DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 25 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA is set to become a regional hub of Canyoneering if the proposed plan of introducing the tourism product at Arusha National Park materialises.
The move is also in line with the country’s quest of attracting five million tourists in the next two years.
The Park’s Assistant Commissioner for Conservation Yustina Kiwango hinted that a prospective investor was eyeing the opportunity of running the activity which is an ideal outdoor recreational activity for Arusha National Park.
The Conservation Commissioner, who was briefing Tanapa’s Board of Trustees, said the activity entailed at exploring hard-to-reach natural areas by mostly following a water route down through numerous natural rock formations.
“Arusha National Park fits such a billing and we’re optimistic that tourists will come in their drives once Canyoning is up and running,” she explained.
Kiwango equally hinted that a potential investor was eying to operate investment in the park.
According to the Assistant Conservation Commissioner, the plan featured among the conservation agency’s strategies of rolling out more tourism products in bolstering its revenues.
Tanzania will be the first country in East Africa to host such an attraction after South Africa, once the projected move materialises.
For his part, Tanapa’s Board of Trustees Chairman retired General George Waitara, lauded the Arusha National Park for coming up with new tourism potential products.
The former Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) exuded confidence that the products will catapult the $2bn a year industry to greater heights, as Tanzania prepares to host five million tourists, come 2025.
Besides Canyoneering, Arusha National Park is also planning to establish the Arusha-Meru Geo Park.
The villages located on the foothills of Mt Meru were endowed with numerous geological features that will grant the park a GeoPark status in the near future.
On Nov 17, 2015, the 195 Member States of UNESCO ratified the creation of a new label, the UNESCO Global Geoparks, during the 38th General Conference of the Organisation.
The UN agency defines Geo parks as single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and sustainable development. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
