Tour operators opposed to deal with South African firm

Arusha. The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (Tato) is at loggerheads with the Tanzania Tourist Board over tourism promotion in the country.

At the centre of the controversy is TTB’s decision to partner with a South African firm in establishing a new tourism fair.

Tato argues that a partnership with South Africans on tourism promotion could weaken the now well established 13-year-old Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair and adversely affect tourism and investment inflows.

Karibu is the second largest tourism fair in Africa after Indaba, hosted by South Africa, which, according to Tato officials, is Tanzania’s biggest tourism competitor.

In February, TTB signed an agreement with South African tourism promoter Witch & Wizard Creative to establish the Swahili Tourism Fair born, which is meant to boost tourist arrivals in Tanzania.

The maiden event is scheduled for the first week of October at Mlimani City in Dar es Salaam, but Tato Executive Secretary Mustafa Akuunay accused TTB of undermining the Karibu Fair.

“If TTB felt that the Karibu Fair is deficient, it was supposed to propose ways to improve it instead of establishing a new fair to sabotage it,” he said.

He added that TTB was ill advised to partner with a South African firm to promote tourism in Tanzania since the two countries were in direct competition for visitors.

“The deal itself is questionable. I don’t believe that the South African firm loves Tanzania more than it loves South Africa,” Mr Akunaay said.

But TTB says the Swahili Tourism Fair will complement the Karibu Fair.

In a letter to the Karibu Fair, TTB Managing Director Aloyce Nzuki says the decision to establish the Swahili Tourism Fair was aimed at staging in Tanzania a travel fair of Indaba’s stature, adding that the event will exclusively focus on international clientele.

“The establishment of a new tourism fair has taken cognizance of the continued existence of Karibu Fair which over the years has been able to develop from a national to a regional tourism fair focusing on a regional tourism market,” says the letter.

TTB promised to work with Karibu Fair to ensure that the show grows in “leaps and bounds” and ensure that it attracts more visitors from the region.

But Mr Akuunay scoffed at the gesture, saying the Karibu Fair is an international event registered with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

He said he was sure this year’s show, scheduled for May 31 to June 2 in Arusha, would attract a record number of exhibitors despite the impact of the crisis in Europe on the international tourism market.

“Nearly 300 exhibitors are expected to take part in this year’s fair along with thousands of regional and international visitors,” he said.

The event is expected to draw participants from several European and Asian countries and the US. Exhibitors are also expected from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, South Africa, Seychelles, Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Tanzania.

Analysts say the dispute could hurt tourism promotion because TTB and Tato need to pull in the same direction to boost the number of tourists visiting the country.

About 950,000 tourists visited Tanzania last year, bringing in $1.4 billion (Sh2.24 trillion).

TTB’s deal with Witch & Wizard Creative aims to double the number of tourists visiting the country in addition to boosting investment in the next five years, according to Dr Nzuki.

He said Tanzania receives at least 25,000 visitors from South Africa annually, adding that the partnership between the Swahili Tourism Fair and South Africa’s Indaba would have a “huge”impact.

“We expect to receive thousands of visitors. This means that the country will earn more in terms of tourism proceeds, plenty of business ventures and tax revenue. The demand for accommodation and other services required by foreign visitors will be higher than at present,” the TTB chief said.

Dr Nzuki asked tour operators and local investors to prepare for the event and tap the country’s potential through partnership with their foreign counterparts. Witch & Wizard Creative CEO Zaida Enver said they were committed to turning Tanzania into a host of leading tourism fairs in Africa to attract visitors and tourism investors from around the world in a similar manner as Indaba.

Indaba is the biggest tourism marketing fair in the Africa calendar and touted as one of the top three “must visit” events of its kind on the global calendar.

It showcases a wide variety of southern Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international visitors and media from across the world. Indaba is owned by South African Tourism Board and organised by Witch & Wizard Creative.

Indaba has for two years in a row won the award for Africa’s best travel and tourism show from the Association of World Travel Awards.