The challenges for E.A tourism - Article by H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, President of Tanzania

[Kiganyi]

By Jakaya Kikwete -- It is an open secret that tourism is an important sector for the economies of the East African Community member states. Also, East Africa is an important tourist destination in the world.The tourism and hospitality industry are key pillars of the region's socio-economic development and poverty reduction endeavours.

Tourism has an incredible multiplier effect, better than many other sectors.

In 2010, the region received about 4.3 million tourists and holiday makers from abroad. This is a small number when it is compared to the world's total of over 900 million tourist arrivals in 2010. This means that we can do better.

We have earned a substantial amount of foreign exchange from tourist activities: indeed this industry has made a significant contribution to the incomes of our respective nations and peoples.

It is an important source of tax revenues to our governments. For example in 2011, the sector accounted for 17 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Tanzania; 5.7 per cent of the GDP in Kenya; 4.0 per cent of the GDP in Uganda; 3.3 per cent of the GDP in Rwanda and 3.6 per cent of the Burundian GDP.

In addition, there are many East Africans whose livelihood solely depends on tourism. Tourism, therefore, is a key sector which deserves the attention of our governments, the business community and the people of East Africa.

Given the potential that the region has in terms of tourist attraction I am sure the industry can grow even further if we take the right steps. Specifically we need to identify what more needs to be done that we have not.

We have to figure out what challenges need to be overcome. The first challenge we need to deal with is inadequate skilled manpower and expertise in tourism management and in the hospitality industry.Skilled manpower and experts that would transform the existing potential of our region into meaningful economic gains, that is who we need.

A region may have natural beauty and all imaginable tourist attractions, but without appropriate expertise to exploit that potential the region and its people will not be able to enjoy the fruits of our God-given gifts. The second challenge is the lack of adequate supportive physical and institutional infrastructure to promote tourism in the region. Our physical connectivity in terms of roads, air and waterways are not well developed and in some places poor or non-existent.

Hotels, restaurants and other tourist services are inadequate. Some of these hotels and related services are not of good quality. In this regard, therefore, we need to work together to overcome these shortcomings and improve regional connectivity and services to tourists.

This, we cannot do alone as governments. We need to encourage both the domestic and international private sector to rise to challenge and to invest in the tourism sector.I have in mind expanded air and surface transport, increased numbers of high standard hotels, tourism marketing and enhanced cooperation among key stakeholders.Regarding inadequate supportive institutional frameworks, we need to work together to create strong domestic and regional institutions that would promote tourism in its totality.

The promotion of the East African region as a common destination is one matter that would need our utmost attention. There is no need to compete and scramble for the same market. In my view, we stand to benefit more by working together and forging alliances instead of competing and creating rivalries. This is totally unnecessary.

Indeed, several initiatives have been discussed and some are already being undertaken at regional level to promote the tourism sector. But we need to do more. We could do joint promotion of the East African tourism market.

Our governments, embassies and stakeholders could do joint marketing in the tourist source countries. We could go to international tourist fairs together and jointly sell East African tourist attractions.

There is also the proposed issuance of a single tourism visa for the East African tourist market. This is another way to promote the community as a single tourist destination and create synergy in the tourism industry across the region.

It is a great idea which can boost tourism in East Africa. However, we must make sure that it is properly structured and all the important issues are carefully considered before this innovative idea is implemented.

We will need, for example, to address revenue sharing mechanisms; security issues; technological needs; manpower requirements and ensure that the required capacities are in place.

Besides this, we should also address the issue of flights and air fares from the major tourist source markets to our region. Africa is not well served by global airlines and fares are higher for similar distances in other regions. This in some ways acts as an obstacle to growth of the tourism sector in our countries. Besides developing our own airlines, we need to do more to encourage major airlines to increase flights and reduce fares.

H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete is the President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

---
This article was cross-posted from the daily local Tanzanian newspaper, TheCitizen

Source: wavuti - wavuti
​

 

[Radhia Sweety]

Haya mambo tunayajua sana. Hakuna jipya lolote hapo.

