Biographies . Photos A,, Photos B.
Featured
The
Tanzania Story by
Jerry W. Bird Photo:
Mövenpick Royal Palm, Dar es
Salaam,Tanzania Tanzania
"Authentic Africa" and Authentic Adventures First
Official Kilimanjaro Marathon. TANZANIA
"ON THE FLY" SELOUS TO KIGOMA We arrived at the
air strip where the staff of the Selous Safari Camp
met us. Game viewing began immediately as we
spotted giraffe, zebra and impala on the way to the
luxury tented Selous Safari camp (formerly the
Mbuyuni Safari Camp). Selous
Safari Continued Tourism
Investment Forum.
Post
Event Report now available on this highly
successful Investment Forum. An update from the
information provided in the earlier press release
(below) written in advance of the October 2002
event. Continued Tanzania
Tourism News Briefs. Thomson
Safaris Introduces Safari Offering Unique
Combination of Northern & Southern
Circuits.
Your clients
begin their Thomson safari by venturing deep into
the heart of the Serengeti Savannah. Here they will
spend three nights in a private Classic Camp, which
allows them to explore far off the beaten path.
Continuing to Ngorongoro Crater, they will see an
unparalleled concentration of animals, before
heading south into the remote wilds of Ruaha
National Park and the Selous Game Reserve. Walk
along sand rivers past prehistoric looking baobab
trees. Search for the elusive wild dog and greater
kudu antelope. Drive through massive herds of
buffalo. View some of the largest crocodiles in the
world from a boat on the mighty Rufiji River. Look
out from your private verandah and watch an
elephant come down to drink. If they have already
been to East Africa, this is the perfect
opportunity to return. Land & Air Package
$7,390 per person; Land Only $5,690
(commissionable)
http://www.thomsonsafaris.com. Dar
es Salaam Wins Heart of North American
Author New
Sand Rivers Selous and Fundu Lagoon Packages and
Five &endash;Day Walking Safaris SELOUS: A popular
new tour begins at Dar es Salaam airport, with a
charter flight by Cessna 206 to Selous, where
visitors will enjoy five nights at Sand Rivers
Selous, with full board and all activities. A night
of fly-in camping is optional if pre booked. On Day
6 of the tour, a charter flight by Cessna takes
visitors from Selous to Zanzibar, with air
connections to Pemba. The next 5 nights at Fundu
Lagoon, include full board, transfers and
snorkeling. On the final day, visitors fly from
Pemba to Dar es Salaam International airport for
departure. Package price in US dollars is $2750
net, and the offer extends from Nov. 1, 2002 to
April 2003; June 15-June 30, 2003 and excludes
December 15, 2003- January 5, 2003. Five day
Walking Safaris are also available, and they have
proven to be very popular. Contact:
sand-rivers@intafrica.com. Enhanced
Flight Schedule and New Twin Otter Aircraft for
Tanzania's Regional Air
Services.
Regional Air
Services, operating from Arusha Airport and serving
the Northern Route, has added a 16 seat Twin Otter
to its fleet. Locations include Arusha, Manyara,
Seronera. Grumeti and Klein's Camp. There will be a
surcharge for afternoon and low season flights to
and from Grumeti. Despite rising costs the airline
is maintaining most established prices. The
airline's new schedule and rates are valid up to
14th December 2003. Information is available from
Mrs. Caroline Blumer, Marketing and Administration
Manager, Regional Air Services, e-mail
sales@regional.co.tz Olivers
Camp Offers New Options In Walking
Safaris.
Olivers Camp
has earned a proud reputation for its intimate
knowledge of Tanzania's fascinating and varied
wildlife. Now there's a new opportunity for guests
&endash; to view Africa's fauna at close range,
while walking one's way to peak health and enjoying
an unequaled, unforgettable experience. Among the
many programs at Olivers Camp, the Walking Safari
has become very much in demand. One example is a 3
night fly-in camping expedition in the Tarangire
Wilderness, starting in the extreme south of the
park and heading due north along the river for 3
days. It covers quite different terrain and passes
through southern comiphora stands (gerenuk and
vulturine guinea fowl country) to seasonal flood
plains to dense riverine and onto the very typical
Tarangire sausage tree and acacia stands near Kuro.
