TTB chairman Judge (rtd) Thomas Mihayo speaks in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him is TTB managing director, Ms Devota Mdachi. PHOTO|AUREA SIMTOWE
In Summary
China’s Touchroad International Holdings Group (Touchroad Group) has inked a deal with Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) that will see the Chinese company bringing about 10,000 tourists to the East African nation in 2019.
TTB chairman Judge (rtd) Thomas Mihayo said in Dar es Salaam that the MoU was signed during the board’s tour of China last month where they discussed ways of promoting tourism in Tanzania.
The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Touchroad International Holdings Group (Touchroad Group) of China.
Under the deal, Touchroad will market Tanzania’s tourist attractions to China.
It is expected to bring 10,000 Chinese tourists to Tanzania next year.
Established 18 years ago in Ghana before being founded in China two years in 2002, Touchroad Group is engaged in industrial park development, resources exploitation, manufacturing, international trade, cultural exchange and tourism in Africa.
TTB chairman Thomas Mihayo said yesterday that the MoU was signed during the board’s tour of China last month where they discussed ways of promoting tourism in Tanzania.
“During our deliberations, the Chinese firm requested that costs of transport, accommodation and visas for tourists be reduced,” he said.
According to him the first batch of 300 Chinese tourists is expected in Tanzania between January and February next year.
The group will be in the country for three days.
The company, said Judge Mihayo, requested the booking of 300 rooms and seven buses, each with capacity to carry 60 passengers for the first group.
“The company is also interested in investing in hotels in Tanzan ia. It already has four five-star hotels in Africa and has provided a three-year grace period for Tanzania’s free office space in china that will be used in promoting tourism,” he said.
This comes at a time when the rejuvenated Air Tanzania Company Limited is finalising modalities before it officially launches direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Guangzhou in China.
“So far, we have witnessed an increase in demand for Chinese nationals from other states who wish to visit Dar es Salaam. As such, we are planning to deploy more flights between Dar es Salaam and other Chinese destinations,” said ATCL sales and distribution manager Edward Mkwab
Source: The Citizen Tanzania
