Tanzania: Global credit crunch costs tourism

Dar Es Salaam — The impact of credit crunch on tourism in Tanzania has resulted in between 25 – 30 per cent drop in tourism since the beginning of this year.

“There are some sectors which have been more affected than others depending on the kind of products and markets they are in,” said the spokesman for Tourism Confederation of Tanzania Mr Richard Rugimbana.

He said that the safari products in the industry have been affected but business hotels have not.

But he was quick to say that it will only be possible to reassess the situation towards the end of the year.

“There is already an indication that tourism is gaining momentum once again, though at a slow pace,” he said.

However, some players have started recording high demands for bookings and reservations, he added.

The TCT is an apex body that consists of 9 subsectors both represented in Mainland and Zanzibar.

The Confederation represents all the stakeholders so that they can all speak with one voice.

Its role is also to engage in advocacy of tourism and lobbying. We are responsible in attracting investors to come and help the country develop tourism, he pointed out.