Last year Tanzania received 719,030 tourists, fetching just over $1 billion, making the sector the leading foreign exchange earner.

Tourism employs around 200,000 Tanzanians directly and accounts for around a quarter of the country's total foreign exchange inflows.

Mr. Macolm Ryen, the Chief Ecologist of Coastal Travel Ltd (CTL) says in order for Tanzania to develop tourism industry its major attention should now be directed to other forms of tourism.

“We have been largely promoting national parks tourism forgetting other areas which also have great potential,” he said. He said the government and other stakeholders should now encourage tourists to spend time in the country, not only to rush from one park to the other. “Tanzania has perfect climate, very nice people and good food. Why could we not promote lifestyle tourism?” he asked.

Coastline

“With more than 900 km of coastline, tourists could even buy their own houses and come and spend their winter time here, bringing investment and cash. The same is true for the mainland in places like Iringa, Mwanza, Bukoba. All suitable attractions,” he said.

According to him, local bed and breakfast should be promoted by allowing people to start their own business as it happens in South Africa, but regulation must be simple and easy, otherwise all investors, foreigners and locals will be discouraged.

He said Tanzania has a lot of potential which needed to be fully utilized by both local and foreign tourists, from the coastline beaches, with all connected activities, such as diving, snorkeling, surfing, sport fishing and visiting historical sites such as Kilwa.

Ryen said other countries especially in Africa have managed to promote other types of tourism, which led to increased foreign earnings.

Citing South Africa as an example, he said apart from animal viewing in national parks, more than 90% of tourists in the country visited other tourist attractions. Tourists' arrival in South Africa currently stands at 6 million per annum. According to Mr Ryen, his company plans to develop untapped tourism potential in the southern circuit of Tanzania this year.

Employment

Experience shows that southern parks and reserves including Mikumi, Udzungwa Mountains, Selous, Ruaha and Katavi receive very few visitors compared to their northern counterparts and offer a unique African wilderness experience.

The company in collaboration with the Rufiji District Council, is in the process to develop Lake Utunge Photographic Project which would be used for tourism activities. The project was authorized last year.

Once started the project would help villagers around to get employment, increase revenue, construction of two camping sites and rehabilitation of airstrip. The project would also help to reduce poaching and illegal logging since the area would be under surveillance.

Utunge area which covers 350 sq. km is a home of various species of animals, including elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, impala, lions, leopards and the very rare wild dogs.

Experts in the tourism industry are optimistic that cultural tourism resources will continue to serve as a base for Tanzania’s tourism industry.