LONDON, Dec 29 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA is expected to attain its target of reaching 5 million tourists come 2025, thanks to various initiatives undertaken by the government and its embassies abroad to market the country’s tourist attractions.
According to latest data from the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), as of August this year, the country welcomed over two million international tourists, generating an unprecedented 3.5 billion US dollars in revenue.
Tanzania seeks to achieve the target of notching an income of 6 billion US dollars (about 14tri/-) from five million tourists come 2025 as stipulated in the Third Five-Year Development plan (FYDP III of 2020/2021 to 2025/2026) and the ruling party CCM Election Manifesto of 2020-2025.
A report released recently by Tanzanian High Commission to UK indicates that in a period of one year, the number of tourists from UK who visited Tanzania has increased from 65,000 in 2022 to 75,000 in 2023.
Tanzanian High Commissioner to UK Mbelwa Kairuki told ‘Daily News’ recently that his office has targeted to increase the number of UK tourists visiting Tanzania to 100,000 come 2025 and the number was projected to start increasing this year following various initiatives undertaken by his office. He said his office has coordinated various events, including meeting with key tourism stakeholders to market Tanzania’s tourist attractions.
The envoy said the High Commission has hired a local staff who is experienced in promoting tourism attractions for various countries in the UK market and sponsored a training for Tourism Agents (AFRICA HUB) to promote the country’s tourist attractions.
It also held a meeting with travel agents in London to provide them with information about the tourism market in Tanzania.
Mbelwa further said that his office also held a meeting with journalists who specialise in writing tourism related articles in UK with the aim of providing them with important information about Tanzania, particularly undiscovered travel destinations.
It has also held talks with international television (CNN) to prepare a special programme to promote Tanzania.
“CNN presented proposals on how to implement the programme, which the High Commission submitted to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism for further action,” he said.
The envoy’s office has also continued to coordinate the process for Air Tanzania to obtain approval to start direct flight from Dar-es-Salaam to London, a move that is expected to ease travel to Tanzania, thus attracting more tourists.
“So far, ATCL has already received approval to enter the UK through Gatwick International Airport and is continuing to complete other necessary procedures.
It was expected that Air Tanzania could officially begin its flights between November 2024 and March 2025,” he said.
He added that his office also held talks with the management of British Airways to persuade the airline to resume its flights to Tanzania.
The High Commission also held discussions with the management of British Airways to persuade the airline to resume its flights to Tanzania.
“In collaboration with Citi Bank, my office prepared a specific briefing on the economic outlook of Tanzania and opportunities that would lead to an increase in the number of air travellers to Tanzania and presented it to BA’s management,” he said. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
