Beyond wildlife safaris, tourism discovers new frontiers

TANZANIA: TOURISM stakeholders say Tanzania’s tourism sector is progressing through diversified visitor experiences, improved infrastructure, digital technology and growing opportunities for local businesses and communities.

In exclusive interviews with the Daily News on achievements during President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s first year in her second term, they highlighted developments in conservation, mountain tourism, digital connectivity, culinary experiences and local tour operations.

Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Conservation Officer I, Iddi Kaluse, attributed the progress partly to government efforts to promote natural attractions and encourage investment.

He said Tanzania was expanding beyond traditional wildlife safaris through scenic flights, horse riding and other adventure activities.

“Tanzania is expanding its tourism products beyond conventional wildlife safaris, creating investment opportunities and enabling visitors to discover the country differently,” he said.

Kaluse highlighted international recognition of Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro and Kitulo National Park through tourism awards, saying it showcased the country’s wildlife and distinctive landscapes. He called for cooperation among government institutions, conservation organisations and investors to sustain growth while protecting natural resources.

For mountain tourism, Tanzania Association of Porters Secretary, Loishiye Mollel, said increased visitor numbers and improvements in facilities around Mount Kilimanjaro were creating opportunities for workers and businesses linked to mountain climbing.

He said the growth was reflected in the increasing number of foreign and domestic visitors, improved facilities and better services for climbers. “Compared with previous years, we have seen an increase in visitors, while improvements in facilities have made climbing Mount Kilimanjaro more attractive,” he said.

Mollel said some older buildings had been renovated, trails improved and communication systems strengthened, making it easier for climbers and support teams to access services. He also highlighted improvements in rescue services, noting that two aircraft were available to assist visitors experiencing difficulties on the mountain. The services also benefited guides and porters requiring emergency assistance.

Mollel further cited improvements in payment systems at park gates, saying visitors could complete entry procedures more conveniently and avoid delays associated with earlier systems. He mentioned improvements at Machame and Lemosho gates, where visitors could access better facilities for resting and taking breakfast before proceeding with their climbs.

Government-provided training for guides and porters, he said, was another important development, helping improve service quality. According to him, approximately 16,440 porters work on Mount Kilimanjaro, supporting families whose livelihoods depend on tourism.

He said increased climbing activity provided workers with income to meet household needs, educate their children and improve their living standards. He stressed that continued improvements in working conditions and services would be necessary to sustain growth.

Meanwhile, Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA) Rector, Professor Eliamani Sedoyeka said improvements in communication infrastructure were helping tourism businesses and visitors access information and services more easily.

He explained that government investment had extended communication services to areas that commercial operators might otherwise find difficult to cover because of limited profitability. Although the improvements benefited several economic sectors, he said tourism was among those gaining from better connectivity.

Prof Sedoyeka noted that reliable internet and mobile communication enabled travellers to research destinations, obtain directions, communicate with service providers and make payments conveniently.

“A visitor can search for a destination online, identify how to get there and access the information needed to plan the journey,” he said.

He added that digital payment systems had simplified transactions, including payments for services and goods purchased from small businesses. Such improvements, he said, could benefit local vendors, transport operators and tourism enterprises by enabling visitors to pay without depending entirely on cash.

He urged the government to continue expanding communication networks so that more tourism destinations and communities could benefit from digital services. Chef Alliance Tanzania Deputy Secretary, Method Mrosso, said government support had created opportunities to promote Tanzanian cuisine as part of the country’s tourism products.

He said food tourism allowed visitors to explore the country through traditional dishes, cooking methods and culinary history. “We now have an opportunity to promote our traditional food to visitors and introduce Tanzanian cuisine to international markets,” he said.

Mrosso said the alliance was developing programmes to document traditional dishes, recipes and their historical backgrounds to help visitors understand the origins and cultural significance of local foods.

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He cited dishes such as makande and bananas, which could be presented alongside explanations of their origins, preparation methods and importance in Tanzanian communities. He said visitors were increasingly interested in understanding not only what they ate but also the stories and traditions behind the food.

Mrosso added that his business had expanded its capacity from serving approximately 15,000 guests to between 30,000 and 50,000, depending on bookings. He said Tanzanian dishes were included on menus, with buffet services and cooking demonstrations introducing guests to the country’s culinary diversity.

He said food tourism could create additional business opportunities for chefs, farmers, food suppliers and others in the hospitality value chain. Tanzania Local Tour Operators (TLTO) representative, Samuel Diah, said local operators had recorded progress through increased visitor numbers and the introduction of new tourism products.

He said operators were moving beyond conventional wildlife safaris and mountain climbing to offer walking safaris, cultural excursions, food experiences and agricultural tours. Diah said coffee farm visits allowed visitors to learn about the production process, from cultivation and harvesting to processing and preparing the beverage.

According to him, tourists could participate in selected activities before tasting the coffee, providing an experience that connected tourism with local agriculture. He said accommodation facilities and lodges were also increasing as demand created opportunities for further investment.

Diah added that tourism supported a broad network of businesses, including fruit and vegetable vendors, taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi operators and other small enterprises. He said local operators had served growing numbers of visitors, although he did not have comprehensive figures available.

He expected the numbers to rise further, citing meetings like the IPU and events that had brought additional visitors to the country. Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) Chief Executive Officer, Willy Chambulo, said continued investment in accommodation facilities demonstrated confidence in the sector.

He noted that Tanzanian investors were increasingly establishing hotels and other accommodation businesses. Chambulo identified July, August, September and October as generally busy months, when some accommodation facilities recorded occupancy rates of approximately 70 per cent.

He explained that seasonal fluctuations were normal, with occupancy varying between peak and low seasons. UNDP Resident Representative, Mr Shigeki Komatsubara, said Tanzania had substantial opportunities to expand beyond internationally recognised destinations such as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Mount Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar by promoting cultural heritage, history, environmental attractions and investment opportunities.

He identified tourism as one of the important drivers of economic growth and foreign exchange earnings, noting that Tanzania had considerable potential to expand its tourism offerings beyond established destinations. For her part, Professor Wineaster Anderson said Tanzania received 2,294,495 international tourists in 2025, representing a 132 per cent increase compared with 2020.

She said international tourism generated approximately 4.4 billion US dollars in revenue, a 353 per cent increase over the same period. According to her, domestic tourism also recorded significant growth, with 3,641,066 arrivals and revenue of 209.8bn/- . Domestic tourist arrivals increased by 307.9 per cent compared with 2020.

“Tourism contributes approximately 17 per cent of Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounts for 25 per cent of export earnings, highlighting its importance to the national economy,” she said.