WHAT TO SEE
Tourists traveling to Tanzania can expect more than just beaches and safari, as the country differentiates its offerings while also integrating with the region.
The EATP is a regional tourism platform within the East African Community (EAC), with an apex body made up of each of the tourism private sector agencies from member states, such as the Tanzania Tourism Confederation, and similar representatives from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. In addition to the apex body, we have included two other associations: the hospitality sector and tour operator associations. The idea behind the EATP was to create a vehicle for brainstorming ideas about tourism that can then filter into the EAC decision-making process in general. Promoting links between Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, and Burundi in the tourism sector has been vital for all nations to promote intra and inter-regional tourism, share experiences, overcome challenges, monitor their progress, and refine their industries. Currently all five EAC member states more or less promote similar natural wildlife resources—beaches, lakes, mountains, and culture in general. However, we still have differentiations in these products. There some strong products like the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar in Tanzania; a unique gorilla experience in Rwanda; and the Masai Mara in Kenya, which are stand out products and will continue to be promoted individually. Long term, the idea is to create a packaged product with an integrated marketing strategy.
Zanzibar has a rich culture and history; this alone should be attraction enough to visit the region. We have one of the oldest histories in East Africa, dating back to the Stone Age. That said, we will always remain primarily a beach destination, and we cannot change that, nor should we try to. However, it is important to diversify the message we put out there to attract different crowds. Zanzibar has never been hugely well known for its MICE offerings, though in the past five years we have seen some significant improvements on this front. Events on the island are given a higher profile—from film festivals, which have been around here for the last 15 years or so, to food and music events, which are on the rise—and we see the tourism community placing considerable focus on this front. Strategically, we at Destination Zanzibar seek to promote tourism from the GCC. This is the region to which we are more directly connected, as it is just a five-hour flight from almost any GCC city to Zanzibar. While there are a few direct flights connecting Zanzibar with Paris or London, there are direct links with airlines such as Qatar Airways and Oman Air, or from destinations such as Dubai. This has increased the possibility of bringing in more tourists, including business tourists.
You could describe the tourism industry in Zanzibar as mature, although for the right sort of investors, not yet entirely saturated. There are still areas opening up in Zanzibar that have potential for investors in tourism properties, and these help local employment providing the staff, goods, and services necessary for their function. For example, there is certainly space in the market for smaller properties and owner-managed places, in particular private houses and villas. We have seen trends starting to move away from large hotels, particularly with the beach extensions of the Tanzanian safari industry. My concept was to build a number of small beach houses that could accommodate 15 guests as singles, couples, or small groups of families and friends. This concept presents a contrast from the more traditional family beach resorts and hotels but is by no means the only approach. The good thing about the way the tourism industry in Zanzibar has developed is that there is something for everyone, from local style budget beach bungalows and dorms for volunteers and students to beautifully converted town houses in Stone Town and four- and five-star holiday resorts.
WHAT TO SEE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Guest Speaker
Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General, Commonwealth of Nations
TBY talks to Hon. Patricia Scotland, Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, on the advantages of being a member of the Commonwealth, the need to celebrate diversity, and Tanzania's war against corruption.
read articleGuest Speaker
Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General, East African Community (EAC)
TBY talks to Libérat Mfumukeko, Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC), on Tanzania's importance to the EAC, the major achievements of regional integration, and obstacles ahead of a monetary union.
read articleInterview
Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary , Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC)
TBY talks to Raymond P. Mbilinyi, Executive Secretary of Tanzania National Business Council (TNBC), on its work to support the private sector in the country, tackling challenges in the economy, and clamping down on corruption.
read articleReview: Banking
The Quest for Depth
If Tanzania is to meet its 2025 vision of attaining middle-income status, it will need to corral its bank-centric financial and capital markets for greater depth by extending participation and rendering credit more accessible to SMEs, women, and the young to spur economic growth.
read articleInterview
Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner , Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA)
TBY talks to Dr. Baghayo A. Saqware, Commissioner of Insurance, Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA), on achieving universal healthcare coverage, the brilliance of microinsurance, and how to partner with public and private entities to increase the industry's penetration.
read articleReview
Legal Thunder
With the stepping down of Minister of Energy and Minerals Sospeter Muhongo in May 2017 over transparency issues and the introduction of three new laws that give the government the right to renegotiate or revoke existing mining and oil and gas rights, private players in the country are unsure of what future lies ahead. On the other hand, project-specific developments bode well for a sector in need of a breakthrough.
read articleInterview
Kapuulya Musomba, Managing Director, Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC)
TBY talks to Kapuulya Musomba, Acting Managing Director of Tanzania Petroleum Development Company (TPDC), on the planned expansion of the Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline, entering northern industrial hubs, and empowering nascent industries.
read articleInterview
Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director, Shell/BG Tanzania
TBY talks to Marc Den Hartog, Managing Director of Shell/BG Tanzania, on the critical need for economies of scale, the importance of developing LNG for export, and why renewables must be taken into account in any long-term plan.
read articleInterview
Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment
TBY talks to Hon. Charles Mwijage, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, on how to reach middle-income status, employing the private sector toward this end, and what sets the country apart from the rest of East Africa.
read articleFocus: Helium
Discoveries of Magna-tude
Despite being the second most common element in the universe, helium is in short supply on earth. With global reserves of the gas steadily dwindling, and demand steadily increasing, the discovery of a whopping 1.53 billion cbm of helium in underground chambers in Tanzania could not have come at a better moment.
read articleInterview
Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA)
TBY talks to Gilliard W. Ngewe, Director General of Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Agency (SUMATRA), on transportation budget allocation and cross-sector dialog and partnerships.
read articleInterview
Jared H. Zerbe, CEO, Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS)
TBY talks to Jared H. Zerbe, CEO of Tanzania International Container Terminal Services Limited (TICTS), on regional trade flows and Tanzania's potential to take a leading role in orchestrating cargo movement.
read articleFocus: Tanzania Strategic Cities Project (TSCP)
East Africa’s “Geneva”
If Rome wasn't built in a day, it is not surprising that Tanzania's project to revamp eight of its largest cities is entering its eighth year of implementation. A release of further funds from the World Bank has given the project a new lease of life.
read articleReview
Lost in the Maize
Agriculture accounts for 30% of Tanzania's GDP, and the sector has experienced above-average output in recent years compared to the rest of the African continent. However, the sector's development is held back by poor rural farming practices and general infrastructure bottlenecks.
read articleInterview
Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
TBY talks to Fred Kafeero, Tanzania Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on the organization's long-term support for Tanzania's development, recent initiatives in agriculture, and financing.
read articleFocus: 2020 Irrigation Target
Reap What You Sow
In 2006, the Tanzanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation set a target for Tanzania's agriculture sector: to irrigate 1 million ha of land by 2020. More than 10 years on and moving ever closer to the deadline, this target has not yet been met, though the first seeds are being sown.
read articleFocus: Southern Circuit Tourism
Hidden Gems
Tourism is frequently described as the jewel in Tanzania's economic crown. In 2016 alone, the industry contributed over USD2 billion in revenues. However, for at least three years, the government has expressed concern that tourism is not well distributed across the country.
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