UNDP to Unlock Tourism Potentials on Lake Victoria Basin 

ARUSHA: THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is spearheading a bold new initiative to unleash Tanzania’s Lake Victoria Basin into a premier tourism and investment destination, aiming to expand the country’s economic horizons liking with iconic northern safari circuit.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, seeks to leverage the Lake Victoria Basin’s untapped potential by combining tourism development with the region’s thriving fisheries, agriculture, and livestock sectors.

The goal is a holistic growth model that benefits both visitors and local communities.

Speaking at the Kilifair tourism exhibition in Arusha here yesterday, Godfrey Mulisa, UNDP Head of Sub-Office in Dodoma, emphasized that the plan focuses on connecting the lake region with Tanzania’s established northern tourism circuit.

“We are looking to make tourism a catalyst for wider economic transformation,” Mulisa said. “It’s about attracting visitors, creating jobs—particularly for women and youth—and safeguarding the lake’s ecosystem.”

A Hidden Economic Powerhouse

Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake and the world’s second-largest freshwater body by surface area, is a vital economic engine for the region. Shared by Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya, it sustains millions of livelihoods through fishing, farming, livestock rearing, trade, and transport.

In Tanzania, the lake touches Mwanza, Mara, Kagera, Geita, Simiyu, and parts of Shinyanga—areas rich in agricultural land and experiencing rapid population growth. Despite this, the basin remains underexplored as a tourist destination, attracting only a fraction of the international visitors who flock to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Experts point to opportunities for lakefront tourism, sport fishing, island excursions, birdwatching, cultural tours, and eco-cruises. With its scenic islands, wetlands, and vibrant fishing communities, the region offers a distinct alternative to traditional safari experiences.

Learning from Zanzibar’s Blue Economy

UNDP is drawing lessons from its successful Zanzibar blue economy projects, including eco-tourism, marine conservation, and sustainable fisheries programs. Initiatives like the Bahari Maisha (Ocean Life) programme have increased conservation revenues and boosted household incomes, particularly among women and youth.

Mulisa believes similar strategies can be scaled for Lake Victoria. “Sustainable tourism, conservation, and local enterprise development can reinforce each other,” he said. “Lake Victoria offers an opportunity to apply these lessons on a much larger scale.”

Tourism Driving Broader Economic Growth

Unlike conventional tourism projects, the Lake Victoria plan emphasizes a blended-finance approach, combining public funds, development financing, and private investment.

The vision is to create infrastructure that not only supports tourism but also strengthens fisheries, agriculture, and livestock sectors.

Tanzania’s fisheries alone are a major economic pillar. Between April 2023 and April 2024, the country exported over 41,000 metric tons of fish and fish products, earning $206.6 million, with Nile perch contributing $53 million. More than 109,000 fishers depend directly on the Nile perch industry, alongside thousands more in related supply chains.

Agriculture and livestock add further value. Mwanza Region alone has nearly 40,000 hectares suitable for irrigation and 140,000 hectares for commercial horticulture.

The wider basin produces maize, rice, cotton, cassava, vegetables, fruits, and supports one of Tanzania’s largest cattle populations, supplying beef, dairy, goats, and sheep to domestic and regional markets.

“Tourism can create new linkages between hotels, restaurants, transport operators, and local producers,” said Timothy Mdinka, a veteran tour operator collaborating with UNDP through sports tourism events flagship Serengeti Safari Marathon. “This ensures that tourism spending directly benefits local communities.”

Conservation as an Investment Opportunity

Lake Victoria faces ecological pressures, including overfishing and environmental degradation, that threaten fish stocks and processing industries. UNDP’s strategy seeks to make conservation an integral part of tourism investment. Tourism revenues will support ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and sustainable resource management, creating a self-reinforcing growth model.

Tanzania’s Strategic Frontier

Beyond tourism, the Lake Victoria Basin is central to East Africa’s trade corridors, linking Tanzania to Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its combination of fisheries, agriculture, livestock, and rapidly growing urban centers like Mwanza positions it as one of the country’s largest untapped development frontiers.

“If we succeed, the Lake Victoria Basin could evolve from a resource-based economy into a diversified investment and tourism hub,” Mulisa said. “The vision is about sustainable economic opportunities and protecting one of Africa’s most vital ecosystems for generations to come.”