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Market Tanzania abroad, Kikwete tells envoys

Posted: Wednesday May 17, 2006 11:31 PM BT

By Guardian Reporter

President Jakaya Kikwete has expressed his disappointment over the low number of French tourists visiting the country. Speaking at the country's embassy in France yesterday, President Kikwete called for deliberate efforts to market Tanzania's diverse tourist attractions in France.

He challenged Acting Ambassador Maria Matari to aggressively market the country in France.

Kikwete was reacting to Matari's remarks that 11,000 French tourists visit Tanzania annually.

President Kikwete told staff at the embassy to work closely with travel agents in France and the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in drawing up a programme to market the country's abundant tourist attractions in Europe.

"By working with the TTB, you would be able to invite travel agents here to visit Tanzanian national parks.

They would in turn market the country upon return," he said.
He said the same should be done by all foreign missions abroad as the need to increase tourist arrivals is important.

Tourism contributes significantly to the country's foreign earnings, grossing US$259 million in 1995 and US$800 million last year.

The sector's contribution to the gross domestic product over the past 10 years stands at 16 per cent and constitutes approximately 25 per cent of country's exports.

Tourism created over 200 new jobs last year.

President Kikwete is on an official tour of the European country, where he will join scores of African heads of state at a ceremony to award Senegalese President Abdulaye Wade, Unesco's Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Award.

He is also scheduled to hold talks with his host, President Jacques Chirac and Unesco Executive Director.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has committed itself to supporting Tanzania financially to undertake various development projects in the country.
UEA said it would focus on infrastructure and education sectors.

UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan's assurance was given during talks with President Jakaya Kikwete when the latter visited Nahyan's Abu Dhabi residence at the weekend.

Kikwete was on two-day tour of the Arab country before proceeding to France.

Support in the education sector will include the construction of a new modern university at Chimwaga in the country's administrative capital, Dodoma.

In addition, the UAE leader told President Kikwete that there was a possibility of the Arab country helping Tanzania to conserve the Dar es Salaam and coastal environments.

The funding will be sourced from the Abu Dhabi Development Fund.

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