara, more precisely that particular sensation of suspended time and subtle melancholy that struck me the first time I was there. The Italian flair and beauty of the city is something you can not forget after having visited Eritrea.

How did you find out about Eritrea?

Some friends who have visited the country some years ago told me about the beauty of Asmara and I was curious to visit it. So, I packed my things and got on the plane to see myself what they were talking about.

What do you think about Eritrea?

I think Eritrea is a very beautiful country. The tourism is potentially a great richness for the country, the people of Eritrea should continue to develop it because it has a great potential to help the country in the future.

What do you think of Eritreans?

Eritrean people are wonderful, I love them.

Which are your favourite photographs in “Asmara Dream”?

For me is basically impossible to say what are the « best photos » in the Book; it’s up to the reader to judge.

How many books of “Asmara Dream” have been printed?

We printed in total 1200 books. Out of this 600 books are in the Italian/English language and the remaining 600 are in the French / English language.

Will you visit Eritrea again? And what are your future projects?

I would like to visit Eritrea again – I hope in a near future. Now I have many friends there, I miss them very much. I am planning to continue my photographic work in other countries. I have few other book projects.

Do you have a message for our Eritrean readers?

I have no real message for them but a question for them: How do you see and dream the future of your motherland?

Asmara Dream” can be purchased at:

Lion-Fish

The Northern Red Sea is surrounded by the world’s largest expanses of sand. It region of Eritrea is one of the country’s six regions, lies along the northern three quarters of the Red Sea, and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and the coastal city of Massawa.

The region borders the Anseba, Central and Southern regions to the west, and the Southern Red Sea region to the east. It has an area of around 27,800 km². The lowest point in Eritrea, Lake Kulul, is in this region.

The Red Sea is considered to be 1 of the 7 Wonders of the underwater world. This forms the basis of a marine eco-system which includes 1,100 species of fish, of which about 10% are endemic, the largest number of fish species in proportion to any other body of water in the world.

The Northern Red Sea has some of the richest coral in the world. In 1980, Dr. Clark wanted to make the Red Sea and its island a National Park. Ras Muhammad has sometimes called it an underwater “Garden of Eden.” The sun makes the Northern Red Sea turn different colors such as red, yellow, orange, and light green.

An amazing fish that lives on the in the water is the bright-red lionfish, it has a venomous dorsal spines, these fish usually swim near the bottom of the sea. They wait and trap fish in nooks and crannies.

Another creature that lives in the water is a beast they call “George” he is a Sea Monster, his head is in the shape of a beanbag chair. A humped head wrasse, he has cow lips, chameleon eyes and a body pattern in the form of an intricate green maze on a blue back round.

In the red Sea there are over 1000 different kinds of tropical fish and 400 different types of coral. 30 million years ago the Red Sea was closed at its southern end and open on its northern end, it opened up into the Mediterranean Sea allowing Atlantic species to enter and breed there.

About 10 million years later the earth shifted and closed the northern end and opened up the southern end. The Red Sea has fish and animals from both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

The Red Sea is a fine choice for diving any time of year but the water temperatures do vary significantly. From June to August the water can reach 28°C but it falls to a chilly 20°C in February. Do plan to bring an appropriate exposure suit to suit the time of year.

Therefore, you could find yourself on a coral garden atop a summit and the next a sheer wall could plunge thousands of feet into dark ocean depths. The Red Sea’s abundance of marine life and depths of the reef are a thrill that many divers will tell you is unbeatable. Source: (PhotographyToday)