Daily News: Tanzanias tourism boom pays off

THE country’s growing recognition on the global tourism stage has earned it the privilege of hosting the 32nd World Travel Awards (WTA) for Africa and the Indian Ocean region, a landmark achievement for the country.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam, Director-General of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), Mr Ephraim Mafuru, said Tanzania will become the first African country to host the prestigious event, scheduled for July 28 in the commercial capital.

The event is expected to attract around 300 international participants, bringing the total number of attendees to over 500. A total of 50 Tanzanian tourist attractions and tourism-related facilities have been nominated for various award categories—38 from the private sector and 12 from the public sector.

“For the past six years, Tanzania has consistently won awards at WTA ceremonies hosted in other countries,” Mr Mafuru said.

He added: “These victories, combined with President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s efforts to promote the sector through The Royal Tour film, have helped position Tanzania as a leading tourism hub.” He added that the global organisers, World Luxury Media Group, were convinced of Tanzania’s readiness and reputation, leading to its selection as the host country for the Africa and Indian Ocean awards this year.

“The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, aim to recognise and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Hosting this event provides Tanzania with a unique opportunity to showcase its iconic attractions,” Mr Mafuru said.

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He encouraged Tanzanians to seize the moment by exploring business opportunities through hospitality and related services. Mr Mafuru also announced Johari Rotana Hotel as the official accommodation facility for the event, while Shufaa Pan Africa Hospital will serve as the designated medical service provider for participants.

Commenting on the announcement, Johari Rotana General Manager Mr Ahmed Said expressed gratitude to the TTB, saying: “This is a great opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s hospitality. We thank all stakeholders for their support.” Ms Victoria Tarimo, Marketing Manager at Shufaa Pan Africa Hospital, assured that the hospital is wellprepared to offer world-class medical services during the event.

“We are ready to serve the delegations and continue supporting President Samia’s efforts to enhance medical tourism,” she said. The government continues to implement strategic initiatives to strengthen the tourism sector and boost its contribution to the national income.

In May, Parliament approved a 359.98bn/- budget for the tourism sector in the 2025/26 fiscal year. The funds will be channelled into ten key priority areas set by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, including international promotion, product development and conservation infrastructure.

Top among the priorities is the continued promotion of Tanzanian tourism through major global sports leagues, international competitions, airlines, roadshows, festivals, media networks and international platforms.

As a result of such efforts, international tourist arrivals in Tanzania rose by 132.1 per cent—from 922,692 in 2021 to 2.14 million in 2024. Domestic tourism has also seen remarkable growth, increasing by 307.9 per cent, from 788,933 visitors in 2021 to 3,218,352 in 2024.