The Tanzania Marine Park and Reserve Unit, in partnership with the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), other tourism stakeholders from Tanzania and other countries, are strategising around the promotion of different marine attractions that will boost tourism and increase the number of visitors.

The Tanzania Marine Park and Reserve Unit is planning to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the marine parks from 45 000 to 75 000 annually. The marine park’s major attractions include sea turtles, dolphins, reef fishes, whale sharks, coconut crabs, and the coelacanth (also known as the living fossil).

Tanzania Marine Park and Reserve Unit Acting Manager John Komakoma said the strategies will focus on emerging tourism markets, while at the same time continuing to strengthen the existing markets. “As we are part of the government’s massive tourism promotion, we will continue to improve the tourism infrastructure,” he said.

Komakoma also said that the reserve unit is planning to partner with international media houses for specific countries with major international languages to produce and advertise promotional footage.

He said there was need to market the marine parks which have a natural ecosystem ranging from the big five, to coral gardens and marine reserves. Currently, the marine parks are being marketed through national and international exhibitions.

Tanzania has three marine parks and 15 marine reserves. The source markets to the marine parks come from the United States, Germany, Switzerland, China, Britain, Russia, and Canada.

Tourists also get to enjoy historical monuments, beaches, sand banks, and the coral gardens.