Njombe town was a hive of activity on Monday as an ambitious marketing and tourism promotion strategy was launched to take tourism to the next level in Southern Tanzania.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Pindi Chana launched various posters to promote tourism attractions in the Southern circuit.
The posters will introduce the Southern Circuit tourism attractions which will be officially entered into the tourism map.
Tourism is currently second largest foreign exchange earner after gold after it was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is also the second largest contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP) and the third largest contributor to employment.
The sector generated 1.4 billion US dollars in revenues in 2021, up from 1.0 billion US dollars in 2020 when it was severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on international travel.
Tourism attractions in the Southern Circuit among others include Kitulo National Park at Makete District and Nyumbanitu Natural Forest at Wangingombe District in Njombe Region.
Dr Chana said that, the move is in line with President Samia Suluhu Hassan directives on the need to promote tourism attractions in the area in order to increase tourist inflow in the country.
“We are committed to ensure that these attractions are known. As the country is coming up with the second phase of the Royal Tour documentary titled ‘The Hidden Tanzania” this will help to boost our efforts towards unveiling hidden attractions in the circuit.”
“We are now heading to the second episode of the Royal Tour documentary which will show the world additional hidden spots in Tanzania and Southern Circuit is among the areas which will benefit in this second plan.”
The Minister further commended the residents and traditional elders for preserving Nyumbanitu forest.
“The government is committed to develop tourism and cultural areas in the country in order to open up Tanzania to large numbers of tourists” she added.
The National Museum Board Chairperson, Dr Oswald Masebo said that in support of community efforts, the national museum through Majimaji centre in Songea has embarked on talks with traditional leaders and various stakeholders of Wanging’ombe and Njombe to expand the scope of Majimaji war festival.
Recently Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Planning Officer, Colleta Nchimbi said the launching of tourism promotion strategy aimed at making southern Tanzania more powerful in tourism sector.