NBC reinforces tourism growth commitment through Arusha engagement

ARUSHA: National Bank of Commerce (NBC) is expanding its focus on Tanzania’s tourism sector, citing growing demand for financing and digital payment services as businesses across the industry increase their operations.

The bank’s Director of Corporate and Government Banking, Elvis Ndunguru, said the institution would continue developing financial solutions and partnerships aimed at supporting businesses across the tourism value chain.

He made the remarks during a customer engagement dinner hosted by NBC for major corporate and institutional customers in Arusha over the weekend.

The event brought together senior bank executives and representatives of companies and institutions operating in the region, providing an opportunity to discuss business opportunities, financial services and the changing needs of customers.

Ndunguru said closer engagement with customers was important as technology and changing business models reshape the way companies operate.

“Banking is increasingly about more than providing financial services. It is about understanding our customers’ businesses, anticipating their needs and developing solutions that enable them to grow,” he said.

He said NBC was continuing to use technology in areas including government revenue collection and payments through systems such as the Government Electronic Payment Gateway (GePG) and MUSE.

The bank has also developed payment collection solutions for institutions including the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). Such systems are intended to make payments more convenient and improve the efficiency of revenue collection.

Arusha has become a particular focus because of its central position in Tanzania’s tourism economy, while its wider economy is also supported by agriculture, livestock, trade and manufacturing.

“Arusha is strategic to our ambition of supporting the tourism sector. We see significant opportunities to deepen our engagement with businesses across the tourism value chain,” Ndunguru said.

He said the bank would also continue expanding access to digital banking services, including NBC Connect, for companies, organisations and government institutions.

At branch level, NBC Arusha Branch Manager Mukiza Aggrey Mboneko said tourism businesses could access financing for tourist vehicles, construction and development of camps, lodges and hotels, as well as working capital.

The financing needs reflect the breadth of the tourism industry, which extends beyond hotels and tour operators to transportation, accommodation, conservation-related services and other businesses that support visitors.

“We recognise that tourism is an ecosystem involving many businesses, from accommodation and transportation to tour operators and other service providers,” Mboneko said.

He said NBC’s payment systems linked to TANAPA and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area also enable tourism stakeholders to make payments such as park fees more conveniently.

The bank’s increased attention to the sector comes as Arusha experiences economic activity across several industries, creating demand for financial services that can handle both conventional transactions and increasingly digital business processes.

Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI) Director General Dr Ernest Mjingo, who attended the event, said digital financial services were becoming increasingly important for institutions and businesses seeking to improve transaction efficiency and revenue collection.

“Arusha is going through significant economic transformation, driven by tourism, trade, agriculture and manufacturing,” Dr Mjingo said.

He said digital solutions could help institutions respond to this transformation by making financial transactions and revenue collection more efficient.

Dr Mjingo also pointed to the importance of financial services for customers beyond their active working lives, expressing appreciation for solutions available to retirees.

His comments highlight a broader issue facing financial institutions: the need to provide services that remain relevant as customers move through different stages of their professional and personal lives.

For tourism businesses, meanwhile, access to financing and efficient payment systems remains closely connected to their ability to invest, manage daily operations and expand.

NBC’s latest engagement therefore places greater attention on the practical financial requirements of an industry that involves a wide network of businesses and institutions, while also reflecting the growing role of digital services in Tanzania’s wider economy.