TOURISM INDUSTRY
What is tourism?
Tourism: refers to the movement of people away from their homes to other places of interests for leisure, pleasure or studies. It is a kind of human activity which involves visiting places of interest like wildlife, conservation areas, historical sites, museums, beaches etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY TOURISM
Environmental friendly tourism: is the proces of undertaking tourism activities without damaging or affecting the condition of the environment.
TOURISM INDUSTRY
Tourism industry: refers to all about business of providing hotels and accommodation, facilities and other amenities to tourists. It usually about all activities based on undertaking tourism.
TYPES OF TOURISM
1. Domestic tourism: This is the type of tourism which involves people traveling from one place to another places within the country. For example from Dar es salaam to Mikumi or from Tabora to Serengeti National Park.
2. International tourism: This is type of tourism which involves people moving from home countries to other countries for leisure, pleasure or studies.
FACTORS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM TO ANY COUNTRY
Physical factors
1. Availability of good climate: Pleasant climatic conditions especially sunny conditions attract tourists from colder countries during winter.
2. Presence of attractive landscapes/ scenery: Attractive landscape (scenery) due to physical features like mountains, crates, lakes, coastal beaches, canyons and deserts
Social – cultural factors
3. Presence of historical and architectural sites: for example cities, churches, mosques, temples, palaces and pyramids.
4. Presence of recreational sites: such as resorts, swimming places, playing ground.
5. Presence of good social services: like shopping centers, medication, good food, water supply, and well trained staff.
6. Presence of natural parks: like Serengeti, Yellowstone, Yosemite etc
7. Local skills: like the Makonde carvings in Tanzania as well as the dressing style and traditional dances among the Maasai and the Sukuma.
Economic Factors
8. Availability of enough capital: capital to be invested in the tourist industry.
9. Presence of advanced transport and communication systems e.g air transport, road, railway, and water as well as internet services. These facilitate accessibility of different places of interest in the community.
Political Factors
10. Availability of political stability: Peace in the country encourages the development in the country since the tourists like visiting the country where there is peace like Tanzania in East Africa. They normally avoid the areas with political problems like civil wars.
11. Availability of ggoodpolicy: government policy can encourage the development of the tourist industry by financing or giving favorable conditions, which are not restrictive.
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM INDUSTRY TO ANY COUNTRY
1. It provides employment to the people in hotels, guiding section, game parks and traveling agents.
2. It provides foreign currency to the country, which is being visited.
3. It can facilitate rapid improvement in technology related to the tourist industry.
4. It provides opportunity for recreation or enjoyment.
5. It leads to the introduction of new culture.
6. It strengthening the international relationship.
7. It enables the marginal land to be used for economic development: For example national parks occupy the areas which were unproductive.
8. It promotes international respectability: For instance today Switzerland is well known for flourishing tourist industry and it is known as “playground of Europe”
EXPANSION OF TOURISM IN THE WORLD
1. People have accumulated greater wealth and are of higher standard of living such that they can afford traveling (Greater affluence in the societies).
2. There has been a great need for studying other cultures in other countries.
3. The start of long holidays with pay.
4. Development of better transport facile is particularly in air words, it can be said that accessibility and mobility have improved including the increase in car ownership and affordable charter air flights at overseas.
5. Cheaper transport services especially air transport.
6. The development of attractive national parks in different parts of the world.
7. Increasing number of active people.
8. It eater awareness of locations facilities and opportunities through education advertising and the media.
CURRENTLY PROBLEM FACING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD
1. The world looming terrorism associated with bombardment of economically strategic centers like the world Trade Center in the USA that took place on 11th September in 2001. Terrorism has scared many international tourists leading to the desolation of tourism development in the world. Many people fear traveling with aeroplanes lest they encounter the problems of hijacking like what happened in the USA. Visa procurement procedures are also associated with a lot of restriction as a result of terrorism.
2. The ongoing crimes against the visitors in different corners of the world have contributed to the decline in tourism in some countries.
3. Environment problems or hazards like floods in Mozambique and stormy winds contribute to the dwindling trend of tourism in the world. In other places like Turkey, Indian Japan and California there are problem of earthquakes since there are located along the zones of convergence.
4. The current political conflicts in different countries coupled in what wars like it eh Democratic Republic of Congo, Middle east ( Palestine and Israel) etc are a hitch or snag to tourist development.
5. Poor transport and communication network in the third world countries is another hurdle in the tourist development. There are poor roads in many countries such that visitors do not get greater chance of having a glimpse (view) of different attractive aspects in the interior of the countries like the southern circuit of Tanzania.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TOURISM
1. Tourism leads to environment degradation like deforestation an erosion; pollution like water pollution and air pollution.
2. It leads to the spread of diseases like AIDS etc.
3. Tourism needs high capital and hence if there is low capital it cannot develop easily. This discourages the development of other economic sectors.
4. Tourism can accelerate terrorism in the tourist country. The terrorist can come to the country as normal visitors.
5. It can also lead to the deterioration (destruction) of culture in the countries which are visited.
6. It leads to the occurrence of conflicts in the country due to cultural destruction.
7. It contributes to the loss of biodiversity.
8. It contributes to moral decay cultural interference.
SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TOURISM
1. The visitors should be taught the culture of the natives in the country where they are visiting so that they cannot interfere with the people cultural sects like dressing etc.
