Tanzania launches a special initiative to market its natural attractions to lure tourists from the Far East

ARUSHA: THE Tanzanian government said it has implemented a range of strategies for the fast growing tourism sector, including promoting tourist attractions in new international markets, improving tourism infrastructure, and diversifying tourism products to increase the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ashatu Kijaji, said the government has launched a special initiative to market Tanzania’s tourist attractions in Far Eastern countries in an effort to attract more visitors from the region.

Dr Kijaji made the remarks during a special interview with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation at Arusha National Park shortly after attending the launch of the results of Tanzania’s National Wildlife Census.

She said the initiative forms part of broader efforts to maintain Tanzania’s position as a leading tourism destination in Africa while increasing the number of domestic and international tourists, foreign exchange earnings, and employment opportunities for Tanzanians.

“Our goal is to increase the number of domestic and international tourists, boost foreign exchange revenues, and create more employment opportunities for Tanzanians. Initial efforts to promote our attractions in Far Eastern markets are already yielding positive results, as we have witnessed an increase in visitors from those countries, particularly China,” Dr Kijaji said.

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The minister added that the government is working to diversify tourism products by investing in various forms of tourism to reduce dependence on wildlife tourism, which has traditionally dominated the sector.

She identified priority areas including forest tourism, ecotourism, cultural tourism, and other unique attractions found across different parts of Tanzania.

According to Dr Kijaji, there has been growing interest among tourists in visiting forest reserves managed by the Tanzania Forest Services Agency, particularly for ecotourism activities.

She said that in response to the increasing demand, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, in collaboration with TFS, is continuing to improve key infrastructure within forest reserves, including roads, visitor reception facilities, and other essential services to ensure tourists enjoy high-quality services and memorable experiences.

The government said these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to strengthen Tanzania’s competitiveness in the global tourism market, increase tourism revenues, and promote socio-economic development through the growth of the tourism sector.