Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro
Nyalandu makes remarks at the opening of a two-day international
conference on sustainable tourism in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro Nyalandu gave the promise when officially opening a two-day International Conference on Sustainable Tourism in Developing Countries (ICST-DC 2014).
The conference has been organised by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Marketing Department.
According to the minister, the attacks have not directly undermined tourism destinations in the country, but pose threats to the industry in the region and could have much more impact in future if urgent measures are not taken to redress the situation.
“Security issues are still vital, we cannot underestimate the latest Kenya attack,” he said, explaining that the East African member states are working on modalities to strengthen regional security.
Besides, the tourism minister noted that governments in the region are also working out on the possibility to dispatch security officers to the border posts to safeguard cross boundary tourists.
He stressed on the importance of members of the general public to play their role in disclosing names of strangers in their homes to security forces.
He said security is the responsibility of each and every individual and that integrated efforts between the security organs and majority of the people should also be emphasised.
Nyalandu warned however that in any case, the latest attack in Nairobi should be placed into considerations that it was not much far from the country.
He called on the participants to explore more areas that could contribute to the development of sustainable tourism in the country.
Nyalandu encouraged youngsters and especially higher education graduates to effectively play part in entrepreneurial tourism.
He called upon the delegates to seek ways of dispelling fear among Tanzanians who could be potential drivers in helping to promote international tourism.
Dr Ladislaus Komba, the Tanzania’s high commissioner in Uganda, delivering the keynote address said: “What happened in Kenya recently may help to explain insecurity concerns due to terrorism and violent robberies have see the sector, one of the leading sources of foreign exchange, grinding to a near-halt due to travel advisories issued by several western countries.”
He explained that since the travel warnings issued in May this year by the UK and US governments and later Australia and France parts of Mombasa look like ghost town.
“At least 25 hotels in Mombasa have been closed down, while more than 5,000 hotel workers have been laid off. Unfortunately unrest and instability in the neighbouring states are also a disincentive to travel to potential tourist destinations.”
He further warned that much has to be done to safeguard the sector that contributes 17.2 percent of the country’s GDP and at least 5 percent of its export earnings.
In 2010, for instance, Tanzania earned US$1.2bn, which was much more than earning in the agricultural sector.
The envoy emphasised that it was the tourism industry that helped Botswana, Maldives and Cape Verde to graduate to least developed countries status.
“You have to work out the peace and security issues, formulate sufficient funds for solid infrastructure, set appropriate regulations and standards and promote ecotourism to sustain the industry,” he advised.
For her part, Dr Issack Allan, the Organising Committee Chairman, said at least nine countries have attended the event to map out sustainability challenges ahead of improving the industry in Africa.
Meanwhile police fired teargas and rubber bullets yesterday in Kenya's main port city of Mombasa to disperse a demonstration about poor security called after gunmen killed about 65 people in attacks on the coast this week.
Activists said eight people were detained from the 200 or so people who joined the protest called by rights groups after gunmen raided the town of Mpeketoni, north of Mombasa port, on Sunday night and a nearby village 24 hours later.
Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist group, blamed for other deadly assaults in Kenya, claimed responsibility but President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed that claim and accused domestic political rivals of involvement.
Kenyatta's remarks have stoked political tensions and could re-open divisions in a nation where political allegiances tend to run along ethnic lines. Government opponents have denied any role in the Mpeketoni assaults.
"We were demonstrating peacefully and telling government to stop these senseless killings (on the) coast, but police suddenly appeared and attacked us with teargas and rubber bullets," Phyllis Mwema, executive director of KECOSCE, a body that works to shield young people from radical ideas, said.
Mwema said police had been properly notified of the protest, which had been arranged to take place before the Mpeketoni attacks. Police said they were informed but had not given approval for fear it could be targetted by "criminals".
Public criticism of the government about its failure to do more to secure the east African nation has gathered pace following a spate of gun and bomb attacks in recent months that have mainly targeted the Mombasa area and the capital Nairobi.
Critics accuse the government of not doing enough to ensure security since militants from Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist group stormed a Nairobi shopping mall in September, leaving 67 dead. This week's coastal attacks were the worst since then.
The government says it is being blamed for attacks that slip through rather than credited for halting numerous other plots.
Thursday's protest was called by 27 rights groups to demand a meeting with local government officials over insecurity in the coastal region and beyond. Police intervened before the protesters reached regional administrative offices.
"We are trying to ensure that we don't create situations that give evil minded people an easy opportunity to execute crime," Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa said, explaining the decision not to approve the protest.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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