SUNDAY November 10, 2024
By Adam Ihucha
The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania
As captains and technocrats in tourism industry prepare to gather in Dar es Salaam mid this month, the spotlight is set on a transformative agenda: Unlocking the potential of Tanzania’s blue and green economies.
Organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in partnership with the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania (TCT) and the EnviroSasa, this ambitious summit targets reducing non-tariff barriers in a bid to unleash untapped tourism potential along the coastal belt.
Titled Blue and Green: Making the Most of Tanzania’s Coast and Hinterland Ecosystems, the forum is slated for this Thursday and Friday in Dar es Salaam.
It aims at harnessing opportunities within Tanzania’s maritime resources and adjacent terrestrial ecosystems.
According to the TCT CEO, Ms Lathifa Sykes, this exclusive event is set to stimulate dialogue, action, and partnerships, essential for fostering sustainable growth in the tourism industry, with a dual focus on marine (Blue) and terrestrial (Green) conservation efforts.
Themed Sustainable Policy and Investment Directions for Marine and Terrestrial, the summit will host a select group of 100 participants to ensure a concentrated and impactful exchange of ideas.
High-ranking experts from the President’s Office, Planning Commission, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Finance, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Tanzania Investment Center, and leaders from Coast Region will form part of the discussions.
The TCT Chief said the summit would also underscore the growing importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles.
In partnership with EnviroSasa and the University of Dar es Salaam, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism will launch a specialised ESG course for tourism professionals, setting a new standard for sustainable tourism operations across Tanzania.
“Professional standards for tour guides to address the critical shortage of skilled escorts, the ministry is facilitating a collaboration with the Field Guides Association of East Africa (FGAEA), the College of African Wildlife Management (CAWM) Mweka, and the National College of Tourism (NCT),” Ms Sykes explained.
This initiative seeks to elevate certification standards and better equip tour guides to meet local and international demand, ensuring a higher-quality tourism experience.
As the central government’s body responsible for natural resource management and tourism promotion in Tanzania, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism aims at positioning the country as a premier destination for eco-tourism and wildlife adventures, while advocating for sustainable growth and environmental conservation.
TCT plays a key role as a representative body for Tanzania’s tourism industry, facilitating dialogues between government and industry stakeholders to advance sustainable tourism development across the country.
EnviroSasa is an environmental consultancy focused on promoting sustainable development practices. With expertise in environmental management, EnviroSasa’s involvement ensures the event does not only discuss sustainability, but also integrates it into actionable strategies for the tourism industry.
Participants will also address policy gaps in marine biodiversity conservation. “Our goal is to establish policy and action plans that increase community and private sector engagements in marine conservation and biodiversity protection,” Ms Sykes emphasized.
Our goal is to establish policy and action plans that increase community and private sector engagements in marine conservation and biodiversity protection,” Ms Lathifa Sykes, the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania Chief Executive Officer.
Additionally, the summit will feature a paper titled: Blueprint for Growth: Mapping Tourism Development Strategies for Tanzania.
A session utilising the Applied Decision Matrix Methodology aims at guiding participants in crafting actionable strategies to tap into tourism potentials in coastal and hinterland regions.
Discussions on sustainable tourism strategies for Tanzania’s marine areas will further cement the summit’s role as a catalyst for long-term ecological advancement in the tourism industry.
Participants in the upcoming conference are set to engage in in-depth discussions on several key aspects of sustainable tourism.
Ms Sykes highlighted the agenda, noting that the dialogue would encompass marine conservation efforts, sustainable tourism practices, investment opportunities, and infrastructure development, particularly in coastal regions.
On terrestrial tourism initiatives, Ms Sykes said the focus would shift to distinct elements of terrestrial tourism, including eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and the conservation of hinterland ecosystems.
The conference will feature another presentation titled Partnerships in Action: Realising the Promise of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Tourism, which will delve into successful PPP models that bolster sustainable tourism infrastructure, policy, and management.
Yet another key presentation: From Vision to Action: Bridging Policy and Practice in Tourism Management, will explore application of extended Tourism Management Framework, tackling infrastructural, environmental, and financial hurdles.
Participants will also engage in a dialogue on Charting Sustainable Paths: Blue Tourism and Coastal Resilience.
This session is designed to foster discussions on enhancing coastal resilience through innovative policy measures and sustainable blue tourism strategies.
In addition, Community at the Core: Integrating Local Engagement for Sustainable Tourism, will examine the vital role of community’s involvement in shaping sustainable tourism initiatives and highlight the importance of policy and operational frameworks.
Plastic waste will prominently feature in the forum. Attendees will deliberate on policy measures for a comprehensive ban on single-use plastics and promotion of recycling and recovery initiatives.
The session titled Embedding ‘Green’ in Planning and Operations: The Example of Infrastructure and Architecture, will provide insights into eco-friendly tourism infrastructure solutions, emphasizing climate resilience and adaptation in both coastal and upland regions.
Ms Sykes will guide discussions to effectively promote the concepts and ensure compliance.
The conference will conclude with a Consensus-to-Action session.
Participants will formulate and prioritise actionable strategies, set timelines for implementation, and allocate responsibilities to achieve sustainable tourism outcomes.
This comprehensive approach aims at forging a sustainable future in tourism through collaborative effort and innovative practicesΩ
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Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
