Tourism sector in Tanzania now anticipates faster growth in next five-year period

By Correspondent

Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB)

Tanzania should expect influx of tourists in the near future following an agreement between Tanzania tourism stakeholders and diplomats from various embassies to promote Tanzania’s tourist attractions in their respective countries.

The parties reached consensus after approving an International marketing strategy which was presented by Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and Tourism Confederation of Tanzania (TCT), whose aim was to obtain a helping hand to boost the sector in the next five years.

This was revealed yesterday by TCT’s Executive Secretary Richard Rugimbana who attended the ambassadors’ meeting held in Dar es Salaam recently.

He said the diplomats pledged to promote Tanzania as a tourist and exceptional tourist destination in their respective countries.

The embassy representatives were from major tourist source markets for Tanzania that include Italian embassy, Canadian embassy, Spain, France, UK, German, USA, The Netherlands, Australia, South Africa, China, Turkey, India, Russia, Brazil and Gulf countries.

“After discussing the marketing strategy with the delegates, who clearly noted it was good, we now count on them to provide all the necessary and accurate information about Tanzania’s tourism so as to increase the number of tourist arrivals in the country,” he said.

“Also, we entrust them the responsibility to ensure that the International marketing strategy is well implemented and that it bares fruits for Tanzanians,” he said.

TTB and TCT’s decision to present the International marketing strategy to diplomats stems from the need to bolster collaboration with the embassies so as to woo more tourists from their countries to explore Tanzania by exchanging strategies.

“We have realised that it is very important for ambassadors to get proper information regarding Tanzania’s tourism sector so that they can help us to meet our tourism goals,” he said.
Naturally, the meeting was meant to serve as platform for the embassies to air their views on the strategy and also issue advice on how best to make the strategy successful.

Meanwhile, TTB and TCT will conduct sensitization programme in government institutions, private sector organisations and media houses to help them understand the international marketing strategy.
The success of the marketing strategy will depend on the support, collaboration and engagement of tourism stakeholders including TTB and TCT.

However, he called upon the government, members of TCT and TTB to use the newly developed International marketing strategy whenever they need to hold a tourism promotional campaign abroad.
The International marketing strategy was officially launched last year by the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Khamis Kagasheki.

The strategy is also geared towards attaining some of the Millennium Development Goals, particularly poverty eradication.

In the next five years, TTB and TCT will seek to improve Tanzania’s tourism position from 90th to 75th position by promoting it in various rising tourism markets, strengthen the tourism infrastructure in terms of airports and the quality of services in hotels and lodges, the TCT executive noted. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN