Gvt to Continue Working with Researchers in Promoting Tourism

By Vincent Mpepo-OUT

The government has said will continue working with researchers and academicians in research areas towards identifying opportunities and new products in tourism and hospitality so as to boost the country’s economy through the sector.

The statement has been made by Major General, Gaudence Milanzi the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism during the official closing of the International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality organized by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the Open University of Tanzania held recently in Dar es salaam. 

He said the conference has been a fruitful one because researchers, academicians and tourism stakeholders from inside and out of the country have discussed the challenges facing tourism and hospitality sector and brainstormed the solutions towards on the sector.

“This conference should be the beginning of other in near future so as to have more productive ideas on how we can improve the tourism and hospitality sector”, said Major General, Milanzi.

He said currently, the government has been working tireless to strengthen security in the country as one amongst the major factors that will attract more tourists and foreigners thus developing the tourism and hospitality sector because without security it is no one from outside will be interested to come.

However, he also urged Tanzanians to be positive on the implementation of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in tourism and hospitality sector and that it if well implemented will help to increase the government revenue and foreign exchange for the betterment of the country.

“I recommend Tanzanians and those in good will of our nation to be patient while the implementation of the law takes place instead of negativity to it” said Major General, Milanzi.

Organizers and participants and the conference advised the government to utlise the researchers and academicians in the field of tourism and hospitality so that they help in providing some solutions to the existing challenges facing tourism and hospitality sector.

Presenting the resolutions of the conference, Dr.Shogo Mlozi, a lecturer from the Open University of Tanzania said the time has come that the government should make use of the experts in the sector through researches which might provide solutions to the sustainability of tourism sector.

“The government should think on investing in development research in the tourism and hospitality for the betterment of the country’s economy”, said Dr. Mlozi.

Adding from Dr.Mlozi’s comments, Dr. Felician Mutasa said Tanzania has a number of experts who can contribute in developing the sector through research, consultancy and improvement of the existing policies related to the tourism and hospitality sector.

Professor Elifas Bisanda, the Vice Chancellor of the Open University Tanzania pointed out the hospitality sector in tourism has got some challenges whereby Tanzanians are not well informed on how to handle tourists in terms of provision of good services to foreigners something which might make the sector leg back.

“For example a tourist or a foreigner cannot be happy when told that the food is not ready, and even after waiting for some hours”, said Professor Bisanda.

He called upon for the massive education to the society to know how to treat tourists and foreigner so that they become good ambassadors to their home lands.

A two days International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality was organized by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the Open University of Tanzania with the support from Arusha International Conference Centre, Serena Hotels, Tanzania National Parks, Leopard Tours Limited, Hyatt Regency and Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.