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News
Release
Replica
of Lalibela stone church at Houston's
I-Fest Celebration
OUT OF AFRICA- IS
OUT-STANDING!
HOUSTON I-FEST
CELEBRATION - PERFECT VENUE FOR LAUNCH OF
AFRICA TRAVEL MAGAZINE'S ETHIOPIA
MILLENNIUM EDITION
Houston,
Texas: The launch of Africa Travel
Magazine's Ethiopia Millennium Souvenir
Edition provided an opportunity to
establish guidelines for long-range,
targeted circulation based on strategic
partnerships.
The
first successful test of the magazine's
new focus was in Houston, Texas, America's
4th largest city. Its Annual I-Fest
attracts up to 450,000 visitors and is
considered the largest of its kind in
North America. This year's “Out of
Africa” theme featured exhibits from
the Diaspora and many African
countries.
Working
with an Ethiopia delegation that included
the State Minister for Culture and
Tourism, Minister of Information,
Ethiopian Tour Operators Association,
Ethiopian Airlines, City Commissioner,
Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian Exporters
Association, it was a successful combined
performance. Most of these participants
distributed Africa Travel Magazine from
their exhibits. A solid
foundation
was laid for “Out of Africa” by
the Ethio-American Trade and Investment
Council, which has worked closely with
Africa Travel Magazine since 2000.
Gezahgen Kebede, founder of EATIC and
Ethiopian High Commissioner for North
America, was instrumental is bringing the
event to Houston and had a major role
during the two week long celebration.
The
publisher's next step will be global
distribution via private sector partners,
such as Ethiopia's Midroc Technology Group
and leading Ethiopian hotels, plus Africa
Travel Association (ATA) chapters in the
USA, Canada and Africa. Retail marketing
at major airports and other selected
outlets will expand the program to the
traveling public. Another key area
involves approved NGOs, which are invited
to order copies on consignment, for which
they receive one third of the proceeds
towards worthy causes to benefit African
families, orphans and others in
need.
The
show was a real eye opener for many Texans
and those from neighboring states who
enjoyed a true taste of Africa. It was
complete with the replica of a rock church
from Lalibela and a similar replica from
Harar, plus performances by the Ethiopian
National Dance
Group.
Keynote speaker for the Opening luncheon
was Andrew Young, former U.S. congressman,
mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and the United
States' first African-American Ambassador
to the United Nations.
Houston's African involvement has a solid
base. “Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden
Treasures of Ethiopia” is drawing
raves from across the USA. This
international exhibition was organized by
The Houston Museum of Natural Science in
collaboration with the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian
Exhibition Coordinating Committee.
Outstanding
Internet and Travel Show Activity
A huge factor for now and the future is
the Internet, foundation for broad,
worldwide circulation thanks to a
partnership with CORPORATE
PRESS
DISPLAY.
This hi tech company puts Africa Travel
Magazine front and center on a website
reaching over 500 top libraries and many
Fortune 500 companies. In addition,
subscriptions and bulk purchases of copies
are available through a network of web
sites including the magazine's own site,
which ranks #1 on Google, Yahoo and
MSN.Com for many Africa
topics.
Events
such as the Houston I-Fest, Adventures in
Travel Expos in Seattle
(Sept
2008),
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and
Washington, DC, plus major media travel
shows by NBC, New York times, Boston
Globe, Los Angeles Times and others round
out the circulation base for Africa Travel
Magazine in North America. Similar
opportunities abound throughout Africa at
ATA and other events.
Ethiopian
Delegation Members
H.E.
Tadelech Dalacho, State Minister, Ministry
of Culture and Tourism, Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia, Head of
delegation
H.E.
Berhnu Hailu, Minister, Ministry of
Information, Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia
Dr.
Ayalew Sisay Woldegebriel, Tourism
Commissioner, City of Addis
Ababa
Mr.
Yitbarek Befirud Belihu, Head, Addis Ababa
Trade & Industry
Mr.
Tsegaye Abebe, Chairman, Ethiopian
Horticulture Producer Exporters
Association
Mrs.
Kidan Ghiorghis Mellessa, Board
Chairperson, Ethiopian Tour Operator
Association
Dr.
Solomon Ali Mohammed, Head, Public
Relations Department, Ministry of Culture
and Tourism
Mr.
Sisay Getachew Azage, Ministry of Culture
and Tourism
Mr.
Belay Getachew Esuendale, General Manager,
ETOA
About Africa
Travel Magazine
The
publication was launched in 1995 to
promote events hosted by African
Ministries of Tourism and the Africa
Travel Association. This partnership has
been successful and is entering a new era
by expanding circulation, variety , reach
and frequency.
The magazine has a 4,500 page website
which covers all African destinations and
events.
For
Information, Tel. 604 681 0718, Fax 604
681 6595
E-Mail: africa@dowco.com
Website: http://www.africa-ata.org/bulletins.htm
Advertising: http://www.africa-ata.org/aarates.pdf
Events: http://www.africa-ata.org/venues.htm
AFRICA
TRAVEL MAGAZINE
Africa's
powerful, positive media voice in print,
online, on air
Editions updated year round for added
reach and frequency
Distribution via tourism database and
travel show exhibits
Website:
http://www.africa-ata.org/bulletins.
htm
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