Tanzania Unveils new Tourism license Fees

Tanzania has unveiled a new structure for its Tourism Business License (TTBL) fees for both foreign and local operators to replace the flat-rate ones.

For over a decade, Tanzania has been charging flat-rate fees of $5,000 for the TTBL for foreign-owned tour companies and $2,000 for locals, regardless of the company’s size and volume of business.

Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Dr. Hamis Kigwangala, says the new fees to be enforced in January 2018, reflect the size of the company and volume of business to create fair competition for all.

Foreign investors with between 10 and 30 vehicles will pay $5,000; 31 to 50 cars will cough up $7,500; while those with 51 vans and above will incur $10,000 for TTBL per annul.

A local investor with between one and 3 tourist vans will pay a TTBL fee of $500, while each of those with between 4 and 10 vehicles will pay $2,000; 11 and 50 cars $3,000; while with 51 and above vans $5,000.

“The idea of the new TTBL fees structure is to make tourism more inclusive by taking on board all lower-end tour operators with one to 3 vehicles,” Dr. Kigwangala said during the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) ‘s annual gala dinner held at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel in Arusha over the weekend.

Since time immemorial, the policy had locked out the small-scale tour operators with single to 3 tourist vehicles, making them operating illegally at the expense of legal tour operators. The move also denied the government a lot of revenues.

The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators Chairman, Mr. Willbard Chambulo, expressed his appreciation to the minister for working on the issue, which has been a hard nut to crack for years.

Wildlife tourism in Tanzania continues to grow with over 1 million guests visiting the country annually and fetching $2.05 billion, equivalent to nearly 17.6 percent of the GDP.

Tourism provides 600,000 direct jobs to Tanzanians, as over one million people earn an income from the lucrative sector.

Yellow Fever entry Requirements in Tanzania Mainland

Yellow fever is a serious disease that is monitored internationally and therefore classified by the International Health Regulations (IHR), 2005 as a Public Health Emergence of International Concern (PHEIC). All PHEIC require specific monitoring procedures and measures that commensurate with and restricted to public health measures to meet the IHR, 2005 purpose.

Tanzania is mapped by the World Health Organisation as a low risk country because no Yellow fever virus has been isolated in the country. However, the abundance of Yellow fever vector and other favourable ecological conditions pose potential risk for Yellow fever if the virus is introduced into the country. Furthermore, being bordered with Yellow fever endemic countries has also increased the vulnerability of Tanzania being infected with the virus.

In order to conform to IHR, 2005 requirements and safeguard public health security in Tanzania, Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory to travellers arriving from Yellow fever endemic countries. This condition also applies to travellers subjected to long flight connection (transit) in Yellow fever endemic country for twelve hours (12hrs) or more.

Yellow fever vaccination which is given as a single dose should be administered ten (10) days before entering the country. A single dose is capable of providing a life protection against the virus. Exempted people due to medical reasons and age (above 60 and below 1 year) should seek medical attention in case of fever, headache, muscle and joint aches. Failure to produce a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow fever to those eligible may lead to refusal of entry or vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.

The cost of Yellow fever vaccination is 50 USD for foreigners and 30,000 Tsh for residents and East Africa Community members. Government receipt shall be issued for any vaccination charges paid.

Countries from Africa: 

Angola

Benin

Bukinafaso

Burundi

Cameroon

Central Africa Republic

Chad

Congo

Cote d’Ivore

Democratic Republic of Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Togo

Uganda

Countries from South America:                                               

Argentina                                                                                                                
Brazil
Colombia
Equador 
French Guiana
Guyana                                                
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad & Tobago

Venezuela (Republic of Bolivarian)

Plurinational State of Bolivia

Note:

• Travellers coming from countries which are NOT IN THE LIST ABOVE will not be subjected to Yellow fever screening and vaccination at points of entry upon arrival.

• Travellers coming from Yellow fever endemic countries who will not produce a proof of Yellow fever vaccination may lead to refusal of entry or vaccinated and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.

• For TANZANIANS travelling to Yellow fever endemic countries (See list above) ARE RECOMMENDED TO BE VACCINATED 10 days before travel.

• For TANZANIANS coming from Yellow fever endemic countries who will not produce a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow fever will be vaccinated upon arrival and kept under close public health observation for not more than 10 days.