Africa,
Living, Loving and Learning in a New Global
Society
by Hasifa
Rahman
Modern man
has discovered the world we live in to be a
truly wonderful global showcase. We are
experiencing both the best and the worst of
times in rarified politics, war, terrorism and
especially tourism. In the realm of cultural and
spiritual realities it is truly the very best of
times as the global information highway,
increased travel modalities and cross cultural
interaction creates the foundation for our new
global society. We are on the way to becoming
one planet of global citizens-though we clearly
have a long way to go. Africa, the cradle of
civilization, has become more desirable with its
shifts to independence of all her nation states.
The abolition of apartheid and the advent of
humanity uniting to try to end her injustices of
hunger and disease, Africa is beckoning to us to
come into her and discover her new frontiers
after so many years of exploitation. Africa has
come of age as a global phenomenon in her
antiquity and modernity. So many Africans have
migrated to almost every great world nation
since the 1950's that there is a constant flow
of Africans returning home with friends and
families.
Africa has
been in such turmoil in the last century in the
aftermath of "freedom" from imperialism and
colonialism that fifty-three independent states
now all vie for economic stability. Tourism is a
great part of this economic strategy as Africa
is culturally rich and diverse and has much to
offer the traveler seeking
substance.
The Africa
Travel Association is stepping up to the plate
newly armed in freshly inspired leadership with
goals intent on making travel to Africa from
America common place with new routes offered by
airlines such as North American Airlines, South
African Airways, and Ethiopian Airways-to name a
few. Out of New York one can go non-stop into
Johannesburg, South Africa, Lagos Nigeria,
Accra, Ghana and/or Dakar, Senegal. New African
Travel products are readied to accommodate the
seasoned traveler with new and exciting travel
vistas: ecological, intellectual and cultural
interests that go beyond the common interests in
safaris.
The Africa
Travel Association is making sure that their
membership of travel professionals has what they
need to provide excellent travel services to
Africa. ATA members are well equipped with
product knowledge and allied affiliations to
provide travelers with the best opportunities to
explore the African Continent. The rightfully
self indulgent boomers and their families, who
have the disposable income to afford more than
"vacation" time, who see the world as their
reward for a life well lived or as personal
journeying space, have at their disposal a well
trained body of travel professionals with the
products and needed information to ensure safe
travel and new found satisfaction in a new
Africa. This is an Africa that deconstructs the
negatives and reconstructs beautiful new
possibilities for the traveler seeking
historical substance and cultural delight along
with the classic Rest and Relaxation. Now is the
time to visit Africa and be enhanced by her
richness and beauty.
In
mid-September 2006, ATA's New York Chapter
sponsored a book-signing event with Charlene
Hunter-Gault, formerly of televisions McNeill
Lehrer Report, and author extraordinaire.
Hunter-Gault, who now resides in Johannesburg
with her husband, is a journalist extraordinaire
choosing to reside in South Africa where she is
intimately involved in the artistic cottage
industries that are turning out some very fine
products that she supports and displays in her
own elegant attire. She speaks of and supports
South African economic independence and
viability on behalf of its indigenous
people.
Hunter-Gault
shared her astute observations and insights
presented in her new book entitled: " New News
Out of Africa-Uncovering Africa's Renaissance".
She talked about the modern day reality in
Africa as a whole and South Africa in
particular. She was titillating with the news of
many prominent but media invisible foreign
presences in Africa. Is the continent is still
under siege, still up for grabs? The book
signing was very successful with more than 60 in
attendance.
A special
guest , the same evening, was Chief Olufemi
Fani-Kayode, Minister of Culture and Tourism,
Federal Republic of Nigeria. He and Hunter-Gault
fielded questions and shared their insightful
knowledge on Africa as a holistic entity vying
for stable economic power and global
recognition.
Chief Olufemi
Fani-Kayode spoke of the preparation Nigeria has
made to accommodate and ensure successful
tourism. He confirmed that Nigeria is a safe
country to travel within. He eloquently
announced that there are wonderful new
developments in tourist attractions just waiting
to serve those visiting Nigeria. He announced
the upcoming Eco-Tourism Symposium in Calabar,
Nigeria, November 15 to 26, 2006. (name of
resort) Reserve in (name of area) Nigeria is
ready to receive Africa's
admirers.
His
Excellency Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode and
Hunter-Gault did graciously indulge questions
with well-informed answers that gave pause to
rethink our current African reality and consider
the possibilities of new exploration. Nigeria is
safe for travel and ecologically and culturally
rich in finds for the traveler to
Africa.
The Africa
Travel Association has a new, young, well
educated, and Africa savvy, skilled travel
professional in Edward J. Bergman, the Executive
Director, who is vigorously taking the ATA in
new directions and expansion. Doris Wooten of
Africa Tour Rific, who has served for the past
two years as NYATA's president, coordinated this
wonderful and informative event. Wooten has
revitalized the New York chapter and Bergman is
reinstituting the power and potential of the ATA
organization in this new age of advanced
communication and globalization
There are
many rare unexplored jewels in Africa like the
grand and beautiful guesthouse in Grand Bosom
Cote d'Ivoire owned the Guyanese woman named
Rosalinda who attended the event. Want to know
more? Join the Africa Travel
Association.
Africa lives
to be loved by us all. We are learning more
about Africa as we explore her beauty. This
ancient land of man's primal beginnings is truly
a beautiful modern global reality and ancient
phenomena.
Written by
Hasifa Rahman
Freelance
Travel Writer
New York, New
York
A special guest , the same evening, was
Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode, former Minister of
Culture and Tourism, Federal Republic of
Nigeria. He and Hunter-Gault fielded questions
and shared their insightful knowledge on Africa
as a holistic entity vying for stable economic
power and global recognition.
Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode spoke of the
preparation Nigeria has made to accommodate and
ensure successful tourism. He confirmed that
Nigeria is a safe country to travel within. He
eloquently announced that there are wonderful
new developments in tourist attractions just
waiting to serve those visiting Nigeria. He
announced the upcoming Eco-Tourism Symposium in
Calabar, Nigeria, November 15 to 26, 2006. Obdu
Kato Ranch Resort in Cross River State, Nigeria
is ready to receive Africa's admirers.
His Excellency Chief Olufemi Fani-Kayode and
Hunter-Gault did graciously indulge questions
with well-informed answers that gave pause to
rethink our current African reality and consider
the possibilities of new exploration. Nigeria is
safe for travel and ecologically and culturally
rich in finds for the traveler to Africa.
The Africa Travel Association has a new,
young, well educated, and Africa savvy, skilled
travel professional in Edward J. Bergman, the
Executive Director, who is vigorously taking the
ATA in new directions and expansion. Doris
Wooten of Africa Tour Rific, who has served for
the past two years as NYATA's president,
coordinated this wonderful and informative
event. Wooten has revitalized the New York
chapter and Bergman is reinstituting the power
and potential of the ATA organization in this
new age of advanced communication and
globalization
There are many rare unexplored jewels in
Africa like the grand and beautiful guesthouse
in Grand Bassam, Cote d'Ivoire, owned by a
Guyanese woman named Rosalinda Cooper who
attended the event. Want to know more? Join the
Africa Travel Association.
Africa lives to be loved by us all. We are
learning more about Africa as we explore her
beauty. This ancient land of man's primal
beginnings is truly a beautiful modern global
reality and ancient phenomena.
Written by Hasifa Rahman
Freelance Travel Writer
New York, New York
