TANAPA urged to market tourist attractions internationally

TANZANIA National Parks Agency (TANAPA) has been urged to market the country’s attractions internationally in order to attain the target of increasing the number of tourists to   5 million come 2025.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Anderson Mutatembwa said that the move will also boost revenue collection to 6 million US dollars as targeted.

Mutatembwa said in Arusha on Wednesday that the plan to market tourist attractions should capture the global market.

“To increase the number of tourists there should be strategies which will help to attain the target among other making sure that our tourist attractions are marketed internationally,” he said.

He added, “President Samia had paved the way for us through the Royal Tour film, and now it is time for us to go internationally.”

Mutatembwa has also praised TANAPA’s efforts to safeguard the resources available  in the reserves despite having sizable work areas.

“I commend you (TANAPA) for the excellent job you are doing to combat poaching and to educate local residents and the public at large about conservation. You are doing a fantastic job of serving a very wide area,” said Mutatembwa.

He noted that his   visit at the area aimed at deepening knowledge of conservation-related problems so that people could make useful and actionable decisions. He also emphasized the importance of prompt problem-solving within the institution’s capabilities.

Earlier, Conservation Commissioner William Mwakilema said that that the advancement of strategic projects to promote tourism is progressing well. These projects include accommodation infrastructure projects in the National Parks of Burigi-Chato and Rubondo Island, as well as COVID-19 projects in the Serengeti, Tarangire, Kilimanjaro, Mkomazi, Saadani, and Nyerere National Parks aimed at enhancing the infrastructure of these parks.