Tour operators to be allowed into Tanzania

In the past, Kenyan tour operators have not been allowed to take tourists beyond border posts. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | FILE

What you need to know:

  • Under the agreement, Kenyan registered vehicles will now drop tourists in Namanga, Arusha, Dodoma, Moshi, Musoma and Lunga
  • Tourists’ vehicles from the neighbouring country will continue dropping tourists in all towns in Kenya except in airports and tourist sites

Tour operators from Kenya will now be allowed to drop tourists in specific towns in Tanzania.

This follows an agreement between the two countries during a meeting held in Arusha, Tanzania, last week.

Under the agreement, Kenyan registered vehicles will now drop tourists in Namanga, Arusha, Dodoma, Moshi, Musoma and Lunga. Kenyan tour operators have been against the rule that requires them to drop tourists at the border for them to be picked up by Tanzanian tour operators.

However, Kenya has been allowing Tanzanian tour operators to bring tourists even to national parks and airports.

In the new deal signed by Tourism Secretary Phyllis Kandie and her Tanzania counterpart Lazaro Nyalandu, tourists’ vehicles from the neighbouring country will continue dropping tourists in all towns in Kenya except in airports and tourist sites.

Ms Kandie said the agreement is a win-win for the two countries.

“It will allow Tanzanian operators to have partners in Kenya and vice-versa and thus promote regional integration,” Ms Kandie said. She said the new agreement will also help in marketing the region as a single tourist destination, adding that she hopes the new- found relationship with Tanzania will continue to grow.

REGIONAL TOURISM

The two countries also urged Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi to develop bilateral agreements to grow regional tourism.

Tour operators’ associations, tour guides, wildlife agencies, tourist boards from Kenya and Tanzania will meet before August to deliberate on the new guidelines.

EAC partner states were asked to consider regional cooperation in conservation of fauna and flora, review legislation to ensure the region’s endangered wildlife resources are protected by December, and that there should be cross-border efforts to fight poaching and illegal trade in wildlife and forest products.