Outbound

Tanzania Tourism to open Mumbai information office

MoU between two countries to come through this year

Andrea Lopez - Mumbai

(L-R): Peter J Mwenguo, MD of Tanzania Tourist Board, Hon Shamsa Mwangunga, Minister of Tourism & Natural Resources, Republic of Tanzania, HE John W.H Kijazi, High Commissioner of Tanzania in India

The tourist board of Tanzania has announced its first-ever marketing initiative in India with plans to set up an information office in Mumbai within the next three months. Says HE John W H Kijazi, high commissioner, the United Republic of Tanzania, "The office will be headed by a member of the Indian travel trade who will be able to address all queries related to visas, holiday packages and other information related to Tanzania. Mumbai has good potential and will therefore be our initial focus market." He added that it is in the process of identifying the agent.

Speaking about the issue of visas, Kijazi said the country hopes to have uni-visa in place with other East African countries some time in the future. To further boost the inflow of tourist traffic and to strengthen bilateral relations, Tanzania has also been in talks with India to establish a MoU. "We recently concluded a meeting with Minister of Tourism & Culture, Ambika Soni to discuss possible areas of co-operation," said Peter Mwenguo, MD of Tanzania Tourist Board.

Tanzania's national airline Air Tanzania is also scheduled to begin air services to Mumbai. Last year, the country had 15,000 Indian visitors. This year the tourism board is targeting both the leisure and the MICE markets from India. It is also looking at a co-operation with the Bollywood industry.