World Economic Forum expected to boost tourism in Tanzania

TANZANIA – Tanzania is expecting to take advantage of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to market tourism through delegates and the global media. Chief secretary Mr. Philemon Luhanjo said Tanzania will take the available WEF chances to market its tourist attractions to about 1,000 delegates from various corners of the world.

Mr. Luhanjo said the Twentieth World Economic Forum will bring to Tanzania, among the delegates, 88 influential personalities from various parts of the world. The World Economic Forum is scheduled to take place from May 5 to 7 in the city of Dar es Salaam.

While in Tanzania, delegates will get the latest information about Tanzania’s tourist attractions, available in both the mainland and Zanzibar.

”We are highly expecting to see our guests taking a unique opportunity to visit our tourist attractions, especially the premier spots such as the wildlife sanctuaries of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Katavi, Selous, and Manyara, to view unique species of fauna to be found there,” said the chief secretary.

He added that the Tanzania government will use the event, whose theme is, “Rethinking Africa’s Growth Strategy,” to showcase its tourist attractions and the varied opportunities for tourist investment.

Other than wildlife, the forum delegates will get a chance to visit and relax on the white sandy beaches in Unguja and Pemba islands and enjoy the unique dolphins at Kizimkazi in Zanzibar and Mafia.

Historical sites of Bagamoyo, Mafia, Kilwa, and other sites along the Indian Ocean coast offer as well unique attractions the delegates would wish to visit or learn about.

The government has published a book called, “Corporate Tanzania,” and produced a compact disc that profiles the main tourists attractions and investment opportunities in Tanzania. The CDs will be distributed during the forum.

The forum will discuss, among other issues, the development of higher education in Africa, Tanzania as a unique investment destination, Tanzania of tomorrow, East African cooperation, and economic development.

The Tanzania Tourist Board said in a statement that special and exclusive tour packages have been designed to allow the forum delegates to visit the country’s premier attractions.

“Tanzania Tourist Board has the pleasure to welcome participants from all over the world to Tanzania: ‘The Land of Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and the Serengeti,'” the statement said.

Tanzanian President Kikwete will host the meeting. In his comments about the forum, President Kikwete said: “Africa is a continent full of potential. Africa has been growing despite the economic instability that is facing the world today. We will have the opportunity to examine the strategy of Africa for today to ensure that there is a better tomorrow.”

Director and head of the Africa World Economic Forum, Katherine Tweedie, said, “The year 2010 is a special one for both the World Economic Forum, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Africa meeting, and Africa, which is marking 50 years since the start of the independence movement that transformed the continent’s geopolitical landscape.”

“It is fitting to celebrate this milestone year by hosting the Africa meeting for the first time in East Africa, with the strong support of His Excellency President Kikwete and the government and business community of Tanzania.
At this pivotal point, as Africa and the rest of the world seek answers to the economic crisis, the meeting will bring together leaders under the theme, ‘Rethinking Africa’s Growth Strategy,’ to find real solutions.”

The economic crisis has acted as a wake-up call to speed up implementation of long-discussed reforms. Emerging markets, including those in Africa, are among the first to show signs of a recovery and are forecast to increasingly contribute to global growth in the next decade.

The forum will provide leaders with a platform for how they are facing up to the challenge and using the crisis as an opportunity to redesign a sustainable roadmap for Africa’s future.

Heads of state/government from Africa who have confirmed their participation include Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of Mozambique; Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda; Ali-Ben Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon; Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya; Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia; Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of Zimbabwe; Boni Yayi, President of Benin; Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia; and Jacob G. Zuma, President of South Africa.

The co-chairs of the 2010 World Economic Forum on Africa are Ajai Chowdhry, Founder, HCL; Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HCL Infosystems, India; Kuseni Douglas Dlamini, Chief Executive Office, Old Mutual, South Africa; Pat Davies, Chief Executive, Sasol, South Africa; Joergen Ole Haslestad, President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara International ASA, Norway; and Anna Tibaijuka, Undersecretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), Nairobi.