ARUSHA, Tanzania – Tanzanian long-distance running star and international athletics icon Alphonce Simbu has used the Karibu-KiliFair tourism exhibition in Arusha to promote Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania’s tourism attractions by participating in the exciting Summit Run Challenge.
The event, held at the Prisons Grounds in Arusha, attracted hundreds of participants and visitors who gathered to witness Simbu take part in the challenge alongside Karibu-KiliFair Director Tom Kunkler and other tourism stakeholders.
Organized by Karibu-KiliFair in partnership with leading tour operator Zara Tanzania Adventures, the challenge forms part of efforts to promote sports tourism and create greater awareness of Tanzania’s world-famous attractions, particularly Mount Kilimanjaro.
Speaking during the event, Zara Tanzania Adventures Marketing Officer Nancy Ngotea praised the Summit Run Challenge, describing it as an innovative initiative that successfully combines sports and tourism promotion.
She said the challenge has attracted significant interest from both local and international visitors while providing an effective platform to showcase Mount Kilimanjaro and Tanzania’s tourism potential to the world.
Ngotea also commended the government's efforts under President Samia Suluhu Hassan in strengthening tourism promotion both domestically and internationally, noting that the sector continues to record positive growth.
The challenge has generated considerable excitement throughout the Karibu-KiliFair exhibition, with many visitors competing to conquer a replica Mount Kilimanjaro installation. Winners are expected to be announced on June 7, the final day of the exhibition.
Participants are competing for attractive cash prizes, including TSh 1 million for the winner, TSh 500,000 for second place and TSh 250,000 for third place.
The event also provided Simbu with an opportunity to officially introduce his new campaign, “Run with Simbu,” which forms part of his preparations for the prestigious TCS Sydney Marathon scheduled for August 30, 2026, in Australia.
Addressing participants and visitors, Simbu emphasized the importance of using sports as a tool to market Tanzania internationally.
“Sports deliver messages to the world faster than almost anything else. When sports and tourism work together, they become a powerful force in promoting our country's attractions globally,” he said.
Simbu also took the opportunity to remind international audiences that Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is located in Tanzania, urging people around the world to visit the country and experience its unique tourism attractions.
The athlete noted that his international achievements have helped raise awareness about Tanzania, with many people abroad becoming interested in learning more about the country after following his sporting career.
Speaking about his preparations for the Sydney Marathon, Simbu said elite marathon training requires substantial support and teamwork. He currently trains in Arusha with a group of between 10 and 15 athletes who assist him as pacemakers during training sessions along the Namanga Road corridor to Oldonyosambu.
“You cannot achieve great success alone. Marathon running requires teamwork and support from many people,” he said.
Through the upcoming “Run with Simbu” campaign, the athlete is calling on Tanzanians, companies and development partners to support athletics development and help nurture the next generation of talented runners.
The Summit Run Challenge has emerged as one of the major highlights of this year’s Karibu-KiliFair, demonstrating how sports and tourism can work together to enhance Tanzania’s visibility and attract more visitors from around the world.
.jpeg)
0 Comments:
Post a Comment