 

[Tram Almasi]

Wenzetu wamepiga hatua sana(Kenya) kusema tuwe na common market watakubali? Na je,wakikubali si ndio tumemezwa?
Mm nafikiri ili tuweze ku-compete waTz wapewe elimu kwanza. Chuo cha utalii kiimarishwe. Sisi Forodhani College cjui hata kama bado kipo lakn wenzetu Kenya wana Utalii College ambacho kimeimarika miaka nenda rudi. Kukosa chuo imara imepelekea kukosa wahudumu wa mahoteli walio ktk kiwango cha kimataifa.

 

[FJM]

Hii article iko so shallow sijui nani kamwandikia rais wetu? 1st year essay na sielewi ni kwanini anaongelea matatizo ya utalii kwa East Africa na sio Tanzania? Hicho anachokiita "lack of adequate physical and institutional infrastructure to promote tourism" kiko zaidi Tanzania. Kenya wana national Carriaer na wakita ku-target specific country wanaweza kufanya hivyo. Tanzania tuna nini?

Na flaw moja naona hapa, rais is suggesting kwamba tukitangaza utalii kwa pamoja (regional promotion) tutafaidi zaidi. Hii inangekuwa na maana zaidi kama tuna yafuatayo:

1. Kwanza, tunataka watalii wangapi kwa mwaka na tunataka hao watalii watuingizie hao much kwa mwaka?

2. Kama tunataka watalii 100 ni aina gani? backpackers au super rich? Na tuna hoteli/accomodation za kuwaweka hao watu 100?

3. Kenya na wengine from the region wana-target watalii wa aina gani?

4. Watalii watafikaje hapa (kwa urahisi), tuna carrier? au airport yetu ina-attract carriers toka huko tunako-target? Mtu mwenye siku 10 za holidays hawezi kupoteza siku 3 njiani anasafiri wakati akienda kwa mfano Kenya hana haja ya kulala kwenye mabench ya airport akisubiri connecting flight.

Kwenda kichwa kichwa na hizi suggestion za 'tutangaze pamoja, tutajikuta Kenya wanafaidi zaidi halafu tutaanza kulalamika kama mikataba ya madini! We have to decide first what do we want kabla ya kukaa mezani.

 

[Dotworld]

Hivi .... ameandika yeye mwenyewe au ameandikiwa na mtu? .. nna wasiwasi juu ya hili

 

[Ronn M]

At least I ve seen an article written by His Excellency The President of United Republic! Its good that I ve seen this literature, content notwithstanding!

 

[Kichuguu]

Nilidhani kuwa Kikwete ni sais wa Tanzania, kumbe pia ana wadhifa wa urais wa Afrika ya Mashariki

 

[Wacha1]

Hivi .... ameandika yeye mwenyewe au ameandikiwa na mtu? .. nna wasiwasi juu ya hili

Nilidhani kuwa Kikwete ni sais wa Tanzania, kumbe pia ana wadhifa wa urais wa Afrika ya Mashariki

EAC inatuhusu nini? Keshahongwa tayari upuuzi mtupu. Anatwambia habari ambazo zinaeleweka na kila mtanzania. Wameuza kila kitu na sasa wanajiuza wenyewe.

 

[Ogah]

Wenzetu wamepiga hatua sana(Kenya) kusema tuwe na common market watakubali? Na je,wakikubali si ndio tumemezwa?
Mm nafikiri ili tuweze ku-compete waTz wapewe elimu kwanza. Chuo cha utalii kiimarishwe. Sisi Forodhani College cjui hata kama bado kipo lakn wenzetu Kenya wana Utalii College ambacho kimeimarika miaka nenda rudi. Kukosa chuo imara imepelekea kukosa wahudumu wa mahoteli walio ktk kiwango cha kimataifa.

Unajua nini Tram.....nafikri zile siasa za Mwl....."tuwe huru pamoja......" zimetuathiri sana kiasi kwamba hata inapokuja kwenye kushughulikia masuala ambayo tunahitaji kujenga misingi imara domestically.......bado tunaangalia nje...eti East Africa...........Naunga mkono hoja yako....tunahitaji kuimarisha vyuo vyetu vya utalii.......na inabidi tuwa expose na hasa katika nchi zinazofanya vizuri zaidi (leave alone Kenya) kwenye Utalii.........mfano ianbidi watu wakajifunze kule Caribbean watu wanafanyaje........

