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New
Investment Buzz at Tanzania Tourism The
Tanzania Tourism Investment Forum, hosted by the
Honorable Zakia Hamdani Meghji, MP, Tanzania's
Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, was held
at the Arusha International Conference Center in
2002. The public and private sector endorsement of
the forum was evidenced by the participation of a
cross-section of government ministers and senior
representatives, including ministries of
agriculture, land , public works and utilities;
Tanzania Investment Corporation and The Tanzania
Association of Tour Operators. The following are
examples of recent investment in the tourism
sector. Coastal Aviation's
rapidly expanding route system is "connecting the
dots."
Of the diverse
Tanzania Tourism Product. Now travelers can more
easily combine the Southern and Northern circuits
explore the Spice Islands and Swahili culture of
Zanzibar or snorkel and dive in the coral studded
Marine National Park in Mafia Island, all on the
same Safari. Coastal Aviation, developed by Dar es
Salaam-based Coastal Travel Ltd., pioneered
scheduled flying safaris in Tanzania. Coastal
Director Nicola Colangelo, said that the company
has invested USD 10.5 million in new aircraft
alone. "Our flying safaris are so successful
because they offer the opportunity for small
parties and single persons to join an adventure
which otherwise would have been an prohibitive
cost." As Tanzania tourism is expanding, Coastal
Aviation created new safari combinations that were
never possible before. In the next two years,
Coastal will invest an additional USD3 million in
aircraft and USD million in camps and
lodges. Coastal Aviation's
flight plans for 2OO3 feature some first-time
scheduled combinations including: Arusha in the
Northern Circuit with Ruaha and the Selous in the
South; Ruaha, Katavi and Mahale; Rubondo Island and
the Serengeti; the Selous and Mafia Island. At the
World Travel Market in London this November,
Coastal Aviation launched an "Agent Friendly"
online booking system. Coastal Account Holding
Travel Agents will be able to plan and book the
entire safari itinerary, as well as confirm and
issue travel documents. Other agents and clients
will have access to the information but will not be
able to book online. www.coastal.cc Serena Mountain
Village Holiday Inn Dar
es Salaam Southern Sun
recently inaugurated the new world-class 152-room
property in Dar-es-Salaam, he business capital of
Tanzania. The only international brand hotel in the
city, Holiday Inn Dar-es-Salaam provides the
business traveler with international standards and
amenities. The property represents South
African-based Southern Sun's first major tourism
investment on mainland Tanzania. According to Adam
Fuller, the property's General Manager," there is
no doubt the market is growing, especially from the
US. Corporate travel represents 90% of our business
and of that, the American market accounts for 30%
of our room nights." The Holiday Inn
Dar es Salaam, only 14 km from Dar es Salaam
International Airport, is situated next to the
city's Botanical Gardens and within walking
distance of the Central Business District and golf
course. The hotel's neighbors include the
diplomatic corps as well as numerous NGO's,
government offices, and international corporations.
The Aga Khan Hospital is also close by. The Hotel
offers nonsmoking rooms, ten executive rooms, two
suites and a room specially equipped for guests
with physical disabilities. Accommodation on the
higher floors offers stunning views across the
ocean and gardens. Catering to the business
traveler, in addition to a full range amenities
including a min-safe, the rooms also have a
comfortable work space, mobile phone charger and
modem points. Additional facilities for corporate
travelers include essential business and travel
services, a meeting room accommodating up to 40
people with standard meeting equipment available, a
fitness center and outdoor swimming pool.
www.sixcontinentshotels.com ATA
Head Office: 347 Fifth Avenue, Suite 610, New York, NY
10016
By
Karen Hoffman
( Investment
Forum- Full Story)
Coastal
Aviation Tanzania and Coastal Travel
Services
Built in January 1989, and under Serena Hotels
Management since October 2OOO, the facility is
undergoing major renovations and expansion to keep
pace with the growing number of leisure and
business travelers to Arusha. Set in a prime
location on a coffee plantation, lush with tropical
gardens, this African Village-style lodge features
46 rooms, with banana stem thatched huts, grouped
in semi circles. Each room has a private balcony
offering guests magnificent panoramic views of Mt.
Kilimanjaro on one side and Lake Duluti and Mt.
Meru on the other. Guests can enjoy this beautiful
serene ambiance, yet be only a 10-minute drive from
Arusha's town center. According to Mahmud
Janmohamed, General Manager, Serena Hotels
Tanzania, "the owners of Mountain Village have
invested USD 1.3 million to date, and this figure
will likely go up to 2.4 before its two phases of
construction are completed. "The first phase, to be
completed in time for the Christmas 2002 season,
features a new reception area, bar; dining room,
state-of-the-art kitchen facilities and beautifully
renovated rooms and bathrooms (12 are completed
already, the remainder will be done in Phase II)
The second phase will focus on attracting the
corporate travel market with the addition of eight
executive suites and three meeting rooms. For more
information on Serena, visit www.serenahotels.com.
For membership tel.: (212) 447-1926, fax: (212) 725-8253
Editor based in Vancouver, BC, Canada (604) 681-0718, Fax
(604) 681-6595
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