Arusha
— Iringa is set to become another tourism hub in the country after
Arusha as part of broader
efforts to tap the huge potentials of the
southern circuit.
Under a massive
programme financed by the World Bank, a 'one stop centre' will be
established to coordinate all tourism and nature conservation activities
in the zone.
"The package would
include construction of a centre where tourism and conservation bodies
would operate", said the deputy minister for Natural Resources and
Tourism Constantine Kanyasu.
These, according to
him, would include the Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa), the Tanzania
Wildlife Management Authority (Tawa), the Tanzania Forestry Service
(TFS) and others.
Upgrading of Iringa
to a new tourism tourism centre is undertaken within the framework of
the World Bank-financed project to promote the southern circuit as a
leading tourist destination.
The $ 150 million six year Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth Project (REGROW) was launched last year.
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It aims to
reposition the southern circuit as an engine of growth through tourism
development and enhanced conservation of national parks, game reserves
and historical sites.
"Iringa would be
where tourism promotion, in particular, would be coordinated", Mr.
Kanyasu told The Citizen after opening the just-ended Karibu/Kilifair in
Arusha.
The ambitious World
Bank-supported project also aims to woo potential investors to build
hotels and other facilities within the circuit which has its share of
tourist attractions.
"The challenge has
always been poor roads, shortage of accommodation facilities and, of
course, dedicated (tourism) promotion as is the case with the northern
circuit", he said.
Tourist attraction
in the circuit include the 20,226 square kilometre Ruaha National Park,
the largest in the country and Selous Game Reserve (50,000 square km),
said to be the largest of its kind in Africa.
Others are the
Mikumi, Udzungwa and Kitulo national parks as well as the nature
reserves and iconic geographical and historical sites scattered in the
zone.
According to Mr.
Kanyasu, under the programme four new airstrips would constructed within
Ruaha National Park while the road network would undergo major
upgrading.
Currently the park,
has one major airstrip serving the charter flights. Airstrips within
the Selous Game Reserve would also be improved to cater for increased
flights.
Introduction of
scheduled flights by the national carrier to Iringa airport and
construction of Songwe International Airport are also seen as among
efforts to open up the southern circuit to tourism.
Speaking during the
three-day fair which ended yesterday,Peter Msigwa, the MP for Iringa
Urban (Chadema), lauded the government for seriousness shown to promote
the southern tourism circuit.
"There is a huge
potential yet to be fully tapped to increase revenues for our country",
he said, noting that the new push can attract investments in the area.
Philbert Casmir,
the NMB Bank senior manager (Acquiring Business) said Iringa suited
being the new hub for tourism industry given its strategic location.
"We are in full
support of the initiative and we will open up more banking services for
this grand project", he said, adding that the bank's new focus was on
the zone.
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