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False msafiri Better understanding of the Internet is set to revolutionise African tourism in the lead- up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup 16 F or the first time in Africa, e- tourism conferences will be held across the continent to help the sector better understand the Internet and the range of online marketing opportunities now available, especially in the build- up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The E- Tourism Africa conferences ( held in southern, East, North and West Africa) will bring together global online and digital experts, from companies such as Expedia, Digital Visitor and Microsoft. The experts will address delegates about new technologies, as well as highlighting marketing solutions, the best use of social networking tools such as Facebook, YouTube and MySpace, the implications of blogging and the importance of consumer- generated content and online video for the travel trade. The conferences will educate and provide resources to both the private and public sectors to enable a shift from traditional sales and marketing methods and create a locally- based, business- driven environment for travel e- commerce. The conferences are being organized by E- Tourism Africa, a major new initiative to bring online tourism-focused education to Africa, in conjunction with Microsoft and Eye for Travel, the World’s largest Online Travel Conferencing Organisation. TAKE A TRIP ONLINE IN THIS ISSUE AUG- OCT 2008 habariinspiration 20 TOUCHDOWN 10 things you should know about Paris 22 WISHLIST Where will KQ take you next? 24 HEALTH A beginner’s guide to the healing powers of reiki 26 INTERVIEW Bollywood’s Akshay Kumar 28 BEST BUYS Five hi- tech sporty gadgets 30 A LIFE IN AFRICA James Muriuki, curator of Nairobi’s RaMoMa gallery 32 STREETWISE The low- down on Guangzhou 34 WHAT’S ON Events in KQ destinations 36 REVIEW Pick of the latest book and CD releases 40 FOOD AND DRINK Bastakiya Nights, Dubai 42 SPORTING HEROES Emmanuel Adebayor 45 NEWS 20 1- 2 September Johannesburg First E- Tourism Africa conference ( supported by FNB, Microsoft, Visa I nternational and Johannesburg Tourism) focussing on the Southern African region. 13- 14 October Nairobi East African conference ( sponsored by Safaricom) at Fox Cinema, Sarit Centre, followed by 3 days of special training seminars for the tourism sector at KWS Training Centre. Early 2009 C onferences planned for Cairo and Ghana. June 2009 P an- African conference planned for Cape Town. DATES FOR YOUR E- DIARIES For FURTHER information www. e- tourismafrica. com Q See also page 45 for Kenya’s top 10 websites “ It is vital that the tourism sector in Africa is aware of all the online opportunities for business,” explained E- Tourism Africa managing director Mr Damian Cook. “ Travel is now the number one selling commodity online and is generating almost US$ 100 billion annually in sales. The Internet is becoming the leading source of travel information and sales for the modern consumer, yet very little African tourism is sold online and finding and booking African destinations on the web can be a challenge. “ Up till now there has been very little information available to the travel trade in Africa on how they can maximize their online presence. The aim of E- Tourism Africa is to alter the imbalance between the way tourism is marketed and sold globally and in Africa, where traditional sales channels still dominate. This disparity presents a very real threat, as Africa risks disappearing from the view of online travel shoppers.” Q There are over a billion Internet users in the world now online – more than 20% of the population of the planet. Q Travellers are increasingly computer- literate, with roughly two thirds of those now online using the Internet to make travel plans. Q 45% of all travellers now online have made travel reservations on the Internet during the past year. Did you know?