Tanzania identifies 337 new tourist attractions

DODOMA: 337 new tourist attractions have been identified in ten regions of Tanzania as the country intensifies efforts to diversify the country’s tourism offerings and reduce dependence on traditional wildlife-based tourism.

The announcement was made by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana, while presenting the ministry’s 2025/26 budget estimates in the National Assembly on Monday.

Dr Chana said the new attractions were discovered through a collaborative initiative between the ministry and tourism stakeholders to expand the tourism scope and promote lesser-known destinations. The newly identified attractions include natural, man-made, cultural, historical, and religious sites.

Out of the total 337 sites, 193 attractions have met the required standards for further development and promotion. These are located in Mtwara (19), Lindi (22), Mbeya (28), Songwe (16), Katavi (8), Kigoma (16), Iringa (23), Njombe (26), Ruvuma (32), and Rukwa (14).

ALSO READ: Tanzania offers diplomats safari to major tourist attractions

Some of the notable attractions include the German Boma in Newala (Lindi), the MAKUYA Cultural Festival in Mtwara Municipality, the Mkomaindo site in Masasi, the migration of humpback whales at Msimbati, the Malagarasi River Waterfalls, and the beaches of Lake Tanganyika.

“The identification of these attractions aims to increase the number of days tourists spend in the country, enhance tourism revenue, and create new economic opportunities for communities,” said Dr Chana.

She added that the next step will be to officially register the identified sites under the Tourism Act (Cap. 65), which will pave the way for their development, conservation, and promotion in both domestic and international markets.

The Minister underscored the government’s commitment to sustainable tourism growth, noting that the newly listed attractions will also help to unlock the tourism potential of Tanzania’s southern and western regions.