‘Bongozozo' on a promotion tour of southern tourism circuit

Arusha. Nick Reynolds, alias Bongozozo, is here again. This time around, the Tanzania Tourist Board Goodwill Ambassador is embarking on a two-week promotional tour of the southern tourism circuit. The southern circuit is now high on Tanzania’s tourism marketing agenda.

Promotion of the circuit falls within the World Bank-supported $150 million project aimed at tapping the rich tourism resources in that part of the country.

“The trip will enable him to get a deeper insight into the pristine game sanctuaries in the circuit,” said Dr Gladstone Mlay, the marketing director of the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB).

In undertaking the promotion, various platforms will be used. These include the mainstream media, blogs, social media, and travel exhibitions. Artists, celebrities, sportsmen and women, bloggers, and other goodwill ambassadors will also be involved at one point or another during the promotion campaign.

Dr Mlay went on: “Exposure to the rich heritage sites will ease Mr. Reynolds promotion of the tourist attractions found in the circuit”.

The 14-day trip will take him to, among other areas, the Ruaha, Udzungwa, and Nyerere national parks, as well as the Mpanga-Kipengere Game Reserve.

Upon his appointment as Goodwill Tourism Ambassador in 2020, Mr Reynold was tasked with using all possible channels to sell Tanzania as a leading destination for tourists.

Mr Reynolds said during the flagging off of the trip yesterday that he would use his exposure to promote the country’s world-renowned tourist sites to foreign visitors.

The social media influencer pledged before senior government and tourism sector officials to do everything in his power to promote the country’s tourist attractions.

He cited the annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti National Park as among the most inspiring for both the foreign and local visitors.

Unforgettable travel experiences in the country also include walking safari includes the Ruaha National Park and a visit to Mafia Island, the habitat of unique fish species.

Mr. Mchengerwa said there was no contention that Tanzania is ahead of many countries in Africa and the world for its unique tourist attractions.

He challenged TTB, a state-owned tourism marketing agency, to embark on aggressive marketing in order to raise the country's stakes in the sector.

He also called on the board to scout for more potential personalities across the world who would join Mr. Reynold as Goodwill Ambassadors of Tourism for Tanzania.

The promotion of the southern tourist circuit is also aimed to diversify tourism sites and reduce concentration in the northern circuit.