Summary
· Mafuru said he would work with stakeholders in the convention tourism value chain as part of efforts to recapture lost market share
Arusha. Newly appointed Arusha International Conference Centre
(AICC) managing director Ephraim Mafuru yesterday pledged to use resources at
his disposal to revitalise the facility.
He said he would work with
stakeholders in the convention tourism value chain as part of efforts to
recapture lost market share.
“It’s an open secret that the AICC
has lost its niche. We must return to our glory days,” he told journalists in
Arusha.
The 45-year-old convention centre
urgently needs an upgrade in order to remain competitive in the market.
“We have to do a lot to put the AICC
back to track and enable it to get more clients and contribute to the economy,”
Mr Mafuru said.
He added that while fingers were
being pointed at the impact of Covid-19, the AICC’s competitors in neighbouring
countries and elsewhere were busy upgrading their facilities.
“Our neighbours have invested in
modern conference facilities. We have to do the same,” Mr Mafuru said, citing
Rwanda and Kenya as examples.
Mr Mafuru, a seasoned executive, was
recently appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to head the State-owned
facility.
The AICC also manages the Julius
Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam and dozens of
residential units in Arusha.
The post of AICC managing director
had been vacant for one and a half years following the death of Elishilia
Kaaya, who served in the position for 16 years.
Mr Mafuru said although conference
services were severely impacted by Covid-19, it was now time to reflect on the
way forward.
He pledged to work with stakeholders
in the tourism value chain to promote the AICC’s motto of “Bringing the World
to Tanzania”.
“We will sell the AICC as a package
to include all sectors in the value chain. We will not work in isolation.”
Mr Mafuru hinted on plans to build
new conference facilities in Dodoma, Zanzibar and elsewhere in the country.
He admitted, however, that one of
his major concerns was about the half-empty office block at the landmark
structure.
“We will sit down with the rest of
the management to see how to address this.”
About half of the 23,000 square
metres of office space at the AICC’s main building in the heart of Arusha is
unoccupied after some major tenants, notably regional and international
organisations, moved out.
The centre also has 650 housing
units scattered in various suburbs in Arusha since the 1970s and recently
constructed residential apartments.
Mr Mafuru declined to comment on the
ambitious project mulled by his predecessors to construct another convention
centre in Arusha.
The proposed Mount Kilimanjaro
International Convention Centre (MKICC), which was estimated to cost $200
million, has been on the drawing board for over 15 years.
However, Mr Mafuru was categorical
that the AICC, a parastatal under the Foreign Affairs ministry, should operate
as a business entity to generate revenue.
Prior to his appointment, Mr Mafuru
was head of corporate affairs at Kilombero Sugar Company Limited (KSCL), which
is based in Morogoro region.
He joins the AICC with a wealth of
knowledge and experience in strategic communications blended with commercial
advocacy.
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