Tanzania Plans Public Private Tourism Partnership

Tanzania’s government is engaging tour operators over possible Public-Private- Partnership (PPP), as it seeks to open up the Southern tourism circuit for travel.

The Governor of Iringa, the designated Southern tourism circuit hub, Mr. Ally Hapi led the government mission to meet the members of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) at the weekend in northern circuit capital of Arusha to deliberate on the best PPPs as part of the strategy to stimulate tourism in the new area.

“My key mission here is to discuss with you (tour operators) to form a partnership with the government to unlock the Southern tourism circuit potential for travel,” Mr. Hapi told the gathering at Four Points By Sheraton, The Arusha Hotel.

He implored the key players in the tourism and hospitality industry to invest in Iringa in accommodation, pledging to ease the process of acquiring land, building permits, and other crucial supports.

Mr. Hapi, one of few Youthful Regional Commissioners under President’s John Magufuli regime said Southern circuit is now accessible through roads and air.

“The Air Tanzania Corporation, a national carrier, has since mid-2019, introduced a three-times scheduled flight from Dar Es Salaam to Iringa to offer holidaymakers and business community a hassle-free trips in the area” Mr. Hapi noted, adding that plans are underway for the Iringa airport to be expanded to accommodate major planes in the new potential tourism area. 

This comes hardly nine months since the TATO deployed a delegation to Iringa under its Vice-Chairman, Mr. Henry Kimambo to identify new potential members in its effort to establish a chapter in the area to cater for the entire Southern circuit, thanks to USAID PROTECT Project for building the capacity of an umbrella organization with over 300 members, for it to become an efficient advocacy agency for the tourism industry.

John Corse, the TATO board member urged the Government to invest heavily in terms of branding the major attractions available within the Southern circuit, particularly Ruaha National park.

“You need to promote Ruaha through the world-renowned Serengeti national park. You can make documentaries and use media to promote the attractions available in the Southern circuit,” Mr.Corse told the government delegation.

It is understood; the Fifth Government under President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli is working overtime to put up hardware infrastructures as it seeks to unleash the full economic potential of the area.

Impressed by the government move to designate Iringa as the Southern circuit hub, TATO’s CEO, Mr. Sirili Akko said: “We are keen to replicate the best practices from the northern tourism circuit to Southern shred” 

This implies that the 36-year-old advocacy agency for a multi-billion dollar industry, with its base in northern safari capital of Arusha, will soon have a liaison office in Iringa to take care of its Southern circuit members.

The southern circuit formed by several national parks. The national parks namely Mikumi, Udzungwa, Kitulo Ruaha, as well as Selous Game Reserve, have fewer visitors and give the feeling of being all alone. 

Activities include game drives in open vehicles, boat safaris, and walking safaris. These safaris include flights between the parks.

Tanzania’s earnings from tourism jumped 7.13 percent in 2018, helped by an increase in arrivals from foreign visitors, the government has said.

Tourism is the main source of hard currency in Tanzania, best known for its beaches, wildlife safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Revenues from tourism fetched $2.43 billion for the year, up from $2.19 billion in 2017, Prime Minister, Mr. Kassim Majaliwa said in a presentation to parliament.

Tourist arrivals totaled 1.49 million in 2018, compared with 1.33 million a year ago, Majaliwa said.

President John Magufuli’s government said it wants to bring in 2 million visitors in 2020. 

Travel agents: Govt urged to promote tourism sector.

TRAVEL agents have requested more support from the government in order to develop the tourism industry in Tanzania.

Speaking in  Dar es Salaam, the Chairman of Tanzania Society of Travel Agents (Tasota) Moustafa Khataw, said more is needed for the government to help the sector. He said the government should review all charges or taxes imposed on travel agents.

“Travel agents have to pay to provide a bank guarantee to IATA which is a big burden to them especially when clients do not pay them on time”, he said. He said the fees and commissions which they are supposed to pay are not friendly,  hence they need a review.

“We also urge the government to establish a special unit that would deal with travel agents to address our challenges”.

Khataw suggested that it was the right time for the establishment of a regulatory agency that would address issues pertaining to travel agents. Recently, the association issued a statement to the public informing customers on payment circle for air tickets issued in Tanzania.

It said that the credit period enjoyed by International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited air ticketing agents in Tanzania is 15 days and maybe reduced further to 7 days. Agents failing to meet payment deadlines will be declared defaulters and denied facilities to issue tickets.

Consequently, in order to protect the industry from a crisis arising from potential massive defaults, existing credit terms for air tickets will change drastically and can be also in favour of cash/credit card or prepayments as well.

This is, therefore, to advise all consumers of air travel services especially corporate entities and government departments to take not of the terms and conditions. The association urged customers to ensure necessary adjustments in payment plans to conform to the new requirements of the relevant agent.

TASOTA is the national association representing the interests of travel agents in Tanzania.

It serves as the single voice of travel agents in the industry with a mandate to promote the highest code of ethical and professional standards members in their dealings with consumer and each other.

Meanwhile, Tasota in partnership with other certified training institutions will soon embark on a program to upgrade human capital in the tourism industry. At moment human capital is the biggest constraint in the tourism industry.

The chairman said  TASOTA in collaboration with certified training institutions will provide requisite training to personnel in the travel industry in order to enhance their knowledge and skills. Commenting on travel and tourism business status at the moment, he said there is a growing interest for tourists to visit  Tanzania.

He said figures being shared by Tanzania Tourists Board (TTB)  look encouraging and thus participation at various trade shows will yield good results.

“With Air Tanzania planning to fly on international routes, this will boost tourism especially from India and China,” Khataw noted.

He also said that air travel has had challenging times in Tanzania for the past few years since there are few companies that had announced to close shop.

“We understand that ETIHAD Airways – The National Airline of Abu Dhabi has pulled out of Tanzania market from 1/10/2018 and there has been stiff competition especially with the low season being around the corner”, he said.

Airlines want to “rope in” customers in advance by giving lucrative offers, he said adding that airfares within African countries are still on the higher side.

According to him, with prudent measures being taken by the fifth phase government, travel from the government sector has reduced as a result it has, in turn, affected many of our members.

Khataw said in order to improve the sector, domestic airfares, as well as intra-African travels, have to be re-aligned and an “open skies” treaty is implemented.