Govt warns fraudsters in tourism sector

Dar es Salaam. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has warned people engaged in tourism business without registration and licenses to do so or face the law.

A press statement issued on Thursday, June 21, 2018 by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Maj Gen Gaudence Milanzi, says such people have been linked to fraud and causing unnecessary inconveniences to tourists.

“These people are tarnishing the image of the tourism sector and the nation in general. We have launched investigations to identify the culprits and take legal measures against them,” reads the statement in part.

According to the statement, Section 29 (10), (21) and (31) 1-6 of the Tourism Act 2008, a person engaged in tourism businesses is required to register and pay tourism business fees for the respective year.

Furthermore, the ministry urges the public, tourists and tourism stakeholders to engage in business using registered and licensed companies to avoid incidents of fraud and cheating, which have been on the increase in recent days.

The statement tells tourism businesspersons that registration applications for 2018 were accepted, but warning them against provision of false information and that those caught cheating would be de-licensed.