2. Reducing the number of visitors who visit the country so as to conserve the environment.
3. new areas should be opened up to reduce congestion in the existing tourist centers.
4. The government and international organization should be active enough in supporting and governing the tourist activities in the country concerned.
5. There should be involvement of the local community in order that the local people can benefit and help I conserving the tourist centers (tourist attraction) like wildlife conservation areas etc.
6. There should be integration of tourist activities with the promotion of the environmental condition through the eco –tourism approach.
ECO-TOURISM (GREEN TOURISM)
Eco-Tourism: It is the environmental policy which emphasise the undertaking of tourism activities and encouraging the environmental conservation. It aiming to ensure that tourism is conducted without harm the natural environment.
However this is the terminology which demoted ecological (Eco) aspects combined with tourism activities. Eco-tourism or green tourism can be defined as an integrated approach that involved carrying out tourist activities with minimum negative impacts of the natural environment. This means that when tourist activities take place should involve the promotion of environmental conservation.
PRINCIPLES OF ECO-TOURISM OR GREEN TOURISM
1. Eco-tourism should encourage undertaking tourism activities without damaging the natural environments.
2. Eco-tourism should enhances or encourage the conservation attitude among the people: Through education.
3. Eco-tourism should strive to improve local communities economically and socially: at the same time conserving the natural environment. It means that it should be geared towards poverty alleviation in the local communities.
4. It should promote positive interaction between the tourist themselves the local community because the benefits of the conservation areas are for all people.
5. It should promote awareness among the local people through education so that they can be able to know the importune and strategies of conserving the natural environment for tourist activities.
6. Eco-tourism should also emphasize the proper planning and monitoring of the tourist activities and conservation aspects.
7. It should preserve the cultural of local communities.
Hence Eco-tourism is a wider concept, which involves several insures like traveling business, economics, attitude and behaviors environmental its management and other resources as well as other human activates.
IMPORTANCE OF ECO-TOURISM/GREEN TOURISM
1. It has promoted environmental awareness among the local people: It led to the empowerment of the local community since they themselves design, organize the control activities on the conservation areas. Hence local people participation in the conservation of nature is promoted When people participate they get motivated an become more willing to take part in the conservation process.
2. It promotes the living standard and respectability of the people. The living standards are promoted through income generation as some people are employed and wages from the conservation areas.
3. It encourage environmental conservation: The cultural aspect and the environment of the local community are preserved.
4. It enhence positive relatioship between visitors and local people: The relationship between the local community, the visitors and the conservation is promoted and hence the community lives in peace.
5. It helps In the control of diseases like AIDS since the participation of the local community leads to the strikes control of human behavior in the tourist area.
6. Eco-tourism promotes environmental awareness among the local people. Through this people can know the potentials of their environment.
7. It encourage technological advancement: The local community gets new technology through the visitors who came to their conservation areas, Same special training centers on where people can benefit through getting education and experience.
8. It also helps in the reaction of water pollution as a result of the watershed management.
9. The market for locally produced goods like the Makonde carving of Tanzania can be improved.
10. It stimulates the development of transport and communication system in the local community. In general eco tourism in Tanzania can help in fighting against poverty (poverty alleviation).
TOURISM POLICY
Tourism policy: refers to the statement or guidelines or plans of action established by an organ in authority like the government with the aim of influencing or directing or guiding tourism activities. This plan of action contains some principles, goals, objectives and strategies that give guidance or direction on how to manage tourism so as to maximize benefits while encouraging sound social, cultural and environmental status. The developed countries like the USA, Canada, Switzerland, South Africa and Nether lands have well established policies that govern tourism activities.
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM POLICIES
1. They guide or direct how to manage tourism by stimulating the objectives, principles and strategies to be used.
2. The policies guide the evaluation process.
3. They provide suggestions on what to be done in order to attain improvement in tourism in a particular country.
4. They help in avoiding or reducing losses as far as tourism industry is concerned.
5. They also insist on how to distribute the benefits obtained while focusing on the promotion of the life standard of the local people in a particular country.
A. TOURISM INDUSTRY IN KENYA
Tourism is the second largest source of foreign exchange revenue in Kenya following agriculture.
The main tourist attractions in Kenya are;-
i. Mosque at Mombasa.
ii. The great rift valley.
iii. The coffee plantation at Thika.
iv. A view of mountain Kilimanjaro, across the border into Tanzania.
v. Amboseli National park.
vi. Lake Nakuru National park.
FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN KENYA
1. Presence of good tourist attractions: It is magnificently endowed with a lot of fauna and flora which are one of attractions in the country.
2. Presence of good attraction landscapes: It also has very attractive scenery, climate and beaches. There are mountains like Mount Kenya and lakes, which attract the visitors.
3. Presence good transport and communication systems: nearness to the coast has also facilitate easy movement of visitors to the country.
