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 Googled
us Lately?
by Jerry W.
Bird
President Kikwete
of Tanzania gave the world an important
message when he said, "The Western media
needs to focus more on success stories in
Africa. We are doing so many good things
out here which do not get enough
publicity." The following testimonials
from readers throughout Africa, the USA,
Europe and around the world are proof that
we have heeded President Kikwete's request
by providing positive publicity for the
past 15 years. The results are showing up
in many measurable ways, as we move ahead
in building a library of books and
magazines that will showcase the Best of
Africa. Our Faces of Africa are smiling
for good reason - their stories on our
home page and sections are many, varied
and well received. Some examples are in
our Venues World Edition a free
64
Page
Showcase
of Events and Incentive Travel.
Trends we
love: Looking at the list on the
right sidebar of this page, I give thanks
to the company that generates these
exciting statistics - Web trends Inc. of
Portland, Oregon. They are down the road
from our Vancouver office, where Africa
Travel Magazine was launched in 1995. Our
mandate was to provide a positive
atmosphere to stimulate travel between
Africa and North America. Thanks to
statistics provided by Web trends, Google
and Yahoo, who measure our growing
global reach
and influence, the magazine's impact is
much broader. The world is Africa's
oyster! As of now, every issue we produce
will be part of The Africa Travel and
Nature Library - marketing and learning
resources that will open doors and win
friends. Our stories are mainly in English
at the moment, with help from African
Tourism Ministries, AT members and
partners, more French and other languages
will soon be on the agenda. Two Editor's
Blobs expand on this concept - one from
Egypt, the
other from Morocco.
How do the
countries rank? As expected the
USA, UK and Canada lead the pack in hits,
pages read and frequent visits to our
site. Yet look what's happening this month
as two African counties, South Africa and
Morocco are in the Top Seven. China
with its vast outbound tourism potential
has become number 4. Another giant, India
is coming on strong and the Emirates
are paying keen attention. At every
Africa Travel Association Annual Congress
and Symposium since 1995, a key point that
speakers, including myself, continue to
stress, is supporting Inter- African
Travel and Tourism. So having Morocco,
South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania,
Uganda, Ghana, Senegal, Ethiopia and Egypt
in our Top 40 is a positive sign. Small
wonder the decision to locate an office in
Morocco was so timely. Talk about seizing
the moment!
 Travel
Trade Shows and Seminars: This
spring we expanded our personal marketing
efforts to include Europe's leading events
IT Berlin, plus Salon de Tourism in Paris
and the World Travel Market in London.
China shows are on our agenda along with
the Arabian Travel Market and Moroccan
Travel Market in Marrakech. Trade shows
and conferences have been a big winner for
us. A recent example is our efforts with
the City of Houston. Texas and
Ethiopia Tourism in a two week "Out of
Africa" promotion, Our year round success
record is documented in "Venues," an
edition devoted to promotion and incentive
travel You can download 60 pages
on
http://www.africa-ata.org/venues.pdf
Googled
us lately? In
searches for "Advertising Africa Travel,
Trade and Tourism to America" on
Googol,
and Yahoo our website ranked #1 and 2.
Keeping such success in the family,
Air
Highways,
our second online magazine website, ranked
#3 and 4. These consistently high scores
indicate the success of Africa Travel
Magazine's Electronic and Print media -
building blocks of the Africa Travel and
Nature Library. Answering the quote
by President Kikwete above - marketing is
where Africa Travel Magazine stands out.
We're foremost in delivering "positive
news" as voice of the Africa Travel
Association, which has staged world class
events in 33 African cities since
1976.
Faces
of Africa:
Who needs Face book? Our Home page and
sections are graced by photo stories and
galleries by Africa's most capable
boosters - our writers, photographers and
contributors from inside the industry and
out. Since many of today's tuned in,
turned on professionals get their news,
views and background information via the
Internet, our website employs the best
facets of North America's top print media
- the eye appeal of Conned Nat -the life
span of National Geographic - and the
variety of Readers Digest. Our visitor's
attention is further riveted by a wealth
of cultural, wildlife and nature
photography, plus scenes of Africans in
action at events worldwide. We provide
hundreds of positive images - and each
gallery page is linked to a specific
African country or region.
Our second Travel
Magazine Website - Air
Highways
- launched in 1995 - has been a success
thanks to friends like Ed Anderson whose
photos are worthy of top
awards.
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