Walks are led by one of Olivers experienced guides.
http://www.oliverscamp.com Bagamoyo,
Tanzania's Former Slave Route Center Proposed World
Heritage Site.
Because of its
strategic location as a staging point during the
ivory and slave-trading era, Bagamoyo, 45 miles
north of Dar es Salaam, has been proposed as a
World Heritage site. If approved, Bagamoyo would
join six other UNESCO sites in the country.
Tanzania Tourism Board Managing Director, Peter
Mwenguo said, "Given the growing interest in
Cultural Heritage Tourism, especially in the
American market, the timing of the focus on the
development and preservation of Bagamoyo as a World
Heritage Site is excellent." He stated that this
would enable Tanzania to develop its African
Diaspora Heritage Trail product, a project
announced by Bermuda's President Jennifer Smith at
the ATA 27th Congress. Few travelers realize that
Tanzania was once part of German East Africa, and
Bagamoyo was its capital. Bobby
Tours and Safaris Offers Safaris for All
Reasons.
Since 1976,
Bobby Tours and Safaris has provided tour packages
and services to all national parks, lodge safaris,
beach holidays and camping safaris. The company
specializes in Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru
mountain climbing expeditions, with qualified
porters and guides. Bobby Tours offers your clients
a variety of options from 3 day Safaris to luxury
tented Camping Safaris and excursions. Locations in
Tanzania include Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara
National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and much more
including Southern Tanzania. Contact Bobby Tours
and Safaris: E-mail bobbytours@bobbytours.com;
http://www.bobbytours.com For more
information on Tanzania visit www.tanzania-web.com
or contact the Bradford Group in New York at (212)
447-0027. Email: Tanzania@bradfordmarketing.org
Tanzania
Banking on Results from 1st Tourism Investment
Forum The Tanzania
Tourism Investment Forum, hosted by the
Honorable Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP, (photo
below) Tanzania's Minister of Natural Resources and
Tourism, was held at the Arusha International
Conference Center, October 22-24, 2002. The public
and private sector endorsement of the forum was
evidenced by the participation of a cross-section
of government ministers and senior representatives,
including ministries of agriculture, land , public
works and utilities; Tanzania Investment
Corporation and The Tanzania Association of Tour
Operators. This was indicative of the Tanzanian
government's recognition of the major role that
tourism development plays in job creation and
improving the country's economy. "We
have a unique tourism product mix. We must keep it
unique by sustaining it. A correct balance has to
be established between exploitation and
conservation; and between economic interests and
the social, environmental and cultural impact of
human activity in tourism. " President Benjamin
William Mkapa, The United Republic of Tanzania TANZANIA'S
PRESIDENT THROWS OPEN THE DOORS TO FOREIGN
INVESMENT IN TANZANIAN TOURISM. In a
ground-breaking speech, addressing the first-ever
tourism investment forum in Africa organized by the
the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(MIGA), a World Bank Group, Tanzania's President
Benjamin William Mkapa, (photo above left) opened
the doors to foreign investment in
tourism.
The fact that
the closing address two days later was given by
Zanzibar President Amani Abeid Karume made it clear
that Zanzibar is also welcoming foreign investors
into their growing tourism industry. The Investment
forum in Arusha, at Mount Kilimanjaro's doorstep,
attracted more than 280 local and foreign investors
from the United States, Europe, Middle and Far East
and Africa, who attributed the success of the forum
to a new environment of opportunity for tourism
investment in Tanzania, as key policy reforms
coincide with increased international tourist
traffic for high end destinations. Sandeep Khapre,
Director, Marketing and Business Development, DCDM
Consulting representing investor clients, in a BBC
World Service radio interview about the Investment
Forum, reinforced the investors' optimism about the
growth of Tanzania tourism, "Tanzania is attractive
to investors because it has great long term
branding - the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt.
