The impressive record has been attained within the past four years, attributed to the concerted efforts by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to revamp the sector.
DODOMA: EFFORTS by the Government of Tanzania to promote the country’s tourism sector has started to fetch fruitful results.
This, among others, is after the key economic facet in the country to surpass its 2025 projected visitors target
According to the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Dr Pindi Chana, the economic – leisure sector has successfully managed to register a total of 5.3 million visitors, to the tune of earning at least.3.9 billion US dollars in revenue.
The impressive record has been attained within the past four years, attributed to the concerted efforts by President Samia Suluhu Hassan to revamp the sector.
The Minister unveiled the success in her remarks during the official opening of the 33rd Workers Council Meeting of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in Dodoma on Thursday.
” The tourism sector is currently contributing 21 per cent to the national economy (GDP), while its share in foreign exchange earnings has reached 30.9 per cent with tourism alone contributing 25 per cent and forests and beekeeping 5.9 per cent making it the country’s top foreign exchange earner,” she expressed.
She saluted President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to drive remarkable transformation in the vital sector.
The Minister said Tanzania is currently gaining popularity on the global stage, citing seven international awards that Tanzania has secured, including World’s Leading Safari Destination, Africa’s Leading Destination 2024, and Africa’s Leading Tourism Attraction 2024.
Dr Chana challenged the ministry’s staff to sustain the momentum by diversifying tourism products and increasing revenue from USD 2.6 billion in 2020 to an ambitious USD 6 billion by 2025.
She noted that, vital strategies include strengthening game hunting tourism, boosting conference tourism, developing beach tourism, and enhancing revenue collection systems.
She urged the strengthening of stakeholder capacity in managing wildlife, forestry and beekeeping resources, controlling poaching and illegal logging, promoting investment in wildlife ranches and gardens, and creating a conducive environment for private sector participation.
Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for Natural Resources, CP Benedict Wakulyamba, for his side reiterated the ministry’s dedication to improving staff welfare and professional development to strengthen the sector’s performance.
“We will continue prioritising staff wellbeing, capacity building and their effective participation in national initiatives,” he said.
Strengthening of stakeholder capacity in managing wildlife, forestry and beekeeping resources, controlling poaching and illegal logging, promoting investment in wildlife ranches and gardens, and creating a conducive environment for private sector participation is among the key areas to be improved, the Minister ensured.
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