Tanzania is set to become one of Ireland’s holiday destinations of choice. This according to UK-based tour firm, Travel Counsellors.
According to the firm, holiday bookings from Ireland to Tanzania rose by 400% between November 2017 and July 2018. This has been attributed to readier access to Tanzania for holidaymakers, in tandem with the high costs of vacationing in Europe, according to Travel Counsellors Spokesperson, Cathy Burke.
“The Irish prefer the more memorable experiences offered by Tanzania’s tourism,” commented Burke. “The safari options offer an authentic, unspoiled experience, so people are going now before it gets too popular.”
Tanzania is known for its pristine attractions, such as Zanzibar, its national parks and game reserves, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Mount Kilimanjaro, amongst others.
Overall, tourism revenue in Tanzania was recorded at $2.1bn in 2016, an increase from $1.9bn the previous year, with the country hosting 1 284 279 tourists in 2016. This was an increase of 12% from the previous year. “We saw significant growth in 2016, both at the top end of the market and in budget tourism,” said Julian Edmunds, former Managing Director of Coastal Aviation, a Dar es Salaam-based charter airline. “Investment has grown – people are investing in quality hotels and lodges, vehicles and aircraft. Increasing investments have helped boost visitor numbers as options have expanded and new openings have raised Tanzania’s profile. The Serengeti National Park had just six lodges 20 years ago, now there are many more.”
The Tanzanian Tourism Board has been increasing efforts to diversify its tourist arrivals beyond its core source markets – the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy – to include emerging source markets including China, Russia, Japan, Korea, Ireland and Israel.
