The report also indicates that the USA and France were the biggest earners while China sent more tourists around the World, who spent more than 165 billion US dollars. Other countries which more tourists came from are USA, UK, German, Russia, France, Canada, Italia, Australia, Brazil and Japan.
There are more than 19 different kinds of tourisms but cultural tourism, historical sites tourism, spiritual site tourism, beach tourism and wildlife tourism are more popular throughout the world.
In Tanzania, tourism industry contributes more than 17 per cent of the national income which is mainly generated by different national parks and game reserves. Australia, India, Canada, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and many countries in South America and Africa lead the wildlife tourism industry in the world.
With the exception of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia which control major historical sites in Africa, other African countries especially those located south of Sahara their tourism industries depend on wildlife.
Africa has more than 374 national parks but main players are Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. This is an exceptional kind of tourism whereby tourists are able to visit different national parks where they are able to see animals in their natural environment. The report further points out that about ten national parks in Africa are preferred more by tourists from Asia, America and Europe.
The best national parks of Africa are Maasai Mara of Kenya, Chobe of Botswana, Serengeti of Tanzania, Luangwa of Zambia, Etosha of Namibia, Bwindi of Uganda, Hwange of Zimbabwe, Ngorongoro of Tanzania and Okovango of Botswana. Unlike other African countries, the report shows Tanzania managed to enlist more national parks than others.
Among the best national parks in Africa, Etosha leads with an area covering about 22, 270 square kilometres followed by Kruger with an area of 19,485 square kilometres. Serengeti follows with 14,750 square kilometres ahead of Hwange with 14,651 square kilometres followed by Chobe with 11,700 square kilometres then Luanga with 9,050 square kilometres.
With an area covering 8,292 square kilometres is seventh in size followed by Maasai Mara which covers an area of about 1,510 square kilometres followed by Bwindi with 331 square kilometres.
Zoologists say an area of a national park plays a crucial role on conservation activities for animal and vegetation in any sanctuary around the World. Africa has 54 countries but it is Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Angola, Gabon, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda and Algeria that are most preferred by tourists from other continents.
South Africa, Mali, Angola, Niger, Chad, Libya, Sudan, DRC and Algeria are the largest countries in Africa, each covering an area of more than 1,200,000 square kilometres.
With an area of 945,087 square kilometers, Tanzania has portioned more than 118,736. 56 for 28 game reserves available in different parts of the country. Since independence, about 56,698.80 square kilometres have been portioned for 17 national parks. Having such a big area for national parks and game reserves, Tanzania leads the world with a big number of animals roaming in the wild.
Tanzania’s Selous has one of the largest populations of elephants and African buffaloes. On the other hand, Ruaha is regarded as an almost virgin national park where big mammals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, leopards, hyena and cheetah are found in great numbers.
Unlike other parks in Africa, Ruaha is endowed with a good number of antelopes such as roan antelope, sable antelope, greater and lesser kudu and other species of bovines. Tanzania leads others in number of wildebeests, zebra, lions, hippos, buffaloes, Thomson’s gazelle, hyena and more than 400 different species of birds.
However, poaching and other man made obstacles are some of challenges which are holding back the industry from full growth. By implementing special operation such as Tokomeza the government is working hard to ensure that national parks and game reserve are well protected.
This goal will be attained if all good citizens join hands with the government to fight poaching and adhere to rules which protect national parks and game reserves.
Despite the economic slump which affected the world few eyes ago and other catastrophes such as Ebola disease, the number of tourists coming to Tanzania is rising year after year.
According to reports from the ministry of tourism and natural resources, in 2013 Tanzania received 1,095,884 tourists, but in 2014 the number increased to 1,140, 156.
The growth is equivalent to a four percent increment which may appear insignificant, but something is better than nothing as it indicates the sector is coming out from the economic crunch. Tanzania is located in a strategic position along the coastal area of East Africa where beautiful national parks are found. Along the coast there are elegant marine parks such as Mafia and Chumbe Marine Parks, stunning Jozani forest and Saadani national parks.
In different time of a year, these and other smaller parks along the coast provide a rare opportunity to tourists to different spices of marine mammals such as dolphins and whales.
Not only that, with a huge potential in the southern and western circuits where almost virgin national parks such as Gombe, Mahale, Katavi, Ruaha, Udzungwa and Kitulo are found the country possess a wider chance of generating more money from the sector.
0 comments:
Post a Comment