The Giriyondo Border Post in the northern region of the Kruger National Park is set to reopen on Tuesday, 31 March 2026, following a temporary closure caused by flood damage earlier this year. The reopening has been confirmed by the Border Management Authority (BMA), restoring a key access point for travellers and tourists using the transfrontier route between South Africa and Mozambique. The border post was forced to shut down in January 2026 after heavy rains led to flooding that…

Airline giant Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai, warning passengers not to travel to the airport as authorities assess a rapidly evolving security situation in the region. In a statement posted on the airline’s official X account under the heading “Operational Update”, the carrier confirmed that all flights have been halted until further notice. “All flights to and from Dubai have been temporarily suspended. Please do not go to the airport,” the airline said. “The safety…

Egypt plans to increase annual tourist arrivals to 30 million following a record 19 million visitors last year, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said at a government meeting focused on easing entry procedures and improving the quality of services for tourists. This is reported by Daily News Egypt, a partner of TV BRICS. According to Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt now has a solid foundation to reach its long-term tourism targets. “We currently have an increase in numbers; last year we reached an…

Indonesia and the Republic of South Africa agreed on the mutual abolition of visas. The new entry procedure was announced by Vice President of Indonesia Gibran Rakabuming Raka at a business forum in Johannesburg, ANTARA reported. The agreement was the outcome of the October talks between the President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa in Jakarta. As the vice president noted, this step reflects the growing partnership between the states. “President Ramaphosa’s visit to Indonesia…

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…