Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania

Natural Attractions in Kenya and Tanzania

Amidst COVID-19​

Adam Ihucha - eTN Tanzania Adam Ihucha - eTN TanzaniaOctober 8, 2020 17:18
France Becomes Premier Inbound Travel Market to Tanzania


France has been ranked as the leading inbound travel market to Tanzania, since the latter re-opened its skies for travel amidst the world’s COVID-19 pandemic.

Tanzania reopened its airspace for international passenger flights on June 1, 2020, after a 3-month stint of COVID-19, becoming the pioneer country in East Africa to welcome tourists to sample its endowed attractions.

Latest statistics from the state-run conservation and tourism agency show that France is leading in terms of number of tourist arrivals in Tanzania over the 3-month period covering July, August, and September 2020.

Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) Assistant Conservation Commissioner in charge of the business portfolio, Ms. Beatrice Kessy, said that records indicate a total of 3,062 French tourists visited national parks in the period under review, raising the France flag high as the top international tourist market for Tanzania amidst the crisis and overtaking the USA with 2,327 holidaymakers.

The third in the list of key Tanzania tourist source markets is Germany with 1,317 visitors, followed by the UK with 1,051 tourists in fourth position. Spain, in fifth spot, has supplied Tanzania with 1,050 holidaymakers, trailed by India with 844 travelers who sampled the country’s bestowed natural beauties. Switzerland holds the seventh position with 727 tourists, trailed by Russia in eighth place with 669 visitors, the Netherlands with 431 travelers is in ninth slot, and tenth is Australia for having brought 367 vacationers during the period under consideration.

This implies that France has not only cast a vote of confidence to Tanzania’s approach of handling the COVID-19 pandemic, but also has become a true ally in helping the country to revive the tourism industry in a bid to spur other businesses, recover thousands of lost jobs, and spawn and pump revenue into the coffers.

“We are so grateful to French tourists for casting a vote of confidence to Tanzania as a safe destination. Their arrival plays a key role in spreading trust more widely, with benefits traveling far beyond tourism,” Ms, Kessy explained.

For many, France has become Tanzania’s best ally indeed because it supports the responsible and timely recovery of the tourism industry on which millions of small businesses and jobs depend.

The feat has not occurred by default, but rather, it was out of painstaking joint efforts spearheaded by the Tanzania Ambassador in France, Mr. Samwel Shelukindo.

“My office worked extra-time in close cooperation with the Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club (MKSC) and Axium by Parker, as well as Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB). We have organized several meetings with tour operators and mainstream media to reassure them that Tanzania is a safe destination amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. Shelukindo said in an exclusive interview.

The envoy said their initiatives were boosted by President Dr. John Pombe Magufuli’s stance of keeping the country lockdown-free and welcoming tourists.

Indeed, President Magufuli, like his counterpart in Sweden, has never issued a lockdown, thanks to the low cases count, and invited travelers to enter his country restriction-free.

“I can safely say this is a secret behind the feat. I’m proud of my President Magufuli as he made us work with confidence abroad. I’m also heavily indebted to MKSC, Axium by Parker, and TTB for their spirited campaigns to promote Tanzania as a safe destination,” he noted.

Since Mr. Shelukindo assumed the office in Paris way back in 2017, French tourist arrivals in Tanzania have been surging tremendously.

Official data shows that in 2016, France supplied a total of 24,611 tourists, and in 2017, the number hit 33,925 travelers, while in 2018, there were 41,330 visitors, and in 2019, the arrivals reached 56,297 holidaymakers.

MKSC founder, Denis Lebouteux, said in most cases, French tourists have been flocking into Tanzania in the low season when the country’s national parks and hotels are really hungry to fill empty rooms.

“So, this is a uniqueness of French tourists,” Mr. Lebouteux said, adding that they visit when Tanzania needs them most.

Enthralled by the country’s peace and love, its endowed wildlife, beaches and culture, French tourists are slowly but surely becoming the cornerstone of Tanzania’s tourism industry.

With nearly 1.5 million tourist arrivals annually, wildlife tourism continues growing and cementing its position as the leading foreign currency earner in Tanzania, fetching the country $2.5 billion, equivalent to nearly 17.6 percent of its GDP.

In addition, tourism provides 600,000 direct jobs to Tanzanians, let alone over one million other citizens who generate incomes from the industry.

#rebuildingtravel

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France Becomes Premier Inbound Travel Market to Tanzania
 

New UNESCO World Heritage Fund supports two new projects in Tanzania​

Wednesday, 21 October 2020
2 min read

Following requests from the United Republic of Tanzania, the World Heritage Fund has granted a total of USD 59,836 in International Financial Assistance for two new projects to address conservation and management needs at two World Heritage sites: the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara and Kondoa Rock-Art Sites.​

A project signing ceremony convened by the Tanzania National Commission for UNESCO was organized in October 2020 in Dar es Salaam for the signature of contracts between UNESCO and the site management authorities-- Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA) and Tanzania Forest Services (TFS) Agency—for the implementation of the projects over the next 12 months.

"The UNESCO Office in Dar es Salaam is pleased to support the State Party of Tanzania with the implementation of these important projects, which will help to improve the conservation and management of iconic World Heritage sites in Tanzania. We are confident that Tanzania’s World Heritage sites can help the country to rebuild its tourism sector after the COVID-19 pandemic, and contribute to sustainable development in Tanzania." Mr. Tirso Dos Santos, Head of the UNESCO Office in Dar es Salaam

The project for the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara World Heritage site is focusing on countering the impacts of climate change and promoting awareness raising of conservation needs. Activities for this project will include: planting of mangrove trees to reduce scouring tidal currents that also increase wave impacts on the Malindi beach, Gereza, Makutani mosque and Songo Mnara; restoration of eroded stairs at the Husuni Palace; and educational programmes for the local community on cultural heritage.

The project at Kondoa Rock-Art site will focus on updating the conservation and management plan for the site through capacity building workshops, and raising awareness among the local communities through education and outreach on the conservation and management needs of the site as well as its potential for the development of sustainable cultural tourism.

The United Republic of Tanzania ratified the UNESCO 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1977 and currently has seven properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including:
  • Kondoa Rock-Art Sites (2006)
  • Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara (1981)
  • Stone Town of Zanzibar (2000)
  • Kilimanjaro National Park (1987)
  • Selous Game Reserve (1982)
  • Serengeti National Park (1981)
  • Ngorongoro Conservation Area (1979,2010)
International Assistance under the World Heritage Convention is a financial assistance granted to the States Parties in order to help them protect the cultural or natural heritage sites inscribed on the World Heritage List or on the List of World Heritage in Danger. International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund can support projects falling under one of the following three categories: Emergency Assistance; Conservation & Management; and Preparatory Assistance. For funding in 2021, the deadline for submission is 31 October 2020.

For more information on the International Assistance from the World Heritage Fund, please visit
New UNESCO World Heritage Fund supports two new projects in Tanzania
 
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