During the last Dar Es Salaam International Trade fair (DITF), the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) announced that is undertaking a marketing campaign to boost domestic tourism by unveiling new products.
The announcement was done by TANAPA’s Director of Tourism and Marketing, Mr. Ibrahim Mussa, who explained that the Government is aiming to change the tourism’s image with locals, due to the great economic impact that it has on its economy.
Mussa indicated that the purpose of the 6 months campaign is to explain to Tanzanians that the notion of tourism goes beyond sitting in vehicles for long drives to see animals and that walking safari and campsite are also available.
The Tanzanian domestic tourism is increasing annually with Serengeti National Park, the second largest in Tanzania and the preferred destination for local people due to their proximity to the city, currently receiving 450,000 people per year, compared with 350,000 in 2012, and 2013, explained Mr. Mussa.
Domestic arrivals accounts for about 48% according to TANAPA stastics. .
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Tanzanian domestic travel spending represents 30.2% of the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to Tanzanian Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which was TZS 2,492 billion or 4.67% of the GDP in the year 2014.
The domestic travel spending allowed the creation of 121,555 jobs in 2014, representing 1.15% of the total employment created in Tanzania for that year..
Accoridng to WTTC, Tanzania’s domestic travel spending was TZS 752.5 billion in 2014 and is expected to growth by 6.1% by 2024 and generate 170,821 additional jobs.
