Tour operators report boom in Tanzania safari bookings

Regional News:Africa
Business from U.S predicted to grow
Tour operators report boom in Tanzania safari bookings
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The year 2009 is ushering in brisk business for tour operators booking safaris to Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa. Peter Mwenguo, Managing Director, Tanzania Tourist Board, concludes “In a year when people are conscious about cost/value, Tanzania offers an excellent travel experience where the dollar buys much more than is available in other countries. America is Tanzania’s number one source for tourism and we are encouraged by the positive feedback we have received that this growth will continue even during a challenging economic climate.”

Jo Bertone, USA Director of Naipenda Safaris, has seen no evidence of a travel slowdown when it comes to Tanzania. “While the media was filled with doom and gloom for the past few months about the U.S. economy in general,” she says, “right after the elections and the holidays we resumed normal -if not higher- quote requests on bookings to Tanzania. People see that the sky isn’t falling, they know that Tanzania is a beautiful and peaceful country (we have never had a problem in any part of Tanzania), and they’re ready again for a good travel experience."

In fact, in an article written for USA Today in December, 2008, Mark Nolting Africa Adventure Company cites Tanzania as “One of the Top Two Safari Destinations in the World.” He added “Business the first two weeks of the New Year has been GREAT!”

Kenneth Hieber, founder and president of New York based 2Afrika, as a guest on Voice of America (January 12) told listeners that “the price structure in Tanzania now, combined with its beauty, make it the must-go-to destination this year. Take advantage of its good deals while you can!” At his company, "Tanzania is without question my best seller at the moment. I am turning them out a dime a dozen.” Ηe adds that “Tanzania still remains so popular that Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel Magazine is running it AGAIN in the March issue under the 40 BEST DEALS.”

Ina Steinhiler, Manager of Sales and Marketing, at the Boston-based Thomson Safaris, notes that their sales of safari packages to Tanzania are also brisk. “Few people are canceling or postponing for economic reasons. We are more than pleased,” she comments. “People aren't putting their lives on hold.”

"Despite a challenging environment in 2008,” said Tom Armstrong, Corporate Communications Manager, Tauck World Discovery, “Tauck was nonetheless very pleased to see strong growth in our Tanzania itineraries. The economic environment has only become more challenging in recent months, yet Tanzania continues to be a popular destination for Tauck and we continue to take bookings on our safari itineraries there."

At Safari Ventures based in Florida, Rumit Mehta, Director of Business Development in New York City, feels that many Americans are fulfilling a dream in keeping and/or creating travel plans to Tanzania. “In the last five or so years, Safari Ventures has seen a steady growth of clients from business schools and universities who are interested in the intellectual and cultural heritage of Tanzania. There are more than enough value-added hotels, safaris and other attractions to keep them booking this year.”

Lynn Newby-Fraser of Africa Dream Safaris says “Despite the economic gloom there still seem to be people who are looking for a trip-of-a-lifetime and interestingly they’re looking to Tanzania for the experience. Our bookings for the 1st week of January 2009 are double what they were in 2008 and our website traffic is also up substantially. I think that people are beginning to recognize that the Serengeti is not only the undisputed champion for wildlife viewing and that the overall quality of safari available to them in Tanzania is nothing short of superb. I think that people just need to look at the 2009 Worlds’ Best Safari Outfitters as voted by National Geographic Adventure, and see that three of the Top Ten Outfitters-Africa Dream Safaris being one -focus specifically on Tanzania. That’s a high percentage and says a lot about what the country and its operators have to offer tourists!”

Kent Redding of Adventures in Africa states “I think bookings are starting to pick up in 2009. From our standpoint, we are cautiously optimistic for 2009 - so optimistic that I’ve hired a Director of Sales and Marketing, and am increasing marketing activities such as the New York Times Travel Show, and more.”

“Business was good to Tanzania in 2008”, reported Brad Ford, Director of Business Development, G.A.P. Adventures in Canada, “and early indicators tell us we will be up 25-30% across the board there in 2009. Our Tanzania safari trips (trips that spend most if not all of the time in Tanzania) were up 20% this past year, compared to the previous year and Kilimanjaro trekking trips were up about 43% compared to the previous year.”

Amant Macha, Director of Marketing, Tanzania Tourist Board, confirms that they expect to hold and/or increase market share in 2009 as a result of “the increase in hi-end accommodations to meet the demand of the luxury travel segment and improved air access combined with ongoing advertising on CNN and other U.S. media.”

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