The travel and tourism industry in Tanzania contributed 13.3% of GDP in 2011 according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. This figure was set to rise by 6.0% in 2012 and by 6.1% per annum to 2022. In total the sector accounts for 11.6% of total employment which was expected to rise, meaning that by 2022 an estimated 1,466,000 people will be employed both directly and indirectly in the travel and tourism industry (WTTC estimate 2011). Visitor exports generated 17.7% of total exports in 2011 which was forecast to rise in line with growth in the industry. In 2010 Tanzania received 783,000 visitors.
The Tanzania Tourist Board promotes tourism internationally; the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania is the umbrella organisation representing the travel and tourism industry. The focus of marketing is on North America, Europe and Africa. The Tourist Board hopes to make tourism the sector which contributes the most to GDP by 2025 and infrastructure is developing.
The main tourist attractions are adventure and safari holidays, cultural tourism and luxury holidays in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. Ecotourism is a growing sector and there is great scope for investment here. ‘Voluntourism’ is also popular with groups taking part in community development projects around the country. Tanzania is home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorogoro crater and Olduvai Gorge, which is known as the birthplace of man. Zanzibar, ‘the spice island’, is a famous and historically important trading centre known for its Arabic influenced architecture and white sandy beaches.
In 2011 investment in the travel and tourism sector was TZS1,177.3bn, constituting 10.8% of total investment. This was expected to rise by 3.4% in 2012, and then continue to rise by 5.8% pa over the following ten years, reaching TZS2,148.7bn by 2022.