4. Good management of tourism industry: Kenya tourist industry in managed more efficiently than any other east Africa country.
5. Good government support: There is strong government support on tourism.
6. Presence of political stability: Relative political stability that has been prevailing in the country.
7. Presence of good advertisement programs: Kenya has advertised its industries so widely in the world. There are promotion centers in England, Zambia Switzerland Germany and USA.
8 Industrial base and agricultural prosperity: like tea plantation have encouraged the development of tourism in Kenya.
9. The use of English language: the knowledge of English speaking countries to come to the country since they can easily understand each other.
TOURISM ATTRACTIONS/HONEY POTS IN KENYA
1. There are several national parks: like Tsavo, Meru , Nairobi Amboseli, Mountain Kenya Mount Elgon, Lake Nakuru, Marine national parks (Malindi, Watamu and Kisite/Mpunguti) Historical and archeological national parks, sibiloi oldonyo sabuk and saiwa national Park.
2. There are game reserves: like shimba hills Maasai Mara, Marsabit, Buffalo spring etc
These are having a wide variety of animal, plant and birds, which attract visitors into the country.
3. Coastal attractions: include fishing grounds, beaches, hotels, swimming areas, cliffs, caves, spits, bars etc.
4. Attractive scenery: made of Great Rift valley, Mount Kenya lakes and rivers, etc.
5. Development schemes: like Galole and Mwea- tebere irrigation schemes, large scale tea plantations in Kericho and other areas.
6. Antiquities and historical sites: like the fort Jesus in Mombasa Gedi Ruins in Malindi and other found at Kilaguni and voi
B) TOURISM INDUSTRY IN TANZANIA
FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM INDUSTRY IN TANZANIA
Tanzania with its unique features, is one of the famous countries in the world of tourism. Its tourist industry has a bright future because of the following reasons:-
1. Good government support: The government has shown a greater interest in promoting this industry Through the following ways:-
i. The ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism has been so much active in promoting this economic sector. The departments into chemistry have their own policies.
ii. There are promotion offices in different countries for advertising tourism in Tanzania. For example promotion offices are in Germany (Frankfurt), Sweden (Stockholm), North America, New York and England (London). There has been promotions campaigns going like the one launched at the 36th ) International Tourism exchange (ITB) in Berlin, March 2001 to make other nations know that Tanzania is among the attractive destination in the world.
iii. It created the tourist industry new promotion logo that is Tanzania the land of Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar and about 50 tour operators, hoteliers, lodge keepers and the tourist Board presented the nation as an ideal holiday destination offering wide range of possibilities for the discerning visitors from abroad. A main thrust of the campaign was to attract more up market tourist by offering a wide variety of visual options. They promoted various soft adventure programmers such as white water rafting, trekking and canoeing as well as different opportunities for sport. Various possibilities for cultural tourism in Zanzibar and on the mainland, conference tourism and incentive travel were among the new offers presented at the five die ITB which concluded on March 7, 2001.
iv. Then Tanzania's minister for Natural Resources and tourism Mrs. Zakia Hamdani Menghji said “even though beach tourism and safari will continue to be the backbone of Tanzania tourism industry, we are trying to develop more niche products and special interest in tourism”. “This is part of Tanzania's ongoing efforts to develop an economy friendly and environmentally sustainable development of tourism which will preserve the country tourism resources and enhance the well being of the host population”.
2. There is a wide variety of tourist attraction (honey pots) this ranges from game reserves, national parks, coastal beaches historical sites coral reefs cultural aspects like language and dressings and the carving, spectacular features like the Kilimanjaro mountain lake Tanganyika.
3. New areas are being established: These include into the southern circuit lake region and coastal areas as well as in the islands of mafia and Zanzibar.
4. The east African cooperation will act as a dynamo in the promotion of tourism like many other east African countries. The cooperation will intensify security measure will enhance visitors mobility in the region and advertisement of tourism sector visa procurement procedures will be implied.
5. The government stability: that has made the country maintain some degree of peace will continue attracting the visitors into the country with conflicts like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi, Tanzania is struggling to maintain security so as it can become a safer destination.
6. The government is trying to use information Technology in the tourism industry: so that the activities should keep on running more effectively and monitoring the tourist activities in the country.
7. Local people are being involved in tourism industry: and this will promote the status of tourism. Since there will be more participation and peace in the conservation areas. For example there are various community Based wildlife conservation projects, which have been started in different parts of Tanzania like the Serengeti Regional conservation strategy (SRCS) and the Amani Nature Reserve (ANR) in Tanga that was established in 1997.
8. Tanzania has established international relationship with other countries in the world: Apart from attracting more tourists especially from Germany, the country is seeking more German investment in further developing of tourism infrastructure. Germany has been supporting management and conservation of some other national parks within the frame work of German Development and investment company (DEG) is actively involved in Tanzania hotel and tourism sector and help to build up several hotels, lodges and tourist facilities.
9. The government of Tanzania under the president John Joseph pombe Magufuli put much emphasis on improving infrastructure in the country: These will facilitate the movement of tourists in the country. This including improvement of old roads and constructions of new roads as well as construction of new standard gauge railway which run from Dar-es-salam to Dodoma via to morogoro.
