The Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) has unanimously re-elected Mr. Willy Chambulo, as its chairman to lead the association for another two years.
Mr. Chambulo, the Managing Director of Kibo Guides and Tanganyika Wilderness camps, had served TATO for two years and his first term in office elapsed in June.
But the just-ended annual general meeting resolved unanimously to re-elect him to spearhead the TATO mission for yet another term.
Well-known for his uncompromising stance in conservation and community support, Mr. Chambulo is expected to help the country as he is credited as a champion of the spirit of involving the public in both the conservation and tourism trade.
TATO is a leading lobby agency for a $2.05 billion tourism industry in Tanzania.
His re-election comes not as surprise as under his leadership for the last two years the association has accomplished a lot in terms of improving the business environment.
In the period under review, TATO has worked closely with the government to ease the cost of doing tourism business in Tanzania.
No doubt the biggest achievement was to convince Parliament to stop the intended imposition of VAT on tourism business.
Analysts say the VAT would have distorted Tanzania’s tourism market, which is already considered as one of the most expensive destinations in the world.
Yet another feat was the move where TATO successfully managed to persuade the government to abolish souvenir fees.
On February 17, 2015 the Tanzania Forestry Services (TFS) announced its intention to collect fees from all tourists who visit and purchase souvenirs.
For woodcarving purchases that total $300 and below, the inspection fee would have been $16 in addition to the export fee of $21.
For all wood carving purchases above $300, the inspection fee and the export certificate fee would have cost a tourist $70.
In addition, there would have been a $2.50 royalty fee in each kilogram in weight of the carvings.
This tariff would have primarily been applied to woodcarvings that are sold throughout the country.
The document signed by TFS official, Edgar Masunga, indicated that the fees would have been collected from all tourists at all airports on their departure from the country. However, thanks to TATO and other players, Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Lazaro Nyalandu, had to revoke such a decision for the best interests of tourism industry.
His re-election comes at the time when the government has just released the shocking elephants census results.
Data, released in June 2015 by the government, showed that between 2009 and 2014 the number dropped from 109,051 to 43,330, equivalent to a 60 percent catastrophic loss.
Mr. Chambulo and the association’s Vice Chairman, Mr. Zuher Fazal, though worked hard with his team to raise public awareness on issues of conservation and poaching menace, they are expected to do more in this area.
Apart from Mr. Chambulo, TATO also elected the Managing Director of Corto safaris, Hellen Mchaki, as a new councilor, and Joseph Mwema of Tomodachi Safaris as Treasurer for the coming two years.
Others were Samwel Diah of Tanzania Travel Company and Alexander Lemunge of East African Voyage who retained their positions in the TATO Council.
TATO council members also comprised Seamu Brice-Bennet, Maria Strauss, and Henry Kimambo as well as Mr. Sirili Akko as its Chief executive officer.
Despite the poaching challenges, tourism is still a leading foreign exchange earner in the country.
According to Mr. Akko, wildlife tourism attracted more than 1 million guests in 2014, earning the country $2.05 billion, equivalent to nearly 17.6 percent of GDP.
Additionally, tourism provides 500,000 direct jobs to Tanzanians; over one million people earn an income from tourism.
Tanzania hopes the number of tourist arrivals will hit 1.2 million this year, up from one million visitors in 2014, earning the economy close to $2.25 billion, up from the last year’s $1.88 billion.
Established in 1983, TATO has been playing a crucial role in representing tour operators in the country. Available records shows that more than 250 licensed tour operators are members of the association.
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