|
|
TANZANIA LURES AMERICAN MARKET WITH WORLD RENOWNED NATURAL WONDERS AND CULTURAL DIVERSITYEven before Ernest Hemingway published the now famous literary classic, "The Snows of Kilimanjaro," the romantic image and mystique of Mt. Kilimanjaro has long held a special attraction for adventure travellers, climbers, and non-climbers alike. Tanzania’s world famous mountain, at 19,340ft. and the highest on the African Continent, was featured in an IMAX film Kilimanjaro - To The Roof of Africa. Tanzania, which includes the exotic "spice island" Zanzibar, is the largest country in East Africa - larger than Germany and France combined, and is often said to be "the land of the ultimate safari," with more than 38% of the land protected, and home to an estimated 20% of Africa’s large mammals. Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hon. Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP, noted that "already in September, 1961, the Arusha Manifesto was issued by the country’s first president, the late Mwalimu Julius K. Nyerere. In this document, H.E. Nyerere made a firm commitment to preserve Africa’s wildlife, not only for the future of all Africans, but also for the rest of the world. We are proud that this tradition has continued under the leadership of Tanzania’s President, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa, who was recently recognized by the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) at their annual award dinner in Washington, DC for his outstanding commitment to conservation in Tanzania." AWF chose to honour President Mkapa because in Africa, Tanzania is a leading example of the economic, social and environmental benefits of a proactive conservation policy. The United States is the second largest market for Tanzania after Great Britain, generating more than 38,000 visitors in 2002, an amazing 25% increase over 2001. "Tanzania recognizes that Americans are seeking new travel experiences, new places for adventure and cultural interchanges," says Tanzanian Tourism Board’s Managing Director, Peter J. Mwenguo. The country boasts six World Heritage Sites: Kilimanjaro National Park, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater (including Olduvai Gorge ("Cradle of Mankind")), Selous Game Reserve - the largest in the world, the ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, and Stone Town of Zanzibar. The country also has five proposed World Heritage Sites, including Bagamoyo, one of the most revered, historic centres of the infamous slave trade. Tanzania is also developing its cultural tourism product with many of its 125 ethnic groups welcoming visitors into their communities. In addition to its natural wonders, Tanzania is also a culturally rich and diverse country, which is of particular interest to African-American tourists and conference delegates. With bountiful ways to experience the culture, interact with locals and enjoy the magnificent scenery in many places, visitors could easily spend a few more days, weeks or even months in Tanzania complimenting their conference activities, safari or other nature based adventures, thus making their visit more complete and rewarding. Tourists now have the opportunity to chose from 18 different cultural tours organized by local people through the Cultural Tourism Program. In many areas, rural life is an attraction on its own. Carefully cultivated plots and lush tropical vegetation form a backdrop for simple traditional houses. Women in colourful dresses carry buckets of water and bunches of firewood back home. Villagers participate in developing projects, from irrigation systems to primary schools. The people are pleased to receive tourists and show them daily life, culture and scenery in the villages. They see tourism as an activity that can create employment and generate income, which can be used for improving their living conditions. Cultural Tourism refers to a form of community based tourism in which local people are closely involved. They design and organize the tours, show tourists aspects of the area in which they live and of their daily life. During the tours, local people often show their development projects, like irrigation and soil conservation activities on income generating projects of women’s groups. Visitors leave the area feeling they have made new friends and with information going on in rural Tanzania. Travellers to Tanzania will be pleased with the wide array of accommodations available to suite every budget. Several properties are currently undergoing major refurbishment in an effort to continually upgrade the country’s visitor product. According to Minister Meghji, who presided over the groundbreaking for the renovation of the once renowned Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es Salaam, "...we are pleased to know that its lost glory will be restored as part of the Government’s development strategies for the renewal of Dar es Salaam as a major port, commercial and for tourism centre for East Africa." The hotel, dormant for 10 years, is located on a prime five-acre site on the Dar es Salaam harbour front. When completed, the property will feature world-class accommodation, including 170 rooms and seven presidential suites, as well as banquet and conference facilities. Plans also call for a shopping and entertainment complex to be built adjacent to the hotel. The Kilimanjaro will be operated by Kempimski and will also have a sister hotel in Zanzibar, the 250-room Zamani Zanzibar. Another property recently brought back to life is the Marine Park Lodge, formerly known as the Government Lodge, which has been closed for many years. The new 40-room upscale lodge, stands amidst tall palms on a whiteosandy beach on the east side of Mafia-Chole Bay. Horseshoe in shape, the beautiful bay is a protected deep-water anchorage, and the Mafia Island Marine Park, with its stunning coral reefs and some 400 species of fish, are within easy reach for excellent snorkelling, diving and sport fishing. Marine Park Lodge offers visitors all the amenities including private baths and air-conditioned rooms. Coastal Aviation has made the island more accessible with its new, convenient twice-daily flights from Dar es Salaam, on mainland Tanzania. Mafia Island, only a 30-minute flight from Dar es Salaam, but seemingly much farther than the 30 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Tanzania’s commercial capital, is a true remnant of the old Swahili coast, a place unspoiled and timeless. The largest of a small archipelago of Islands with a population of about 40,000, Mafia lies across from the great Rufiji River Delta and the world famous Selous Game Reserve. Getting to Tanzania is a snap, KLM/Northwest offers daily service from their US gateways via Amsterdam into Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro; British Airways flies three times a week via London into Dar es Salaam; South Africa Airways flies three times a week from Atlanta and New York City via Johannesburg, into Dar es Salaam; and Ethiopian Airlines flies via Addis Ababa from Dulles (Baltimore/Washington DC) and Newark with twice weekly connections to Dar es Salaam and Kilimanjaro. The official language is Kiswahili, which is spoken widely, in addition to various local languages, while English is second official language, the country’s commercial language. A US$ 20 departure tax in cash is payable by all passengers departing on international flights from Zanzibar. The Tanzania shilling (TSHS or TZS), is the national currency. Your delegates may bring in as much money as they wish, since no currency declaration form is required. Money can be exchanged at authorized banks and designated hotels. Credit Cards are accepted by top tourist hotels around the country, however US$ are recommended. Visitors to Zanzibar are required to pay for their expenses in hard currency and any amount of foreign currency brought into Zanzibar must be declared at the airport. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure. CALL Tanzania Tourist Board (212) 447-0027
|
