Tanzania: towards a system for hotel classification

Tanzania is looking at modalities and ideas from tourist stakeholders on best options that would help to grade tourist accommodation facilities and make them match with those in other countries in the East African bloc. In November 2006, the East African Community (EAC)’s Council of Ministers approved the EAC classification and standardization criteria to be used in East African partner states in line with the EAC Treaty, Article 115(2), which gives a greenlight to the grading exercise of the accommodation facilities.

Source: eTurboNews; find article here>>.

"Tour operators welcome new tourism legislation"

From Arusha, Adam Ihucha reports, at the Guardian, that "The government has won many hearts of local tour operators for introducing legislation to restrict foreigners to involve in tourism transactions.
In their comments made separately to this paper, the operators said the proposed new legislation anticipated to be in force by early next year was much overdue. 'Now we are heading to the right direction, in fact the move by the government is highly appreciated,' said Firoz Suleiman, Director of Sunny Safaris. He proposed that taxes accruing from the tourism industry should be paid according to the law of the land.
The Managing Director of Golden Rose Travel and Tours Company, Walter Maeda commended the Government for eventually acting in a 'better late than never' style. He said neighbouring Kenya's tourism authority barred foreigners from dealing with all tourism related undertakings long ago. 'The secret behind the flourishing tourism business in Kenya is that the industry is fully run by indigenous people,' he remarked. Maeda says until the new legislation comes into force, 'Tanzania policy allows foreigners to invest in petty businesses such as restaurants and guest houses and yet be entitled with the title, investor,' Maeda noted.
Armstrong Nyaka of Jackis Tours was happy that at last the government had wakened up and seen the way it has been loosing a large chunks of cash accrued from the tourism trade. 'A lot of money has been secretly siphoned out of the country by foreign tour and travel operators who maintain offices in Tanzania and abroad at the expense of the nation and its people,' he said.
Carlos Da Silva Verela of African Rhino Safaris and Ecotourism Africa said the majority of small indigenous investors in tourism used to face stiff competition brought by the foreign investors."

Source: IPPMEDIA

"Dar locks foreign investors out of tourism sector"

As reported by Mike Mande, at The EastAfrican, "In a move that confirms the growing resentment of foreign investors in Tanzania’s tourism sector, the government plans to introduce legislation to bar foreigners from engaging in tourism related businesses in the country.
The new legislation — expected to come into effect as early as next year — proposes to restrict the participation of foreign investors in areas such as travel agency business, mountain climbing, trekking or owning tour and travel operations in the country.
While the minister in charge of tourism will retain powers and discretion to grant exemptions, especially with regard to existing business, the expectation is that some of the business people will be asked to leave." Read more>>

New National Park in Tanzania

Tanzania plans to establish a new tourist wildlife park in the bustling northern tourist circuit and bring the number of national parks currently holding the country's tourism up to 15.

Mkomazi Game Reserve in northern Tanzanian border with Kenya will have its status elevated to a national park then marketed globally as one among Africa s wildlife destination sites.

Source: http://travelwirenews.com/eTN/10NOV2006.htm

New airline tax for health care to poor countries

Nineteen states including include Brazil, Britain, Chile, Cambodia, Cameroon, Congo, Cyprus, France, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Norway and South Korea are committed to levying a tax on airline tickets as part of a new way to treat people in poor countries for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria under a program called UNITAID which brings together countries, U.N. agencies, international organizations and others to tackle some of the world's worst diseases. UNITAID plans initially to spend €50 million (US$63 million) this year and about €300 million next year to give 100,000 children access to anti-retroviral treatment and 150,000 children treatment against tuberculosis.
Further details here.