The government has unveiled investment opportunities in the tourism industry to the visiting global travel agents as it seeks to unleash the industry’s full potential.
The bustling city of Arusha on Thursday played host to an influential gathering of global travel agents and local tour operators, setting the stage for potential future collaborations aimed at boosting Tanzania’s burgeoning tourism industry.
The high-profile Business-to-Business (B2B) event saw the presence of the Deputy Conservation Commissioner in the Research and Training section of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mr Iman Nkuwi, who outlined lucrative investment opportunities in the country’s tourism industry.
In his presentation, Mr Nkuwi emphasised that Tanzania welcomes large-scale investors willing to contribute to the development of state-of-the-art recreation facilities.
Highlighting specific investment avenues, he mentioned the establishment of wildlife captive facilities, luxury lodges and camps, beekeeping ventures, forestry projects and the rapidly growing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) ultra facility as key areas of focus.
“We have earmarked a total of 179 investment sites for accommodation facilities with the capacity to add an extra 7,744 beds,” Mr Nkuwi announced.
His statement underscored the significant potential for expansion in Tanzania’s hospitality segment, which is seen as pivotal to cater to the increasing influx of tourists drawn to the nation’s rich biodiversity and unique cultural heritage.
The strategic locations of these investment sites, coupled with the government’s supportive policies, present a golden opportunity for global investors to tap into Tanzania’s thriving tourism industry.
Mr Nkuwi’s insights further revealed that Tanzania’s vast and diverse ecosystems, ranging from the Serengeti plains to the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, offer unparalleled experiences to visitors, thereby driving the demand for high-quality accommodation and recreational facilities.
Mr Nkuwi reiterated the government’s commitment to facilitating and fostering an investor-friendly environment. With 179 earmarked sites ready for development, Tanzania’s tourism industry stands on the brink of a transformative era, offering promising returns for discerning investors who align with the country’s vision for sustainable and inclusive growth.
Key stakeholders at the event expressed their optimism and willingness to explore these investment opportunities. Turkey Travel Agent who serves as the Vice-President of the Istanbul Tourism Association (ISTA), Mr Murtaza Kalender, said he has fallen in love with the investment opportunities in the hospitality industry.
“We would otherwise not know that there is a huge potential for investment in the hospitality industry, without this special presentation to us. Tanzania is now my second home. I will internalise on the opportunity,” Mr Murtaza noted. He said Tanzania has what it takes to woo 15 million tourists in the next decade, if the current efforts to engage global travel agents are sustained.
“Collaboration between international travel agents and local tour operators is expected to not only bolster the tourism infrastructure but also enhance the overall visitor experience, thus contributing significantly to Tanzania’s economic growth” Mr Murtaza noted.
The B2B event in Arusha marked a significant milestone in Tanzania’s journey towards establishing itself as a premier global tourist destination.
As the dialogues initiated during this gathering evolve into concrete partnerships, the future of Tanzania’s tourism subsector looks indeed bright, brimming with endless possibilities for both investors and travellers alike.
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In a landmark initiative aimed at bolstering Tanzania’s tourism industry, 120 global travel agents have embarked on an exclusive familiarisation tour in the northern tourism circuit to experience the natural beauty firsthand.
The brainchild behind this ambitious project, African Queen Adventures CEO, Alice Manupa, shared that the tour was aimed at offering the global agents a firsthand experience of Tanzania’s unparalled natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.
“This is a milestone for the Tanzania tourism industry,” Ms Manupa said, adding: “Considering that 60 per cent of global travel and tourism decisions are influenced by travel agents, hosting 120 of the world’s most influential agents is bound to skyrocket our destination profile and visibility.”
Source: allafrica.com
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Air Tanzania Banned From EU Airspace Due to Safety Concerns
Several airports have since locked Air Tanzania, dealing a severe blow to the Tanzanian national carrier that must now work overtime to regain its certification or go the wet lease way
The European Commission has announced the inclusion of Air Tanzania on the EU Air Safety List, effectively banning the airline from operating in European airspace.
The decision, made public on December 16, 2024, is based on safety concerns identified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which also led to the denial of Air Tanzania’s application for a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation.
The Commission did not go into the specifics of the safety infringement but industry experts suggest it is possible that the airline could have flown its Airbus A220 well past its scheduled major checks, thus violating the airworthiness directives.
“The decision to include Air Tanzania in the EU Air Safety List underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring the highest safety standards for passengers in Europe and worldwide,” said Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
“We strongly urge Air Tanzania to take swift and decisive action to address these safety issues. I have offered the Commission’s assistance to the Tanzanian authorities in enhancing Air Tanzania’s safety performance and achieving full compliance with international aviation standards.”
Air Tanzania has a mixed fleet of modern aircraft types including Boeing 787s, 737 Max jets, and Airbus A220s.
It has been flying the B787 Dreamliner to European destinations like Frankfurt in Germany and Athens in Greece and was looking to add London to its growing list with the A220.
But the ban not only scuppers the London dream but also has seen immediate ripple effect, with several airports – including regional like Kigali and continental – locking out Air Tanzania.
Tanzania operates KLM alongside the national carrier.
The European Commission said Air Tanzania may be permitted to exercise traffic rights by using wet-leased aircraft of an air carrier which is not subject to an operating ban, provided that the relevant safety standards are complied with.
A wet lease is where an airline pays to use an aircraft with a crew, fuel, and insurance all provided by the leasing company at a fee.
Two more to the list
The EU Air Safety List, maintained to ensure passenger safety, is updated periodically based on recommendations from the EU Air Safety Committee.
The latest revision, which followed a meeting of aviation safety experts in Brussels from November 19 to 21, 2024, now includes 129 airlines.
Of these, 100 are certified in 15 states where aviation oversight is deemed insufficient, and 29 are individual airlines with significant safety deficiencies.
Alongside Air Tanzania, other banned carriers include Air Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe), Avior Airlines (Venezuela), and Iran Aseman Airlines (Iran).
Commenting on the broader implications of the list, Tzitzikostas stated, “Our priority remains the safety of every traveler who relies on air transport. We urge all affected airlines to take these bans seriously and work collaboratively with international bodies to resolve the identified issues.”
In a positive development, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has been cleared to resume operations in the EU following a four-year suspension. The ban, which began in 2020, was lifted after substantial improvements in safety performance and oversight by PIA and the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).
“Since the TCO Authorisation was suspended, PIA and PCAA have made remarkable progress in enhancing safety standards,” noted Tzitzikostas. “This demonstrates that safety issues can be resolved through determination and cooperation.”
Another Pakistani airline, Airblue Limited, has also received EASA’s TCO authorisation.
Decisions to include or exclude airlines from the EU Air Safety List are based on rigorous evaluations of international safety standards, particularly those established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
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The process involves thorough review and consultation among EU Member State aviation safety experts, with oversight from the European Commission and support from EASA.
“Where an airline currently on the list believes it complies with the required safety standards, it can request a reassessment,” explained Tzitzikostas. “Our goal is not to penalize but to ensure safety compliance globally.”
Airlines listed on the EU Air Safety List face significant challenges to their international operations, as the bans highlight shortcomings in safety oversight by their home regulatory authorities.
For Air Tanzania, this inclusion signals an urgent need for reform within Tanzania’s aviation sector to address these deficiencies and align with global standards.
The path forward will require immediate and sustained efforts to rectify safety concerns and regain access to one of the world’s most critical aviation markets.
Source: allafrica.com
