Thursday, April 2, 2015

Tourism on the decline in Tanga Region, says BoT expert

Bank of Tanzania (BoT)
Tourism stakeholders have been asked to promote the sector in Tanga Region which is said to be on the decline and failing to contribute equitably to the region’s income.
 
An economic expert with the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), Moto Lugobi, speaking to development stakeholders in the region said Tanga contribute only 18 percent of tourism in the Northern corridor, particularly on the border.
 
Lugobi said Tanga Region has ample tourist opportunities including wildlife sanctuaries, historical places like Amboni and Tongoni caves as well as slave routes, but receives a very minimal number of travelers. This acts so as to constrain the region’s sources of income, he said.
 
Until June 2014, the income arising from tourism in the Northern corridor which brings together Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Manyara and Tanga regions was 1.3 percent—about 113.8m/-, he said.
 
“As for Tanga Region, there are no clear records showing the number of visitors who toured the region during the period, while Arusha Region received 95 percent, Kilimanjaro five percent.” the expert said.
 
Even thogh, he said there are challenges that result in the decline of tourism in the region—one being the lack of a competitive market in transport and transportation, little awareness by financial institutions to open up utilities in the region and the lack of developed road, railway and port infrastructures.
 
According to Ligobi, over the past two years, the area’s GDP per capital has remained 17.3 percent,w hile Tanga Region’s contribution is 26.3 percent, he said.
 
“The income of individuals in the region has grown by 2.5 percent… thus according to the 2012 census, it gives an average of 1.18m/-, but when compared to the zonal and national GDP, it remains at 17.3 percent,” he explained.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

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