(November 2014, Dar Es Salaam) The first-ever international tourism
exhibition held in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam, the
Swahili International Tourism Expo from October 1-4, 2014(S!TE) was
hailed a success with 175 exhibitors from 13 counties and over 1,000
participants including media, tourism stakeholders, diplomats and
business executives. The expo was officially launched by the President
of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on
the second day of the exhibition, October 2nd, 2014.
The Swahili International Tourism Expo hosted a buyer program to make
it accessible for top quality buyers to attend the show while
maximizing the sales for exhibitors. Twenty International Buyers (Tour
Operators, Packagers and Travel Agents, Wholesalers) attend the show.
Karen Zulaf, President Denver-based tour operator, Deeper Africa, who
attended Tanzania’s first ever Swahili International Tourism Expo said
that “serious business took place at site.”
Zulaf said that being at SITE enabled her to meet directly with new
local operators entering the Tanzania safari market. “They were all in
one place and within two days we were able to make business arrangements
with three different companies right on the spot. We will be able to
have bookings with them before the end of 2014. It would have taken us
more than a week of traveling and working in Tanzania to accomplish
this, yet we were able to do it in just two days”.
Devota Mdachi, Acting Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board, said
“Zulaf’s comments reflected the general feeling of both the
international buyers as well as the local Tanzanian suppliers. We hope
to start promoting next year’s SITE early so we can attract more tourism
and travel professionals from all over the world.”
The exhibitors were mostly from Eastern, Southern, and Central
Africa. China and India were the nations outside Africa which
participated fully at the S!TE event. The S!TE exhibition registered
record levels of attendance.
In an effort to create awareness and increase product and
destination knowledge for hosted buyers and travel media the invited
S!TE hosted buyers and travel media professionals participated in a
pre-tour to Zanzibar (September 27 – 29, 2014) and a post tour to
Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti National Park (October 5 - 7, 2014).
The hosted buyer and media program was supported by Ethiopian
Airlines, The Zanzibar Collections, Sun Tours and Travel Ltd, Azam
Marine, New Africa Hotel, Turkish Airlines, Hyatt Regency Dar Es Salaam -
The Kilimanjaro, Serena Hotels, Southern Sun (Tsogo Hotels), Dar es
salaam, Protea Hotels and Sea Cliff Hotels chain (Dar es salaam),
Precision Air, Zara Tours, Naenda Safaris Ltd, Wildlife Expeditions,
Acacia Farm Lodge, Bougainvillea Safari Lodge and Soroi Tented Camp.
The program included seminar presentations which were hosted by
tourism and travel experts from China, media professionals from the
United States, and also Ethiopian Airlines, Rwand Air, among others.
Swahili International Tourism Expo (S!TE) is organized by Tanzania
Tourist Board (TTB) and South African-based Pure Grit Project and
Exhibition Management Limited.
ABOUT TANZANIA
Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is focused on wildlife
conservation and sustainable tourism, with approximately 28% of the land
protected by the Government, the largest percentage of any country in
the world. It boasts of 16 National Parks and 32 Game Reserves, 50 Game
Controlled Areas, one special Conservation Area (the Ngorongoro) and
three Marine Parks. It is home to the tallest mountain in Africa, the
legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro; The Serengeti, home to the “Great Animal
Migration” that was named the New 7th Wonder of the World, by USA Today
and ABC TV’s Good Morning America; the world acclaimed Ngorongoro
Crater, often referred to as the “Eden of Africa” and the “8th Wonder of
the World”; Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of mankind: the Selous, the
world’s largest game reserve; Ruaha, now the second largest National
Park in Africa; the spice islands of Zanzibar; and seven UNESCO World
Heritage Sites. Most important for visitors, the Tanzanian people, with a
rich history and diverse blend of cultures, are warm and friendly.
Tanzania, an oasis of peace and stability with a democratically elected
and stable government, will celebrate its 53rd anniversary of
Independence on December 9th.
For more information on Tanzania, visit www.tanzaniatourism.go.tz.
Editorial contact:
Karen Hoffman/ Chanel LeMond
The Bradford Group
(212) 447-0027
Tanzania@bradfordglobalmarketing.com
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