INVESTORS URGED TO EXPLORE MORE IN THE SOUTHERN TOURISM CIRCUIT

The zebras drinking from Mwagusi River in the Ruaha National Park (Picture with the courtesy of Asilia Africa )

INVESTORS URGED TO EXPLORE MORE IN THE SOUTHERN TOURISM CIRCUIT 

By Friday Simbaya, Iringa 

Investors in the tourism industry from the Southern highlands regions have been advised to increase investment in the tourism sector to strengthen service delivery standards for tourists visiting the areas that will contribute to promoting economic development. 

The advice was issued by the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA ) Board Chairman, General (Rtd) George Waitara during the opening ceremony of the tourist lodge in Ruaha National Park (RUNAPA) known as ‘JABARI’ Ridge established by Asilia Africa recently. 

He said the investors have to spread their wings in the investment issue of tourism industry mainly in areas in the southern tourism circuit where investment is lagging behind compared to the northern tourism circuit where tourism is well established. 

TANAPA Board Chairman Waitara noted that in order to strengthen investment speed anywhere there must be adequate security conditions in line with the cooperation from the relevant authorities in the area. 

According to the Iringa Regional Commissioner Amina Masenza, she thanked the coming of tourist lodge in the RUNAPA, adding that lodge with help in promoting tourism in the southern circuit. 

She said that the Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan has recently launched the World Bank – funded project aimed at promoting tourist destinations location in the southern tourist circuit. 

Dubbed:” Resilient Natural Resource Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW)”, the project is determined to improve infrastructure challenges like roads that get into the tourist destination in a bid to lure as more tourists as possible. 

She described REGROW as a new tool towards unveiling tourism potentials in the southern circuit; which is very rich in thrilling tourist destinations, but very few tourists visiting them—the challenge which has been caused by a number of factors including poor infrastructures like roads and lack of airstrips. 

Masenza urged the private sector to increase investment and capital to support the government's efforts to promote tourism and the national economy in general. 

She pointed out that REGROW project has come to address all the challenges thwarting visibility of the tourism potentials in southern highlands, urging Tanzanians to cooperate to ensure its implementation becomes productive, since the World Bank fund is a soft loan. 

On his part, Jeroen Harderwijk who is the co-founder and Managing Director of Asilia Africa, said Asilia operates a portfolio of nine lodges and camps in Tanzania and Kenya, complemented by a central travel support infrastructure in Arusha, Nairobi and Cape Town. 

He said as a company, Asilia Africa was recently awarded the highest 5-star international rating by GIIRS for its impact and sustainability performance. 

Harderwijk said as the first company in the safari industry in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve this international performance standard, Asilia helps defining the standards for responsible tourism in Africa on multiple fronts. 

Jabali Ridge is set high on a rocky kopje overlooking a landscape dotted with spiky palms and bulbous baobabs, is a sophisticated base from which to explore Ruaha National Park. 

The remarkable beauty of Ruaha is not only in the landscape and its diversity of flora and fauna, or the impressive big game, but in the feeling of having the wilderness all to you. 

The lodge is located close to the core game viewing area of the Mwagusi River where there is high densities of lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo close to the camp.