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Quality tourism promotion firm wins accolades
2007-04-29 09:36:45
By Adam Ihucha, Arusha
A Proactive move by a local tour firm, `Nomad Tanzania` to transform the country`s quantity-based tourism to quality tourism in a bid to protect the national park`s ecosystem, has won the heart of the former Tanzania envoy to Kenya, General (Rtd), Mirisho Sarakikya.
``Nomad Tanzania is doing a commendable job in promoting Tanzania overseas, particularly in advocating profitable, but environmentally-sensitive tourism,`` noted General Sarakikya during the official opening of the tour firm\'s Headquarters at Usa-River in Arusha.
General Sarakikya, the first Tanzanian chief of defence forces, urged other local and foreign investors to emulate Nomad Tanzania`s philosophy in order to transform the outdated quantity based tourism into low volume, but profitable tourism.
According to the one time former Tanzania diplomat to Kenya and Nigeria, it was high time Tanzania`s tourism focused more on environmental protection than being a revenue minter.
``We need to transform our tourism focus from quantity-based tourism to quality tourism to boost revenue, but also protect our national parks` ecosystem,`` General Sarakikya stressed.
On his part, the Managing Director of Nomad Tanzania, John Corsre, said with a humble beginning in 2003, his firm is currently operating eight mobile and fixed camps in Serengeti national park, Selous Game Reserve, Ngorongoro Crater and Loliondo Game Controlled Area.
With 250 employees, Nomad Tanzania, Corsre noted, handled 3,000 visitors last year.
``Plans are underway to create more decent jobs for indigenous people as all are set to open up more camps in the near future,`` The Nomad Tanzania boss told the audience.
Commenting, the Arumeru District Administrative Secretary, Ema Pastory, assured the management of Nomad Tanzania of support from her authority.
``Our door is open for Nomad Tanzania firm whenever they need support because they are also helping us in providing our youth decent jobs in their hundreds,`` Ema said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the Tanzania Association of Tours Operators, Mustapha Akuunay, said Nomad Tanzania is the kind of investors needed in the country.
``We need investors with a base so that we can co-operate with them in building up our country\'s economy in terms of employing local people,``Akuunay explained.
Nomad Tanzania is an amalgamation of three small tour firms Nomad safaris, Nomad Safari Guides and Mahale Limited.
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