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Flight
to Africa's 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.
Our
award winning website generates over
10.000 page views daily and 17
million hits
annually
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
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