West African woes slash travel demand

SOUTH African travel
agents say the demand
for travel to West
Africa is dwindling, following
weakening local currencies,
issues with forex and a
reduction of international
flights to Nigeria.
International airlines have
been reducing frequencies or
cutting flights altogether to
Nigeria as the crisis with the
country’s currency, the Naira,
worsens. The low value of the
local currency, combined with
an unfavourable forex policy
and a national recession, has
resulted in both Kenya Airways
and Emirates suspending
flights to Abuja in the past two
weeks.
Although flight capacity
from South Africa to Nigeria
has not been affected, with
both SAA and Arik Air still
offering regular services, the
economic recession in West
Africa has negatively impacted
business confidence and
there has been a significant
drop in demand for travel to
Nigeria and Angola says Jose
Cruz, national executive client
services manager for HRG
Rennies Travel.
Rachael Penaluna, business
manager Sure Maritime Travel,
has also seen a drop. 
Although Rachael says
clients are still travelling to
Angola, the destination is
not without problems. “No
tickets can be issued on
BSP in Angola. Airlines have
suspended BSP in Angola
because the government will
not allow credit card payments
or the release of funds for
services within Angola. This
is a direct result of the low oil
price and the lack of currency
in the country