Ngongo
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- Sep 20, 2008
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Tanzania's refusal to allow Kenyan-registered tourist vans to take visitors to sites inside the country may persist despite the coming in of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol which guarantees free movement of people and services.
Responding to recent queries raised by tour operators from Kenya on mistreatment by Tanzanian authorities, a senior official of the Community Secretariat said the two countries have a binding agreement to off-load tourists crossing borders.
"Even with the regional integration spirit, it will take some time for the EAC protocols to override bilateral agreements between the partners states or involving them with other countries", he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said he was aware of an agreement signed by the two founder members of the Community in 1985 on how to handle tourists crossing borders, mostly those entering Tanzania from Kenya and which was boosted by several bilateral meetings, the latest one held in Arusha in 2009.
"Off loading of tourists is among the agreements made by the two countries", he pointed out. However, the official declined to divulge more details on the matter, saying he was not updated on the issue and that further clarification should be sought from senior officials of EAC.
Responding to recent queries raised by tour operators from Kenya on mistreatment by Tanzanian authorities, a senior official of the Community Secretariat said the two countries have a binding agreement to off-load tourists crossing borders.
"Even with the regional integration spirit, it will take some time for the EAC protocols to override bilateral agreements between the partners states or involving them with other countries", he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The official said he was aware of an agreement signed by the two founder members of the Community in 1985 on how to handle tourists crossing borders, mostly those entering Tanzania from Kenya and which was boosted by several bilateral meetings, the latest one held in Arusha in 2009.
"Off loading of tourists is among the agreements made by the two countries", he pointed out. However, the official declined to divulge more details on the matter, saying he was not updated on the issue and that further clarification should be sought from senior officials of EAC.
Last week Kenya government said it would lodge a formal complaint with the EAC Secretariat against Tanzania whose officials, it accuses of barring tour operators from the neighbouring country from entering its (Tanzania) territory with the tourists.
The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Tourism and Commerce Ms Phllyis Kandie was quoted saying; "I will raise this thorny issue at the regional level because the EAC Common Market protocol guarantees free movement of people, goods, capital and services."
Tour operators from the neighbouring country alleged that their vans carrying tourists had been denied entry into Tanzania through the four main border posts of Namanga, Sirari, Horohoro and Holili and instead they have been forced to hire Tanzanian-registered vehicles and drivers to take the visitors to selected spots in Tanzania.
"Kenyan tour operators have been getting a raw deal when they want to take tourists to Tanzania wildlife spots", lamented the director of Oliver Tours and Safaris Mr. Omar Rachitu, alluding that this was against the spirit of EAC cooperation.
An official of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato), a powerful lobby group of registered tour companies with country headquarters in Arusha, also leaned on the bilateral agreement between Tanzania and Kenya under which vans carrying tourists would only stop at the borders. However, he said he needed time to give an official position.
However, other stakeholders based here insisted the Kenyan tour operators were specifically targeting the opening of the Bolongoja border post between the Serengeti National Park and the Maasai-Mara Game Reserve. The remote post has remained closed since the late 1970s after the break up of the former EAC.
They warned that should Tanzania submit to the demands, the famous Serengeti National Park could be turned into an annex of Maasai-Mara. "They have been pushing for foreign registered vehicles to pass through of Bolongoja. Kenyans are fighting hard for that", lamented a business management consultant on condition his name is not mentioned.
"EAC is not everything. Even in the European Union with 27 members, the UK (United Kingdom) has not subscribed to the Eurozone. No member country has lost its sovereignty by merely being a member of the Community", he added.
A tourism and travel consultant, Mr. Elisha Mayalla also wondered if the opening of borders between Tanzania and Kenya for vans carrying tourists was included in the EAC Common Market Protocol and said clarification should be sought from the relevant authorities.
However, he maintained;' "This matter has different scenarios. Kenyans are good in tourism management. They are also shrewd in business. Tanzania with the most attractive sites may not benefit much from this arrangement because it is an expensive destination".
According to him, until about a decade ago, about 50 per cent of tourists visiting the country crossed over border or landed through Kenya. The figure could have gone down now with increased direct flights from outside East Africa.
Other tourism sector stakeholders cautioned that the lucrative tour business in the northern circuit centred in Arusha would suffer much if the Kenya tourist vans are allowed to bring in tourists directly from Kenya to the wildlife spots in Tanzania, particularly in the famous game parks within the circuit.
The Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for EAC Affairs, Tourism and Commerce Ms Phllyis Kandie was quoted saying; "I will raise this thorny issue at the regional level because the EAC Common Market protocol guarantees free movement of people, goods, capital and services."
Tour operators from the neighbouring country alleged that their vans carrying tourists had been denied entry into Tanzania through the four main border posts of Namanga, Sirari, Horohoro and Holili and instead they have been forced to hire Tanzanian-registered vehicles and drivers to take the visitors to selected spots in Tanzania.
"Kenyan tour operators have been getting a raw deal when they want to take tourists to Tanzania wildlife spots", lamented the director of Oliver Tours and Safaris Mr. Omar Rachitu, alluding that this was against the spirit of EAC cooperation.
An official of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato), a powerful lobby group of registered tour companies with country headquarters in Arusha, also leaned on the bilateral agreement between Tanzania and Kenya under which vans carrying tourists would only stop at the borders. However, he said he needed time to give an official position.
However, other stakeholders based here insisted the Kenyan tour operators were specifically targeting the opening of the Bolongoja border post between the Serengeti National Park and the Maasai-Mara Game Reserve. The remote post has remained closed since the late 1970s after the break up of the former EAC.
They warned that should Tanzania submit to the demands, the famous Serengeti National Park could be turned into an annex of Maasai-Mara. "They have been pushing for foreign registered vehicles to pass through of Bolongoja. Kenyans are fighting hard for that", lamented a business management consultant on condition his name is not mentioned.
"EAC is not everything. Even in the European Union with 27 members, the UK (United Kingdom) has not subscribed to the Eurozone. No member country has lost its sovereignty by merely being a member of the Community", he added.
A tourism and travel consultant, Mr. Elisha Mayalla also wondered if the opening of borders between Tanzania and Kenya for vans carrying tourists was included in the EAC Common Market Protocol and said clarification should be sought from the relevant authorities.
However, he maintained;' "This matter has different scenarios. Kenyans are good in tourism management. They are also shrewd in business. Tanzania with the most attractive sites may not benefit much from this arrangement because it is an expensive destination".
According to him, until about a decade ago, about 50 per cent of tourists visiting the country crossed over border or landed through Kenya. The figure could have gone down now with increased direct flights from outside East Africa.
Other tourism sector stakeholders cautioned that the lucrative tour business in the northern circuit centred in Arusha would suffer much if the Kenya tourist vans are allowed to bring in tourists directly from Kenya to the wildlife spots in Tanzania, particularly in the famous game parks within the circuit.
Source Arusha Times.