Natural Resources and Tourism minister Lazaro
Nyalandu (C) exchanges views with stakeholders in the fight against
elephant poaching in Dar es Salaam yesterday.
Speaking to this paper in a telephone interview on Monday, one of
the organizers, Bakiri Angalia, from Global Skill Consulting and
Education, said the two-day summit scheduled for September 22 has been
organized by his firm in collaboration with the ministry.
The first of its kind in the country, it is expected to be attended
by between 200 and 300 delegates from various countries in Africa and
overseas.
So far, he said, 70 delegates from Kenya, South Africa, Australia and the UK have confirmed to attend the summit.
“We have extended invitations to tourism stakeholders in the East
African Community (EAC) whom, we think are potential in the growth of
the industry,” he said.
The keynote speakers are individuals who have gained worldwide
recognition for their expertise and accomplishment in the Industry, he
further said.
The speakers constitute knowledgeable researchers from all over the
world and from the ministry, who will talk on the effects of national
and regional tourism policies, provide them with the government’s view
on the existing policies and the policies that need change.
Some of the renowned speakers are Dick Elzinga who is Managing
Director of Convention Industry Consultants (Pty) Ltd based in Cape
Town, South Africa, Sirili Akko, CEO, Tanzania Tour Operators (Tato) and
Jane Mary Ntalwila, Principal research officer at the Tanzania Wildlife
Research Institute (Tawiri).
Others are Chad Shiver who is a Senior DMO Executive with Trip
Advisor in London and Larry Dwyer Prof of Travel and Tourism Economics
at University of New South Wales.
Tanzania is one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in
Africa with its unique tourism product mix ranging from beautiful
beaches, national parks, game reserves, historical sites, culture and
traditions to natural wonders.
The tourism industry contributes 17 percent of the GDP, surpassing sectors like mining and manufacturing.
However from a foreign exchange earning point of view, tourism has
the potential to beat sectors like agriculture and industry which
contribute 47 percent and 25 percent respectively.
Statistics show that in 2012 alone, Tanzania received 950,000 foreign visitors generating 2.24trn/- revenues.
This is an indication that, should more efforts be directed to
improving the quality of the industry, Tanzanian tourism sector is bound
to experience enormous growth from the 825,122 visitors in 2008 to a
million tourists that were expected to bring in the net earnings of
2.7trn/- by the end of last year.
However, in the light of the most recent incidence of poaching that
has seen the decimation of elephant herds from 109,000 in 2009 to below
70,000 in 2012 and other constraints like climate change and tourism
shift, these are critical issues which require common effort to
guarantee survival of the tourism sector.
According to Angalia these constraints are a loud call to the
private sector, government and community to take initiative towards
responsible tourism—hence the holding of Mpingo tourism summit.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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