Arusha rolls out welcome mat for World tourism day

ARUSHA: ALL roads and international air routes will, this week, be leading to Arusha where a World tourism day and second edition of the East African’s premier indoor travel and tourism show, is planned.

Organisers say that the events will be attended by a dozen of dignitaries such as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s Technical Cooperation Manager, Mr Marcel Leijzer, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Dustan Kitandula and his docket permanent secretary, Dr Hassan Abbas, Arusha Regional Commissioner, Mr John Mongela among others.

The high-profile congregation that draws hundreds of key tourism stakeholders from around the World, thanks to the impact of the President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s Royal Tour Film, runs from September 25 up to 27, 2023, at Gran Melia Hotel in the heart of Arusha city.

Touted as the noble event, the World tourism day memorial and indoor tourism and travel fair in the EA region, is being organised by the Rethinking Tourism Africa (RTA) in partnership with Prestigious Institute of Accountancy Arusha (IAA).

IAA Rector, Prof  Eliamani Sedoyeka said that, as a public academic institution is duty-bound to partner with the community to share idea, knowledge, research and innovation for sustainable development.

“IAA has a responsibility to use its immense academic resources, ideas and people with the community to accelerate sustainable development. For this case, we are collaborating with the RTA to host World tourism day commemoration,” Pro Sedoyeka explained.

Organisers are optimistic that this year’s delegates and exhibitors will surpass the 400 last year’s ceiling, thanks to the recoup of an international tourism market, after three years of the worst times compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic that threw the world off guard.

“Nearly 450 both delegates and exhibitors are anticipated to take part in this year’s event along with the media and thousands of regional and international visitors” said RTA official, Ms Edna Foya.

She added: “This is the perfect business avenue for entrepreneurs as they would be able to engage tourism business owners, managing directors, general managers, academicians, sales promotion personnel and front office personnel as well as relevant decision makers in the tourism industry, all under one roof.”

World Tourism Day 2023 will be a call to action to the international community, governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners and private sector investors to unite around a new tourism investment strategy.

The international observance day for tourism will highlight the vital need to deliver investment for projects that work for People by investing in education and skills, Planet by investing in sustainable infrastructure and accelerating green transformation and Prosperity by investing in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.

UNWTO has identified investments as one of the key priorities for tourism’s recovery and future growth and development.

For World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO highlights the need for more and better-targeted investments for people, for the planet and for prosperity.

“Now is the time for new and innovative solutions, not just traditional investments that promote and underpin economic growth and productivity” reads the UNWTO statement.