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Africans
Active at UN World Urban Forum in Vancouver
by Jerry W.
Bird, Editor
 What
a memorable week. After 30 years UN Habitat returns
to its launching pad - the seaport city of
Vancouver,
British Columbia Canada. The crowd is estimated at
10,000 plus and it certainly seems so, judging by
the heavy attendance at many sessions. At the time
of writing, we have had the pleasure of taking two
groups of mayors representing different African
countries on tours of Vancouver and the University
of British Columbia. It's one way for us to repay
the wonderful hospitality we have enjoyed in eleven
years with the Africa Travel Association as its
media voice in North America and
Worldwide.
The twin goals
of Habitat are "Adequate shelter for all" and
"sustainable human settlements development in an
urbanizing world. "The "Global Village" is well
represented, this week - with Africa making a
particularly strong showing. As publishers of
Africa Travel Magazine and related travel business
media features, we were extremely pleased and
honored to be able to to network with so many of
our African colleagues.More->
 Hold
your next conference in one of Africa's historic
cities
Did
you know that since 1976, over 30 African cities
have hosted events by the Africa Travel
Association? This astonishing support represents 22
different countries - no other travel industry
organization even comes close. What's more, a key
reason for ATA's wide acceptance and a flurry of
new chapters is the fact that Africans share in the
leadership. For example, our ATA Presidents are
African Tourism Ministers - responsibility, action
and example comes right from the top. Africa Travel
Magazine's feature "Africa's Great Meeting Places
and Convention Sites" is in production. Book
advertising space now . E-mail africa@dowco.com,
or fax (604) 681 6595.
Douala
and Yaounde: A Tale of Two Cities
Production
is underway on our Great Cities of Africa series
which will appear on our website, coming editions
of Africa Travel Magazine, plus and a new Radio and
TV Program. Among the first to be featured are two
of my favorite cities, both of which we have
visited several times in the last five years. Watch
for more announcements as the launch draws closer.
Just to prove that we have made our mark in
promoting Cameroon, Africa in One Country, check
the current Google statistics from searches
consulted in August 2006. And we're sure the
results will get even better. More->
Mombasa:
Magical Sands, Sparkling
Sea.
"Mombasa
is undergoing a major face lift, from its busy Moi
International Airport and harbor area to the
downtown core, which has its very own visitor
attractions, the most famous being historic Fort
Jesus. Here's a site that's a true time capsule
with a remarkable story to tell." -> ->
->More
Nairobi
Marches with the
Times
One
of our main impressions was the remarkable changes
we saw in Nairobi in 12 months. First of all, the
city streets, parks and boulevards had a more
spruced up look, thanks to the new landscaping and
creative street lighting program that is now fully
underway, and an anti litter program in progress.
Flower gardens were in bloom in the traffic
circles, new lamp standards were sponsored by
community conscious companies and life seemed
brighter in many ways.
More->
 Addis
Ababa: Africa's Meeting
Place
Why did ATA
choose Addis Ababa as the venue for its 25th
Anniversary Jubilee Congress and 8th Cultural and
Ecotourism Symposium? To begin with it's today's
political capital of Africa, home of the
Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the United
Nations Economic Commission for Africa, (UNECA).
More than 95 embassies from all over the world have
their missions in Addis Ababa. This makes the
capital of Ethiopia a city where one finds the
highest concentration of embassies in the world
after Washington DC, New York and London. Addis
Ababa is easily accessible, having daily flights to
and from cities in Europe. Ethiopian Airlines,
Lufthansa, Alitalia, Kenya Airways, Egypt Air,
Saudia and others serve Addis Ababa. Perhaps what
makes Addis unique is that the national carrier,
Ethiopian Airlines, serves many cities in
Africa&emdash; making it the most accessible city
on the continent. More->
Looking
for a for a meeting or convention site in
Africa?
