| Tour operators express fears on EA Common Market | Send to a friend |
| Thursday, 08 July 2010 09:16 |
 By Zephania Ubwani, ArushaSome tour companies operating here have expressed fears that they may lose out to Kenya firms with the advent of the East African Common Market. Those interviewed said the Kenya firms were now likely to take tourists straight to game parks and other sites in Tanzania from Nairobi as was the case until the late 1970s. As a result local tour operators, who have dominated the trade for years, can lose business to their counterparts in Kenya where many tourists heading to Tanzania’s northern tourist circuit land from overseas. The director of the Arusha-based Jackpot Tours and Safaris, Mr Andrew Malalika, said although he welcomed the EA Common Market, it can be a great challenge to Tanzania tour operators. He told The Citizen that there was a likelihood of Kenya-registered vehicles taking tourists directly from Nairobi to Tanzania’s national parks. He said until recently the law did not allow tour vehicles from the neighbouring country to undertake ground tour business in Tanzania. However, with the EA Common Market which has opened up borders for the movement of goods, services and labour, he would not rule out such a development. Mr Malalika added that Tanzania tour operators were not afraid of competition, but could lose out to their Nairobi counterparts as the latter have an advantage of logistics. According to statistics from the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato), a lobby group for large tour firms, at least 40 per cent of tourists visiting Tanzania annually cross over from Kenya. “This will be a loss to Tanzanians because they would no longer be sub-contracted to take visitors to the parks. The Kenyans will drive them there directly from Nairobi,” he said. According to him, the new development would also deprive the Tanzania firms of direct bookings of foreign tourists as the exercise may be taken over by Kenya’s. He said, with many tourists visiting the country still using the Nairobi route, the major tourist markets abroad would turn to Kenya tour companies. There was also a likelihood of Mt Kilimanjaro climbing being taken over by the Nairobi-based tour operators given the mountain’s proximity to Kenya, he added. But when contacted on the new development, Tato executive secretary Mustapha Akunaay played down such fears, saying it could take months before the impact is felt. He said although he has been very much involved in negotiations prior to the signing of the EA Common Market protocol, he could not say if opening the border to Kenya tour firms would have serious repercussions on Tato members. “You must realise that these EAC protocols and their annexes, like the EA Common Market and Customs Union, are political arrangements by government leaders. “They are not necessarily people- or private sector-driven and it needs time to see their impact on the economy, leave alone when implementation will actually take off,” he told The Citizen. He said it was not easy overnight for tour operators from Kenya to start taking tourists all the way from Nairobi to Tanzania without first studying the cost implications. The long serving Tato official said although he was much involved in the tourism segment of the EA Common Market protocol he could neither agree nor rule out the possibility that Tanzania’s business would gain or lose. He noted, however, that during the lengthy negotiations prior to the signing of the protocol last November Tanzania tabled a paper on her position. “Tanzania’s position was that EAC countries should share the (tourism) cake equitably without harming one another,” he said. The Tato boss said thorny issues on tourism sector cooperation had been between Tanzania and Kenya, more specifically on their levels of development and approaches. “I have reason to fear because of the level of development of the hospitality industry in Kenya and their approach to mass tourism as opposed to Tanzania,” he said. However, he added, Tanzania was far ahead of its northern neighbour in tourist attractions and Kenyan firms would likely cooperate in sustaining the industry. Mr Bob Frank of Wild Truck Safaris, an Arusha-based firm, wondered that Tanzanians were afraid of Kenya tour companies at this time of the regional integration. He said several Kenya-registered vehicles have been taking tourists to national parks in the northern circuit in recent years, and that was not a secret. Tanzanians are not necessarily going to lose because the country can be promoted more through travel agents based overseas working with tour companies based in Nairobi, he added. Speaking on condition of anonymity, another tour operator said there was a likelihood of the entire tourism industry in Tanzania falling into the hands of Kenyans. He said more of them were now likely to secure good jobs in the tour and travel agency business after having successfully grabbed jobs in hotels and lodges, especially around Arusha. He explained that many tour operators, including the 200-strong Tato members, may not be aware of the EA Common Market and its implications. It was therefore the duty of the government to educate them, he suggested, continuing: “I think the government needs to take time and educate people about the opportunities for trade and opening of EA borders to make them fully aware of them.” Other representatives of the business community welcomed the new trade arrangement in the bloc, but insisted that local authorities should not allow any loophole that may result in Tanzanians losing jobs. “We can’t avoid the EA Common Market, but we must ensure that local people benefit from it. Tanzanians must benefit and should not lose business or employment,” said Mr Adolf Olomi, a prominent businessman. Conversely, Mr Olomi, who is the current chairman of the Arusha branch of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Trade (TCCIA) and director of a wine making factory, said Tanzanians must also exploit existing opportunities in the bloc. For her part, the executive director of the Tanzania Horticultural Association (Taha), Ms Jacquiline Mkindi, said she supported the pact but was concerned by the likelihood of Tanzanians losing jobs. “Free movement of labour should be encouraged, but to a certain level so as not to deprive local people accessing jobs,” she said. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
