Tanzania to lease islands to Boost Tourism
Prime Time Promotions and Land Mark Hotels have been evaluated and selected by Tanzania government as the best 2 bidders to invest in Indian Ocean islands close to Dar es Salaam city. This is another way to boost Tanzania tourism by the Dar-es-Salaam Marine Reserves because these Islands have been deserted for many years. It should be noted that there a group of Marine wildlife reserves in Tanzania are managed by Dar-es-Salaam Marine Reserves (DMR), located off the coast of Tanzania. This system comprises of 9 uninhabited islands of Mbudya, Pangavini, Bongoyo, and Fungu Yasini, Makatumbe, Sinda and Kendwa Island. But to start with investors would take over Mbudya, Bongoyo and Sinda islands. For sure this is a great step up to boost Tanzania tourism in East Africa. The Dar-es-Salaam Marine Reserves protects many important tropical ecosystems; coral reefs, mangroves and sea-grass beds.
An Environmental Impact Assessment is being carried out and after it will be forwarded to Tanzania National Environmental Management Council (NEMC), says Idelfonce Masekesa, the Head of Tourism Services Department, Dar-es-Salaam Marine Reserves. Once NEMC approves the Environmental Impact Assessment report, it would issue a certificate, and then the Attorney General would look at it and advise about this contract between Investors and the government.
According to Masekesa, Dar-es-Salaam Marine Reserves identified six other areas for investments along Mtwara region coastline, Southern Tanzania; they will be open to investors when the right time comes. In the meantime, Tanzania government is currently revising the law to include fresh water islands because both Indian Ocean and the lakes Islands for many years have been idle.
However, in early 1960s, the Kawawa commission advised to restrict Investors from Islands for security reasons, this government decision has contributed to the delay of investments. For instance, Mbudya Island is an uninhabited, located in the north of Dar es Salaam. It’s close to the Kunduchi beach resort and fishing community, about 20 minutes motorboat ride crossing from the mainland. Day trips are conducted to Mbudya Island by both tourists and Tanzanians, they go there for leisure activities such as sun bathing, hiking and snorkeling among others.
Another area popular for day trips is Bongoyo Island, also uninhabited island, located 2.5km north of Dar es Salaam. It is also famous for sun bathing, hiking and snorkeling among others.
For many years, unregulated tourist activities have contributed much to degradation within the Marine reserves. For example, concerns have been raised that nearby fishing communities of Kunduchi, Ununio and Msasani in Dar es Salaam use dynamite fishing and illegal fishing gear that resulted into reduction in fish catches and damaging coral reefs. Many tourists spend their summer holidays in East Africa where they visit countries like Uganda, Kenya Rwanda and Tanzania as well as Zanzibar Islands. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to boost East African tourism in general. In other words, its not only Tanzania to benefit but also other East African countries.
