Tanapa revenue soars by 94 percent as tourism rebounds

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) has experienced a significant increase of 94 percent in revenue over the past three years as the tourism industry recovered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The revenue rose from Sh174.7 billion in 2021/2022 to Sh337.4 billion in 2022/2023, indicating a substantial increase of Sh162.7 billion.

During a briefing with editors on the achievements made in the national parks, Mr Juma Kuji, the Acting Conservation Commissioner for Tanapa, attributed the success to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s active involvement in promoting wildlife conservation and the recovery of the tourism sector.

He said President Hassan’s participation in the renowned film “Tanzania: The Royal Tour” notably contributed to the significant growth in tourism within the country.

Mr Kuji further elaborated that for the financial year spanning July 2023 to March 19, 2024, the organisation has collected Sh340.1 billion, surpassing the anticipated collection of Sh295.4 billion by March 2024.

He stated: “The Sh340.1 billion represents an increase of Sh44.6 billion, equivalent to 15 percent. We anticipate a total collection of Sh382.3 billion by June 2024.”

He highlighted that the upsurge in tourist visits and revenue aligns with the goals outlined in the CCM Manifesto 2020–2025, aiming to attract five million tourists annually and generate $6 billion in revenue by 2025.

Regarding tourist visits, Mr Kuji noted a consistent increase in the number of tourists visiting the national parks annually. In 2018/2019, a total of 1,452,345 tourists visited the National Parks, including 719,172 domestic tourists and 733,173 foreign tourists. However, he pointed out a decline starting in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a decrease in visitors to 485,827 in 2020/2021.

In response, the government implemented various measures to restore the tourism sector, including the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for receiving and serving tourists and facilitating access to the Covid-19 vaccine. Mr Kuji emphasised: “This was complemented by strategic promotion of our attractions through the film ‘Tanzania: The Royal Tour’ led by President Hassan.”

Following President Hassan’s efforts in 2021/2022, tourist numbers began to rise, reaching 997,873 tourists. The positive trend continued, with tourist numbers increasing to 1,670,437 in 2022/2023. For the fiscal year 2023/2024, from July 2023 to March 19, 2024, a total of 1,514,726 tourists (comprising 721,543 domestic tourists and 793,183 foreign tourists) visited the National Parks, indicating a 5 percent increase compared to the target of 1,387,987 tourists during the same period.

Kuji projected that the expected number of tourists for the fiscal year 2023/2024 is 1,830,081 (with 963,413 foreign tourists and 866,667 domestic tourists).

Additionally, there has been an increase in the average length of stay for visitors, from an average of 1,749,194 days in 2021/2022 to an average of 2,669,586 days by February 2024, contributing to revenue growth.

However, Kuji acknowledged various challenges faced by Tanapa, including climate change effects, poaching, and wildlife encroachment.

Despite these challenges, efforts are underway to mitigate them, including conservation education, the provision of protective gear, and leveraging technology to enhance conservation and tourism activities.