Mainland tourism sector revenue soars to 4.5trl/-
BERNARD LUGONGO 10 JUNE 2017

Tourism Tanzania
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REVENUE from the tourism sector in Tanzania mainland soared to 2.1 billion US dollars (about 4.5 trillion/-) last year as compared to 1.9 US dollars (about 4 trillion/-) the previous year, due to an increase in the number of tourists.
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A report unveiled in Dar es Salaam, yesterday, shows that the figure for the visiting tourists was up by 12.9 per cent during the period as in 2016 the country recorded 1,284,000 tourists while in 2015 the figure was 1,137,000.
The 2016 International Visitors’ Exit Survey Report further indicates that the Zanzibar tourism sector had a better year with increased earnings of 30 per cent in 2016 compared to 2015.
Presenting the annual report, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr Aloyce Nzuki told the news conference that revenue from the sector in Zanzibar went up by 30 per cent, from 293 million US dollars (about 630 billion/-) in 2015 to 382 US dollars (821 billion/-) last year.
The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in collaboration with other government agencies such as Immigration Department, Bank of Tanzania and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) among others.
The survey established that national parks (wild animals) attracted many tourists, about 36 per cent, followed by beach tourism. The biggest number of tourists came from the UK followed by the US for Tanzania mainland while in Zanzibar Italy comes second after UK in number of tourists.
According to Dr Nzuki, many tourists come from those countries due to historical factors and investments. Tanzania was colonised by the UK and many investors from those countries have invested in the country, so they bring in their families and relatives for leisure and holidays in national parks and beaches. On average, each tourist spends 178 US dollars (383,000) per day, and many of them come for leisure and holidays.
The tourists, who were asked over the country’s tourism sector, replied that more was supposed to be done in improving infrastructure, particularly roads and airports to attract more tourists.
Meanwhile, Dr Nzuki said the government was in the process of reviewing the law that restricts people to invest in historical sites, which are now over 500.
He noted that the review is aimed at enabling investors to invest in the historical sites in a bid to refurbish them and make the areas attract more tourists and contribute more foreign currency to the country.
Mainland tourism sector revenue soars to 4.5trl/-