Therefore the number of tourists has been increasing year after for example in 1997 tourists visiting Tanzania increased from 326,188 in 1996 to 360,000. This earned more than USD 393.4 million. Also in 1999 the number of visitors increased to 627,325 earning 733.2 million USD. The increase was a result of efforts made by the government and private tour operators to advertise Tanzania tourist potentials in the recent past. (Source BOT journal 1997).
TOURIST ATTRACTION/HONEY POTS IN TANZANIA
1. Availability of attractive landscapes: which characterized by the presence of mountains like Kilimanjaro which is snow capped, active volcanic mountain oldonyo lengai (the mountain of god where visitor struggle to the steep slopes of the mountain) large lakes like Tanganyika and Victoria the remarkable Rift valley and the Indian Ocean with its attractive beaches. Lake Tanganyika is the deepest rift valley lake in Africa and the longest natural fresh water in the world.
2. Presence of two of the world largest game sanctuaries: the Serengeti & Ngorongoro ecosystem and the sellouts game reserve. The former supports the greatest concentration of wildlife of earth. The shared plains support about one million wild beasts about 260,000 zebras and thousands of gazelles.
3. Presence of large attractive network of National parks and game reserves: covering about 25% of the land area. There are National parks like Serengeti lake Manyara, Tarangire, Arusha, Kilimanjaro Mikumi, Ruaha, Katavi, Gombe, Mahale, Rubondo Island, udzungwa and saadani. Also there are game reserves eleven of which are selous, rungwe, Kizigo, Moyowosi / kigosi, Maswa, Ibanda, Biharamulo/ Bugiri, Gurumeti/ Ikorongo, Usangu, Pande close to Dar es Salaam ugalla, and Mkomazi.
4. Presence of historical sites: There are pre historic sites like olduvai (oldupai) George in the Serengeti Plain where visitors get important information of the past. This is a river canyon cut 100 meters deep through the volcanic soils of the Serengeti plains. There is a museum at the Olduvai Gorge where visitors get different information of the past.
5. Presence of Archeological sites: like Isimila, which is 21 km south of Iringa and 800m off the Iringa – Mbeya highway. At isimila there were discovered faunal remains, stone tools like knives, flake scrapers etc. But this site is not so attractive to tourists because it has not been promoted into an attractive destination. Hence the government has to make sure that the site is promoted.
6. Presence of shifting sand across the Ngorongoro plains: This is another tourism attraction. The sand shifts at 17 meters per year.
7. There are coastal attractions: like Mangrove plants, fishing, grounds coral reefs, beaches, hotels, islands like mafia island and water for swimming.
8. Presence of conducive climate: into the mountains (cool) warm coastal climate good for swimming etc.
9. The national language Kiswahili and the visitors and the local people.
10. Presence of Tanzanian attractive traditional rafts or tribes: like Makonde wood carvings, the paintings at kondoa irangi and the cultural aspect like the Maasai dressing are magnets to tourists.
11. Availability of Improved accommodation: in the hotels and restaurants as well as lodges.
12. Availability of peaceful political atmosphere in the country attract tourists.
13. Improvement in Transport and communication like air, road and water transports.
NATIONAL RESERVES AND GAME RESERVES IN TANZANIA
Tourist Zone in Tanzania can be categorized into the frequently visited and the less frequently visited areas.
The most frequently visited areas include:-
1. The Northern Circuit: which includes Serengeti with its lodges like Seronera and Lobo, Ngorongoro conservation area with the Ngorongoro wildlife lodge situated to the rim of the crater, Lake Manyara the Arusha or Momela National park. The northern circuit is served by the Kilimanjaro international Airport (KIA) at Sanya juu between Moshi and Arusha.
2. The southern to eastern circuit: which include coastal beaches with white sands, worm water, kunduchi beach, white sands and Bahari beach hotels. There are ancient towns mosques and the palaces of the coast especially Zanzibar. The Mikumi national Park fishing this circuit is served by the Dar es salaam international and Morogoro, Iringa road like Ally Hassani Mwinyi road to Bagamoyo and Morogoro - Iringa road.
3. Western zone: include Lake Rukwa, Tanganyika, katavi, National Park, Gombe etc and in the lake zone include the Lake Victoria, Rubondo national park etc.
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM INDUSTRY IN EAST AFRICA (KENYA AND TANZANIA)
1. It has led to the creation of employment opportunities: It has led to the creation of employment opportunities.
2. It has contributed to the generation of the government revenue: For example in 1997 Tanzania earned more than USD 393.4 million from 36000 tourists and in 1999 it earned 733.2 million USD from 627, 325 visitors.
3. It has promoted the living standard of the local people in the respective countries.
4. It has facilitated the fast development of science and technology: as a result of the influence of the visitors who came to East Africa.
5. It has led to the improvement of accomidation facilities: There has been promotion in the standard of hotels and lodges in the tourist centers.
6. The countries have become well known worldwide through the visitors who come and leave the country with information back home.
