DAR ES SALAAM: In a colorful celebration of culture and tourism, the “Nihao! China” Tourism Promotion Conference was recently co-hosted in Dar es Salaam as part of the China-Tanzania Tourism and Culture Year.
The event was graced by Chen Mingjian, the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, and various tourism stakeholders from both countries. It’s no small deal — this initiative is one of the highlights of the collaboration between Tanzania and China, born from President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s state visit to China in 2022, where she and President Xi Jinping discussed strengthening cultural and tourism ties.
Quickly viewed as a bond that spans decades, it has not been bogged down by the fact that even though China and Tanzania are a world apart geographically, the two nations have enjoyed a warm friendship for over 60 years. The cooperation, which spans everything from trade to infrastructure development, has become a model for China-Africa relations. As both countries celebrate this milestone, it’s clear that their diplomatic relations have blossomed into a comprehensive partnership.
In fact, tourism has become a key area of collaboration, with both countries eager to share their rich cultural landscapes. Tanzanians are flocking to China to climb the Great Wall and admire the Forbidden City, while Chinese tourists are heading to Tanzania to conquer Kilimanjaro, roam the Serengeti, and relax on the beaches of Zanzibar.
With these in mind, as Ambassador Chen pointed out, tourism is more than just sightseeing – it boosts the economy, creates jobs, and, importantly, strengthens the cultural bonds between nations.
Looking ahead, both Tanzania and China are optimistic about the future of their tourism cooperation. With the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation on the horizon, there’s an exciting opportunity to further promote business ventures, exchange ideas, and deepen people-to-people ties. After all, tourism isn’t just about visiting new places; it’s about connecting people, building understanding, and sharing experiences.
Through events like the “Nihao! China” campaign, the two countries are creating a platform for joint marketing, cultural exchanges, and tourism collaborations. This initiative is set to raise awareness of the fantastic tourist spots each country has to offer, while encouraging more travel between China and Tanzania.
To jog memory, in May 2024, the China-Tanzania Tourism and Culture Year kicked off in Beijing with a grand celebration that included over 200 Tanzanian artists, dancers, and tourism representatives.
Here, Tanzanian traditional dance performances were showcased to promote the country’s rich cultural heritage, while Chinese delegations have also been making their way to Tanzania, showcasing their culture through various events like the “Chinese Taste Grand Canal Food Workshop” and “Happy Chinese New Year” performances.
Again, it is not a secret that from performances by the Zhejiang Performing Arts Troupe to workshops on Swahili TV shows, both countries have been busy strengthening their cultural exchange.
Looked at in another way, it’s not just a one-way street — Chinese tourists are flooding into Tanzania, and the numbers are skyrocketing.
For example, in 2023, some 54,444 Chinese tourists visited Tanzania, surpassing the entire total of the previous year. Tanzanians are also venturing to China, eager to explore its historical landmarks and bustling cities. This reciprocal exchange isn’t just good for tourism; it’s boosting economic growth, creating jobs, and opening up new business opportunities for both countries.
This can prompt one to ask, so what’s next?
In terms of more flights, everyone expects more opportunities. Here, Tanzania is certainly on the rise as a must-see destination. With Air Tanzania now offering direct flights to China, and the government investing heavily in infrastructure projects like the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Project, the future looks bright.
The tourism sector is already booming — in 2023, Tanzania welcomed 1.8 million international visitors, marking a 24 per cent increase from the previous year. This contributed a whopping $4.3 billion in revenue to the economy.
To reinforce this, the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dunstan Kitandula, emphasized the importance of expanding tourism infrastructure and fostering partnerships with Chinese stakeholders.
He added: “This is not just a chance to increase visitor numbers — it’s an opportunity to open up a treasure chest of business opportunities for both nations.”
To sum up, the “Nihao! China” campaign is more than just a tourism promotion. It’s a celebration of the strong and enduring friendship between China and Tanzania. Whether it’s through exploring each other’s landscapes, sharing cultural traditions, or creating new business ventures, both countries are building bridges that will last for generations to come.
As both nations continue to develop their tourism sectors, there’s no doubt that the future of the China-Tanzania partnership is looking brighter than ever.
It is now the two countries wish that the shared strong, long-standing partnership built on mutual respect, economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and development will make both the nations to work together to promote growth, infrastructure, and people-to-people ties into the next generations.
