French Eyes Tanzania’s Lucrative Tourism Sector

The Travel and Tourism report on Tanzania noted that the country posted a revenue of USD 2178.0 from arrivals in 2017.

The the number grew by 9.5%, last year and the country is expected to attract some 1,347,000 international tourist arrivals this year. Travel and Tourism attracted capital investment of USD 318 million in 2017 which rose by 8.2% in 2018, and will continue to rise by 6.4% pa over the next ten years to USD 639 million come 2028.

According to the “African insights: Hotels outlook 2017-21” report published in 2016, Hotel occupancy and Average Daily Rates (ADR) are set to continue to climb over the next five years thanks to rising tourist arrivals. Both the government and private sector are seeking increased investment in the sector to meet growing demand and the diversification of the tourism sector.

“The sector will desperately need more accommodation space, including beach-front five-star hotels and lodges, but also to support large 3000-5000 visitor forums like exhibitions and conferences,” Jumanne Maghembe, then-minister of natural resources and tourism told press.

Barley a year after a delegation of French investors representing some 31 companies visited Tanzania, France has chosen Tanzania to be the first East African country to host its prestigious Goût de France. Hyatt Regency in Dar es Salaam Tanzania hosted the French Gastronomy Cuisine Festival on the 21st March themed around sustainability and green economies.

French ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Frédéric Clavier described the event as a sign of growing French-Tanzania relations.

“It celebrates and acknowledges the huge economic role played by the catering and hospitality industry,” he said.

He was keen to point out that gastronomy creates employment in the tourism and hospitality industries which are both key sectors for Tanzania as a major tourist destination. In fact Tanzania’s tourism sector represents over 12% of the country’s total employment. In this regard, as part of the French Cuisine celebration, some 30 Tanzanian chefs will get training under Chef Francois Lucchesi, who is among a delegation of French experts who have come to Tanzania to celebrate the event.

To meet the class and standards of the event the French Embassy has chosen to work with the global brand of excellence in catering and hospitality Hyatt Regency bringing to tropical East Africa, a taste of French cuisine. Addressing a media conference held mid-week in Dar es Salaam, Hyatt Regency General Manager Paris Etoile expressed his enthusiasm and readiness to host the fifth edition of the gourmet festival.

The Case Of Zanzibar:

As for Zanzibar alone, in 2018, some 433,474 tourists visited the island, while there are no readily available accounts of what percentage of those were from France, it is safe to assume that a good number were French. As is the case for the mainland, the tourism sector is a major source of employment giving jobs to more than 72,000 Zanzibarians, according to government statistics. The sector also brings in over 80 percent of the island’s foreign exchange and represents a quarter of Zanzibar’s GDP.

Last year, Zanzibar’s Minister for Information, Tourism and Heritage Mr. Mahmoud Thabit Kombo said they expect more than 500 000 tourists, hitting the mark a year before planned. a lot higher than the forecasted; the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi’s 2015-2020 Manifesto projected the half million number would be attained in 2020.

The minister said tourism in Zanzibar is growing at an impressive rate of 12 percent each year and as such, it is boosting the catering and hospitality sector each year.

“We need 5,000 more rooms to cater for high demand,” he told the press. That is good news for hotel and lodge investors as well as catering businesses.

 

Tanzania: Revealed - Tanzania Now Prepares to Receive 10,000 Tourists From China.

Dar es Salaam — Implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Touchroad International Holdings Group, has started with the first batch of Chinese visitors expected in the country in May.

Last December, TTB signed an MoU with Touchroad International Holdings Group (Touchroad Group) of China, under which the latter was to market Tanzania's tourist attractions to China and bring to Tanzania at least 10,000 Chinese tourists in 2019.

TTB board chairman Judge Thomas Mihayo told journalists this in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, March 12.

He said that the first batch of 312 tourists, which is expected in the country in May, will comprise of Chinese celebrities, journalists, tour operators, investors and business personnel.

He was speaking during an event to welcome a delegation of seven Touchroad officials, led by Mr Fu Wei, who also serves as the inspector for Zhejiang provincial department of culture and tourism of China.

"The Touchroad chairman, Mr He Liehu came to Tanzania first in January, with a delegation of 35 people where, among other things, launched a campaign known as 'Tour Africa New Horizon' which is geared at bringing tourists to Africa," he said.

He said the campaign will be undertaken in Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Djibouti.

"On March 8, Mr He is, once again, here with us with seven people. While here, they will visit and inspect all the tourist attractions that the first group of 312 tourists will go to," he said.

He said so far, they have been Manyara, Serengeti and Ngorongoro national parks.

A total of 30 investors will also be in the first group of tourists, said Judge Mihayo, calling upon members of the business community to grab the chance.

According to Mr Wei, the Touchroad company has plans to bring in 262 tourists every week from May to December 2019, reaching the goal of 10, 000 tourists as agreed in their MoU with TTB.

Meanwhile, Touchroad Group has signed another MoU with Air Tanzania Company Ltd that will see the latter availing its aircrafts in transporting the tourists when they start exploring different tourist attraction in the country.