7. Improvement of markets for priduced goods: The market for the locally produced goods has been promoted.
8. Tourism has encourage positive attitude towards environmental conservation since people have realized the potential values of the natural environment.
9. It has strengthened international relation with many other countries like Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Japan, Norway Britain etc.
THE WILDLIFE POLICY OF TANZANIA
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism in its vision of the wildlife sector clearly stated as to involve all stake holders in wildlife conservation and sustainable utilization as well as in fair and equitable sharing of benefits among the challenges the sectors has to address are:-
1. To promote involvement of local communities participation in wildlife conservation in and outside protected areas network.
2. To integrate wildlife conservation with rural development. There are moves to create wildlife management Areas (WMAS) to be managed by rural communities. This has two objectives, which are:-
i). To promote conservation of wildlife and its habitats outside the areas (National parks, Game reserves and Ngorongoro conservation area) by establishing wildlife management areas.
ii. To transfer the management of wildlife management areas and ensure that they get tangible benefits.
(a) The policy also outlines strategies for integrating wildlife conservation and rural development especially sharing benefit.
THE POLICY OF NATIONAL PARK IN TANZANIA
1. The policy states the purpose of the National parks in Tanzania as to ensure optimum levels of revenue and benefits accrue to the national economy, the parks, and communities without impairing park resources the issues pointed out in the policy pertaining to local communities are:-
i). To facilitate coordination and shared benefits with local communities.
ii). To provide material, services, and facilities for public information and education needed by target groups, among them are selected groups from local communities.
2. The policy also specifies that law enforcement staff should cooperate with local communities around the national parks and the public in general to win confidence and support the people in the fight against illegal activities within and without the park boundaries that may have impact on the park resources.
3. Smoking: No one should smoke while on the game drive and camp, the cigarettes should be disposed carefully to avoid wild that can damage animals and vegetation.
4. Feeding: Never feed animals at your hotel or in the wild. It can upset their diet and lead to unnecessary dependence on people.
5. Litter: one should take the litter with him/her as animals can become ill or even die should they digest it.
6. Hunting: No one is allowed to hunt in the national park without special permission to do so.
7. People movements: All people should in their vehicle within 200 meters from any game animal. It is prohibited to get out of the car in the national parks except in the designated places.
8. Camping is permitted only at sites or authorized by the conservator or staff.
9. Maintaining Biodiversity: No one should pick out or destroy vegetation or remove any object of biological interest, including eggs, feathers, bones and trophies.
10. Fire control: No one should light or cause fire to be lit. After camping be sure to extinguish you fire carefully.
11. All visitors entering the national park must be accompanied by a licensed guide or an official guide.
PROBLEMS/ LIMITATIONS OF DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN EAST AFRICA
1. Low capital availability especially Tanzania whose economy is very low.
2. Problems of transport and communication: which is still not well developed in some areas where the roads are impassable in the wet season.
3. Tourism is a seasonal activity in East Africa: unlike Switzerland where it takes place all the year round.
4. Population increase: which resulted in to encroachment on the existing tourist potentials like national parks, game reserves and sanctuaries. This has been due to high population growth rates on the margins of these gazette areas.
5. Poor management of tourism sectour: Low managerial or poor managerial skill cause problem in the general management of that tourist center.
6. There is a problem of political instability: especially in Uganda as well as terrorism that involved the bombing of American Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya in 1998. This scared American tourists from visiting east Africa. The wars accelerate the breakdown of the established infrastructure and discourage investment in the tourist industries.
7. Low advertisements: There has been low advertisement because of low capital, poor communication system as a result of low technology etc.
8. Poor quality of services and facilities: as compared to other country has been discouraging tourism.
9. Poorly organized hunting in the game reserves affected tourism.
The Loliondo Care in Tanzania
Loliondo is a good example of the Game Controlled Area where hunting has been taking place. This has been giving the hunting rights to some hunting companies. In 1992, the Ngorongoro District council on behalf of six villages (ololosokwan, soitsambu, oloiperi, olorien/ magauduru, loosoito and Arash) signed with a hunting company In which the latter was given exclusive hunting rights in the loliondo game controlled areas. The local people have not been benefiting greatly from the hunting process in the area and this has led to the upsurge of a lot of complaints.
The number of animals has decreased because of hunting making the area less attractive to tourists, It is alleged that the villagers were even not informed or the terms of the contract such that they cannot effectively and efficiently participate In the conservation if the area. They still depend on the goodwill of the company for their development but the goodwill seems not to becoming forth since the new contract was signed into year 2000. Hence there is need for the hunting to be stopped in Loliondo & other Game controlled areas in order to conserve the animals and attract tourists who can bring in same foreign currency that can be benefit the local people especially the Masai.
THE PROSPECTS OF TOURISM IN EAST AFRICA
The future of tourism in East Africa is promising this is based on the following reasons:-
1. The revival of the African Community will promote the tourism industry in the region. There are efforts wtowards intensifying security, improving transport and communication etc in east Africa.
2. Same news areas are being opened up: especially in the interior and along the coast as well on the islands. These will attract more tourists.
3. There are efforts done in re-equipping the rehabilitation of the existing lodges for example Mwea in Ruwenzori National park and Para in Kabalega National park, and building of new hotels like the Holiday inn and the royal palm in Dar es salaam improvement of the old hotels and building of new ones will lead to the improvement of accommodation in these countries and attract more visitors.
4. Existence of good advertisement campaigns: There have been launched strong campaigns to advertise tourism in East Africa and as well as outside the region.
5. The presence of many attractive features in East Africa: both natural and man made there are spectacular mountains, which are ice capped like the Kilimanjaro and the Kenya Mountains presence of beaches and the wildlife conservation areas with a variety of animals.
6. Presence of conducive climatic condition: The east Africa climate is attractive to the outsiders especially those who came from cold countries in the temperate regions when the winters are severe in Europe or north America the people from those places decide to visited east Africa due to its warm climate.
7. High emphasise on tourism sector: The east Africa countries have realized that tourism is another economic sector that helps in solving the problem of unemployment hence the government are strongly struggling to promote this sectors.
8. Establishment of diffrent environmental conservation programs: There different programmers for environmental conservation which will also keep the region very attractive and healthy so that more and more visitors will be attracted.
9. Presence of high improvement of transport and communication systems: There has been development in transport and communication east Africa. For example there are airports, telecommunication services and of recent there has been fast development in the use of cellular phones. However some countries like Tanzania has started to construct the standard gauge railway lines (SGR) which will facilitate much movement of tourists in the country. This will also encourage tourism to a greater extent as a result of effective and efficient information flow.
10. High involvement of local people in tourism sector: There is stronger involvement of the local people and the private sector. This will lead to the faster tourist development than the way it could be run by the government only. Nonetheless, the achievement in the positive development of tourism in east Africa will depend on fast development of transport and communication network, maintenance of peace, strong cooperation, improvement in accommodation, improvement In Technology through training, environment conservation and the continued vehement advertisement by the east African countries.
PROBLEMS FACING TOURISM IN EAST AFRICA
Despite that the East Africa is well endowed with various and interesting tourist potential is not well developed compared to that of such countries like Switzerland which have limited tourist potential.
1. Population encroachment: on the existing tourist potentials e.g. national Parks game reserves and sanctuaries. This is caused mainly by the presence of a high population growth rate on the margins of these gazette areas.
2. There is a severe lack of capital to invest in the industry: This is because the East African countries economies depend on agriculture and yet of recent there has been a problem of price fluctuations on international markets for their agricultural crops.
3. Lack of proper managerial skills required in the managements of a tourist industry. The tourist industry is very sensitive to inefficient management.
4. There is a problem of political instabilities: especially in Uganda and of recent terrorism in Tanzania and Kenya that involved the bombing of the Embassies. Political instabilities and terrorism have a number of implication toward the tourist industry, e.g. scaring away foreign visitors, accelerating breakdown in the existing infrastructure e.g. roads hotels health facilities and morals among the youths. Directly everything becomes very expensive within an economy, e.g high transport network.
Political instabilities also have a impact o scaring away skilled labor required and there is always corruption of the officials which facilities inefficiency in management political instabilities also create a situation of unnecessary clearances, say at international airports along the highways all these facilitate inconveniences to the visitor.
5. There is low degree of advertisement of the tourism industry: potentials to the outside world. This has been facilitate by lack of skilled labor force capital and the capacity to interact with outside world.
WAYS TO IMPROVE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN TANZANIA (E. AFRICA)
1. To improves good facilities and accomodation: To rehabilitate the existing lodges, and hotels so that they can be of good standard.
2. To improve advertisement programs: there should be more efforts in advertising the tourist industry of East Africa.
3. To train more man power: There should be comprehensive training given to these who engage themselves in the tourist industry. For example the government should train game wardens who will be in position to defend the national parks and game reserves against the danger of poaching.
4. Opening up of new areas: More new areas should be opened like coastal areas and lakes already Tanzania has started developing the coastal areas and lakes to open up new areas under the ministry of tourism and natural resources. The efforts are also focusing on opening up the southern areas, the coastal areas and the interior of Tanzania.
5. Provision of education to both tourist and local people: Massive campaigns should be launched to local people so that they can learn how to appreciate the importance of the gazette areas and even participate in the conservation processes.
6. To ensure good government support: The central government should encourage the development of private tour operators so as to assist in the promotion of the industry. They can be given loans to invest in transport at the minimal interest.
7. Population control: There should be control of population so as to avoid people encroachment into the conservation area.
8. Enacting strictly laws agaist poaching and illegal hunting : Anti poaching unit should be established in East Africa so as to protect the animals.
9. To consolidate political stability: Peace and harmony has to be maintained in the east African countries and this scan be facilitate through close cooperation fetch east African countries.
C). TOURISM IN NAMIBIA
Namibia is a newly independent country but the tourist sectors have grown very fast within a short time. Incidentally, tourism is the third large contributor to the Gross Domestic Product after mining and agriculture.
The number of visitors to Namibia has been increased year after year. For example in 1993 over 368,000 visitors came to Namibia 560,000 in 1996, 615,000 in 1997 and over 800,000 are projected for the year 2002. The overall growth of the tourism sector is target at 10 12 percent per year.
