Tourism sector plans massive promotion in Berlin trade fair

(Left: Geoffrey Meena, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Marketing Manager)

Stakeholders in the tourism industry will fly the Tanzanian flag higher at this year’s IBT Berlin tourism show, as they play host of the East African expo. The latter is a special focus event to be held in between the five-day show.

 

IBT Berlin is the world’s largest International Trade Fair that is held in March every year in Germany, and this time round it is slated for the 4th, whereby 114,000 exhibitors from 180 countries will attend.

 

Speaking to The Guardian in an exclusive interview in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Marketing Manager Geoffrey Meena, said Tanzania will use the opportunity to promote its attractions through its current campaign “Tanzania: Africa’s Best Safari Country” as voted by Safaribookings.com, and Tanzania, The land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and the Serengeti”.

 

He said the Tanzanian team will also promote the three attractions that were selected among the ‘Seventh Natural Wonders of the Africa’ in 2013.

“We are proud to be hosts of this year’s IBT Berlin - East African day, which will be held on March 6. As chairman of the East African region, all the showcasing of EAC tourism products will be exclusively done in the Tanzanian pavilion. So we shall use this advantage to woo as many visitors and business partners as possible,” Meena said.

 

He said ministers from Tanzania are highly expected to attend the event. “Therefore, it is an added advantage to the country in terms of boosting investment opportunities,” he explained.

 

He said besides the TTB, three other government institutions will represent Tanzania namely, Tanapa, Zanzibar Commission for Tourism (ZCT) and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), respectively.

 

The private sector will be represented by 57 exhibitors, compared to 55 last year. Of the companies, 21 are tourist travel operators, tour operators and ticketing firms (30), 33 are accommodation operators (hotel and camps - 24) while three of them are airline carriers.

 

According to him, Tanzania will occupy a single floor 288sq.m stand in the African Zone, closer to her neighbouring East African countries including Burundi and Rwanda.

 

He said among the products to be showcased are traditional clothing such as Maasai attire, food items- coffee and tea, beer and arts and crafts.

 

Tanzania has participated in the IBT Berlin for 19 years and its impact can be felt in the increase of tourist visits in to the country especially from Germans. In 2012, the number of German tourists in the country soared to 53,951 from 36,626, marking a significant 47 percent increase. On average, the Germans visit lasts 11 days, which include tour of historic sites, museums, beach holiday in Zanzibar and national parks.

 

Germany is led by Italy, US and the UK in terms of number of visits to Tanzania per year.

 

On the benefits of the renowned travel trade fair to Tanzania, Meena said alongside selling safaris to international businesspersons, the event offers a learning platform for latest technological trends in tourism.

 

“The fair is not only about meeting traders and selling tour packages or sharing expertise in the field but it’s also about learning new strategies and technological business trends. 

 

Before exhibition hours, we can have seminars conducted by International organisations such as UNWTO which really help us keep track of the latest innovations in the industry and how to adjust,” he said.

 

Established in 1966, ITB Berlin is the foremost business platform for global touristic offers with very high exhibitor satisfaction (over 90 percent).

 

The exhibition will showcase innovative and practical travel industry products. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN