POWER TO LOCALS: Mount Kilimanjaro being nationalised.

[nngu007]

The Tanzanian tour operators have obtained the monopoly for tourist activities in the Kilimanjaro region.
The Tanzanian ministry for tourism, via the intermediary of the Tanzania Tour Operators Association (Tota), passed legislation stipulating that as from 1 January 2011, tour operators that are not 100% Tanzanian-owned, will no longer be allowed to sell safaris and climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro. This means that the tour companies currently run by foreigners or in partnership with Tanzanians will from now on have to outsource this kind of activity to exclusively Tanzanian companies. However, one month after the measure came into force, it was still very much business as usual, because all of the operators in the sector have not yet been officially notified in writing about the changes in the legislation.

Furthermore, it is far from certain that the Tanzanian police have the resources and the organisation needed to enforce these new measures effectively. Nevertheless, that was enough to raise the fears of the foreign tour operators that the Tanzanian government could go even further and could be planning to extend this measure to other national parks in the future. Particularly as the government has, moreover, just banned Kenyan guides and their vehicles with Kenyan number plates from entering the country. This latter measure illustrates the increasing tension between Tanzania and its Kenyan partner in the East African Community (EAC).

This is very bad timing for the tourist sector. Tour operators and hotels are currently undergoing a particularly poor season in Tanzania, with hotels like the Kempinski Bilila in the Serengeti Park and Sopa Lodge, suffering from very low occupancy rates recently.

 

[Lyimo]

Hapo waliofanya mpaka serikali ichukue hatua hiyo ni Kenya sanasana. Wakenya waanatangaza mlima Kilimanjaro upo kwao hadi leo hii, hivyo watalii wengi wanashukia Kenya ambao wanainterest na kupanda mlima. Wanapokuja Tz kupanda mlima wanalipa park fee tu, wakimaliza wanarudi kenya. Imefikia sasa wamenogewa na biashara, sasa wanataka kujenga kiwanja cha ndege cha kimataifa mpakani mwa kenya na Moshi, sehemu inaitwa Holili. Bila shaka wataweka na five star Holets maeneo hayo, hivyo itawawezesha wageni kuingia kirahisi kupanda mlima na kurudi moja kwa moja kwenye mahoteli yao. Tutaambulia park fee tu. Naona serikali imeamua kuchukua hatua hii ili kudhoofisha nia yao ya kujenga Kiwanja cha ndege na Mahoteli katika eneo la mpaka. Ila inaonyesha serikali ya Tanzania bado haijajipanga vizuri. Kwanza kile kiwanja cha KIA kipo kwenye hadhi ya chini sana na huduma si nzuri. Pili, Mahoteli yetu yaboreshe ubora na huduma (customer care) ili kuvutia watalii zaidi. Tatu, ingawa tumeanza kujikongoja kujitangaza, tuongeze nguvu kwenye hili pia.

 

[Gad ONEYA]

Hazy laws and uncertain implementation plans are good conduits for corruption.

 

[nsimba]

tanzania iendelee kujitangaza zaidi ya sasa-itafanikiwa tu. inamaliasili nyingi za kujivunia kuliko nchi yeyote east africa

 

[nngu007]

We need 2 be very careful with our natural resources and touarist attractions as Kenyans are after our wealth.