Kilimanjaro and the Selous - and there is
confidence in the government's stability and
long-term commitment to wildlife conservation."
Khapre also noted that the investment policies are
"getting better by the day." There was
particular interest in a variety of tourism
ventures from the Southern Circuit of Selous
National Park and Ruaha Game Reserve to Matwara and
other newly introduced tourism products (adventure
tourism, birding, diving and sports fishing). The
few remaining hotels in public hands are also up
for privatization. Recent tourism-related foreign
investments include the Holiday Inn and Golden
Tulip Hotels, both in Dar es Salaam; a new lodge in
Ruaha; Serena Mountain Village Expansion in Arusha;
major roads, Arusha to Ngorongoro and Dar es Salaam
to Bagamoyo; the Rufiji River Bridge; and the
Kilimanjaro and Mbeya airports. Foreign investors
at the event represented Midrock, Legacy Hotels,
Holiday Inn, Southern Sun, Serena Lodges and Hotels
and Golden Tulip. Local Tanzanian investors
included Coastal Aviation, Precision Air, Ranger
Safaris, Leopard Tours, and Peacock Hotel, all of
whom are expanding their operations inside the
country. A Model for
Tomorrow's Tourism. Will Tourism Drive Tanzania's
Economic Engine? Most delegates to
the Investment Forum agreed when asked that
"Responsible and Community-Based Tourism" is
definitely an engine to drive today's economy in
Tanzania and other African countries that are
fortunate enough to follow its lead. What better,
more practical, eco-friendly and safety- minded
route is there for job creation and the possibility
of poverty alleviation? The Hon. Zakia Hamdani
Meghji, Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources
and Tourism made that goal a main theme, "Tourism
is a major economic sector in Tanzania. It is also
a sector that is destined to grow and expand
further. At a conservative annual growth rate of 7
percent over the next decade we would be able to
reach the one-million visitors target set for the
year 2010." She further stated that Tanzania has a
master plan for tourism that was completed with the
assistance of the European Union. And now "in order
to achieve the target of visitors the industry needs
proper planning and an articulate Program of Action
which would detail all sets of implementation
schedules…above all it needs a
well-coordinated approach on promotion and
marketing in our traditional markets and also
finding new markets." Iain Christie,
MIGA Project Manager, praised the Ministry's
effort, "What the Tanzania Tourism Investment Forum
does prove is that given the right conditions and
meeting firm fiscal disciplines, remarkable results
are possible." He feels that at the base of
Tanzania's success is the right attitude --- a
burning desire to change the status quo. What ís
the Prime Ingredient? The Tanzanian
People. President Benjamin
William Mkapa paid tribute to the real force behind
this moment of change - the people of Tanzania and
Zanzibar. "One of our strongest points is our
hospitality. I cannot speak for every Tanzanian,
but it is generally acknowledged that our people
are kindhearted; that they reach out warmly to
guests, and are friendly, respectful and of
generous spirit. In short, in a world that is so
much in a rush, our people have not rushed to shed
their firm belief in, and staunch commitment to, a
dignified universal common humanity."This, together
with a sound program of capacity building, should
ensure a cadre of professionally trained
staff. Increased Air
Access a Factor"
A positive
sign and true measure of Tanzania's success in
building a solid tourism base is the vast
improvement in air access to and within Tanzania,
such as KLM's daily service to both Kilimanjaro
International Airport (newly privatized) and Dar es
Salaam; British Airlines new direct service to Dar
es Salaam, Ethiopian Airlines with direct access
from North America's Dulles Airport in Washington
DC and Newark International Airport, and South
African Airlines from Atlanta and New York's John
F. Kennedy International Airport. Such expansion of
service from the airlines demonstrates that they
are confident in the country's future. Tanzania is
also well served by local carriers, such as Coastal
Aviation and Precision Air. Mkapa's Four
Pillars of the New Tourism Scene Speaking of the
new Tourism Confederation of Tanzania, President
Mkapa emphasized its obligation to encourage,
facilitate and empower local investors in the
tourism industry, not just in major hotels and
lodges, but also in a whole variety of services.
