Land
of Diamonds
By
Jerry W. Bird.
"I
am Angola, a land that holds great promise in
the many avenues of travel, tourism and
hospitality - growth industries destined to
employ and involve an increasing number of my
citizens as time marches on. I greet you and
invite you to explore all corners of the land,
where you will meet a cross section of my
people, whose warmth and friendship will remain
in your hearts and minds for a lifetime.
"
Angola
is a success story in the making -- a
fascinating, uplifting saga of recovery,
renewal, revival, restoration, and a massive
face-lift for Luanda and points beyond. Shout it
from the rooftops ... "Peace has come to Angola
-- at last it can be told." This resource rich
republic on Africa's South Atlantic Coast has
finally escaped the shackles and shadows of its
topsy turvy past, and is becoming a shining
example for emerging countries around the world.
Thanks to its presence in Angola, the Africa
Travel Association (ATA) is the first
international tourism organization to spread the
good news far and wide, in North America and to
its growing global audience. I saw the signs a
few years ago, when Angola exhibited at an ATA
Congress Trade Show. That positive move signaled
the country's desire to get back on track for
tourism -- and due to continued efforts by H.E.
Eduardo Jonatáo. S. Chingunji, Minister
for Hotels and Tourism, ATA has become the
platform for Angola's happy return. Not only was
ATA's Ninth International Cultural and
Ecotourism Symposium awarded the prestige of a
state event, a significant, lasting benefit was
the inauguration of an
active
Angola
Chapter
of the Africa Travel Association, with the
Minister as Honorary President and First Lady
Dr. Ana Paula dos Santos as its Patron.
Hear
Interviews on TravelTalk
Radio direct
from Luanda with Hon. Eduardo Chingunji, Lance
Bailey, Gaynelle Henderson Bailey, Jerry W.
Bird, Chief Margaret Fabiyi, Robert Eilets,
George D'Angelo and Terry Leonard of Associated
Press. A similar broadcast with ATA Executive
Director Mira Berman and others will be online
soon.
Exploring
the Host City:
In
late October, 2005 the stage was set, as
delegates, speakers and dignitaries from Africa,
the USA and Canada began arriving in Luanda.
Some came in advance and seized the opportunity
to discover the host city's scenic and cultural
attractions, starting with a leisurely stroll
along the 'marginal,' a wide pedestrian seawalk
that extends from Le
Presidente
Meridien
hotel, the Port Authority and Tourism Ministry
offices for ten or more city blocks. The
Portuguese colonial architecture is magnificent,
with edifices such as the rose colored Banco de
Angola; building cranes on the skyline attest to
the rapid development taking place. The Tourism
Ministry provided a bus trip around the
peninsula, where a miniature Coney Island
anchors the far end of the narrow strip, and
facing the ocean on both sides of the road is a
string of delightful beach front restaurants for
every taste, many with lively, upbeat
entertainment, discos and casinos. Rui, our tour
director, treated us to refreshments at his
personal Hernando's hideaway, a laid back bistro
called Coconuts, where you could drink, dine or
dip and dive in the rolling surf. Other stops
included a shopping spree at the Artesanat
Market and a 'cooler' at Jango Veleiro. An
evening cocktail party at Le Presidente Meridien
gave visitors a chance to rub elbows with their
host country colleagues.
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The
Ramparts We Watched:
The
most breathtaking views of Luanda port and the
bay area, are seen from the historic
white-walled Sao
Miguel Fort,
perched like a proud sentinel high above the
city. From here, Luanda Bay, with its many
shades of blue, is lined to the horizon with
craft of all types, sailboats, sleek motor
launches, barges and freighters. Inside the
fort, elaborate ceramic tiles tell the story of
Angola from early years, and in the courtyard
are large, imposing statues of Portugal's first
king, renowned explorer Vasco de Gama and other
notables. Rusty relics of the recent civil war,
mark the Armed Forces Museum on this site as a
living testament to the folly of war and the
hopeful emergence of Peace Through Tourism.
