The
World's Safari Capital, Arusha, Tanzania, has
undergone an amazing transformation since the
city hosted the ATA 23rd ATA Congress in
1998. Some writers call Arusha the "Geneva of
Africa," thanks to its record of success in
attracting international events. To get a
complete handle on this magical change of
fortune, our editorial team spent an extra 3
weeks, getting to know the community by
participating in several Rotary functions,
the Miss Arusha Contest, Leon H. Sullivan
Summit and East Africa's Karibu Fair. We
expect to return this winter for the
Travelers Philanthropy Conference.
ATA Shines in
Tanzania
The Africa
Travel Association's 33rd International
Congress was a resoundinging success, for
which we congratulate the Tanzania Tourist
Board, Ministry of Natural Resources and
Tourism, plus an enthusiastic group of
volunteers. Who attended? Over 300 tourism
industry experts including tourism ministers
and boards, hotel and airline executives,
travel agents, tour operators, international
and local business. They came from Angola,
Belgium, Benin, Bermuda, Cameroon, Canada,
Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo,
Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Malta, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the
USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Outside
the Arusha International Conference Centre,
we visited one of the best ATA Trade Shows in
our 14 years with the Association. The
African fashions and fabrics were outstanding
and Africa's active tourism industry was well
represented. We returned to the trade show
often to purchascrafts, clothing and wearable
art.
Africa's Competitive
Edge
Inside the
spacious conference centre a varied program
kept the delegates in their seats, with
topics such as "A Decade of Progress:
Showcasing Tanzania," "Africa's Competitive
Edge." "Tourism as an Investment Tool,"
"Packaging Africa," "Africa's
Accommodations," and much more. Marking the
importance of this event on the national
scene, proceedings were opened by Tanzania's
President H.E. Jakaya Kikwete, and closed by
Zanzibar President Hon. Amani Abeid
Karume.Land of Many ContrastsPresident
Kikwete called Tanzania a land of many
contrasts, pride of African heritage, rich
and diverse natural and cultural resources.
He stated that close to 25 percent of the
land has been set aside for conservation of
wildlife and forests.
This vast
area includes the Serengeti National Park,
where the annual migration of wildebeest
draws visitors from near and far. Picturesque
Mt Kilimanjaro, the Roof of Africa, is the
only permanently snow capped peak in the
tropics and is the highest mountain on the
continent. On Arusha's doorstep is the
Ngorongoro Crater, world's largest intact
caldera forming a natural enclosure for a
wide variety of wildlife. With the Olduvai
Gorge, and the 3.6 million year-old-human
foot prints at Laetoli, all adjacent to it,
the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is indeed
the Cradle of Mankind and the crater is the
Eighth Wonder of the World.
President
Kikwete mentioned the spice island of
Zanzibar, the ultimate paradise in the Indian
Ocean, with clear waters, unspoiled beaches,
and historical heritage. Throughout Tanzania,
there are game reserves, archaeological,
historical and cultural sites, plus
unexplored pristine southern an western
parks, each offering an uncompromising and
unique experience."
Jobs Through
Tourism
President
Kikwete said that tourism has provided more
than 250,000 jobs, and according to the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism,
the need for more employment in the area is
so huge that out of 4325 jobs the ministry
advertised only 225 had been filled. He said,
"The number and size of protected areas have
expanded, and their ecological values are
still intact. Tourism and tourism related
investments are also growing steadily and the
opportunity for further growth is still
available. These improvements have been made
possible by our sound political and economic
policies as well as programs and plans that
are specifically tailored to engender
fundamental transformation and modernization
of the tourism sector in Tanzania through
harnessing existing potentials
sustainably,"
New ATA
President
Among the
many high profile persons was Hon. Shamsa
Selengia Mwangunga, Tanzania's Minister for
Natural Resources and Tourism and ATA
President. The Minister referred to Arusha as
"gateway to the world's finest wildlife
areas." To expand on this statement, she
said, "Trends indicate that tourists are
searching for destinations with unspoiled
natural tourist attractions, rich cultures
and adventures. These trends, coupled with
the friendly and warm hospitality make Africa
the most ideal destination for this
millennium. This year's theme of Bringing the
World to Africa and Africa to the World has
come at the right time. During your stay in
Arusha you will have an opportunity to visit
some of our spectacular tourist attractions,
including the visit to Ngorongoro Crater.
When you arrive back home you will be our
good ambassadors to your
countries."
Partners
in Tourism
ATA
Executive Director Edward J. Bergman
emphasized the close ties between the ATA and
Tanzania - a partnership that has gained
momentum since the Association's first visit
in 1998. Bergman paid tribute to the
tremendous effort by Tanzanians, stating that
travel and tourism to Tanzania is booming. He
noted that in recent years, Africa has become
the leading region in terms of growth in
international tourist arrivals, averaging
seven percent growth annually since 2000. He
expects Africa's position to continue in the
same direction due to improving
infrastructures, advances in technology and
communications, a growing private sector,
more direct long-haul flights, and an
expanding choice of tour and travel
experiences..
"Bringing the World
to Africa and Africa to the
World"
Those of
us who were at the Arusha International
Conference Centre in May, 1998, when Tanzania
hosted its first Africa Travel Association
World Congress, were in for a pleasant
surprise. In one decade, Arusha has grown
from a quiet village to a vibrant, booming
city with a growing list of amenities. At the
same time, Tanzania's Tourism sector has
forged ahead by leaps and bounds, setting an
example for all of Africa - and earning a
favorable spot at the top of the economic
ladder - as the country's number one employer
and money earner. Revenue from tourism is
expected to top one billion dollars (U.S.) by
year end, replacing agriculture as Tanzania's
leading economic contributor.
What's
equally astounding is the fact that the
United States has gained international
recognition as the leading single source of
tourism trade to this fascinating country.
Icing on the
cake
During two
gala evenings, delegates enjoyed fashion
shows by Arusha designer Hilu Bara (above
right) and Chief Margaret Bola Fabiyi of
Nigeria. Host Country Day included a visit to
Ngorongoro Crater, while the Media Post Tour
featured a visit to Arusha National Park.
Both attractions are an easy drive from
Arusha, an important reason for its
popularity as Safari Capital. Hats off to
Wayne Keefer and the East African All Suites
Hotel staff, who made us feel so completely
at home for over three weeks. With such a
spectacular setting, framed by a mountain
backdrop, little wonder Tanzania was selected
to host the ATA 33rd Annual Interenational
Congress. The event was a world-class affair
with delegates and guests from over 40
countries participating in a wide range of
activities. For 2009 ATA Congress dates,
location and program visit:
www.africatravelassociation.org
Photos by
Muguette Goufrani, Dean Mac Kasasa and Nick
Gosling.
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