KADCO invests 2.7bn/- for KIA car parking lot as tourists flow surge
THE government through Kilimanjaro Airports Development Company (KADCO) is currently implementing a 2.7bn/- car parking expansion at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), to cope with pressure as tourists flow grows by leaps and bounds, courtesy of President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan Royal Tour Film.
KIA, located in the middle of Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions forming the northern tourism circuit, is the strategic doorway for nearly 80 per cent of 1.5 million tourists visiting the country annually, leaving behind 2.6 billion US dollars.
The ambitious project will see a car parking lot upgraded as KADCO seeks to increase parking spaces at KIA from 85 to 187 lots, in its latest initiative to tame vehicle congestion, thanks to the upsurge in tourists’ traffic.
“With only 85 parking spaces struggle has been very real, at times we receive 300 tourists’ vehicles at ago and you can imagine how worse it could be. Drivers spend a considerable amount of time in parking lots just to find the right place to park their vehicles,” said KADCO Managing Director, Ms Christine Mwakatobe.
Document shows that the scope of work involves the installation of cutting-edge floodlights, construction of drainage system, resurfacing, rehabilitation and extension of the existing car parking area.
Ms Mwakatobe said that expanding KIA’s parking lot with environmental considerations at the heart of expansion would mean to raise profile of the airport as the project would now allow for more spaces and room for cars to maneuver, thus creating a safe environment for all clientele and staff.
“The expansion parking area would afford the greatest benefits. For instance economically, this project will create more than 100 temporary jobs for the residents around airport during the implementation phase,” KADCO MD explained.
Chief Executive Officer for Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, Mr Sirili Akko showered praises to the KADCO management for its prompt action in expanding the airport’s parking lot in order to offer holidaymakers a hassle-free trip right from the arrival lounge.
Number of tourists has continued to rise day to day, thanks to relaxation of the travellers restrictions globally and the impact of Royal Tour film starred by the President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, making the parking infrastructure unable to cope with pressure.
Whereas, official data indicates the international airlines operating from KIA have grown to 13, up from 11 in 2020 carriers, cargo traffic also sprouted by leaps and bounds as KIA had posted a 26 per cent upsurge in cargo volumes between 2019 and 2021, necessitated parking lot expansion.
The Bank of Tanzania’s latest figures show that in the year ending January 2023, travel receipts almost doubled to 2.641 billion US dollars as tourist arrivals rose to 1,500,648 in 2022 from 938,017 during the preceding year.
