Travel To Sao Tome? 'I Heard They Have An Oil Deal'

ThisDay Online runs a somewhat funny piece by a female staffer today that makes a brief mention of the Joint Development Zone, but says nothing of the huge controversy that blew up last week between the two countries and threatens to dissolve the JDZ (according to incoming OPEC chairman Dr. Edmund Daukoru).

The visiting journalist found most of the population out walking around the streets, and apparently enjoyed herself at a scuba resort away from town.

Here's the article by ThisDay Online's Justina Okpanku:

Sao Tome: The Island of Promise
12.15.2005

Tourism

Justina Okpanku writes on why Sao Tome and Principe is becoming a hot destination

Many have witnessed an increase in the number of visitors to the Islands of Sao Tome and Principe (STP), marking a significant turnaround compared to the previous years before crude oil was discovered in that place. Sao Tome is not only visited for oil and gas, but also for tourism (holiday, be it honeymoon or adventure) as the country is opening up to the world. It is an important West African centre for tourism. Visitors enjoy good infrastructure, a high level of service in the hotels, and a truly maritime experience. It offers crystal-clear, unspoiled waters.

Travelling to the island, situated on the eastern Equator, takes just an hour by air from Lagos, the fastest direct route (400km aeronautical miles). People used to go through Brazzaville, Gabon, before getting to Sao Tome. But the twice weekly direct flights from Lagos by Hewa Bora Airways of Congo and Afrijet, its Nigeria Partners, has solved the problems especially those associated with obtaining a visa from the Gabon High Commission, which is said to be a problem. The airline departs Lagos on Mondays and Thursdays, and arrives Tuesdays and Fridays. Package tours for four nights starts from US$650 and the cost includes excursion and accommodation.

Visitors to Sao Tome from Nigeria do not require visas except going through certain airport formalities. Nigeria remains one of the strongest markets for incoming tourism to Sao Tome.

The team, Hewa Bora Airways and Afrijet, seems ready for that. They are not only set to launch new destinations and direct connecting flights between Aero and itself to Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, it is also starting with tourism.

Thus, its general sales agent (GSA), and the President of Nigeria Tour Operators (NATOP), Mrs. Fatima Garbati, organised a familiarization trip for key travel industry practitioners to Sao Tome last week.

The over 50 participants comprising tour operators, travel agents, Heirs Insurance Company, and Sports, Aviation, and Travel journalists had high expectations before embarking on that journey. One had scanty information on that destination from the Internet, so it was difficult to form an pre-destination opinion.

As this writer wrote on her travel notebook at the departure gate of the Murtala Murtala Muhammed International Airport, penultimate Monday, a gentleman approached her.

Unlike the Customs Service official who had earlier wasted the reporter's time toying with her passport and demanding a basic traveller's allowance, he was a gentleman. Passers-by wondered aloud "What business the Customs has with international passport!"

The gentleman told the reporter he is an investor eyeing the Sao Tome market and therefore seeking information.

He too has scanty information, except that Nigeria has an embassy in Sao Tome.

"I'm dying to see somebody who has information. I know Nigeria has a joint venture with Sao Tome on oil. But why is everybody travelling to that country now?"

For the first time visitor, arriving Sao Tome at night will not help. There had been an airport delay in Lagos. But there's a host of facilities available onboard.

Passengers arrived relaxed. "Boa Noite" (good evening) and "Bengindo" rent the air. The official language there is Portuguese; some speak the English Language, though. A surprise: Foreigners have to leave their passports with that country's Immigration officials. No problem. Later, we got ours back intact before departure.

The 10-minute journey from the airport was enough to see that the country has a rich culture. It is water, water, water everywhere, and the people are proud of it. It appears a majority of the 145,000 out of the 150,000 population in Sao Tome & Principe were out in the streets of the capital, lounging around the sea. The other 5,000 live in Principe. Sao Tome is not a modern city, but its serenity and the smell of the ocean welcome a first-time visitor.

One did not have enough time to see a wide range of attractions, but one could not go too far to see the place is organised. The buildings remind one of the Portuguese colonial legacy. Sao Tome has good hotels, which are usually full.

Pass the town to the south of Sao Tome, and you will see Pestana Equador, a resort located at Ilheu das Rollas, about 60 km from the capital. It offers a colourful underwater world seldom seen, which makes it a haven for scuba divers or snorkelling.

With a year-round average temperature of 27 degree centigrade, the Pestana Equador offers you a diving centre and deep-sea sport fishing, and other activities such as sailing, excursion by boat and whale-watching from August till December, when it is their mating season.

The resort, with its 56 standard rooms, all have modern facilities like satellite TV, an in-room safe and air conditioning, restaurants and bars. After breakfast the next day it was time to catch a flight back to Lagos. But the allure of the resort was irresistible.

Guests, especially the white ones, who are enjoying themselves wave at you and you wave back. "Obrigada" (thank you), a couple said to me.

Introducing themselves to me. the white lady said: "I am Diane and he is Pedro. We are on honeymoon from Portugal. The green here is quite different from anywhere else in Africa. We have the view and the humidity, that's the reason why we have been here for three days.

An experienced tour operator and CEO of Toff Resources Nigeria Limited, Mr. Tunde Arogunmati, who was on that trip said: "Sao Tome and Principe is a good destination. We would have stayed longer. The architect that designed the resort took advantage of the sea and vegetation and gave the place small touches."

The Secretary-General of the Federation of Tourism Associations (FTAN), Mr. Charles Ukomadu, added that the Sao Tome tourism experience is "one way of using tourism to reduce poverty."