Tanzania eyes Russian tourism boom as direct Moscow flights take off

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has stepped up efforts to tap into Russia’s growing outbound tourism market after signing a tourism cooperation agreement with Moscow alongside the launch of Air Tanzania’s first direct flights, linking the two countries.

The twin developments are expected to make Tanzania more accessible to Russian travellers, strengthen business ties, and create fresh opportunities for investment in one of the country’s fastest-growing economic sectors.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on tourism cooperation was signed as ATCL inaugurated its direct service between Moscow and mainland Tanzania, with connections to Zanzibar, eliminating the need for lengthy transit routes that previously discouraged many travellers.

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Leading the inaugural mission, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Dr Ashatu Kijaji headed a delegation comprising officials from the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and representatives of more than 47 tourism companies.

The delegation held a series of business-to-business meetings with Russian tour operators and travel industry executives, seeking to secure new partnerships and market Tanzania’s wildlife, beaches, cultural heritage and other attractions to Russian holidaymakers.

The government expects the MoU and the new route to increase tourist arrivals from Russia, diversify Tanzania’s source markets, and strengthen the tourism industry’s contribution to economic growth through increased foreign exchange earnings and investment.