OPTIMISM HIGH AS ARUSHA GEARS UP FOR TOURISM FAIR

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA

With the tourism sector on a rebound, Arusha is gearing to host a tourism fair that will attract exhibitors from various countries.

More than 430 exhibitors are expected to showcase their products during an event deemed East Africa's largest tourism fair.

The Karibu-Kilifair (KFF) is a joint venture between two united tourism fairs that have been held in Arusha and Moshi in recent years.

The event's managing director Dominic Shoo said everything has been set for the fair that will take place at Magereza grounds in Arusha from June 2nd to 4th.

"We have increased our event area to newly prepared 30,000 square metre Magereza grounds", he said in Arusha last week.

According to him, there will be more than 430 exhibitors from 12 different countries and almost 500 travel agents from 34 countries.

In addition, the three-day Expo will pull in approximately over 7,000 people who will throng the site to sample various tourism products.

"Where business meets wildlife will be our slogan", he told journalists, insisting that the fair will serve as another platform to market the country's tourism potentials.

"It will also aim to provide a fantastic environment to establish new business relations and to improve existing contacts", he pointed out.

Mr. Shoo said since the government has put priority on building up the tourism sector which was impacted by Covid-19 during 2020/21.

He cited the new national parks and attractive investor benefits that have been opened up and created in recent years.

"The current mood in the tourism industry is very positive. The industry is very sure to top the record numbers of 2019 this year", he said.

Mr. Shoo further cited the bookings from next month (June) onwards were "looking great" at most hotels, lodges and tour companies, especially in the northern circuit.

Tanzania tourism made a major leap in recovery from last year when it received a record 1.4 million visitors, up from about 922, 692 and only 600,000 in 2021 and 2020 respectively.

The number of foreign visitors had dropped sharply from an all time  high of 1.5 million in 2019 prior to Covid-19 to slightly over 600,000 in 2020.

After various measures put in place by the government, including rolling out anti-Covid-19 vaccinations, the figure rose to about 922,692 in 2021.

The tourist arrivals noted in 2022 (1.4million) slightly missed the record number of 1.5 million tourists  recorded in 2019 by only 530,000. 

The Bank of Tanzania's (BoT) Monthly Economic Review for March, 2023 shows that the country received 1.5 million visitors during the year ending February, 2023.

This was more than the 959,329 that were registered during the preceding year and above the pre-pandemic level of 1.5 million in 2019.

Speaking during the same media brief, the vice chairman of Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato)  Henry Kimambo was optimistic tourist arrivals would hit a record 5 million come 2025.

"This is an appropriate forum to market and promote our tourism for an  increased number of visitors", he explained.