Tanzania gears up for tourism push

Mount Kilimanjaro is a top tourist attraction

Tanzania is hoping the trend towards ecotourism, adventure and cultural experience holidays will help it become a leading tourist destination.

The home of Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti plans and the beaches of Zanzibar believes its natural resources can help it build up its share of the massive tourism market.

Next month, the Tanzanian Government will invite hundreds of prospective foreign investors to a Tourism Investment Forum in Arusha, in the north of the country.

Tanzania is already hopeful of attracting much more investment into the industry, by selling the state owned hotels.

Fragile environment

Zakia Hamdani Meghji, Tanzania's tourism minister, told the BBC's World Business Report that the country is not aiming to attract huge numbers of visitors.

"We care very much about the environment so it is not mass tourism as such, it is fewer tourists but of course with big money.

"We want to retain and maintain the environment which is very fragile."

The government is also taking steps to improve the facilities available for visitors.

Upgrading

Tanzanian hotels were traditionally owned and run by the government but are now being privatised.

The hope is that international hotel operators will invest in the country and upgrade accommodation which has fallen into a state of disrepair under government control.

Ms Meghji said there is already some evidence this is happening.

She also said she is discussing the area of taxation with the Minister of Finance to ensure the destination is seen as good value for money.

This is particularly important at the moment as the Tanzanian shilling has sunk in value against the dollar recently, along with other local currencies.

Many of the country's well known tourist attractions are in the north of the country and the government has formulated plans, with the support of the European Union, to promote attractions in other parts of the country.