Kilaza ni kilaza tu! Tanzania: Country to Reap Nothing from World Cup as Others Gain

Wakati wenzetu wanatizama mwanya wa nafasi yoyote  ya kukamata noti za watalii, sisi tunajidai watoto wa mama, eti hatujazoea kuhangaika, tnadai kizuri huwa chajiuza na kile kibaya kikajitembeza! Ama kwa hakika sisi ni vilaza mfanowe hamna. Kila mara tunafanya mambo aidha kwa mfano wa zimamoto au kwa laissez faire! Tunajitahidi kupiga domo kuwa tunawaalika wawekezaji wa nje kuwekeza nchini, kumbe wanakuja kutuchimbia makaburi wao wanaondokea na udongo na vito siye tunabaki na mahandaki na kupigana vipapai tu! Hatuna mipango ya chap chap ya kuwaalika waje wakae na kuburudika kwa amani (sic) katika kipindi cha kombe la dunia la soka. Eti tunaogopa kujaziwa ghasia!, kwani sasa hivi hakuna ghasia? Eti tunaficha mali zetu wasizione!, kwani sasa hivi hawazikwapui? Tungeweka mazingira mazuri, mashindano ya kombe la dunia ingekuwa chansi nzuri sana ya kujitangaza kiutalii kwa kuwa wanaokuja kutizama soka wangeona vivutio vya Tanzania na kisha huenda wangesimulia makwao warudipo. Au ni nani ajuae pengine wangejipanga kurudi kutembea tena kuona vivutio vyote wakati wa likizo zao. Mwe! Tuna laana nawe!

Failure by Tanzanian government authorities to design and strategize plans that would put this African tourist destination in Southern African World Cup tournament map had automatically created doubts whether this nation will benefit from Africa's first historic soccer event.

Tourist stakeholders in Tanzanian Indian Ocean coastal city of Dar es Salaam and the northern tourist hub of Arusha have been frustrated by the government's failure to join other regional members in promoting the country during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Up to this day, no stringent plans and serious campaigns have been made by the Tanzanian government to attract soccer fans, teams and tourists coming for the World Cup in South Africa to skip north and visit Tanzania. It is only three hours flight from Johannesburg in South Africa to Dar es Salaam or four hours flight from other South African cities to key tourist sites in Tanzania.Despite South African tourist companies holding best lodges in Tanzania, authorities here have done nothing or little to campaign for the country's tourism collaboratively with South African firms, like the giant South African Breweries Limited (SAB). No response or comments from Tanzanian government authorities about the country's plans on World Cup benefits to its tourism industry.Tourist stakeholders in Arusha are now looking at Kenyan partners to benefit from the World Cup event.

Unlike, Tanzania, other neighbors to South Africa and Kenya in the north have launched their campaigns to reap from the World Cup tournament. Kenyan and South African governments have entered into a partnership that will see the two countries collaborate in the promotion of the tourism sector in preparation for the 2010 World Cup.

Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala signed a bilateral agreement with his South African counterpart, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, that will enable the two countries cooperate in strategic areas like sharing data and increasing investments in the sector.

Balala said Kenya is also looking forward to learning from SA on how to advance its tourism particularly at a time when its preparing to host the World Cup and on full participation at Africa's leading INDABA tourism fair.

Source: http://AllAfrica.com/stories/