In a move to bolster aviation links between South Africa and the world, South African Airways (SAA) and Emirates have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand their codesharing agreement and explore deeper collaboration in loyalty programmes and cargo operations. According to a statement released, the MoU was signed by Professor John Lamola, Group Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, and Adnan Kazim, Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, at the 2025 Dubai Airshow. “The partnership…

Egypt has been ranked 24th among the world’s leading tourist destinations for 2025, based on feedback from more than 295,000 participants worldwide. The country also placed second in the Arab world after the UAE and second in Africa after South Africa. This is reported by Sada El-Balad, a partner of TV BRICS. The report highlighted that Egypt, with a score of 54.63 points in the ranking, continues to gain global recognition as a destination that combines wide-ranging attractions: from its…

The Otter Trail in Tsitsikamma National Park is famous for its beauty — and for the heavy bags hikers must carry. Now, a local man from Nompumelelo Village has found a way to make it easier. Burton Mlandu, 46, started a company called Burton Otter Slackpacking and Transfers. His team carries bags for hikers along the five-day, 42-kilometer trail, which runs from Storms River Rest Camp to Nature’s Valley. “I used to work for SANParks, but I’m more of an…

India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens starting 24 July 2025, marking the first such move in five years. This is reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS. The announcement was made by the Embassy of India in Beijing and welcomed by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a step conducive to easing cross-border travel and strengthening people-to-people exchanges. Chinese nationals can now apply for tourist visas to India through designated application centres in Beijing, Shanghai, and…

In December 2024, I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s bustling cultural and economic hub, to attend the Abidjan International Film Festival (SICA) at the invitation of the Ministry of Communication of that country. While the primary purpose of my trip was to engage in the festival’s activities, my time in Abidjan was filled with a diverse range of experiences that highlighted the city’s unique blend of nature, architecture, and vibrant nightlife. Immersing in Nature: A Walk-Through…

The United States of America (USA) is tightening its visa requirements, and has announced that, effective immediately, all South Africans applying for visas will have to make their social media accounts public so that officials can properly scrutinise them. This would allow the US officials tasked with granting visas to determine, based on social media comments, posts, and the applicant’s history, whether the applicant is suitable for entry into the USA or not. This comes after the US said all…

Join Xinhua correspondent Yao Kaien as she challenges herself to dive into the exotic flavors and culture. You will be surprised by how deep the ties run between China and Central Asia. African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency

Durban – As Africa’s Travel Indaba wrapped up today, the Limpopo Tourism Agency (LTA) made waves with a landmark agreement aimed at transforming how the world experiences one of South Africa’s greatest treasures: the Kruger National Park. On Wednesday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Limpopo and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), signaling the start of a partnership that seeks to market the two provinces as a single tourism destination. Speaking exclusively to African Times at…

Dubai’s tourism sector is booming, with the city welcoming 18.72 million international overnight visitors in 2024, an increase of 9 per cent over the previous year. The data was released by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), reports China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS. A key contributor to this growth was the growing number of Chinese tourists. Dubai welcomed 824,000 visitors from China in 2024, up 31 per cent from last year. Dubai has been implementing various initiatives,…

In 2024, I had the honour of being part of a special invitation program for exchange and cooperation between South Korea and Africa. I visited Seoul, South Korea, just ahead of the highly anticipated Korea-Africa Summit which took place in June 2024. During this immersive trip, I explored Seoul’s cutting-edge innovations, rich cultural heritage, and strong diplomatic ties with Africa, while also reflecting on the connections between South Korea and  Zambia. The DMZ: A Powerful Glimpse into the Divided Peninsula…