Tanzania Court Sentences Chinese ‘Ivory Queen’ to 15 years for Ivory Smuggling

Dar es Salaam — A Tanzanian court sentenced a prominent Chinese businesswoman dubbed the “Ivory Queen” to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for smuggling the tusks of more than 350 elephants to Asia — a big victory in the battle to stamp out poaching in Africa.

Yang Feng Glan had been charged in October 2015 along with two Tanzanian men with smuggling 860 pieces of ivory between 2000 and 2004 worth 13 billion shillings ($5.6m). She denied the charges.

Police sources said Yang, 69, had lived in Tanzania since the 1970s and was secretary-general of the Tanzania China-Africa Business Council.  She also owns a popular Chinese restaurant in Dar es Salaam.

Kisutu court magistrate Huruma Shaidi sentenced Yang, Salivius Matembo and Manase Philemon to 15 years in prison on convictions of leading an organised criminal gang.

Shaidi also ordered them to either pay twice the market value of the elephant tusks or face another two years in prison.

In court documents, prosecutors said Glan “intentionally did organise, manage and finance a criminal racket by collecting, transporting or exporting and selling government trophies” weighing 1.889 tons.

Demand for ivory from Asian countries such as China and Vietnam, where it is turned into jewels and ornaments, has led to a surge in poaching across Africa.

Tanzania’s elephant population shrank from 110,000 in 2009 to little more than 43,000 in 2014, according to a 2015 census, with conservation groups blaming “industrial-scale” poaching.

In March 2016, Tanzania sentenced two Chinese men to 35 years each in jail for ivory smuggling, while in December 2015 another court sentenced four Chinese men to 20 years in jail each after they were convicted of smuggling rhino horns.

Tanzania Targets Chinese Tourist Market

Tanzania is now targeting China as a new and an upcoming lucrative tourist market source in South East Asia after the traditional tourist market sources of Europe, North America and South Africa. A team of senior officials from Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), Ministry of Tourism, tourist companies and other stakeholders visited China in November 2018 to market Tanzania’s tourism in Beijing and other leading, key Chinese cities.

The Tanzania officials had visited and organized tourism road shows in five Chinese cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chengdu and Beijing. With the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, TTB is now looking to promote Tanzania tourism in China through exchange programmes involving journalists as well, officials said.

The Board (TTB) had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Touchroad International Holdings Group of China to market Tanzania’s tourist attractions in key Chinese cities. Touchroad Group has inked a deal with Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) that will see the Chinese company sending about 10,000 tourists to Tanzania this year, TTB officials said.

The Tourism Board has been participating to various tourism fairs and exhibitions in China, aiming to expose Tanzania’s tourist products, mainly wildlife, the Indian Ocean beaches and historical sites. The Board is currently working with the government of Tanzania to market conference tourism as a new tourist product. China is on top among the world nations which Tanzania is looking to attract for conferences.

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) is a new tourist product that TTB is working to attract through its marketing campaigns in China. Tanzania has been recognized and approved by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) headquarters in Beijing as one among the countries worth visiting by Chinese holidaymakers.

TTB had launched a market drive to showcase Tanzania’s wildlife, cultural heritage sites, Mount Kilimanjaro, historical sites, and the Indian Ocean beaches to the Chinese tourist market. Other African tourist destinations wrapped up for Chinese tourists are Kenya, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, and Zambia.

The UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has rated China among the leading tourist source market in the world. Tanzania is as well looking to attract Chinese investors in accommodation and hospitality sector to build hotels, lodges and other such facilities that would offer Chinese cuisine.

Chinese tourists to Tanzania rose to 30,000 last year from 13,760 counted in the previous five years. The Chinese tourist market is now an optional strategy which Tanzania is looking to capture in addition to traditional markets, mostly the United States, Europe, Japan and South Africa.

Tanzania: A Wonderland in Africa

What could be more exciting than travelling to a new place and discovering all that the place has to offer? What could be more fascinating than the breathtaking sceneries, rare wild animals, diversity of culture and more? Blessed with a plethora of stunning islands, Tanzania is known for Mount Kilimanjaro, which is Africa’s highest mountain and also for its famous game reserves. On 29 October 1964, the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was renamed the United Republic of Tanzania. Tanzania is gaining popularity in the tourism sector worldwide. More and more tourists are getting attracted to this amazing country largely due to the fact that it is one of the most peaceful countries in Africa. This makes tourism safe for every tourist from outside the country and even from within the nation. Moreover, Tanzania is the home of the tallest mountain in Africa, its national pride Mount Kilimanjaro.

The beautiful tall mountain, whose cap is surprisingly covered in snow is a magnificent sight. For the lovers of mountain climbing it presents a great challenge as this is 5840m high. With the help of experienced and courageous tour guides, who will lead you through the safe paths, even amateurs can fulfill their long term dream of seeing the famous Uhuru torch at the top of the mountain.