"We should encourage and facilitate domestic
tourism among Tanzanians. This will help to expand
local value-added to the tourism sector, and make
the many linkages to the rest of the economy
provided by tourism a potent weapon in our war on
poverty," the President added. New Bonds of
Trust in Public and Private Sector The President
emphasized how opportune the Tanzania Tourism
Investment Forum was in its timing, "The economic
reforms that we have been carrying out over the
last seven years have been both resolute and
consistent. Today, when we say we are ready to work
with the private sector in promoting and
engendering growth and development, everyone takes
us seriously. We can be trusted. And we have behind
us a solid track record to prove it." "We have gone out
of our way," said President Mkapa, "to create a
conducive climate for investment and trade. The
macro-economic fundamentals have been in place for
several years now, to the commendation of
International Financial Institutions and our
bilateral development partners. The economic policy
reforms we have undertaken have confirmed Tanzania
as a market economy, with ample incentives to
attract, retain and reward investments and
entrepreneurship. And, all this takes place in a
democratic peaceful, united and stable country."
Getting closer to home, he is pleased that
investments in upgrading tourism-related
infrastructure have begun to bear fruits, saying.
"It is true much remains to be done, and part of
our challenge at this forum is to attract
investments in such infrastructure. But compared to
where we came from, and with the imminent
privatization of our national airline, we think we
are beginning to effectively address the
infrastructure problems that obstructed the faster
growth of tourism in the past." Forum a Who's
Who of Business, Industry and Government The
Forum…Just the
Beginning :
Hon. Meghji in
her closing remarks made it clear that this forum
"is not the end of our process to encourage
investment in tourism in Tanzania. Instead, it is
only the beginning." Four other cabinet ministers
representing key portfolios, plus officials from
the Zanzibar Ministry of Tourism joined Hon.
Minister Meghji. At a festive dinner sponsored by
the Southern Africa Development Bank. The Minister
was enthusiastically applauded when she said "I,
personally, promise you that my ministry, and the
other ministries, are committed to following up on
all the issues raised at this forum by the private
sector." The Tanzania private sector, in
recognition of Minister Meghji's outstanding
leadership in bringing Tanzania tourism so far
since her appointment in 1997, gave her the
honorary title of "Mama Utalii" (Mother
Tourism). Investment Web
Site Launched Mr. Saleh Pamba,
Director of Tourism in the Ministry for Natural
Resources and Tourism, and conference coordinator,
said that a special web site was specifically
created for the Investment Forum,
http://www.investintanzania.com, which will provide
an ongoing menu of Tanzania Tourism projects. "This
web site will also serve as a substantial in-depth
view and tool for major privatization projects as
well as for smaller-scale projects designed by
local Tanzanians. This way potential investors can
identify projects of interest to them and follow
through quickly and conveniently." Pamba was
optimistic that the high profile event attracted
international attention for tourism investment
opportunities in Tanzania. He also noted that there
were several large and prominent investors unable
to attend the Forum who had expressed interest in
the privatization options in Tanzania. In addition
to the menu of investment opportunities on the web
site, MIGA noted that the next steps included
maintaining investors lists and disseminating
information on new tourism investment
opportunities, investigating potential financial
sources for tourism and taxation and a targeted
investment promotion program by the Tanzania
Investment Corporation and the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Tourism. The Tanzania
Tourism Investment Forum was hosted by the Ministry
of Natural Resources and Tourism, under the
auspices of the Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP; Mr.
