Free flow of ideas is the cornerstone of democracy: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

Reflections on my Three Years in Zimbabwe

As I approach the end of my stay in Zimbabwe, I offer to young people some of my views. Read more . . .

Thursday, June 28, 2012

"Red Tails" Won't Win Any Awards - But, I Like It

George Lucas' new movie, Red Tails, a story about the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II has been panned by many self-styled critics, but it's a touching story of the fight against racial discimination and bigotry that's worth watching. Read more . . .

Great Zimbabwe - Ancient Stone Houses

The complex at Great Zimbabwe, the 'Great Stone Houses,' figures largely in the history of this southern African country. Read more . . .

Saturday, June 23, 2012

"Angel on His Shoulder" Available on Kindle | Charles A. Ray | Blog Post | Red Room

"Angel on His Shoulder" Now Available for Kindle

Amazon Kindle 2 (Photo credit: peteg)

"Angel on His Shoulder," the misadventures of Winston Nesbitt and his mischevious grandmother, is now available for Kindle or Kindle apps. Get it free June 25-29 only!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008DYPPI2 at this link.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Zimbabwe Education Minister Blasts Gov't for Neglecting Sector

Visit Salinas, California; home of author John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck - Author Series (Photo credit: New Chemical History)

Missing inspiration for your writing? Visit Salinas, California; this central California city is the home of Pulitzer Prize winning author John Steinbeck. Read more . . .

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Six Ways to Conquer The Fear of Public Speaking | Socyberty

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Five Sure Signs You're Getting Old

"African Places," a Photo-Journal, Now Available for Kindle

Zimbabwe (Photo credit: AFSC Photos)

My photojournal, African Places: A Photographic Journey through Zimbabwe and southern Africa, is now available for Kindle and Kindle apps. Get a free download June 18-20 only.

"African Places Photographic Zimbabwe-ebook

"Child of the Flame" now on Kindle

Cover of "Kindle Wireless Reading Device,...

Cover via Amazon

My fantasy novel, Child of the Flame, is now available for Kindle and Kindle app. It can be downloaded free June 18-22 only! Don't miss the adventures of Pip and his friends.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008C1GESQ

"Child of the Flame"

Saturday, June 16, 2012

How to Maintain Energy When There's No Time for Lunch

English: Example of Finnish school lunch Suomi: Esimerkki suomalaisesta kouluruoasta (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In our busy lives, lunch is often a luxury. Read more no how to maintain an acceptable level of energy when you have to skip lunch here.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Afraid of speaking in public? Do you over-prepare and sound stiff? GovLoop's Andrew Krzmarzick has some ideas to make your presentations better. Read on . . .

ATA Press Release on 37th Annual Congress in Zimbabwe

Following is the ATA post-congress press release:

NEWS RELEASE

Africa Travel Association

info@africatravelassociation.org

www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org

Release: June 7, 2012
AFRICA TRAVEL ASSOCIATION HOLDS 37

CONGRESS IN VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE
TH ANNUAL WORLD
International event convenes over 500 delegates from governments, business and the

non-profit sectors to address growth of African tourism.

U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe stresses importance of trade and investment between

USA and Zimbabwe in improving understanding.

New York, June 8, 2012

trade association promoting tourism to Africa, held its 37

Zimbabwe, May 18 – 22, 2012. More than 500 delegates from government, business and the

non-profit sectors gathered at ATA’s hallmark event in Africa.

The theme, “Africa Tourism: Partnering for the Future,” focused on how tourism, with growth

rates in emerging markets outperforming more established destinations, is one of the most

promising industries on the African continent for development. South African Airways served as

Presenting Sponsor and Official Congress Carrier and Arik Air served as Official Media Carrier.

“Our 37

impact on the tourism industry in Zimbabwe and across Africa,” said Edward Bergman, ATA

Executive Director. “Now more than ever, the tourism industry has a greater ability to affect lives

and contribute to positive growth and development and ATA is pleased to be at the heart of this

process.”

Delegates included five tourism ministers from Central African Republic, Ghana, Namibia,

Uganda and Zimbabwe, along with government representatives from Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia,

Kenya, Tanzania, Togo and Zambia, and hundreds of participants from around the world.

