Tanzania Among top 2017 Luxury Travel Destinations

African countries are generally on the bucket list of adventure seekers, but some African countries, like Tanzania, have started to increasingly be preferred by luxury tourism travelers. With vast plains, coral reefs, tropical fish, dusty valleys and rain forests that are home to a myriad of wild animals, Tanzania is among the top luxury destinations for tourism in 2017, according to a Forbes report.

The number of tourists visiting Tanzania rose 10.4 percent in the 10 months leading up to October compared with the same period last year, the Finance and Planning Ministry announced. Tanzania is known for its wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery, from pristine islands in the Indian Ocean to magnificent volcanic mountain peaks. Tourism is the main source of foreign currency in Tanzania, best known for its beaches, safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro. With wildlife safaris, trekking routes and historic places, like the Kaole ruins, Ismila Stone Age site, Engaruka ruins as well as the Mikindani and Ngorongoro Conservation areas, the country is a good place to simultaneously explore history and nature.

"Asilia's new Highlands Camp is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, about 45 minutes from the famous Ngorongoro Crater, so you are conveniently positioned for easy access to the game preserve, which boasts some of the highest biodiversity in the world. Aside from the classic safari experience, Asilia Highlands is in the heart of Masai country, where guides arrange visits to local bomas for an in-depth perspective on how an ancient culture lives today, much like they have for millennia," 

Forbes reported.

Looking for Israel Tourists, Tanzania set to Establish Embassy in Tel Aviv

Tanzania is looking to attract Israel tourists and business stakeholders, while Tanzanian Christian pilgrims are looking up to visit Israel in rising numbers through visa application between Dar es Salaam and Tel Aviv.

The Embassy of Israel in Nairobi has established a visa handling center in Dar es Salaam to strengthen bilateral relations with Tanzania, looking to process travel documents between Dar es Salaam and Tel Aviv.

Tanzania President John Magufuli had expressed his intention to open the Tanzania embassy in Tel Aviv  in a letter he addressed to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his official visit to Uganda in July of last year.

In the letter sent to Mr. Netanyahu through Tanzanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Augustine Mahiga, President Magufuli had expressed his intention to establish a permanent embassy in Israel for the first time.

Tanzanian Minister for Tourism Prof. Jumanne Maghembe said a visa handling center, of which he witnessed its opening, would speed up travel arrangements between Tanzania and Israel with expectations to attract more Israeli tourists while facilitating visa application to Tanzanians looking to visit the Holy Land.

Prof. Maghembe said tourist charter planes from Israel are welcomed to bring tourists to Tanzania through travel arrangements to be processed in Dar es Salaam.

The number of Israel tourists to Tanzania had increased from 3,007 in 2011 to 14,754 in 2015, according to data available from the Tanzania Tourist Board.

Israel still conducts its relations with Tanzania via its Embassy in Kenya, and Tanzanians wishing to travel to Israel had to process their documents through Nairobi. The 2 countries are now looking to further strengthen their relations for which Israel has opened a visa center in Tanzania.

The Tanzania Tourist Board, on its part, has been encouraging Israeli tourists to make Tanzania their African safari destination, while a number of Tanzanians were looking to travel to Israel for religious pilgrimage in holy cities of Israel.

Negotiations between the Tanzania government and Israel are going on to get the best means that would help to strengthen and quicken travel and tourism links between Israel and Tanzania.

There are tourist charter planes from Israel landing at Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar boarded with Israelis.

Israel ambassador in Kenya Mr. Yahel Vilan said Tanzania stands among African countries which Israel has been looking for business and diplomatic cooperation. Israeli airline, El Al, has been looking to launch special tourist flights to Tanzania.

Uganda Tightens Visa Security

The first phase of the project was to handle electronic visa and more phases are to come, to deliver state of the art border control security while offering an easy travelers experience.

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Gemalto the world leader in digital security, is supplying Uganda’s Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control (DCIC) with its Coesys Visa Management that combines swift issuance of all visas and permits with biometric enrollment upon arrival.

It is supporting the new solution with integration, deployment, maintenance and training for Ugandan immigration officers. The new scheme allows the authorities to manage the entire visa life cycle from application to issuance. It will help the country achieve its goals to facilitate travel, enhance national security and protect a traveler’s identity against theft.

