Ngorongoro set to launch global digital payment system for tourists

Arusha. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) is finalising the development of a digital platform and global payment system that will allow tourists to pay for services remotely, from anywhere in the world.

The Commissioner for Conservation, Mr Abdul-Razaq Badru, said the innovation is designed to simplify the travel experience by allowing visitors to complete transactions before arrival. It eliminates delays and long queues at entry points.

“When they arrive here, tourists will no longer have to undergo cumbersome processes. They will simply start their adventures unhampered,” he said, noting that the new system will provide a seamless and transparent ‘global paywall’ to one of Tanzania’s premier tourist destinations.

The digital platform will be integrated with the government’s electronic payment gateway and will feature tailor-made services specific to Ngorongoro.

Mr Badru added that NCAA is also upgrading internal roads to improve mobility for tourist vehicles, as part of broader infrastructure improvements aimed at enhancing visitor experience.

“Ngorongoro is not only a key tourism destination in Tanzania but also a custodian of global human history, home to the cradle of mankind,” he said, referring to the area’s archaeological significance.

The Commissioner further revealed plans to introduce new tourist attractions, with a strong focus on cultural heritage, which has long been associated with Ngorongoro since its establishment in 1959.

He made the remarks during a swearing-in ceremony held in Arusha, where the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Pindi Chana, commissioned new NCAA officials.

Ambassador Chana officiated the swearing-in of two Deputy Commissioners and five Assistant Commissioners, urging them to serve with diligence and uphold the integrity of the conservation area.

“With the country now receiving over 5.2 million tourists annually, it is vital that our parks and conservation areas are maintained to the highest standards,” she said, commending the NCAA for its efforts to expand and diversify attractions within the conservation area.

Board Chairperson of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, General Venance Mabeyo (rtd), who was also present at the event, urged the newly appointed officials to prioritise discipline and dedication.

“Discipline is what yields positive results. That is why Tanzania has continued to earn recognition, including recent awards at the World Travel Awards,” he said.

Ngorongoro, accessed via the Loduare Gate, serves as a critical gateway to both the conservation area and the Serengeti National Park, and is a central pillar of Tanzania’s Northern Tourism Circuit.

It holds UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is the first Global Geopark in East Africa—both honours which, according to the NCAA, demand continual improvement of services and infrastructure.