MONDAY December 11, 2022
By Adam Ihucha
Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania
Tanzanian’s state-run conservation and tourism agency has scooped a prestigious European Quality Choice Diamond award in 2022, flying high the tourism destination.
The award, which the European Society for Quality Research (ESQR) offers, is the third in a row to be won by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA), thanks to its all-inclusive practices in conservation and tourism services.
“Tanzania National Parks has been crowned as the recipient of the Quality Choice Diamond Prize 2022, owing to its best practices in conservation and tourism services,” the ESQR CEO, Mr. Michael Haris, announced during the gala dinner and award giving ceremony hosted at Hotel Le Plaza in Brussels, Belgium, on Sunday December 11, 2022.
The TANAPA Senior Assistant Conservation Commissioner – Eastern Zone, Mr Massana Mwishawa, and the Assistant Conservation Commissioner in charge of Business Development, Ms Beatrice Kessy, joined the world’s legends of quality products and services at the ESQR’s red-carpet reception at the hotel to receive the ultimate annual prize.
Believing desirable characteristics of products and services make a positive contribution to lives, ESQR promotes quality awareness, recognises good business practices, technological innovation, quality achievements in organisations globally, and publicises the organisations’ success performance strategies.
It announces in presence of the international business community award-winning entities for their hard work and commitment to quality basing on polls results, consumers’ opinions, research and market study.
ESQR also provides solutions to enable an organisation from any industry, regardless of its size and geographic location, to learn the tools and techniques for managing quality as well as for addressing global challenges.
Whereas in 2020, TANAPA won the ESQR Best Practice Gold Award, the parastatal received the Quality Achievement Platinum Prize in 2021 and the Quality Choice Diamond Honour in 2022, implying the national parks custodian’s persistence in conservation and tourism services.
In his remarks, the TANAPA Conservation Commissioner, Mr William Mwakilema, said: “No doubt, our meticulous efforts to conserve flora and fauna within the 22 national parks, provide customised tourism services, experience and to embrace innovation have brought us at the red-carpet reception to receive the ESQR ultimate prize as the winner of the quality choice diamond.
“We are deeply grateful for continued support from the satisfied tourists and green supporters whose anonymous votes enabled our victory. We feel extremely honoured and humbled to clinch such a prestigious ESQR decoration,” said Mr. Mwakilema, adding:
“Although we have previously won a number of awards, this latest prize is truly inspirational. It’s incredible to be nominated as the finest service provider in the tourism industry and the conservation driver.”
He pledged: “I promise all tourists and nature enthusiasts that we are dedicated to ensure all 22 national parks remain wild for them to enjoy connecting with nature.”
Mr. Mwakilema was optimistic the international recognition would not only create enough buzz among TANAPA staff to heighten their morale, but will also enhance tourists’ confidence.
“Much as the prize comes with an intensified client awareness, tourists will feel confident in Tanzania and become loyal to the tourism destination than ever before,” the TANAPA Chief noted.
The Tanzania’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi pledges in its 2020 election manifesto that the industry will attract five million tourists in five years, leaving behind nearly $6.6 billion, with expected real multiplier effects to a mass of ordinary folks, particularly women and youth.
Tourism remains at the centre of the Tanzania’s economy in terms of contribution to its GDP, foreign currency and jobs, let alone the integral role the industry plays in connecting other sectors with the global economy.
In real terms, tourism is the Tanzania’s money-spinning industry, as it creates 1.3 million decent jobs, generates $2.6 billion annually, equivalent to 18 per cent as well as 30 percent of the country’s GDP and export receipts, respectivelyΩ
