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Top of Mount Kilimanjaro,
Tanzania TOURISM IS NOW TANZANIA'S
LEADING ECONOMIC SECTOR Earning $1 billion (USD),
Tourism Overtakes
Agriculture Growing at a steady
rate for the past seven years, Tanzania's tourism
is booming. According to the Governor of the Bank
of Tanzania, Prof. Benno Ndulu, Tourism, earning $1
billion USD, now contributes nearly triple the GDP
of Agriculture, which has been the leading
contributor to the East African country's coffers
for most of its history. According to the Honorable
Mme. Shamsa S. Mwangunga, Tanzania's Minister of
Natural Resources & Tourism, "Estimates are
that more than 750,000 tourists are expected to
arrive in the country this year, bringing in about
$950 million dollars. We attribute this
growth to several factors, not the least of which
is that Tanzania has a stable and peaceful
environment with a democratically elected
government. The fact that
President George W. Bush spent four of the six days
on his recent African tour in Tanzania speaks for
itself about the safety and stability of the
country, as well as about the visionary leadership
of his host, H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President
of the United Republic of Tanzania. TOURISM- TANZANIA SUCCESS
STORY Increased air
access, with many carriers now flying direct to
Tanzania, new luxury hotels on the Mainland and
Zanzibar, improved infrastructure and tarmac roads
on safari circuits are also major factors
contributing to Tanzania tourism's success
story. Peter Mwenguo,
Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board,
noted that these improvements together with
the diversification of the tourism product
adds to the existing allure of Tanzania's
unsurpassed wildlife, seven World Heritage Sites,
the cultural richness and friendliness of
Tanzania's people, miles of beautiful Indian Ocean
coastline and the exotic spice Islands of Zanzibar.
"Over the last 10 years, Tanzania has become
a stand-alone destination. In the past, many tour
operators to East Africa offered Tanzania as an
add-on or extension to other countries. Now, there
is such a great demand by clients to spend their
entire time in Tanzania, that the same tour
operators offer more than one Tanzania-only
itinerary. Recently they have even expanded their
programs to include the lesser known Southern
Circuit where visitors can explore the world famous
Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park.
Recently, it was announced that Ruaha will be
combined with the adjacent Usangu Game Reserve,
making it the largest National Park in
Africa." 2/ TOURISM NOW IS NUMBER
ONE ECONOMIC SECTOR BRAND TANZANIA: THE LAND
OF KILIMANJARO, ZANZIBAR AND THE
SERENGETI Tanzania as a
brand is acquiring wide and respected recognition
in the past few years, so it comes as no surprise
that America is now the leading source of visitors
to Tanzania's Game Parks. In October 2006,
Serengeti National Park was named the Seventh New
Wonder of the World by ABC-TV's Good Morning
America and USA Today. Zanzibar was on the
New York Times Travel Section's "Places to Go" in
2007. Kilimanjaro made the same list for 2008 as
well as the USA Today 2008 List of "must see"
destinations. Even the popular
American movie, The Bucket List, starring
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, included a
"Safari in Tanzania" as one of the 10
"must do's" before one "kicks the
bucket." In an effort to
reinforce Brand Tanzania with the American
travelers as well as Travel Industry professionals
in the US, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) launched a
two-prong campaign. Targeting the consumer in
September, 2007, TTB inaugurated a TV campaign, its
first-ever, which aired on CNN, CHLN, CNN Airport,
and CNN.com. According to Amant
Macha, TTB Marketing Director, "we have had a great
demand from American agents for a Tanzania Travel
Specialist program. With this in mind, TTB
initiated a "Tanzania Travel Specialist" course of
study with Travel Agent University. The response
was overwhelming, with more than 500 travel agents
passing the test and qualifying as Tanzania
Specialists in the first four months of the course
offering." HIGH PROFILE
CONFERENCES Now, the country is
preparing to host two high profile conferences in
Arusha: the 33rd Annual Congress of the Africa
Travel Association, May 19-23, 2008
(www.africatravelassociation.org) which is expected
to draw more than 300 travel industry
professionals; and the Leon H. Sullivan Summit VIII
(www.thesullivansummit.go.tz), June 2-6, 2008
expecting to draw more than 2000 delegates from the
US. About
Tanzania Tanzania, the
largest country in East Africa, is focused on
wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with
approximately 28 % of the land protected by the
Government. It boasts 15 National Parks and 33 game
reserves. It is the home of the tallest mountain in
Africa, the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro; The
Serengeti, named in October, 2006, the New 7th
Wonder of the World by USA Today and Good Morning
America; the world acclaimed Ngorongoro Crater,
often called the 8th Wonder of the World; Olduvai
Gorge, the Cradle of Mankind: the Selous, the
world's largest game reserve; Ruaha, now expected
to be the largest National Park. TOURISM NOW IS NUMBER ONE
ECONOMIC SECTOR Park in Africa; the
Spice Islands of Zanzibar; and seven world Heritage
Sites. Most important for
tourism, the Tanzanian people are warm and
friendly, speak English, although Kiswahili is the
national language, and the country is an oasis of
peace and stability with a democratic and stable
government. For more
information about Tanzania visit
www.tanzaniatouristboard.com; Editorial contact
in the US: Karen Hoffman/Fran
Levine The Bradford
Group, Tel: (212)
447-0027; Fax: (212) 725 8253 |
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