By Staff Reporter, ARUSHA Tanzania
The Tanzania
National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has said that its earnings have dwindled
because the global travel industry has slumped with the emergence of the
disease currently wreaking havoc in China.
More than 900 people have now died in
mainland China from the coronavirus that emerged
in the central city of Wuhan at the end of last year threatening world economy.
The Conservation Commissioner, Allan Kijazi, raised
the concern in Arusha at a ceremony to inaugurate the Tanzania National Parks
Board of Trustees, graced by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism,
Khamis Kigwangalla.
The tourism industry is dependent on foreign
visitors, and as more people cancel their flights and hotel bookings, national
parks’ earnings reap the consequences.
More than 80 percent of the 1.5 million annual
tourist arrivals target wildlife-based tourism in national parks, game reserves
and conservation areas. The industry generated $2.4 Billion in 2017.
Kijazi also said ongoing torrential rains were
another deterrent for tourists, as most roads leading to and around
national parks were damaged by floods thus reducing the number of visitors
touring those destinations.
“We are also spending billions to repair the
infrastructures,” said Kijazi, noting that the unplanned expenses were eating
into the budget as well. “TANAPA is also spending a lot to support the newly
established national parks,” he observed.
The newly inaugurated Board is chaired by
General (rtd) George Waitara, Commissioner Nsato Marijani from the police
force, Wineaster Anderson from the University of Dar es Salaam and Ruth
Lungisha of the National Environment Management Council (NEMC).
Others are Chanasa Ngeleja from the Ministry of
Livestock and Fisheries, George Fumbuka - economist and financial adviser, Devotha
Mdachi - executive director of the Tanzania Tourist Board, Maurus Msuha - the
Director of Wildlife and Allan Kijazi, CEO of TANAPA.
The Minister said there is need for price
discrimination in the parks so that the popular destinations such as
Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Mount Kilimanjaro feature higher prices in order to
encourage tourists to visit other parks whose pricing will be on the lower end.
“Essentially all parks in Tanzania have similar
attractions. It is only that some are more promoted than others,” he added. - Africa
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