The Congress was hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) under the auspices of

Honorable Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi. ATA government

members elected Minister Mzembi, as the new president of the association at the ATA board

meeting on the final day of the congress.
– The Africa Travel Association, the world’s leading travel industryth Annual Congress in Victoria Falls,th Congress has been a real success with significant outcomes that will have a positive
Zimbabwe is Open for Business

On the first day of the congress, Ambassador of the USA to Zimbabwe, Charles A. Ray,

conveyed that “Zimbabwe is open for business.” He said that US business representatives were

coming to Zimbabwe because the economy was growing and trade and investment links

between the two countries were improving.

Speaking about the importance of building better cooperation and understanding between the

USA and Zimbabwe, the Ambassador said, “Zimbabwe, even with its political uncertainty,

represents a potentially huge market for Americans… it has the highest literacy rate in sub-

Saharan Africa, and a population that when opportunities are available they’re very hard

working and very organized and get things done.”

In an interview with one of the congress media delegates, Ambassador Ray said, “You have to

look at what’s going on on the ground in order to understand the reality. There is a gap between

the perceived risk here and the real risk. The real risk, in most cases, is far less than the

perceived risk caused by the image the country has.”

Building on these themes, a special congress session, featuring Ambassador Ray and U.S.

Ambassador to Zambia, Mark C. Storella, was held on the second to last day of the congress.

The two Ambassadors spoke about prospects for U.S. trade and investment in the tourism

sector in the neighboring countries, along with the role the US embassies play in improving

relations and facilitating exchanges.
Program Highlights

The Congress kicked off with ATA's third annual

Elephant Hills Hotel. Students, young professionals and industry leaders from the tourism and

hospitality sector came together to discuss the most pressing issues for young professionals in

the industry. Topics included harnessing social media to promote African tourism, rural tourism

development, and the ethics of sustainability and ecological integrity.

Ministers from Central African Republic, Ghana, Namibia, Togo and Zimbabwe participated in

the

strengthened if African governments collaborated more closely with each other and the private

sector over a number of issues, including connectivity, visas, branding and packaging products.

The importance of integrating local community into tourism programs was also stressed.

Inspired by the Japanese television cooking show, Iron Chef, ATA held the first “

Experience

School of Hospitality and Tourism Studies and chefs from Victoria Falls hotels. Visiting chefs

from the USA, Chef Pierre Thiam, Senegalese cookbook author,

Grill House Executive Chef, judged the competition, along with Ambassador Ray; Dr. Nancy

Scanlon of Florida International University; Chef Christopher Gonzo, Chief Executive of the

Zimbabwean Culinary Association; and Chef Johnson, Chief Technical Coordinator of ZTA.

Sessions on social media strategies with

destinations with

effective media relations and marketing. An

of bringing Africa's products to market through social media, mobile technology, and the

Internet. A

partners to create a unified strategy for promoting your destination on the Web.

presented on the pros and cons of volun-tourism.

Delegates explored several new tourism topics at the congress, including “Women’s

Engagement in Africa’s Tourism Industry,” which brought together representatives from

Hospitality Group
Young Professionals Program Forum at theTourism Ministers’ Roundtable. Everyone agreed that the benefits of tourism could beATA Culinary.” Delegates enjoyed a luncheon prepared by culinary students from the BulawayoYolele! and Eric Simeon, E&ERS Social and the role of film in marketingThinking Forward Media provided participants with practical tools for moreExpedia representative discussed the importanceMatador Network representative discussed how to leverage content from dozens ofGroup IST alsoAffluent, Amalinda Collection, United Nations World Tourism Organization, and
ZTA

Leading travel trade and mainstream media representatives explored the relationships between

tourism and the media at one of the sessions. Participants spoke about how to develop more

effective media relations and how to move travel news to the front pages. The participants

spoke about how the negative and the positive play a role in creating perceptions of Africa and

stressed the potential role of the media in communicating tourism’s contribution to development

and achieving political stability.

At Zimbabwe Culture Night, ATA announced the recipients of ATA’s annual awards. The

recipients of the Outstanding Service to the Association awards were Hon. Mzembi (MP),

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe; Karikoga Kaseke; Chief Executive of

the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA); Tesa Chikaponya, Executive Director of Destination

Marketing at ZTA; and Evelyn Chidyausiku, US Representative of ZTA. Robert Brunner, Vice

President of the Americas for Arik Air International Ltd received the Outstanding Leadership

Award; and Dr. Yohannes Zeleke, President of the ATA Mid-Atlantic Chapter, received the ATA

Founder’s Award. Chef Pierre Thiam and Chef Eric Simeon received the Development of