Among the other tourist attractions one cannot forget to mention the incredible Ngorongoro Crater which is found in the town of Arusha. The crater is the host to many different animal and plant species as well as a rare sight because it is filled with water which is only seen if one climbs at the very peak of the crater or flies over it in a jet.

The national parks are huge areas filled with exotic plants and animals. There is no better way to observe and discover nature in all its beauty than to take a trip to one of the multiple national parks and see the amazing animal life in all its beauty.

Zebras and antelopes, giraffes and buffaloes, lions and leopards, one has to see to believe the beauty of the African national parks. Mikumi National Park, Serengeti National Park, and Manyara National Park are some of them .

In each of these the tourists will be comfortably accommodated within safe lodges in gorgeous safari style where they will be able to try local cuisine and feel at home while surrounded by wilderness. The diversity of Tanzanian people and culture cannot be ignored. That is also one of the amazing things about Tanzania: it has so many different religions and tribes but yet all of them live in tolerance and peace.

The tourists will be glad to discover different cultures, lifestyles, traditions and customs as well as note interesting details such as dressing styles, traditional dances, languages some of which are on the verge of extinction, traditional weddings and the like. All in all, in this heavenly corner filled with golden beaches, sky blue waters, friendly people and magnificent sceneries, a trip to Tanzania is certainly a trip of one’s lifetime. It is truly a wonderland.

Tanzania: Tourism Won't Be Affected By Forex Shop Clampdown'

THE recent clampdown on forex shops in Arusha has not and will not have any effect on the tourism industry, the government assured yesterday.

Fielding questions from reporters shortly after winding up his familiarization tour of Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr. Constantine John Kanyasu, said the well-coordinated exercise that rocked the region on Monday had left the 2bn US dollar sector stable, adding that tourists continued to make the most of the myriad of attractions found in the country.

"The crackdown by the central bank hasn't affected the sector in any way as tourists and other players continue to enjoy services offered by the ministry," clarified the deputy minister.

The government's assurance comes amid growing fears that the crackdown and the ultimate closure of a number of Bureau de Change outlets will affect the sector which accounts for 25 per cent of foreign exchange earnings in Tanzania while also creating about 600,000 jobs.

There were fears that Arusha, which is revered as the country's tourism hotbed, was likely to face an economic downturn following the clampdown of the forex shops which enters its fourth day, today.

A spot-check by the 'Daily News' yesterday, established that a good number the outlets that deal in the exchange of foreign currencies still remained closed.

A section of Arusha residents who spoke to this paper said they could still access the service from some NMB bank branches and the Bank of Tanzania (BOT) branch in the region.

Speaking here on Tuesday, Central Bank governor, Prof Florence Luoga said the crackdown was aimed at unearthing and exposing unlicensed forex shops.

According to Prof Luoga, the exercise which also involved members of the Tanzania Peoples Defense Forces (TPDF) also sought to revoke licenses of forex shops that were alleged to be involved in money laundering.

Meanwhile, the deputy minister for natural resources and tourism urged tourism stakeholders and conservators to keep politics out of the conservation.

"If we continue to peddle politics in matters of conservation, we will end up with no parks," cautioned the deputy minister.

He further challenged TANAPA to expeditiously resolve the conflicts pitting the organization mandated with the regulation and the use of National Parks in the country with district councils and villages.

He, however, commended the parastatal organization for operating profitably, saying the government was reaping fortunes in the form of revenues from TANAPA.

In his rejoinder, TANAPA Conservation Commissioner, Allan Kijazi told the deputy minister that the organization had in this financial year allocated 2.5bn/- in land use planning and management as a way of addressing land related conflicts with 392 villages surrounding the 16 national parks it manages.

Dr. Kijazi noted that it was also using the 'good neighborliness’ as a way of resolving such disputes.

"Such conflicts have not only wasted much of our time and resources, but they have also affected our core business which is conservation," explained Dr. Kijazi.

According to the Conservation Commissioner, TANAPA will strive to foster its relationship with communities and villages that border its national parks.

Tanzania: Massive Boost for Tourism From China

A CHINA'S multinational business, Touchroad International has signed an agreement with Tanzania Tourism Board to bring in 10,000 tourists next year.

According to a statement issued yesterday the agreement was signed in Shanghai, China on Tuesday on the first day of a nine-day long TTB road show in China to promote Tanzania's tourist attractions to China, currently the global leading tourism market.

Under the agreement the Shanghai-based company will fly in tourists using a special chartered plane.

The signing ceremony was graced by the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources, Dr Aloyce Nzuki, TTB and other government officers.

Shanghai was the first point for the road show that begun with the meeting that was officially opened by Dr Nzuki. From Shanghai it will go through five cities namely Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chengdu and ending at Beijing until next Tuesday.

TTB Board Director, Ms Devotha Mdachi presented the country tourism attractions and investment opportunities.

During the meeting some 200 Tanzania and China tourism stakeholders had a chance to showcase their tour packages tailor made for Chinese market.

Air Tanzania Corporation Limited (ATCL) was among stakeholders corporate that show case their package being flying to Guangzhou next February.

The road show was organised by the Tanzania embassy in China in collaboration with TTB.