FACTORS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN NAMIBIA
1. Good government policy on promoting tourist industry: The policy focuses on bringing a definite change by promoting culture based tourism. The policy emphasizes the adoption of eco tourism approach. The draft plan on tourism. Which was adopted in 1994, has made a lot of changes. The plant gives room for the private sector and the local community to participate In the tourism development. The draft plant has established an action plan, which is aimed at enhancing the changes.
2. Presence of well developed infrastructures: this has facilitated easy accessibility different places in Namibia.
3. Presence of good advertisements: that has been done by the government and the private sector. There are promotion offices Johannesburg. Cape Town, German, Spain New Yuck, United Kingdom and other offices were planned to be opened in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam.
4. Presence of good tourism attractions: There are attractions which included, good climate, abundant wilt life, presence of many land landscape like canyons, Kalahari and Namib desert, beautiful river, etc
5. The influence of SADS: in the promotion of tourism among the member’s countries. In attaining this goal it has created the Regional Tourism organization of the southern countries (RETOSA).
6. The establishment of Namibia stock exchange (NSX): that has attracted foreign investors has been another contributing factor in the tourist development.
7. Good government support: The hard work made by both the public sector and private sector the private sector has invested substantially in the development of infrastructure.
8. The influence of the of other activities has facilitation the development of tourism in Namibia.
9. High investment of Namibia: has a favorable investment potential created by Namibia free market economy and the government commitment to promoting free enterprise.
TOURIST ATTRACTION IN NAMIBIA
1. Godd climatic condition: Namibia endowed with beautiful sunshine.
2. Presence of many wild life: Abundant wildlife in the game reserves. Like the etosha and Mamili national parks, caprivi, daan and viljoen game parks.
3. Presence of attractive grand canyon: like the fish river canyon with hot spring resort at Ai – Ais.
4. The Namibia desert landscape: It also offers a high possibility for stargazing for the astronomers.
5. There are beautiful rivers.
6. Presence of cutural varieties: Diverse cultural attractions like the tradition crafts which include wood carving from the kavango and caprivi owambo and Himba baskets as well as Bushman egg shell jeweler embroidery work, carpets woven from karakul wool beading, metal forging and a presence of many cultural groups with their respective traditional dances and music.
7. Variation in the geological and geomorphologic structures has been another attraction to be visitors in Namibia. The Dam viljoen Game Park has a gravel surface and rolling hills which facilitate accessibility and provide the ideal condition for game viewing especially at sunset.
8. There are sand dunes of spectacular nature in the desert these also attract visitor.
9. The capital town of windsock is another attraction. This is a business hub and has an international conference venue.
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM IN NAMIBIA
1. It has stimulated the further development of infrastructure.
2. It has let to the generation of employment opportunities in the country.
3. It has also contributed to Gross Domestic Product. It is the third contributor to GDP after mining and agriculture.
4. It has encouraged the improvement of social services: Social services have improved in the Country especially with the introduction of the community based tourism.
5. It has promoted environmental conservation in the country: with the aim of maintaining the country beauty.
6. It led to cultural development: It has helped in the preservation and boosting of the country cultural values and norms.
7. It generate government revenue: Tourism has earned Namibia an international repute.
8. Improvement of living standards: It has led to the promotion of the people life in general.
PROBLEMS FACING TOURISM IN NAMIBIA
1. Shortqge of reliable markets: Namibia is not yet well marketed since has just attained its independence. It got its independence on 21st March, 1990 and the head of state being president Sam Daniel shafiishuna Nujoma.
2. Competition from other sectors: At the beginning more focus was put on mining agriculture and fishing than tourism.
3. Lack of enough capital: The costs of maintaining the quality of tourism are high.
4. Stiff competition from other countries: It is facing stiff challenge or competition from outside like Tanzania, Kenya Uganda etc, Hence it has a long way to go.
5. Poor tourism policy: There has been slow implementation of the tourist policy since 1994.
6. Poor economic base: The country is young hence its economy is still young. It has not let to the generation of enough capital to be invested in high quality tourist enterprise.
7. Economic crisis: took place in the Far East and Europe in 1994 had negative effects on the tourist development. This I s because other sector that could generate capital like mining were affected.
THE EFFORTS MADE BY NAMIBIAN GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE TOURSM INDUSTRY
1. Maintaining peace in the country.
2. Decentralization of the tourist operation: in order to encourage more private investors and the local people to participate in the tourist development. It has formed the tourist board to deal with tourist affairs. The government has decided to reduce its involvement and remain just as policy makers.
3. Educating the local people: so that they can get involved productively in the environmental conservation.
4. Enacting strictly environmental laws: It has formulated the legislation on waste management and pollution control so as to promote the quality of the environmental which tourism will take place.
5. Training more of skilled lanours: There are plans to provide readily available labour, inexpensive electricity easily accessible markets in the neighboring countries and well developed and expanding road network.
6. To improve advertisement on tourism markets: There are plans to provide readily available labor, inexpensive electricity, easily accessible markets in the neighboring country and well developed and expanding road network.
