The Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) has prepared a community awareness programme on their role and importance of investing on cult

TTB Information Officer, Mr William Halula said on Tuesday that the programme aims at ensuring society is fully involved in tourism and promote traditional activities which attract tourists. Mr Halule was speaking in Dar es Salaam during a sustainable tourism training programme organized by Responsible Tourism Tanzania (RTTZ) and funded by the British High Commission that focused on educating tourism business operators on responsible tourism and eco-certification schemes.

According to Mr Halula, cultural tourism has become very successful in other countries where people earn money from foreigners through traditional activities. “We have decided to establish this programme after experiencing how cultural activities have been attracting tourists, especially western countries where people have improved their livelihoods through their traditions,” he said.

He said in the beginning the programme would focus in Mtwara, Lindi, Ruvuma, Mbeya and Iringa regions where members of the community are still unaware of the potentials of their cultural activities in influencing tourists. Earlier, Travelife Consultant, Chris Thompson, one of the trainers, said that it was important for the country to promote cultural tourism due to the fact that most foreigners are currently interested in witnessing the real life and cultures of Tanzanians.

He said Tanzania has a lot to offer with very unique and attractive especially in the local communities where the real identity of Tanzanians was observed. “It is very important for the country to maintain its identity because through that tourists get interested to visit the country. Things like local dances, food, drinks and shelters should be exposed to tourists,” he said.

Damian Bell from RTTZ said that the government should strengthen its policies and ensure comprehensive monitoring of tourist activities for the development of its people.

By DORA TESHA, Tanzania Daily News