Tanzania: Asili Resort - Perfect Mix of Art, Gourmet and African Hospitality

By Noel Thomas

As Tanzania targets to receive 2 million tourists in 2017, investors in the industry face an uphill task of erecting new facilities that will meet the growing demand for accommodation, dinning and other utilities.

In preparation for the influx, the government has been encouraging investors, particularly local entrepreneurs, to build more middle sized tourist facilities.

Of late, Arusha city which is Tanzania's tourist hub has witnessed an increase in the number of these facilities ranging from hotels, bars and restaurants to Bureaus de Change and Curio shops.

There are over 50 tourist hotels and restaurants in Arusha region alone, according to the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), the country's overall promoter of the industry at home and abroad.

The increase of such amenities, much as they are intended to carter for tourists visiting the northern tourist attractions of Arusha (Momella), Lake Manyara, Tarangire, Serengeti and Kilimanjaro National Parks as well as the Ngorongoro Crater, they also help to beautify the city itself, once dubbed "The Geneva of Africa", by former American President Bill Clinton.

On the other hand, the facilities are a source of employment to hundreds of youths leaving colleges every year.

The Tourism sector which was last year projected to earn the country about US dollars 3.7 billion (over shillings 8 trillion), employs about 1.2 million people nationwide.

According to TTB over 1.5 million tourist arrivals were expected last year up from slightly over 1.1 million arrivals recorded in 2014 which brought in some 2 billion USD. The formal data on revenue and arrivals for last year are expected to be out by March or April this year.

The increase in the number of these facilities translates to increased employment vacancies tallying the theme for last year's World Tourism Day: 'Billion tourists, billion opportunities'.

The day is celebrated on September 27th, in commemoration of the promulgation by the United Nations General Assembly of the Statutes of the World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO) in 1970.

By and large, the facilities are a source of recreation to Arushans and to the visitors who visit the city every day, be it on business, meetings or holiday making.

The latest Arusha entrepreneur to heed the government call for construction of middle class facilities is Mr. Semu Elias Mbise, a Tour Operator based in Arusha. He has just opened the Asili Resort, a restaurant and bar located off the Old Moshi Road close to the imposing new NSSF Building.

From the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) or the famous Clock Tower which stands at the heart of Arusha city halfway between Cape Town and Cairo, one can easily walk to this state of the art facility located in a serene ever green environment, for a breakfast, lunch, picnic lunch (lunch boxes) and dinner or for a drink and a snack.

Built in real traditional architecture overlooking a well kept botanical garden, Asili Resort hosts a cozy bar with a splendid restaurant, a conference and a ballroom, all furnished with high class furniture and paintings that offer you a taste of the African tradition hospitality.

The bar is well stocked with local and exotic beverages while the restaurant offers a wide range of local and international cuisines and snacks.

According to Mr. Mbise, who says he has been slowly developing the place for the past five years out of his passion for the industry, a 'Jumbo size' barbecue area for nyama choma and pizzas will soon be functional.

One can also order for on-door catering and deliveries from the restaurant. "Our aim is to give our patrons a real African touch and taste of high standards but at affordable prices", said the ardent tour man during a recent interview.

To top up your feast at Asili Resort, is a wide selection of real African music and other international beats including new and old thrilling releases played lightly in the back ground.

Located in one of Arusha's friendly and peaceful areas where one can take a retreat after a day's hassles, the place is ideal for couples, friends, family and group outings.

It is also an ideal place for meetings and get together parties including weddings.

But while Mbise along with other entrepreneurs are heeding the government's call to build more middle class tourist hotels and restaurants, the country's business environment is very prohibitive.

His major concern is over arbitrary imposition of levies by various authorities including the Copyright Society of Tanzania (COSOTA) which charges royalties on the works of Tanzanian Artistes played on the hotels' television and music sets.

According to Mbise, it is quite unfair for the levy to be imposed on them directly as they pay for the broadcasts to the service providers like Star Times, Azam, Ting, Continental, DSTV, Mediacom and ZUKU.

He is of the opinion that if anyone is liable to pay for the royalties it should be those service providers and not otherwise.