International travel agents currently on an educational to Tanzania agree that the country may well be one of Africa’s most attractive destinations. This is thanks to the country’s natural beauty, wildlife, beaches, eclectic people and diverse festivals of culture.
“I have fallen in love with Tanzania for its breath-taking landscapes and awe-inspiring wildlife. This country is the sleeping tourism jewel of Africa,” said Luisa Yu, President of Westchester Travel Inc.
“My experience will put me in a better position to promote Tanzania to our clients. I would also like to urge the country to invest heavily in a marketing blitz, especially in the US, to get a piece of the growing outbound tourism market share,” said Yu.
She also requested the government to take all measures to attract direct flights from all over the world to boost tourism, according to St Vincent Times.
Israeli travel agents Sue and Malcolm Praak, said they were using the opportunity to travel and experience Tanzania first-hand, to sell destinations to their high-end customers from the US and Europe.
John Corse, MD of Serengeti Balloon Safaris and the Chairperson of the African Travel and Tourism Association, lauded efforts by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) to bring global travel agents to Tanzania.
TATO CEO, Cyril Akko, said: “We believe travel agents will broaden the reach of our recovery strategy and help establish Tanzania as a safe top-of-mind destination among US travellers as the world begins to travel again.”
TATO is an advocacy agency with over 300 members representing private tour operators. The association also provides networking opportunities for members, and lobbies Tanzania as the number-one safari destination in the world, housing four of the most iconic adventure destinations: the Serengeti, Mount Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and the Ngorongoro Crater.
From the remote tropical beaches of Zanzibar to encounters with the famous Maasai, Hadzabe and Datoga tribes, to strolls in the flower-covered meadows in Kitulo National Park, Tanzania is full of hidden gems, TATO points out.