Today's only battles are in the Olympics and on
the basketball court, where Angola's stars
shine, and on the football field, where the
Angola team has qualified for the World Cup for
the first time. While we stood there in awe of
this national treasure, a crew was rolling out
reams of red carpet for an Independence Day
event, one of many activities held at Luanda's
most famous landmark.
An
outstanding dinner cruise by motor launch to
Mussulo,
one of the sun-kissed, palm fringed islets on
Luanda Bay, rounded out our taste of a great
city that is about to reclaim its stature, not
only as a magnet for business, but as a fun
place for visitors from many
lands.
Getting
Down to Business:
The
opening ceremony on Monday October 31 at the
Palace of the Congress, featured addresses by
H.E. Eduardo J. S. Chingunji, MP, Minister of
Hotels and Tourism, Republic of Angola, the U.S.
Ambassador Cynthia Grissom Efird (who hosted ATA
delegates at her residence later in the week),
ATA Executive Director Mira Berman and ATA First
Vice President Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey. As
Honorary Chapter President, the Minister stated,
"After Angola became an effective member of the
Africa Travel Association, the inauguration of
the Angolan chapter on the 27 of October 2005
represented the high point in the structural and
organizational process of its participation in
this important institution." He went on to say,
"The gathering of such distinguished individuals
here today, to help launch the Angola chapter is
proof that ATA can count on the goodwill and
solidarity of the people of the land of the
Palanca Negra and the Weltwishia Mirabilis
represented by the members of this
chapter."
If
it is Good News - it Must be Africa :
"Using
the Media to Change the Way the World Looks at
Africa, " was the theme for an International
Media Panel moderated by Karen Hoffman, ATA
Press Director and Vice President, The Bradford
Group, New York. Panelists included Charles Gatt
Jr., Publisher, Travel World News; Jerry W.
Bird, Editor and Publisher, Africa Travel
Magazine; Terry Leonard, Southern Africa Bureau
Chief, Associated Press and Sandy Dhuyvetter,
President, TravelTalk Radio. This working
luncheon provided tips on getting the good news
about Angola and other African destinations out
via print, broadcast and the internet media. Of
special note is the fact that the entire event
through November 4, was recorded on video and
audio by TravelTalk Radio for broadcast
throughout the USA and worldwide. Many of the
symposium participants were interviewed and the
results may be seen and heard on the
internet.
The
Cultural Foundations of Tourism:
Moderator
for this lively panel was Dr. Gaynelle
Henderson- Bailey of Henderson Travel Services,
ATA First Vice President. Key topics included:
Outcome of the ATA Eighth Cultural and
Ecotourism Symposium in Kampala - by H.E. Akaki
Ayumu Jovino, Minister of State for Tourism and
Antiquities, Republic of Uganda. Last year's
symposium was a significant landmark, as it was
the first time a head of state, in this case,
H.E. President Museveni, made a personal
invitation, and Uganda's First Lady became
patron of the country's first ATA chapter.
Tourism attractions in Urban Cultural Venues
within the African Continent- by Patricia
Walker, The Cultural Explorer.
National Heritage Conservation Commission of
Zambia - by Maxwell Zulu, Education
Officer.
South Africa's Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism - by Violet Tsepane. South
Africa has been an ATA success story, with
chapters in four provinces, and more on the way.
Ms. Tsepane stressed the importance of members
attending Indaba 2006 Conference and Trade Show,
to be held at a convenient time, following the
31st ATA World Congress in Ghana, May,
2006.
Historical
Impact of the Slave Route on African Tourism
The African Diaspora Heritage Trail - by Dr.
Gaynelle Henderson- Bailey. ATA members welcomed
news about the renewal of this key project, a
report on the planning conference in Bermuda and
future events involving ATA and the Caribbean
Tourism Organization.
An
inauguration of the Craft, Cultural and Tourism
Fair was held across Luanda Bay near the
Panorama Hotel.
ANGOLA
- CONTINUED->
Contact
Karen Hoffman,
africatravelasso@aol.com,
212 447 1926, fax 212 725 8253. Web site:
http://www.africa-ata.org
The
Embassy of The Republic of Angola
2100-2108 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC
20009
202-785-1156 phone, 202-785-1258 fax
Web site: http://www.angola.org