TANZANIA will host Tourism for the Future Awards Africa 2015 where
more than 1,000 candidates representing a number of tourism businesses
from over 37 countries across the continent, will be awarded in
recognition of their contribution in the industry.
Initiated by Traveller's Eye in collaboration with the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Tourism, the tourism for the Future Awards Africa
have been internationally recognised and termed as the region's highest
accolade for sustainable tourism development.
According to Traveller's Eye Tanzania director, Ms Yvonne Baldwin,
the awards comprises of seven categories: Community, Destination
Stewardship, Environmental Conservation, Innovation, Sustainable
Business, People and Cultural Heritage Preservation awards.
"The Tourism for the Future Awards Africa 2015 are the first of a
kind annual event which aims to bring together the international tourism
trade, Conservationist Communities, Environmental Activists, Regional
Development institutions, international development agencies and the
community," Ms Yvonne told reporters in Dar es Salaam.
"This prestigious event shall put Tanzania on the map for the global
quest to achieve sustainable development and natural resources
management changing the landscape of the country's tourism sector to
become more sustainable," she noted.
The objective is to share knowledge, showcasing, advocating for,
motivating, acknowledging and rewarding best practices in sustainable
tourism across Africa in efforts to establish the continent's tourism
sector as a pillar for sustainable development.
According to Ms Yvonne, eighteen international experts from around
the world, representing the private sector, academic institutions,
nonprofit organisations and governments have come together as
independent judges to select the finalists and winners.
On his part the minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Lazaro
Nyalandu said, his ministry recognises the need to bridge the gap
between the growing sector, resource management and community
development.
"Aligning its policies to ensure that Tanzania is at the forefront in
adopting and embracing Sustainable Tourism practices, the aim is to
achieve tourism that caters for and protects the environment, develops
communities and enhances the economy."
He said Tanzania's tourism sector is currently the leading economic
sector earning over one billion US dollars overtaking agriculture in the
year 2013/14.
The tourism sector contributes about 19 per cent of the country's GDP according to the National Bureau of Statistics report.
Traveller's Eye Tanzania has been endorsed by the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Tourism to be the national sustainable tourism driver for
Tanzania.
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