As travellers across the world make choices of where to visit, the international television-CNN through its travel page has helped them by mentioning Tanzania as among the 23 best destinations to visit this year (2023).
According to CNN, after nearly three years of travel
disruptions and complications, many countries have dropped most of their
pandemic restrictions. People are travelling internationally in large numbers,
and there's plenty of pent-up demand to spread around the world.
International tourism was expected to reach 65 per cent of
pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022, according to the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation, with some areas recently reaching levels closer to 80 per
cent or 90 per cent of their 2019 arrivals. And experts are cautiously
optimistic about a continued travel rebound.
CNN Travel says from the spectacular wildlife to the
beautiful national parks and beaches, Tanzania is absolutely bursting with
visual splendour, and that the East African country holds a seemingly endless
list of incredible sights, with Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain,
UNESCO world heritage site Serengeti National Park, and the Zanzibar
Archipelago, among its many highlights.
"This year, flag carrier Air Tanzania will launch new
routes to West and Central Africa, along with the UK, in a bid to transform the
country's largest airport in Dar es Salaam into a transport and logistics hub,
while construction on the country's first toll expressway is also scheduled to
begin," the CNN says adding that the Delta Hotels by Marriott brand is
making its Africa debut with the opening of its Dar es Salaam Oyster Bay
property later this year.
Zanzibar Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Mr Simai Mohamed
Said welcomed the good news, saying it is a massive boost to the country's
tourism promotion endeavour.
He attributed the success to tireless efforts by the
Zanzibar and Union governments to develop the tourism sector and promote the
country's abundant tourist destinations.
For his side, Chairperson of Zanzibar Commission for Tourism
(ZCT) Mr Rahim Mohamed Bhaloo apparently seconded the minister's statement,
saying the recognition by CNN travel was not by chance.
"We have been working hard to promote Zanzibar and
Tanzania in general in the international map," he said.
He said that Zanzibar is now targeting high class visitors,
and that improved infrastructure, high class hotels, and communication are
ready to accommodate the increasing influx of tourists.
"We expect more foreign tourists to flock to the
country after good work under the guidance of President Samia and Mwinyi.
Increase of tourists benefits all: tour operators, drivers, and food/vegetable
suppliers and even Mama Nitiliye (food vendors)," Mr Bhaloo comments.
"We deserve the recognition after the great work done
through Royal Tour Film by President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zanzibar's Dr
Hussein Mwinyi. They have done a lot by promoting and advertising our
country," Ms Fatma Mabrouk- Principal Secretary (PS), Ministry of Tourism
and Heritage said.
In the period of January to April 2022, a total of 367,632
tourists visited Tanzania.
This is an increase of 92,535 tourists, equivalent to +33.6
per cent compared to 275,097 who entered the country during the similar period
in 2021.
In 2022, the number of tourist arrivals was expected to
increase more than the number of tourists recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic
due to the government's efforts to promote tourist attractions such as national
parks, beaches, and Mount Kilimanjaro and game reserves.
In this regard, in April 2022, President Samia unveiled the
'Royal Tour' documentary, while promoting Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs)
during her official visit to the US.
Filmed in 2021, it features Emmy Award-winning journalist
Peter Greenberg travelling to Tanzania with President Samia.
She's the ultimate guide for the week, exhibiting Tanzania's
history, culture, environment, food, and music, as well as telling the stories
of Tanzania's hiding jewels.
In a meeting with investors in tourism recently, President
Mwinyi directed executives to do more in advertising all tourist attraction
sites in the Islands.
According to CNN, the other top 23 destinations mentioned
are Poland, Western Australia, Liverpool (England), Charleston (South Carolina
-USA), Vilnius (Lithuania), Fiji, Manaus (Brazil), Thessaloniki (Greece) and
Rwanda.
The list also has Gothenburg (Sweden), Ras al-Khaimah (UAE),
Laos, Gruyères (Switzerland), Minneapolis (Minnesota -USA), Bogotá (Colombia),
Mustang Valley (Nepal), Cairo (Egypt), Naoshima (Japan), Belize, Oaxaca
(Mexico), Ottawa (Canada) and Uganda.
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