Tanzania throws weight behind conservation as Tourism Minister tables 654.6bn/- spending plan

MINISTER for Tourism and Natural Resources, Mohamed Mchengerwa has unveiled a 654.6bn/- budget estimates for the 2023/24 fiscal year as the docket plans to execute various key projects including Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth Project- REGROW).

Tabling the Ministry’s plan at the Parliament in Dodoma on Friday, the Minister said the docket will continue supporting poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Tanzania.

He said the Ministry will also through the weight behind Private Plantation and Value Chain in Tanzania, capacity building in Forestry and Beekeeping, support to beekeeping value chain programme (BEVAC) and Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration in Tanzania’s Landscapes (FOLUR).

On the Ministry’s budget estimates, Mr Mchengerwa said out of the requested amount, 486bn/- is for recurrent while 168bn/- is for development projects.

He said the Ministry projects to generate a total of 771.8bn/- from the area of natural resources and tourism through IT systems.

Highlighting priorities in the tabled 2023/24 financial plan, the Minister said the Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources will strengthen the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources, antiquities and museums as well as promoting them digitally.

Other areas of priorities mentioned are the continuation to promote tourism in and outside the country through the special Royal Tour programme, to develop strategic tourism products including beach tourism, meetings, events, ships, sports and culture.

“We will also prioritize strengthening infrastructure in protected areas to enable tourism activities to take place and to continue with the strategy of planting trees and the production and increasing the value of forest products and bees,” he stated.