By Veneranda Sumila and Sturmius Mtweve
Posted Tuesday, October 1 2013 at 00:00
Posted Tuesday, October 1 2013 at 00:00
In Summary
Followed by Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and
Ecuador, Tanzania has seen tourist bookings increase by nearly 50 per
cent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last
year with the cost of a return ticket falling by six per cent.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzania is the most popular
destination for American tourists, according to a new report.
CheapOair.com says in an online report that inexpensive air fares and
unique attractions have boosted Tanzania’s popularity as a preferred
tourist destination among visitors from the US and other rich countries.
Followed by Turkey, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ecuador,
Tanzania has seen tourist bookings increase by nearly 50 per cent in
the first half of this year compared to the same period last year with
the cost of a return ticket falling by six per cent.
The Tanzania Tourist Board welcomed the new developments.
“We are very pleased with this development. The
competitiveness of tourist destinations are largely determined by the
cost of travel and accommodation,” Tanzania Tourist Board Aloyce Nzuki
Managing Director told The Citizen.
The findings of the survey complements a study by
The New York Times in 2011, which ranked Tanzania as the best safari
destination in the world.
According to the CheapOair survey, the popularity of Mount Kilimanjaro was also pivotal in drawing more tourists to the country.
CheapOair’s travel specialists indicated in the
survey that customers not only take advantage of airfare deals to exotic
destinations but also maximize the time they spend there.
“For example, visitors to Tanzania can explore the
Serengeti or spend a few days on the beaches in Zanzibar. Similarly
tourists to Ecuador can travel to the Galapagos Islands, world renowned
for their unique wildlife,” said the report. Tanzania received 1,043,000
tourists last year who brought in $1.56 billion.
“In the US, we’ve only got a couple of weeks
vacation each year and, if the price is not dramatically different from
something closer, people figure: Why not go?” said Mr Chris Cuddy, Chief
Commercial Officer at CheapOair.
Tanzania has cheap flights because of much
competition from more than four airlines that bring visitors from the US
and Europe. Airlines that currently connect the US and Tanzania
includes South African airways, Qatar, Turkish Airlines and many others.
But money is not the only motivator. There is also
the appeal of the unknown. “Each of these five destinations have all
got some combination of culture and physical geography, or ancient
language and striking landscape, that makes people think they’re
‘really’ going away for a trip,” Mr Cuddy said. “We don’t have a
Tanzania equivalent in the US.”
Round trip flights from New York City to Dar es
Salaam, according to the survey are being offered at $1,112 on Turkish
Airlines, which is also selling trips to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for
$889, according to CheapOair.com figures. But tourists might opt for
Tanzania after taking into consideration the uniqueness of its
attractions.
Dr Nzuki said the report’s findings presented an opportunity for growth.
“We regard this as potential for tourism growth in
the country because, as you might be aware, the government has been
trying to increase the number of US tourists visiting the country, Dr
Nzuki noted.
Measures taken include trying to convince US
airlines to fly directly to Tanzania, but it has been difficult because
of security concerns.
Dr Nzuki said the fact that more airlines were offering cheaper flights from the US to Tanzania was welcome.
“Previously we had only one airline, KLM, that
flew tourists from the US to Kilimanjaro International Airport, but we
now have more airlines bringing visitors to KIA,” he said.
For his part Tourism Confederation of Tanzania
chairman Richard Rugimbana said: “Tanzania has been recognised several
times for doing well in this sector. It is the responsibility of tourism
markets to use this as an opportunity to showcase what other countries
haven’t been blessed with by ensuring peace and security for our
visitors.”
Cheaper flights to tourist destinations are
important because most of the travels are done by air. The World Tourism
Organisation said in its recent report that in 2012, travel for
holidays, recreation and types of leisure accounted for just over half
of all international tourist arrivals which was equivalent to 536
million arrivals.
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
SOURCE: THE CITIZEN
