“Citizens of more than 30 contries will no longer need visas to travel to Iran from 4 February. Instead, they will be able to simply purchase a ticket to visit the country,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli said. These countries include India, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Cuba and others. For Russian citizens, visas are waived in case travellers go to Iran in tour groups. Tourism Minister Ezzatollah Zarghami noted that the government intended to open the country to the…

Between January and December 2023, the number of international travellers arriving in South Africa was 8.5 million. This is a 48.9 per cent increase over the same period in 2022. According to South Africa’s national statistics agency (Stats SA), 6.4 million visitors from the African continent alone will visit the country in 2023, representing 75.6 per cent of total arrivals. According to statistics, there has been a marked increase in the number of travellers from Zimbabwe and Kenya. Between January…

The number of industries interested in investing in Rio increased by 33% in 2023. The number of industrial companies interested in opening or expanding their business in the state of Rio de Janeiro increased by 33% last year compared to 2022. According to the Rio de Janeiro State Industrial Development Company (Codin), 123 firms have had their applications for tax incentives approved during this period. “The state of Rio de Janeiro is becoming increasingly attractive for business. It is proved…

Situated in the tranquil landscape of Xiamen’s Tong’an District, Lianhua Village exemplifies China’s commitment to balanced development. The village’s transformative journey reveals the profound impact of the revival of rural communities, the boom of sugar apple industry, and the village’s rise as a vibrant tourist destination.  The village’s transformation mirrors the overarching strategy of China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI), a visionary effort to bridge urban-rural disparities and foster inclusive growth. The village has strategically aligned its developmental trajectory with the…

In their hometown of Hengxi Village, Xinxing Town, Songyang County, Lishui, Zhejiang Province in east China, young entrepreneurs Ye Jianhua and Fang Jing have a greenhouse estate. The couple described the 1.3-hectare area as their main battleground for entrepreneurship.  Since 2018, through artificial pollination, hybridisation and other technologies, they have cultivated and planted more than 45 rose succulents, a fascinating succulent variety. These roses with unique colours and shapes can generate over 1 million yuan ($137,000) in output value annually. …

In April 2018, Songyang County in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, launched the “Hundred Artists Settlement in Songyang Villages Plan,” which invites artists from all over the country, to help with the protection and inheritance of local culture. It is aimed at boosting the development of traditional villages through art.  “Artists bring art to the village. Some use art to beautify the place and raise their popularity; some help villagers to create artworks as a method of poverty alleviation; some promote…

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has confirmed that it has secured the rights to broadcast Africa’s multinational soccer competition, Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), following the failure of Supersport to do so a few days ago. The Total Energies AFCON 2023 contract, which comes with commercial rights that will boost the public broadcasters’ revenue, will allow households and individuals without access to the DSTV sports bouquet the privilege to watch the exhilarating soccer matches. “The SABC team is happy…

Mozambique’s flagship airline carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), is cementing its regional reach with the re-launching of two new routes to the country’s major tourist destinations of Vilankulo (Inhambane province) and Beira (Sofala province). “We are marking this resumption of flights with the strong aim of bringing to Vilankulo people eager to have contact with the wonders of this land”, João Carlos Pó Jorge, LAM’s Director General, said on Sunday after the inaugural flight from Johannesburg (South Africa) to…

One of Russia’s largest phosphate-based fertilizers producers, PhosaAgro, has launched a digital education platform for African farmers amid calls by African heads of state for President Putin’s government to transfer agricultural technology.  Mikhail Sterkin, PhosAgro’s Deputy CEO for Sales, Marketing and Logistics, made the announcement at the on-going second Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum in St Petersburg, Russia, on Friday.   Called Pro Agro Lectorium, the platform is expected to provide online lectures on a variety of topics. This…

COMPETITION for space between humans and wildlife has become a threat to both animals and forests, which are the backbone of the tourism industry, a top conservationist has said. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) Director General Fulton Mangwanya said this problem needed to be urgently addressed. “Today, due to the ever-growing population in Africa and the whole world, we have noted with concern the competition for space between humans and wildlife,” Mangwanya said. “As a result, landscapes are…