Responsible Tourism in Africa awards and ATA outgoing President, Hon. Fatou Mas Jobe-Njie,

Minister of Tourism and Culture of The Gambia, received the Promotion of Responsible Tourism

to Africa Award. Finally, Andrea Papitto, Vice President of Thinking Forward Media, received the

Young Professionals Leadership award.
to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing women in the tourism industry today.
Showcasing Destination Zimbabwe

As soon as they arrived in Victoria Falls, delegates enjoyed a tour of Victoria Falls, one of the

world’s seven wonders. Many also participated in activities around the falls, including bungee

jumping, gorge swing and ziplining over the Zambezi, lion and elephant encounters, helicopter

rides and safaris in Zimbabwe and Botswana during the congress.

On the first host-country day, ATA delegates visited a community-based tourism project in

Village

delegates participated in the annual ATA tree planting ceremony to offset the carbon footprint of

the congress.

The

Zambezi River into Livingstone for lunch and cultural entertainment. They also visited several

hotel properties, including the

Livingstone Express

river cruise on the Zambezi.

During the congress, delegates also enjoyed two special evening events. Sponsored by
Mpisi, where they enjoyed local cuisine, traditional music and dance. En route to the village,Zambia Tourist Board co-sponsored the second host-country day. Delegates crossed theChrismar and Royal Livingstone hotels, and toured the Royal, a luxury rail experience. The day wrapped up in Zimbabwe with a sunset
Rainbow Tourism Group
, the first was a cocktail reception with live music and food at the
A'Zambezi River Lodge

Safari Lodge

thousand music fans at an outdoor concert with one of Zimbabwe's most revered musicians,
. The next was held at The Boma Restaurant at the Victoria Falls, hosted by Africa Albida Tourism. ATA delegates also celebrated with over one
Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi

ATA’s young professionals hosted the third annual "Celebrate Africa Social Night,” a time for the

delegates to enjoy Zimbabwean music, cuisine and dancing and culture. The night began with a

traditional braai dinner in the garden of The Kingdom Hotel, followed by dancing at The Wild

Thing Action Bar. At a press conference during the congress, Karikoga Kaseke, Chief Executive

of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), announced that Zimbabwe will form an ATA Young

Professionals chapter to “…advance the interests of our young professionals in the industry.”
.
Congress Sponsors

South African Airways

Congress, organized special discounts for delegates attending the Congress.

as Official Media Carrier of the World Congress. Media sponsors included Afrique Expansion, ETurbo

News, RS Social, and Travel World News.

ATA, in partnership with Arik Air and ZTA, organized a diverse media delegation, including

representatives from Africa.com, Afrique Expansion, Bloomberg Business, Essence Magazine,

Jax Fax, Matador Network, Network Journal, Ogo Sow Communications, RS Social, Travel

World News, and VOA News. E-Turbo News also covered the event.

Most delegates stayed at the official congress venue in Victoria Falls,

along with Adventure Zone Lodge, The Kingdom Hotel, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Victoria

Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Rainbow Hotel and the A’Zambezi River Lodge.
, Presenting Sponsor and Official Airline of the 2012 ATA WorldArik Air servedElephant Hills Resort, Editor’s Note

For more information on ATA, visit

For more information on Zimbabwe, visit

For congress photos, visit ATA’s

For congress videos, visit
www.africatravelassociation.org.www.zimbabwetourism.net.http://www.flickr.com/photos/65134942@N06/collections/.
http://www.youtube.com/user/africatravelata#p/c/31021CEF78392E1D

For congress blog, visit
http://africatravelassociation.wordpress.com/
For the program, visit

For copies of presentations and speeches, contact ATA at

For interview opportunities contact ATA by phone at +1-212-447-1357 or via email at
http://africatravelassociation.org/events/ac.html.info@africatravelassociation.org.
info@africatravelassociation.org
.
About the Africa Travel Association (ATA)

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and

tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships. Established in 1975, ATA serves

both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA

membership comprises African governments, their tourism ministers, tourism bureaus and

boards, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, front-line travel sellers and providers, tour

operators and travel agents, and affiliate industries. ATA partners with the African Union

Commission (AU) to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa.

ATA’s annual events bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda. For more

information about ATA, visit
www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org###

Valentine's Day is not the only time for a great romantic trip

Valentine's Day (soundtrack) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Looking for a romantic place to take your significant other? Here are some unlikely places that are also great for other times of the year. Read more . . .