 

[bornagain]

Kwa nini aandike mwenyewe na Kurugenzi ya Mawasiliano Ikulu ina kazi gani

 

[FJM]

Kwa nini aandike mwenyewe na Kurugenzi ya Mawasiliano Ikulu ina kazi gani

Na kwanini aandike kwa kiingereza? mlengwa ni nani hasa?

 

[ChiefmTz]

Haya mambo tunayajua sana. Hakuna jipya lolote hapo.

Ama kweli kunya anye kuku, bata kaharisha.

 

[bornagain]

Na kwanini aandike kwa kiingereza? mlengwa ni nani hasa?

Hahahaha kiswahili ni geresha tu eti wanataka wakitumie kama lugha ya kufundishia wakati wanajua haiwezekani,hata AU kuna kipindi kiswahili kilianza kwa mbwembwe pale Adis Ababa tukawasikia akina Joachim Chisano wanahutubia kiswahili lakini wapi bwana,mzungu ni mzungu hana muda wa kujifunza viswahili, waliishiwa na wote mpaka sasa wanahutubia vingereza.Afterall anatakiwa aandike kingereza kwa sababu watalii wanaokuja huku wanajua kuwa TZ ni full kiinglish

 

[Kichuguu]

EAC inatuhusu nini? Keshahongwa tayari upuuzi mtupu. Anatwambia habari ambazo zinaeleweka na kila mtanzania. Wameuza kila kitu na sasa wanajiuza wenyewe.

Ameshindwa kuijenga Tanzania halafu anaongelea East Africa. Ni kweli tunahitaji kushirikiana katika soko la utalii lakini ukweli ni kuwa huwa hakuna ushirikiano wa maana baina ya mwenye uwezo na asiyekuwa na uwezo, ni kwamba yule mwenye uwezo ndiye atakayefanya kweli. Kenya wamejiimarisha sana wakiwa na shirika la ndege la kimataifa, viwanja vya ndege vya kimataifa na bado wanaongeza kingine, mahoteli ya kimataifa na wahudumu wanaojua biashara ya utalii vizuri; kwa hiyo hata mkishirikiana, ni wao watakaokuwa wanachukua dili kubwa na kuwagawieni makombo. Wakati Kikwete anasizungumzia ushirikiano huo, alitakiwa aanze kwa kusistiza namna kuuimarisha Tanzania katika biashara hiyo kwa kujenga infrastructure imara zinazosupport utalii vizuri.

 

[Geza Ulole]

acheni kuwa haters kwani JK akiwa Rais haruhusiwi kuandika? au ndo much know ya watu wa humu ndani? mi sioni kama alichoandika ni kibaya! Na anayesema ati kuja au kuondoka dar a connection flight takes three days of waiting on a bench si mkweli!

 

[Ogah]

Ameshindwa kuijenga Tanzania halafu anaongelea East Africa. Ni kweli tunahitaji kushirikiana katika soko la utalii lakini ukweli ni kuwa huwa hakuna ushirikiano wa maana baina ya mwenye uwezo na asiyekuwa na uwezo, ni kwamba yule mwenye uwezo ndiye atakayefanya kweli. Kenya wamejiimarisha sana wakiwa na shirika la ndege la kimataifa, viwanja vya ndege vya kimataifa na bado wanaongeza kingine, mahoteli ya kimataifa na wahudumu wanaojua biashara ya utalii vizuri; kwa hiyo hata mkishirikiana, ni wao watakaokuwa wanachukua dili kubwa na kuwagawieni makombo. Wakati Kikwete anasizungumzia ushirikiano huo, alitakiwa aanze kwa kusistiza namna kuuimarisha Tanzania katika biashara hiyo kwa kujenga infrastructure imara zinazosupport utalii vizuri.

Asante Mwl. Kichuguu.........

