ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM FAIR IN TANZANIA

In the bid to promote tourism in Tanzania, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in partnership with Witch & Wizard Creative (Pty) Ltd, South Africa, have agreed to establish an International Tourism Fair in Tanzania to be known as Swahili Tourism Fair effective from October, 2013. The Agreement be signed on February 25, 2013 at the Mlimani City Conference Centre, Dar es Salaam, allows TTB to work with Witch & Wizard Creative (Pty) Ltd, which is the company that manages the INDABA in Durban (South Africa), one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar. INDABA is owned by South Africa Tourism Board and attracts well over 13000 delegates from various travel, tourism and related industries around the world. It is expected that the Swahili Tourism Fair will grow and eventually become as famous as the INDABA of South Africa and will hence be the iconic annual event for travel and tourism promotion in Tanzania.

The planning for Swahili Tourism Fair has taken cognizance of the continued existence of Karibu Travel & Tourism Fair (KTTF) which has been running in Tanzania since the year 2000, and the need to ensure that, the two fairs complement each other. KTTF which is held in Arusha in June each year focuses on the regional market, while the Swahili Tourism Fair will be held in Dar es Salaam in October each year and will exclusively focus on international clientele. TTB undertakes to work with KTTF to ensure that the same KTTF grows and attracts more regional clientele so that in the long run, Tanzania may join other countries in the world in promoting events tourism with more than one international tourism fair.

Dar es Salaam has been strategically selected as a place for staging the fair because of its geographical location, adequate air access; the existing ‘state of the art’ and readily available infrastructure and amenities suitable for establishing an international tourism fair. The first Swahili Tourism Fair will be held from October 2 – 5, 2013 at the Mlimani City Conference Centre. It is a facility with finishes of an international standard; high quality concertina type stacking doors with full range of conference facilities and amenities. It is equipped with power, lighting, wireless internet connectivity and provides international quality conference space. There are shopping centers, banks, food joints, adequate parking and drop off zones and generous foyers wrapping round the building. Indeed, this ultra-modern design facility, matches the world standard for staging an international tourism fair and has met the requirements of Witch & Wizard.

The Tanzania Tourist Board advises all tourism operators to upgrade their accommodation facilities ready to tap these potential upcoming visitors.