 About
Kampala, Uganda
Kampala,
the Capital City of Uganda, much like Rome was
originally built, is spread over seven hills and
takes its fabled name from Kasozi K'impala,
interpreted as "the hills of the antelopes". The
origin of Kampala goes back to 1891 when the Kabaka
of Buganda held his court on Rubaga and Mengo
Hills. Today as you stand on the hills within
Kampala you are blessed with magnificent evergreen
views intermingled with red tiled villas, green
iron roofed bungalows and tall modern buildings
surrounded by a lush green countryside and the
nearby Lake Victoria. While Kampala is often
referred to as the greenest city in Africa, it is
also the heart of Uganda, serving as the center of
commercial life and the seat of government. It is a
vibrant modern metropolis adorned with many
beautiful gardens and parks which provides a
colorful oasis in the midst of the urban landscape
for both the citizens and visitors to admire. Hotel
facilities range from the best in international
standards with state-of-the-art conference
facilities, to accommodations for the more
budget-minded traveler.
More->
Discovering
Marrakech
A
destination where one may enjoy the customs,
culture and pleasures of laid back tourism,
Marrakech is loaded with outstanding attractions,
events and accommodation. Its conference facilities
are a magnet for international events, trade
missions and summits, such as our ATA Ecotourism
Symposium at Le Palais d'Congrès. Where else
are all the walls and buildings tinted in a rich
pastel peach, the broad avenues and promenades
lined with rows and rows of orange trees, with ripe
fruit dangling from their branches like holiday
ornaments? In five days of discovery, we managed to
visit a wide cross section of hotel facilities, in
order to give our readers an idea of the choice
available for all price ranges. During a week long
escorted tour, we had the good fortune of selecting
a guide, who has become a good friend and
ambassador for Morocco in general and Marrakech in
particular. More->
 Cairo,
Egypt: Journey through
Time
Egypt's
historic capital city on the River Nile is a
fascinating place where past and present meet. with
evidence of 2000 years of Islamic, Christian
Coptic, and Jewish culture flourishing side by
side. Its Western part includes Memphis (Giza),
former and site of the Pyramids, famous as one of
the "Seven Great Wonders of the World." It is the
largest city in the Middle East and the center of
trade routes to three continents- Africa, Asia and
Europe. More->
Cape
Town, South Africa
I first
visited Cape Town as a Travel Agent, spending a
month's vacation on a 'fam' trip, 'and most
recently at the 2001 ATA Congress. It's a picture
perfect location to say the least. Framed by the
panorama of Table Mountain (floodlit at night) and
the Atlantic Ocean
n, Cape Town is
southern Africa's most visited destination. Founded
in 1652 by Jan van Riebeeck, it is called the
"Mother City of South Africa." Here on the historic
Western Cape, where two great oceans and many
cultures meet, you will discover a blend of scenic
beauty, combined with healthy outdoors activities
and cultural charm. The Cape Peninsula offers
scenic drives, each with an ocean backdrop, while
the historic city is blessed with dozens of hiking
trails and miles of sandy beaches. Table Bay
attracts sail boarders and wind surfers from around
the world. Visitors will enjoy the many public
gardens and forest groves, the vineyards, wine
estates and famous dock area. There are hundreds of
hiking trails botanical gardens and wine estates,
indigenous Cape Dutch architecture, Georgian and
Victorian building styles. More->
Our site
continues to shine on Google.
See more results
METROPOLIS,
May 20068th World Congress and
Africa
Travel Magazine supports the "Metropolis Project"
where government decision- makers, researchers, and
non-governmental agents discuss policies and
programs for integrating immigrants and minorities.
Thus they will effectively manage the impact of
immigration and diversity on city life. Metropolis
fosters exchanges that go beyond the stating of
positions, beyond descriptions, and beyond
advocacy. The Project provides unique opportunities
for stakeholders who share a vision of improving
society through collaboration and partnership to
engage each other, to acknowledge problems openly,
and to work, unfettered, to solve them.
2005 Motto:
"Tradition and Transformation - The Future of the
City," The World Congress is also the General
Assembly of the world wide METROPOLIS network of
capitals and large cities with over a million
inhabitants. e-mail:
cornelia.poczka@senstadt.verwalt-berlin.de
1-888-278-6186
ext 255 or ext 256 . (613)
233-5179 ext 255 or ext 256
 I
index
to Fast Track section
Sister
Cities International
1301
Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20004
Tel: 202-347-8630, Fax: 202-393-6524
info@sister-cities.org
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