Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar Promote Tourism in the Gulf at ATM 2017

A move to strengthened destination marketing and boost tourism in the land of Kilimanjaro and spices, Destination Zanzibar returns to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2017, through strategic alliance with Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT), Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators (ZATO), Zanzibar Association of Tourism Investors (ZATI) and Tanzania Tourism Board under the banner “Tanzania – the land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar & the Serengeti”.

Determined to develop a holistic campaign that delivers a stronger voice and aligned vision, this partnership will serve as a forum for networking and collaborations while showcasing Tanzania as a growing market with business opportunities within leisure and business travel sectors. During international travel shows, the partnership’s objective will continue to promote world-class travel experiences including Safari wildlife, cultural adventures, beach experiences and all that remains unexplored.

Joining Tanzania Tourism Board and Zanzibar Commission for Tourism at this year’s edition of Arabian Travel Market is Destination Zanzibar, Asanja Africa, Azao Resort, Bluebay Hotels Zanzibar, Bobby Tours Tanzania Safaris, Exotic Zanzibar, Golden Tulip Zanzibar Resort, Lifestyle Safaris & Holidays, Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, The Aiyana Hotel, Zan Tours and Zanzibar Association of Tour Operators. The delegation will discuss changing travel trends across Luxury, Adventure, Safaris and Family Holidays as well as MICE inviting operators to connect with representatives, operators and hoteliers promoting Zanzibar as more than sun, sand and sea and Safari products.

Culturally, historically and economically interesting for GCC travelers, Tanzania and Zanzibar islands aim to engage with GCC travel agencies and stakeholders allowing them to get better acquainted with the destination and its attractions. Major Gulf carriers like Emirates, FlyDubai, Qatar Airways, Oman Air and Etihad who fly frequently to Tanzania, have become catalysts to changing tourism landscape.

“We predicted positive results following our participation at last year’s edition of ATM. Zanzibar has since witnessed an increase in tourism from this region, a testament to the destination potential across the Gulf. Tourism will continue to grow as the market develops and offers wide range of holiday packages for a wider demographic. Returning to ATM 2017 is a milestone for Zanzibar team; we have united with TTB to promote Tanzania – the land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar & the Serengeti, presenting the entirety of the destination that includes safari and beach holidays, undoubtedly a feather on our cap” said Hafsa Mbamba, Managing Director, Destination Zanzibar.

“Collective collaboration unites our common goals and governs our efforts to boost travel and tourism to mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. A land of plenty, Tanzania is blessed with natural beauty, wildlife, rich history, fascinating cultures and stunning beaches, making it one of the most beautiful and must visit places on earth. As we enter this new market, competing against matured destinations, we have no doubt or skepticism towards what we bring to new audience and travel industry across the GCC ” said Devota Kasanda Mdachi, Managing Director, Tanzanian Tourism Board.

nhabited by friendly and warm-hearted people, Tanzania is one of the most beautiful places to visit providing travellers the most unforgettable holiday experiences in the world. A melting pot with unique attractions, it is by far a destination of contradictions suitable for families, honeymooners as well as adventurers and thrill seekers. The changing landscape of tourism in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar means expansion across hospitality sector and aviation industries will continue as hotels, resorts; airlines and tour operators enter the market attracting foreign investors across tourism sector.

Tanzania: State to Review 1999 Tourism Policy - Deputy Permanent Secretary

Arusha — Tanzania has started to formulate new National Tourism Policy to replace the old one which has existed for more than 18 years.

The revelation was made by Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Aloyce Nzuki, while meeting different stakeholders who had gathered here to review the National Tourism Policy of 1999.

He said drafting of the new National Tourism Policy will consider issues on Conference Tourism, Historical and Cultural Heritage Sites, Eco-Tourism, Beach Tourism and Tourism Supply Chain among others.

"For many years, Tanzanian tourism sector has banked heavily on wildlife based safaris, forgetting that the world is changing and people need other attractions such as cultural tourism, visiting historical sites, ecotourism, conference tourism and water based visits featuring beach lazing and sun basking," Dr Nzuki stressed

He further said they were reviewing the 1999 National Tourism Policy to come up with a new document that will serve as a guideline towards improving the country's tourism industry in the coming years.