Kuna mambo mengine yanaudhi sana kwa kweli........hebu angalia rate za kupiga simu Tanzania ukilinganisha na Kenya, Uganda na Rwanda.........can you imagine......niko ughaibuni halafu ndugu yangu aliyeko Kenya......ananiambia ni bei rahisi kupiga simu ukitokea Kenya!!..........utapata hasira kwa nini tunaibiwa namna hii huku akina January Makamba wanaangalia tu.....
.......sasa hebu fikiria mtalii anataka kupiga simu Tanzania Vs Kenya.....aua anataka kuulizia huduma ya mawasiliano in General i,e internet, simu etc.....yaani sisi tuna gharama za ajabu kweli kweli!!.....halafu tunategemea kuvutia wageni kwa kuwatuma Wakurugenzi wa Utalii kwenda kuonyesha picha za Simba na Pundamilia kwenye mabanda ya maonyesho.......damn......

Hebu pia angalia wenzetu.....radio zao, TV zao kibao ziko online........sisi radio reliable and stable iliyoko online ni Radio Maria.......hata radio ya Taifa kuwa online tunashindwa!!!.......ulimwengu huu!!.......

 

[Janjaweed]

ndio tatizo la kutuma vijana wakuandikie article unaishia kupewa literature review na wewe unaibatua tu bila kutoa credit kwa wenye taarifa

Nothing new na sijaona hata strategy moja zaidi ya kumention challenges

Interestingly tourism imecontribute 17% kwenye GDP... mimi si mchumi lakinia napata picha ya udogo wa uchumi wetu na shida kwenye sekta ya madini na ufala kwenye sekta ya kilimo

 

[MTAZAMO]

acheni kuwa haters kwani JK akiwa Rais haruhusiwi kuandika? au ndo much know ya watu wa humu ndani? mi sioni kama alichoandika ni kibaya! Na anayesema ati kuja au kuondoka dar a connection flight takes three days of waiting on a bench si mkweli!

Mkuu si u much know!! Hiyo article iko shallow mno tena kutoka kwa mtu wa status yake,hawa wakubwa wasione uvivu kupitapita humu kupata elimu ya bure jinsi ya kushuka nyanga maana ndio sehemu vilipo think tank za ukweli!

Kuna wanasiasa wengi wamekomazwa na JF! ingawa ni mwanasiasa wa siku nyingi lakini mambo yanabadilika kwa kasi sana na uandishi mzuri unaweza kujifunza pia kwa njia mbalimbali kama hapa JF.

 

[tubadilike-sasa]

Haya mawazo ya jumlajumla yatatumaliza. Hivi East Africa treasury inamsaidiaje mwalimu wa primary pale Tandahimba au Daktari anayelipwa fedha kidogo pale Kisijupwani? East Africa is,but more importantly you need to get your house in order. Think critically Mr. President!

 

[Wacha1]

Asante Mwl. Kichuguu.........

Kuna mambo mengine yanaudhi sana kwa kweli........hebu angalia rate za kupiga simu Tanzania ukilinganisha na Kenya, Uganda na Rwanda.........can you imagine......niko ughaibuni halafu ndugu yangu aliyeko Kenya......ananiambia ni bei rahisi kupiga simu ukitokea Kenya!!..........utapata hasira kwa nini tunaibiwa namna hii huku akina January Makamba wanaangalia tu.....
.......sasa hebu fikiria mtalii anataka kupiga simu Tanzania Vs Kenya.....aua anataka kuulizia huduma ya mawasiliano in General i,e internet, simu etc.....yaani sisi tuna gharama za ajabu kweli kweli!!.....halafu tunategemea kuvutia wageni kwa kuwatuma Wakurugenzi wa Utalii kwenda kuonyesha picha za Simba na Pundamilia kwenye mabanda ya maonyesho.......damn......

Hebu pia angalia wenzetu.....radio zao, TV zao kibao ziko online........sisi radio reliable and stable iliyoko online ni Radio Maria.......hata radio ya Taifa kuwa online tunashindwa!!!.......ulimwengu huu!!.......

Alipoamua kuwagawia rafiki zake wa canada shirika la simu
tulipiga kelele akasema kelele za mlango, Wacha 2015 aondoke, Inatia aibu pale Ngorongoro ile hotel ambayo ipo very prime kutazama bonde waliuza klwa bei ya peremende na hukai pale hadi ulipie Ulaya. We really need a revoulution, chama cha majambazi wameweza kuwaweka makuwadi wao.