Five strategies to boost Tanzania's sustainable tourism

Dar es Salaam. The recent Blue and Green Tourism Summit, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT), the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania (TCT), and EnviroSasa, outlined five strategies to boost sustainable tourism across Tanzania’s coastal and hinterland ecosystems.

The summit, which was held recently in Dar es Salaam and attended by nearly 100 stakeholders from public and private sectors, emphasized a comprehensive approach to address the industry’s challenges.

One of the key resolutions was to conduct a SWOT [strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats] analysis to evaluate the current state of tourism and identify areas for improvement. Findings from this study will guide policy formulation and planning across the sector.

A second resolution called for the creation of an inventory of tourism assets within coastal, island and hinterland zones. Stakeholders at the district level will collaborate to categorize resources, infrastructure, and services to improve investment promotion and strategic planning.

The summit also endorsed implementing a Public-Private Partnership framework, named PAMOJA, within the tourism policy to enhance coordination and address long-standing issues in the sector.

Additionally, participants resolved to strengthen the role of TCT by restructuring the organization to ensure effective communication and influence over policy implementation.

TCT will oversee destination management organizations and organize regular facilitation meetings.

The establishment of an ombudsman’s office was also proposed. This office would address administrative challenges, corruption, and disputes, benefiting stakeholders from both government and private sectors.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Edwin Mhede, emphasized the importance of disciplined execution of the resolutions, aligning with Tanzania’s Vision 2050 for inclusive and sustainable tourism development.

The summit also created opportunities for engagement between industry players and government agencies.

Tanzania Hunting Operators Association (TAHOA) held discussions with the Ministry of Finance Tax Force and the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) on VAT implications for the hunting industry.

TRA officials assured stakeholders of their willingness to address concerns, including tax penalties and service levies imposed by local authorities.

They pledged to explore waivers for penalties and develop an integrated tax return system. TCT CEO Lathifa Sykes praised the summit for fostering collaboration and positioning local communities as key stakeholders in tourism development.

“Communities are custodians of natural and cultural heritage, and their involvement is essential to achieving conservation and tourism goals,” she said.

The summit concluded with calls for inclusive, transparent, and structured tourism management to unlock the sector’s potential while promoting sustainability.