Commenting on the review, a Tour Operator, Mr Leopold Kabendera, who is also an expert in the tourism industry, from the Northern Zone, said a lot has changed since 1999 when the first National Tourism Policy was launched in the country.

"We are now experiencing advanced technology, faster means of communications, different types of tourists, new types of demand and interests as well as wider choice of destinations all of which need to be covered under the proposed new tourism policy," he pointed out. Mr Kabendera hinted that it was high time the country motivated many nationals to turn up as domestic tourists in its sites, instead of depending solely on foreign visitors.

"Tanzania is reported to be getting around 1.2 million tourists who visit it every year, where about 80 per cent of them, nearly 900,000 end up in the Northern Zone Circuit, mostly the Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro..., this is despite the fact that the country boasts of 16 National Parks scattered nationwide," he added without explaining further.

Under the new tourism policy, the government and other stakeholders will devise ways to ensure that foreign visitors also get time to visit other attraction sites in the Southern Circuit and Western Peninsular, the operator said.

He said they will also be tasked to find new ways of increasing the number of foreign tourists from other parts of the worlds, instead of relying mostly on the ones who come from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden and India.

Tanzania: Former Israel Premier Impressed By Tanzania Tourism Attractions

Dar es Salaam — Former Israel Prime Minister, Mr Ehud Barak, has praised the government for the way it preserves the country's tourist attractions.

Mr Barak, who was leading a group of over hundred Israeli tourists including his family arrived in the country early this week for a tourism mission.

During his tour, Mr Barak and his team visited Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Parks which are in the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

According to Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) Communication Manager, Mr Pascal Shelutete, the former Israeli Premier made a stopover at Olduvai Gorge on his way to Serengeti National Park where he was met by deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Engineer Ramo Makani.

At the Olduvai Gorge, the most famous archaeological location in East Africa and the must visit for travellers to Ngorongoro and Serengeti national Parks, Mr Barak said the area was very important because, as a cradle of mankind, it connects the early human being with the modern human generation.

He toured the Olduvai Gorge Museum and expressed his admiration of the way the government was doing in conservation of historical and heritage sites such as Olduvai Gorge.

Tanzania: Dar Explores Networks to Attract Tourists From China

Beijing — Chinese tourism firms have been advised to make the maximum use of social media to advertise Tanzania as a destination for Chinese tourists to this East African nation.

The advice was issued yesterday during a debate between Tanzanians taking part in China Outbound International Travel and Tourism Market in Beijing and their Chinese counterparts.

The discussion dwelt on how to capture the tourist market, set a good environment for the Chinese visitors and explored avenues for better learning skills of the Chinese Language -- because many Chinese speak only their language, hence the need for competent translators as well as hotels chefs who can cook their cultural delicacies.

This meeting was organised by Tanzania Ambassador to China, Mbelwa Kairuki, aims at launching a strategic plan to facilitate dialogue between tourism stakeholders in the two countries. It was attended by stakeholders from the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) and Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), among others.

Contributing, a manager with Utor Group of Companies, Crystal Guo said Tanzania was among the world's high-end destinations, specially available for the people of China. She said she had visited Tanzania, but often people don't know its beauty and tourism of animal migration correctly as a lot of them become Tanzania not Kenya.

Guo said Tanzania would be better exploring many more attractions, not just tourism based on animals "wildebeest migration, for instance, lends itself to the use of social networks on mobile phones - and distributing the information to users globally - through the phone.

"It's also important to use local media ... as well as other ways of modern networks ... advertising through posters, brochures or other traditional means have since gone stale," she counseled.

The head of CAISSA Tourism Group, Maggie Li, said Tanzania was among the world's high-end destinations from which travel agencies could make "good money" but decried the fact that many Chinese people do not know just how good Tanzania could help open Chinese markets - citing countries like Kenya which has reaped dividends from tourism through the use of a famous Chinese basketball player, Yao Ming, arguing that Tanzania could also find its own 'famous' Chinese 'decoy' to sell its attractions to China.

A professor of Strategic Tourism from Beijing International University, Tongqian Zou, proposed turning Tanzania into "leading tourism destination for China would require the "use of a variety of networks."

He also proposed that advertisers make a special focus on the young generation by encouraging Tanzania students studying in China to "sell Tanzania to their peers."