7. Encouging much political stability: The future of tourism industry in Namibia depends on political stability and relative peace and tranquility in the country. Also the preservation of all natural attractions especially the skeleton coast is utmost important.
TOURIST RESORTS IN NAMIBIA
1. Cape cross seal Reserve: Is known of 23 colonies of cape fur seals which breed along the coast of South Africa and Namibia.
2. Caprivi Game Park: which is wedged between Angola and Botswana. It extends from the Okavango River in the west to the Kwando river in the east.
3. Doan viljoen Park: which is a weekend retreat for wind hookers as well as relaxing stopover for tourism.
4. Etosha National Park: which is a shallow depression having various games.
5. Fish River canyon: which has hot springs resort.
6. Gross Barmen hot springs Resort: is build on the site of one of the earliest mission stations in Namibia.
7. Hardap Recreation Resort and Game reserve: which is situated around the hard pan dam (the largest dam in Namibia).
8. Khaudum Game Park: which a wide variety of game species.
9. Mahango game reserve: which as a reverie forest, a broad flood plain, magnificent baobabs, large herds of elephants and red lunch.
11. Mamili, mudumu and namib: naukluft national parks.
12. Sandwich harbor, skeleton coast park: von bach dam recreation resorts.
D). TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND
Switzerland is located in central Europe, to the eastern of France and to the north of Italy. Switzerlandis the famous country in the world due to its tourist development. It is also referred to as the playground of the world since tourism takes place all the year round and may tourists visit Switzerland because of its attractions. There are also different games and sports that are of interest to the tourists.
FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND
1. Presence of good climatic condition: Ideal climate which allows the activities to take place both in winter and summer.
2. Presence of attrative scenery (landscapes): Beautiful scenery made by the Alps. Mountains which have u-shaped valleys, pyramidal peaks and snow cover. There are also water bodies like lake Geneva which adds to the beauty of the scenery.
3. Good geographical location: Its central location in Europe has also led to high accessibility of the country from different directions in Europe which are industrialized countries such German, France Britain and Iltaly as the source of its visitors and other countries like America and so on.
4. Availability of good infrastructures: The transport system has been improved for example the railway network has been electrified. The transport cost is low and the movements are fast. Switzerland has modern tracks and modern locomotives and this has encouraged tourism. E.g the use of electric trains, modern cars, cable cars and modern aeroplane.
5. Good hotels management of tourism sector: due the use of skilled labour so as to meet tourist demand.
6. Availability of enough capital: Capital availability that was invested in the tourist industry, Capital was accumulated from the Swiss foreign trade.
7. Availability of skilled labour: This has led to the efficient running of thetourist industry.
8. Good hospitality of local people: Hospitality of the Swiss people has been another attraction to the tourists.
9. Good government policy: Its policy of neutrality has made peace dwell in the country and hence tourists have been encouraged to visit the country
10. It has international institutions: like banks and conference centers used by different national because of its peace.
IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM IN SWITZERLAND
1. It has generated many employment opportunities to peple: During the peak season it employs more than 120,000 people. This is six or seven times as much as Tanzanian tourist employment.
2. It provide foreign currency to the country: It has contributed to the earning of foreign currency in the country. Hence capital is accumulated from tourist industry in a great amount.
3. Improvement of science and technology in the country: tourism sector in switzerland has stimulated the development of science and technology for example electrification of the railway system.
4. It has stimulated the development of industrial sectors.
5. It has made the country to be well known worldwide in tourism industry.
6. It has encouraged international relationship with other countries in the world.
7. It has encouraged much development of towns.
PROBLEMS FACING TOURISM INDUSTRY IN SWITZERLAND
1. Steep slopes of the mountain: have led to problems of transport to different parts of Switzerland. The alps occupy about 60% of the total area giving small room for the diversification of the tourist industry.
2. Environmental pollution: due to the coming visitors.
3. Severe snow fall during the winter avoid visitors due to transport problem.
4. Competition from other countries such as USA, Canada, Australia, Denmark, etc.
TOURIST AREAS IN SWITZERLAND
1. Summer tourist centers (areas): The visitors come from June to August. where tourists view snow capped peaks, clear blue sky, lakes cascading waterfalls, sunbathing, and swimming.
The centers include; The swiss plateau towns of Lausanne, Geneva, Berna and Zurich. Also around the lake shore of Lucerne and in Ticino where there are towns of Locarno and lugano.
2. Winter areas (centers): which are visited from November to March, offer the following aspects.
Abundant snow on the slopes and glacial lakes for viewing and practicing ice skating and skiing (or tobogganing).
The main resorts are confined to the slopes of Alps mountains and are called alpine centres which include; St Moritz, murren, Grindelwald, Kandersteg, Gstaad and Lauterbrunnen Swiss resort centers
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Elaborate six problems associated with tourism industry to the visited country.
2. Explain Major problems which are currently scampering the smooth development of tourism in the world.
3. Why tourism has increased nowadays?
4. Tanzania tourism sector has the bright future. Discuss this statement by giving eight (8) points.
5. By giving six points propose What has to be done so as to improve tourism in East Africa?
