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Date: August 9, 2024
Location: Gran Melia Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania
Time: 3:20 PM 6:01 PM
Attendees: 40 TATO Members

  1. Overview

On August 9, 2024, the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) held a highly productive meeting at the Gran Melia Hotel in Arusha. The meeting, attended by 40 TATO members, featured renowned USA tourism specialist, Mr. Stephen Richer.
The session commenced at 3:20 PM and concluded at 6:01 PM. The primary focus of the meeting was on the burgeoning Indian outbound travel market, with Mr. Richer providing in-depth insights and strategic recommendations for Tanzania’s tour operators.

  1. Key Highlights

2.1 Indian Outbound Travel Market

Mr. Richer emphasized the rapid growing of the Indian outbound travel market. In 2022, approximately 13 million Indians traveled internationally, representing 61 percent of the pre-pandemic peak recorded in 2019. Projections indicate that by 2040, the number of Indian international travelers could soar to between 80 and 90 million.

2.2 Competitive Advantages of Tanzania

Geographical Proximity and Unique Attractions

Tanzania’s geographical proximity and its outstanding attractions were highlighted as major competitive advantages over other potential destinations. Key attractions include:

  • Serengeti National Park: A globally renowned site for wildlife safaris.
  • Mount Kilimanjaro: Africa’s tallest mountain offering exceptional trekking experiences.
  • Zanzibar Archipelago:Famous for its exotic and culturally rich islands.

Ease of Access

With well-connected international airports such as Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania offers convenient air travel options from India, further enhancing its attractiveness as a destination.

2.3 Tailored Travel Experiences

Mr. Richer underscored Tanzania’s capability to cater to family and group travel, a preference among Indian holidaymakers. A variety of accommodations ranging from luxury lodges to budget-friendly options make Tanzania a versatile destination suitable for diverse travel preferences.

  1. Facilitating Tourism

3.1 Language and Cuisine

The wide use of English in Tanzania ensures seamless communication for Indian travelers, who often prefer visiting destinations with no language barriers. Additionally, the presence of Indian cuisine in Tanzanian hotels and restaurants makes the travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable for Indian visitors.

3.2 Indian Diaspora

The substantial Indian diaspora in Tanzania provides a familiar cultural touchstone, enhancing the destination’s appeal to Indian tourists.

3.3 Affordability

Tanzania is competitive in terms of affordability, offering a range of budget-friendly travel packages. This affordability, combined with rich attractions, makes Tanzania an appealing destination compared to other international markets.

  1. Marketing and Collaboration Opportunities

Mr. Richer hinted at potential collaboration with TATO to capture a significant portion of the Indian outbound travel market. The prospective initiative will concentrate on four key areas:

  1. Tourism Assets Assessment: Evaluating and leveraging Tanzania’s existing tourism assets.
  2. Tourism Development: Enhancing facilities and services to meet the expectations of Indian travelers.
  3. Training: Providing training for all actors in the entire tourism value chain to better understand and cater to the Indian market.
  4. Marketing: Launching concentrated marketing campaigns to promote Tanzania as a premier travel destination for Indian tourists.
  5. Strategic Insights from TATO Members

TATO Board Member, Mr. Vinay Sapra, noted that Indian travelers like vacation in April-May and November. These periods align with Tanzania’s low tourism season, offering an opportunity to boost visitor numbers during these months.

TATO Executive Director, Mr. Elirehema Maturo, expressed deep gratitude to Mr. Richer for sharing his valuable insights, which are expected to significantly enhance TATO’s members strategic planning and marketing efforts. Mr. Elirehema was impressed with the idea of approaching the India market with four main activities. Firstly finance in-depth Tourism inventory/Destination audit. This is basically assesing what Tanzania has to offer for the Indian Market.
Secondly, it was pointed out that to be successful in the market, there is a need to conduct a serious tourism infrastructure development that will not only cater for the Indian market but for all international and domestic tourists. Thirdly, the meeting also agreed that conducting robust trainings of tourism players at different levels especially on strategic service provision and marketing is key. The fourth main pillar agreed was financing intensive Marketing that shall include strong Digital Marketing, organizing FAM trips, MICE Events from India to Tanzania, participating in Travel shows in India, Organizing Road Shows and inclining social events in India to link with Safari Tourism

  1. Conclusion

The meeting between TATO members and Mr. Stephen Richer was highly insightful and informative, laying the groundwork for future collaborations aimed at tapping into the growing Indian outbound travel market. The strategic recommendations and market insights shared during the meeting provide a robust framework for enhancing Tanzania’s appeal as a leading destination for Indian travelers.

Prepared by:
Emmy Kimaro,
Public Relations
Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO)

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