IN recognition of the huge potential for Tanzania to become the best
tour destination in the continent, stakeholders in the tour industry
both local and international have seen the need to convene a meeting in
Arusha to deliberate on strategies to unravel factors impeding rapid
growth of the sector.
According to the organizing secretariat, Globalskill Consulting in
collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the
forum dubbed 'Mpingo Tourism Summit 2014', will invite highly
experienced experts in tourism to share valid experience and advice on
the best way forward.
The Summit Chairman Bakir Angalia spoke of the existing operational
gap between policy makers and private players on the ground that,
through close cooperation tourism in Tanzania could move the world
positively. Under the initiative the industry will contribute more to
the national income.
The two-day summit is scheduled for 22nd and 23rd of September. Among
other hitches that tour operators persistently pointed out as a serious
setback was lack of national carrier (airline) which could facilitate
direct flights to visitors from across the continents.
It was explained that since nearly 40 per cent of about one million
tourists visiting Tanzania annually have to land at the Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport in Kenya and cross to the country through the
Namanga border post, the trend was quite unhealthy and dangerous to the
flourishing of the tour industry.
"Ticket arrangements constitute at least 60 per cent of the tourist
budget. It is not advisable for the country to continue operating that
way without a reliable carrier which would guarantee direct flights to
Tanzania to the convenience of visitors as well. These are the kind of
things to talk about for a lasting solution," Mr Angalia noted.
Other issues on the agenda include new direction for tourism
products, development, local government and sustainable tourism
development, poaching menace, tourism policy modelling, destination and
reputation.
According to the timetable, the key speakers during the Mpingo
Tourism Summit include most eminent persons with international
recognition for their contribution to the welfare of the tour industry
for realization of the intended goals.
Among the presenters is Dirk Elzinga, the Managing Director of
Convention Industry Consultants (Pty) Ltd in Cape Town, South Africa who
will lead discussion on some of the topics during the summit.
Experts of global recognition are known to have assisted world
governments and private organizations with feasibility studies and
pre-opening marketing and business management support for new convention
centre initiatives. More importantly, the conference also invited, Chad
Shiver, a Senior DMO Executive with Trip Advisor in London.
He is expected to share ideas which will help lift up Tanzania from
among the lowest in rankings. Trip Advisor's DMO team's responsibilities
include working with and developing relationships with tourist boards
across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Speakers/presenters from the Ministry of Natural resources and
Tourism will talk about the national and regional tourism policies,
share with other delegates the government's view on the existing
policies and together discuss the shortfalls. Other speakers are from
the Tanzania Tourism Board (TTB), and Tanzania Association of Tour
Operators (TATO) among others.
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