“Gemalto answered our need for a strong, secure solution, based on international standards and in line with Uganda’s objective to facilitate travel,” said Commissioner Mr. Anthony Namara, Project Coordinator at The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Control. “Gemalto Coesys Visa Management provides a fast and flexible response to the challenge of large-scale regional migration.”

“This new project puts Uganda at the forefront of enhanced immigration solutions in East Africa,” said Ari Bouzbib, Senior Vice President of Government Programs at Gemalto. “The new system also fits with the regional initiative to deploy a single tourist visa program across Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. This enables Ugandan authorities to readily identify travelers and reinforce national security.”

This turnkey solution incorporates a convenient online portal to apply for visas and permits at any time prior to travel. Legitimate visitors receive their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email. Upon arrival in Uganda, visitors get their visas after ETA check, verification of passports and the collection of their biometric data (fingerprints) to uniquely match travelers to the documents they are presenting.

Gemalto’s solution includes a link to an integrated control list from local and international sources and alert system to detect and manage undesirable applicants. It also creates a centralized traveler database secured by an Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to share, search and match electronic fingerprints accessible by authorities all over the country.

Launched on July 1st2016, the new online visa portal significantly improves the experience of traveling to Uganda and support the country’s growing business and tourism sectors. With increased migration across East Africa, Ugandan authorities can ensure that visas are issued to bona fide applicants.

With increased migration across East Africa bringing security issues, Ugandan authorities wanted to reinforce border security, starting with Visa. The challenge was to ensure the security measures would not jeopardize the travelers’ experience.

Charles Mevaa, Vice President Government Programs in Africa at Gemalto said the new solution doesn’t only bring security, based on biometric authentication on arrival, but also streamline processes and enable visas to be delivered quicker with high security standards/level.

It also brings enhance convenience to visitors traveling to Uganda, who can now apply for their Visa online and securely pay in a few clicks by logging onto the Uganda e-Immigration system, which is live since July 2016.

“After having filled an online form, the visa request is being processed and once approved, travelers receive their Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) by email.

Upon arrival in Uganda, visitors get their visas after ETA check, verification of passports and the collection of their biometric data (fingerprints) to uniquely match travelers to the documents they are presenting.

“Such system is not only bringing more convenience to travelers but enable the Uganda immigration services a more secure monitoring of all applicants before arrival. It also enable Ugandan authorities to readily identify travelers and creates a centralized traveler database secured by an Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) to share, search and match electronic fingerprints. Such database is accessible by authorities all over the country and reinforce national security.

“The first phase of the project was to handle electronic visa and more phases are to come, to deliver state of the art border control security while offering an easy travelers experience.

He said they have a strong expertise in electronic visa management and border control solutions and have contributed to date to over 10 deployment worldwide.

“We deployed such solution in Argentina, Gabon, Croatia, Norway, etc…. and are currently deploying an integrated visa and border management system in Ghana,  and were recently awarded for the deployment of eGates at the Charles De Gaulle Paris airport. With such solution, Uganda benefits from the most advanced and secure eVisa system from the entire East Africa region.”

Tanzania wages war Against Pastoralists grazing in National Parks

Tanzania has announced a fresh war against pastoralists who are taking livestock into the national parks, saying the vice has been threatening to kill the country’s sanctuaries.

Jumanne Maghembe, Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism said on Sunday that Serengeti National Park is among the highly affected parks with livestock grazing in the east African nation.

The Tanzania’s oldest and second largest park after Ruaha National Park is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northern Tanzania.

"We’re going well with the fight against wildlife poaching, but the remaining serious war is rampant grazing, which threatens our conservation efforts. Reports say that pastoralists have been taking livestock into the protected areas," the minister said.

He said that the government will leave no stone unturned in the new fight against pastoralists, who have been sneaking into the national parks for pastures.

"We are aware of the challenge and we are taking all the necessary measures to ensure that our parks are free from trespassers and encroachers," he said, adding that livestock found inside the park will be confiscated and the owner will be taken to court for further action.

The minister also cited illegal logging and charcoal making as another challenge facing wildlife conservation efforts in Tanzania.

Tanzania’s tourism sector brings in 2 billion U.S. dollars per year and contributes 12.2 percent of employment in the east African nation.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council Tanzania Country Report, 90 percent of tourists visiting Tanzania visit national parks, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the spice island of Zanzibar.
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