Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a Chinese company, Touchroad International Holdings Group (Touchroad Group) that will see the latter bringing about 10,000 tourists to the East African nation by the end of next year (2019).
Established 18 years ago in Ghana before being founded in China two years later (2002), Touchroad Group is engaged in industrial park development, resources exploitation, manufacturing, international trade, cultural exchange and tourism in Africa.
And, speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday, the TTB chairman Judge (rtd) Thomas Mihayo said the MoU was signed during the board’s tour of China last month where they discussed ways of promoting tourism in Tanzania.
“During our deliberations with the Chinese firm, it requested for a deduction in expenses especially on transport, accommodation and Visa charges for tourists who will be visiting the country,” he said noting that the first batch of 300 tourists is expected in the country between January and February next year.
The group will be in the country for three days.
The company, said Judge Mihayo, has requested for booking of 300 rooms and seven busses, each with capacity to carry 60 passengers for the first group.
“The company also has interest in investing in accommodation in the country like building hotels. It already has four five star hotels in Africa and has provided a three-year grace period for Tanzania’s free office space in china that will be used in promoting tourism,” he said.
This comes at a time when the rejuvenated Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is finalising modalities before it officially launches direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Guangzhou in China.
“So far, we have witnessed an increase in demand for Chinese nationals from other states who wish to visit Dar es Salaam. As such, we are planning to deploy more flights between Dar es Salaam and other Chinese destinations,” said the ATCL sales and distribution manager, Mr Edward Mkwabi.