Solomon Odunga, Permanent Secretary; Mr. Saleh
Pamba, Director of Tourism and Conference
Coordinator; Mr. Peter Mwenguo, Managing Director,
Tanzania Tourist Board. The forum was organized by
MIGA, Dr. Ken Kwaku, MIGA Africa; David Bridgman,
Program Director, Iain Christie, task team leader;
Shantal Persuad, Conference Coordinator. ABOUT
TANZANIA:
The United
Republic of Tanzania, with a population 35 million,
is East Africa's largest country and lies just
south of the Equator on the Indian Ocean Coast.
Until recently, known as the Land of Kilimanjaro
and Zanzibar, the Tanzania Tourist Board is
launching a new "tag line"- Tanzania - the
Authentic Africa. Arusha, where the forum was held,
is also known as the Capital of the Tourism
Industry, being close to Mt. Kilimanjaro, and
headquarters for safaris into the Serengeti,
Ngorongoro Crater and other sites on the Northern
Circuit. An upgraded Kilimanjaro International
Airport serves the area. However, with the new
Master Plan, the investment push is to develop the
less crowded Southern Circuit, which includes the
Selous, the second largest game reserve in Africa
and one of six UNESCO World Heritage Sites in
Tanzania. The others are Mt. Kilimanjaro,
Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park,
Zanzibar's Stone Town and Kilwa Kisiwani/Songo
Mnara ruins in Lindi region. Bagamoyo, former
center of the slave route is also being proposed
for a World Heritage listing.
Countries
Benin
Cameroon
Cote
d'Ivoire
Ethiopia
Gabon
Guinea
Mali
Morocco
South
Africa
Tanzania
Zanzibar
Zambia
Dozens
more
on
our 1st site
As one of Africa's major travel industry
participants, Tanzania Tourism has made huge
strides in recent years. At Africa Travel Magazine
we like to think that hosting the Africa Travel
Association's International Marketing Congress in
Arusha was a catalyst that helped spur the
phenomenal growth of this country's tourism sector.
Being there and capturing the sprit during and
following that landmark event , I certainly felt
that we were on the verge of a period of an
outstanding breakthrough. 
Leadership
is all important in the travel tourism and
hospitality industries, and Tanzania's Ministry of
Tourismhas provided wise counsel and a steady hand
Past President Benjamin William Mkapa made it clear
in the following statement presented at Tanzania's
first Tourism Investment Forum.
"We
have a unique tourism product mix. We must keep it
unique by sustaining it. A correct balance has to
be established between exploitation and
conservation; and between economic interests and
the social, environmental and cultural impact of
human activity in tourism. " President Benjamin
William Mkapa, The United Republic of Tanzania.
The
timely news briefs on this page attest to the fact
that things are happening on a variety of fronts,
from the Bagamoyo World Heritage Site, to Selous,
Serengeti, Exotic Zanzibar and more places than we
can name.
Sunday 02
March.
Situated south of the equator - in Tanzania - at 19
340 feet, this is Africa's highest mountain and the
highest "free standing" mountain in the world. Huge
permanent glaciers flow down from the summit, and
the sheer presence of this huge mountain dominates
the entire area. An icon in Africa, "Kili " as she
is affectionately known, is one of the sights every
African should see at least once in his or her
life. On the above date, a standard 42 km marathon
will be run from the town of Moshi, Tanzania. This
race has been set up to promote the sport in
Tanzania, and has the official backing of the
Tanzania Tourist Board, the Tanzania Amateur
Athletics Association and therefore the IAAF, and
is registered with AIMS. The route starts and ends
in Moshi, Tanzania, and runs north towards the
mountain, through rural farmland on a tarmac road,
before returning on another rural dirt road to end
back in Moshi. The total altitude gain is not
great, and the whole race is completed between 4000
and 6000 ft above sea
level.
continued
by Karen
Hoffman. 24 hours in the Selous (pronounced Se-loo)
is certainly not long enough for a wildlife safari
in the world's second largest protected area and
Africa's largest game reserve! But thanks to
Coastal Travel Services, a charter flight took our
press group of ten journalists from Dar es Salaam
for the one hour scenic flight over this 21,000
square mile park. Declared a World Heritage Site in
1982 and more than half the size of the state of
Ohio, the Selous is three and three quarters times
as large as the more famous Serengeti in Northern
Tanzania.
