Tanzania handled 3.8 million passenger arrivals at its airports in 2023

Tanzania handled 3.8 million passenger arrivals at its airports in 2023

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Airport Authority (TAA) has recorded an increase in passenger arrivals of 13 percent as of July this year compared to a similar period in 2023.

TAA also said it is planning to revamp and build new VIP lounges in the Mwanza and Arusha airports, as well as the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), in its efforts to improve services provided to tourists and investors arriving in the country.

TAA director general Mussa Mbura made the revelation on Monday, July 22, 2024, shortly after launching two brand new Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300 that were purchased by Swissport for the provision of transport services to clients using the VIP Lounge at the Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA).

Speaking during the event, he said passengers arriving in the country through airports have increased from 2.8 million recorded in 2023 to 3.8 million, according to recent statistics.

The increase is equivalent to 13 percent, with Mr Mbura expressing optimism that since the high season has just commenced, arrivals through the JNIA, KIA and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (AAKIA) will surge further, reaching the end of the year.

“We are expecting to receive over four million arrivals this year, higher than past records. In 2021/22, only 2.2 million passengers arrived in the country through airports. However, the number has been increasing gradually for the third consecutive year,” he said.

Mr Mbura attributed the increase to the positive impact of the Royal Tour documentary that triggered an increase in tourists and the ongoing implementation of major investment projects in the country.

Speaking about the VIP Lounge projects, he said the government has allocated funds in the 2024/25 fiscal year to improve and construct new facilities at the Mwanza and Arusha airports, as well as the KIA.

He noted that about Sh500 million to Sh600 million would be used for the project, depending on the location.

“Since this is business, TAA will recover the invested amount in just a year because, unlike in the past, when clients were charged Sh50,000 per person, the amount has been increased to an average of Sh150,000 to Sh200,000 or Sh270,000 for business tycoons,” he said.

He said the VIP lounge service is provided according to the class of users, ranging from ordinary citizens, diplomats, and business tycoons to people who would like to maintain their privacy and those on private jets.

Furthermore, he said in March last year, the sixth-phase government disbursed Sh600 million for the refurbishment of the JNIA VIP Lounge, which involved the provision of new furniture and Wi-Fi systems, among others, to meet increasing client demands.

He said the challenge remained in the provision of state-of-the-art vehicles that would be carrying VIP Lounge clients, a demand that has been responded to by Swissport through the procurement of the two modern cars.

Swisport Tanzania chief executive officer, Mrisho Yassin, said for the last 10 years, the company has been offering transport services to VIP Lounge clients using different types of vehicles.

“We are thrilled to launch the modern Mercedes-Benz E-Class 300 that will be used to transport passengers from the VIP Lounge to their respective aircraft,” he said, noting that the cars have a value of Sh700 million, including paid government taxes.

Mr Yassin said that despite the escalating competition in ground handling services, the company remains stronger due to its endless investment in human resources and improved services.

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Tanzania Confirms Outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease

Dodoma — Tanzania today confirmed an outbreak of Marburg virus disease in the northwestern Kagera region after one case tested positive for the virus following investigations and laboratory analysis of suspected cases of the disease.

President of the Republic of Tanzania, Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan, made the announcement during a press briefing alongside World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in the country’s administrative capital Dodoma.

“Laboratory tests conducted in Kabaile Mobile Laboratory in Kagera and later confirmed in Dar es Salaam identified one patient as being infected with the Marburg virus. Fortunately, the remaining suspected patients tested negative,” the president said. “We have demonstrated in the past our ability to contain a similar outbreak and are determined to do the same this time around.”

A total of 25 suspected cases have been reported as of 20 January 2025, all of whom have tested negative and are currently under close follow-up, the president said. The cases have been reported in Biharamulo and Muleba districts in Kagera.

“We have resolved to reassure the general public in Tanzania and the international community as a whole of our collective determination to address the global health challenges, including the Marburg virus disease,” said H.E President Hassan.

WHO is supporting Tanzanian health authorities to enhance key outbreak control measures including disease surveillance, testing, treatment, infection prevention and control, case management, as well as increasing public awareness among communities to prevent further spread of the virus.

“WHO, working with its partners, is committed to supporting the government of Tanzania to bring the outbreak under control as soon as possible, and to build a healthier, safer, fairer future for all the people of Tanzania,” said Dr Tedros. “Now is a time for collaboration, and commitment, to protecting the health of all people in Tanzania, and the region, from the risks posed by this disease.”

Marburg virus disease is highly virulent and causes haemorrhagic fever. It belongs to the same family as the virus that causes Ebola virus disease. Illness caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly. Patients present with high fever, severe headache and severe malaise. They may develop severe haemorrhagic symptoms within seven days.

“The declaration by the president and the measures being taken by the government are crucial in addressing the threat of this disease at the local and national levels as well as preventing potential cross-border spread,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Our priority is to support the government to rapidly scale up measures to effectively respond to this outbreak and safeguard the health of the population,”

Tanzania previously reported an outbreak of Marburg in March 2023 – the country’s first – in Kagera region, in which a total of nine cases (eight confirmed and one probable) and six deaths were reported, with a case fatality ratio of 67%.

In the African region, previous outbreaks and sporadic cases have been reported in Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.

Marburg virus is transmitted to people from fruit bats and spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Although several promising candidate medical countermeasures are currently undergoing clinical trials, there is no licensed treatment or vaccine for effective management or prevention of Marburg virus disease. However, early access to treatment and supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improve survival.

Source: allafrica.com

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