In preparation for the upcoming tourism high season set to begin in June 2025, Ruaha National Park convened a strategic meeting with tourism stakeholders to discuss key issues, challenges, and collaborative strategies aimed at enhancing tourism within and beyond the park.
The one-day forum, held on May 30, 2025, at the Sunset Hotel in Iringa, brought together a wide range of participants including representatives from the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), tour operators, tourist guides, transport agencies, hotel owners, the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism – Southern Zone, as well as officials from the Regional Commissioner’s Office, Immigration, and the Police Force.
Highlighting the importance of the meeting, Assistant Conservation Commissioner and Chief Warden of Ruaha National Park, Mr. Abel Mtui, underscored the vital role of collaboration across the tourism value chain.
“All stakeholders represented here today are critical players in the tourism ecosystem. Their involvement is essential as we work towards shared objectives of boosting tourism in the Southern Highlands and across the country,” Mtui said.
He also outlined several plans and strategies that the park has developed to improve visitor experience, ensuring that tourists receive services that reflect value for their money.
Mtui pledged to incorporate the feedback and recommendations shared by stakeholders into future park operations.
Ruaha National Park is one of 21 national parks managed by TANAPA. It stretches across the regions of Iringa, Dodoma, and Mbeya, covering an area of 19,822 square kilometers.
The park is internationally recognized for its rich biodiversity and is especially known for having one of the largest lion populations in Africa.