Coastal Airlines
flies
daily to Mafia,
plus launches new service to Rubondo Island
National Park, Lake Victoria, Home of Great Game
Viewing and World Class
Fishing.
Coastal
Airlines, already providing service to all coastal
destinations north of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar on
a daily basis, launched daily service to Mafia
Island. Southern Tanzania was originally served by
Eagle (Airline), which suspended service recently.
This gap in the market prompted Coastal Airlines to
organize direct service to Mafia Island, and from
there to Kilwa and Songo Songo. Passengers can
board an aircraft in Arusha and fly to Mafia
without waiting at any transit stations. For
details contact Coastal Travels Ltd., Tel. 255 22
2117 959 or 960, Fax 255 22 2118 647, Toll free 255
741 800 285. E-mail: safari@coastal.cc, Web:
http://www.coastal.cc
according to
author Henry Pelham Burn, his travel agent was
quite concerned that, during a scheduled trip to
Tanzania, he would be "stuck" in Dar es Salaam for
two whole days. After some deliberation, Burn
resigned himself to visiting Dar, a city depicted
by some as a place to go through rather than enjoy
as a destination in it self. This misconception is
prevalent among the uninformed, or those who
haven't taken the time to explore this historic
capital and seaport city with its ideal climate,
classic buildings, modern airport and ferry service
to Zanzibar and other exotic islands. Commenting in
Africa Travel Magazine, Pelham said, "A couple of
days in Dar proved not long enough." Among Mr.
Burn's recommended attractions are KARIOKOO MARKET,
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM, NYERERE CULTURAL CENTER,
MWENGE VILLAGE, VILLAGE MUSEUM, COCO BEACH,
KIGAMBONI. A newly minted Dar enthusiast, the
American author provides many reasons why the sites
mentioned are sure please most visitors to Dar es
Salaam. Details: http://www.
africa-ata.org/tz_dar_es_salaam.htm
by Jerry W.
Bird
Investors at Tanzania Tourism Investment Forum 2002
learn that Opportunities abound in Africa's newest
"hot-spot" for travelers looking for adventure,
wildlife, culture, diving and even luxury. Tanzania
Tourism Investment Forum 2002, Africa's First
-Ever, Organized by the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency, resonates success. Looking at the
Big Picture, Arusha Tourism Conference could be a
"Blueprint" for Africa's Future.
While President Benjamin William Mkapa agreed
that for years, his country was under-aggressive in
promoting tourism, things have turned 180 degrees
in recent years. He emphasized that Tanzania now
offers a wide range of multi-destination and
multi-activity holidays thanks to careful planning,
budgeting and inventory development. He laid out
his four pillars of success as follows: (1)
Tanzania has a unique product that needs to be
showcased and recognized more than ever before. (2)
The timing for doing so is right, and it is now.
(3) Tanzania's government and its leader have a
deep commitment to dialogue. (4) These forums
provide an excellent opportunity for such dialogue.
Today's potential for mutually rewarding
investments and cooperation in the tourism sector
is greater than ever before.
Among the international notables present were
Dr. Ken Kwaku, Program Manager for MIGA Africa and
Mr. Dawid de Villiers, Deputy Secretary-General of
the World Tourism Organization (WTO). A quick look
at the roster was like reading a corporate and
public who's who - the International Finance
Corporation, the European Union, the Japanese and
Swiss Governments, Netherlands Development
Organization, the World Bank, Development Bank of
Southern Africa, Southern African Development
Community, the African Union, and its NEPAD
economic program, Tanzania Private Sector
Foundation, Economic and Social Research
Foundation, National Social Security Fund, National
Development Corporation, Tanzania National Parks,
Marine Parks and Reserves, the Africa Travel
Association and the newly formed Tourism
Confederation of Tanzania.