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Ghana Projects Over $3 Billion in Tourism Revenue for 2024 with the ‘Beyond the Return’ Initiative.
United Nigeria Airlines to Launch Regional Flights to Accra in October
EU urged to issue travel warnings as Mpox risk in Africa grows
United Nigeria Airlines, currently focused on domestic flights within Nigeria, will begin regional flights to Accra’s Kotoka International Airport in October 2024.
This marks the airline’s first venture outside Nigeria. The airline will operate regional jets from Embraer and Bombardier, which can accommodate up to 50 passengers.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority approved United Nigeria Airlines on July 13, 2023, allowing it to operate both passenger and cargo flights. United Nigeria Airlines will be the third Nigerian-registered airline serving Accra, joining Africa World Airlines, which is currently the only Ghanaian airline flying to Nigerian destinations.
The Ghana Air Force recently celebrated Flight Lieutenants Benjamin Adotey Hermann and Isaac Antieme for completing their first solo flights on the K8-P Fighter Wing aircraft.
This milestone, achieved on August 9, 2024, is a significant career accomplishment for both pilots.
Flt Lt Isaac Antieme, with around 150 flight hours, initially trained in China, flying the PT6 and later the Diamond DA 42NG before joining the No. 4 Strike and Recce Wing. Flt Lt Benjamin Adotey Hermann, also trained in China, furthered his skills in the USAF-sponsored Aviation Leadership Program, flying various aircraft, including the Diamond DA 20 and Texan T6.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) expects to generate over $3 billion in revenue from the ‘Beyond the Return’ programmes in 2024. In 2019, during the Year of Return, Ghana earned approximately 1.9 billion cedis from over 900,000 visitors.
Ghana Revenue Authority CEO Akwesi Agyemang revealed that Ghana is preparing to host at least 1.3 million tourists in the latter half of 2024, with nearly 600,000 visitors recorded in the first half. Historically, the second half of the year, especially the last quarter, sees higher visitor numbers.
Efforts are being made to boost tourism from the UK, which ranks third in terms of visitor numbers, behind Nigeria. Overall, Ghana anticipates a total revenue of about $3.8 billion from tourism.
In more news
European health authorities have advised EU countries to issue travel warnings for regions affected by mpox after the outbreak was declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned on Friday that Europe is likely to see more imported cases due to the virus’s spread in several African nations. However, the ECDC noted that the risk of ongoing transmission within Europe remains low, provided that imported cases are quickly identified and controlled.
This update follows the detection of a new mpox variant in Sweden, marking the first case of this strain outside Africa. Bruno Ciancio, head of surveillance at the ECDC, expressed concern over the worsening situation in Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries, where the number of cases is likely underestimated.
Source ; African Property Magazine -Joycelyn Marigold
