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As Tanzania prepares to celebrate its 50th Anniversary of Independence on December 9, 2011, Honorable Ezekiel Maige, MP, Tanzania’s Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, reported that “Tanzania tourism continues to show tremendous growth.” Hon. Maige is leading a high-level tourism delegation to the US to encourage investment in infrastructure, hotels and lodges, especially in the luxury sector, as well as meet with tourism partners.
In an effort to increase tourism from the US and strengthen Tanzania’s position with major tour operators, Hon. Maige and his delegation met with Terry Dale, President of United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
Hon. Maige also spoke at the Africa Travel Association’s (ATA) Sixth Annual Presidential Forum, which took place at New York University on September 20th. Tanzania Tourist Board and Tanzania National Parks were sponsors of the event. The Tanzanian delegation then proceeded to Washington, DC to participate in the Third Annual Diaspora Council of Tanzanians in America’s Convention, which takes place at the Marriott Washington Dulles – Airport Hotel on September 22 and 23, and culminated in a gala “uhuru” (freedom) dinner marking the 50th Anniversary.
“Tanzania will be marking its 50th Anniversary as a year- long celebration,” said Hon. Maige. “We are working closely with tour operators to create special 50th Anniversary packages that will be diverse and affordable, enabling many people to experience Tanzania during this exciting period.”
Tourism is one of Tanzania’s fastest growing economic sectors, with 782,669 arrivals worldwide in 2010, representing a 9% increase over 2009. In the US, Tanzania’s number-one source of tourism, tour operators reported a tremendous increase in bookings in 2011, for this year, and for 2012 and 2013.
The result of this growth is an increased demand for expanding hotel capacity as well as flights, especially to Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is the gateway to the famous icons in the North, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. As the country celebrates 50 years of a peaceful and stable democracy, Tanzania continues to be a prosperous and investment friendly country.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
