tourism can contribute to all the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – and each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Not only does the sector spearhead growth, it also improves the quality of people’s lives. It can bolster environmental protection, champion diverse cultural heritage, and strengthen peace in the world.
In this spirit, World Tourism Day 2017 presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector decision-makers and the international community, while mobilising all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.
In Tanzania tourism sector has recorded good performance in the period of 10 months from January to October, 2016 with the arrival of a total 1,020,816 tourists in the country.
The sector has recorded an increase of 96,374 tourists, which is 10.42 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2015 when a total of 924,442 tourists visited the country from January to October.
Earlier last year, the government established value added tax (VAT) on tourism services amid criticism that the idea would affect tourism businesses in the country. However, until October, 2016, the number of tourists who arrived in the country has increased compared to 2015.
Speaking on the state of economy in the country, the Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Philip Mpango said official statistics show the number of tourists who visited the country after the introduction of VAT on tourism services is bigger than that of 2015.
"VAT has nothing to do with poor performance in the tourism sector, the number of tourists has increased even after the introduction of VAT in 2016," said Dr Mpango. According to Dr Mpango, in the first quarter of 2016, a total of 284,378 tourists visited the country compared to 265,490 tourists who visited in the same period in 2015.
In the second quarter, at least 242,460 tourists arrived in the country while in the same period in 2015 the number was 239,221. In the third quarter of 2016, the number increased to 369,355 compared to 335,610 of the same period in 2015.
Moreover in October, 2016 a total of 124,623 tourists arrived in the country while in the same month in 2015 at least 84,121 tourists arrived in the country.
According to the statistics released by the minister, the number of tourists who arrived through Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) increased from 238,423 of 2015 to 252,524 in 2016, which makes increase of 5.91 per cent.
Dr Mpango said the statistics show clearly and categorically that the introduction of VAT on tourism services did not affect in one way or another the tourism business. He invited tourism stakeholders to come up with strong argument during the review of the 2017/2018 financial budget.
Tourist arrivals broke the 1 million-barrier for the first time in 2012 when the number of foreign visitors surged 24 per cent. The number rose 1.7 per cent in 2013 to 1.095 million, bringing in 1.85BN/- US dollar (3.15 trl/-). Most of the visitors came from Britain, Germany, the United States and Italy.
In 2014 the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) said the number of tourists visiting the country was expected to double to 2 million by 2017.
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