TANZANIA TOURIST HOTELS ARE OPEN TO LOCALS

Dodoma — TOURIST hotels which segregate the locals on any grounds were issued with a stern warning on Tuesday with the government threatening to close them down.

Deputy Minister for Natural Tourism and Tourism Lazaro Nyalandu issued the warning in the National Assembly here yesterday while responding to supplementary question asked by Iringa Urban MP Peter Msingwa (Chadema).

The opposition MP, who is also the Shadow Minister for the Ministry, complained that some tourist hotels were fond of segregating the locals. In response, the Deputy Minister said; "It is good Honorable MP that you have asked that question because I have received such complaints as well."

Adding; "There is no tourist hotel that has been registered under the laws of this country that will be allowed to segregate its clients. The government will take stern action including closure of any hotel found to be segregating people."

In another development, Mr Nyalandu informed the august House that a dispute between the Mikumi Lodge in Morogoro and the government had been resolved.

"The lodge has now been placed under the Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) which is now looking for an investor to re-develop it through Public-Private Partnership (PPP)," the Deputy Minister said.

He added that; "Tanapa has already floated tenders and shortlisted local and foreign investors to redevelop the lodge through PPP." The explanation was prompted by a basic question asked by Special Seats MP Magdalena Sakaya (CUF) on the fate of the dispute between the Mikumi Lodge and the government.

Ms Sakaya had also inquired to know whether the government had any plans in place to construct low-cost lodges and hotels in national parks so as enable Tanzanians to visit the parks and promote local tourism.

The Deputy Minister said Tanapa charges reasonable costs for its hostels, rest houses at between 20,000/- and 50,000/- and between 5,000/- and 15,000/- for adults per night at its camp sites.

Mr Nyalandu said children between the age of five and 16 are charged between 2,500/- and 7,500/- per night while those under five years are not charged. He also hinted that Tanapa had plans in pipelines to put up more lodges, rest houses and camp sites in a bid to promote local tourism.
SOURCE:

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)