Tanzanian tourism drive.(Commercial Review)

TANZANIA PLANS TO attract a million foreign tourists by 2010 says the state-run Tourist Board in Dar es Salaam at the end of a major international marketing drive.

The US and UK have been targeted especially this year. Total visitor numbers in 2008 are expected to reach the 0.8mn level, with 170,000 heading for low-stress Zanzibar alone according to Board MD Peter Mwenguo.

Tanzania's profile has been raised by the recent US presidential visit, and another stimulus is the level of interest in eco-tourism. As a relative newcomer to the business Tanzania is seen as a low-cost alternative to established high-end rivals such as Botswana and Madagascar.

"Tourism contributed 17 per cent, or US$862mn, to Tanzania's economy in the fiscal year to the end of June." If all goes well this could increase to US$1.5bn by 2011, he indicated.

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