Prime Minister Dr. Mwigulu Nchemba has urged public officials to shift from excessive regulation to investor facilitation, saying Tanzania’s economic growth will depend on how effectively institutions support private sector investment.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Mikumi Wildlife Hotel at Mikumi National Park on Friday, Dr. Nchemba said government agencies should spend more time creating confidence among investors instead of making them feel constrained by bureaucracy.
He said attracting more domestic and foreign investment requires a public service culture that encourages expansion and innovation.
“We should use our institutions to empower investors, not discourage them. Investors should feel welcomed and supported so they can expand their businesses and create more opportunities for Tanzanians,” he said.
The Prime Minister described the newly launched hotel as a strategic investment that will strengthen Tanzania’s tourism value chain by improving accommodation standards within one of the country’s key national parks.
The facility, previously owned by the government before being destroyed by fire years ago, has now been redeveloped into a modern tourism property expected to boost visitor experience and increase tourism earnings in the Southern Circuit.
Dr. Nchemba said high-quality accommodation remains critical in encouraging tourists to spend more time inside conservation areas, thereby increasing spending within local economies.
“This investment raises the attractiveness of Mikumi. Quality accommodation contributes directly to longer tourist stays and higher visitor numbers,” he noted.
He also highlighted ongoing infrastructure improvements aimed at positioning Mikumi as a major tourism gateway, revealing that the government has allocated Sh35 billion for the rehabilitation of Kikoboga Airstrip, with completion expected by October this year.
According to the Prime Minister, improved transport connectivity through roads, rail and air infrastructure will play a central role in unlocking the tourism and investment potential of the area.
He directed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) to work closely with other state agencies to maximize opportunities created by the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), particularly through the Kilosa station connection to Mikumi National Park.
The government, he said, also expects tourism stakeholders to develop new tourism products capable of attracting more international and domestic visitors to the Southern Tourism Circuit, which has increasingly gained prominence under President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s tourism promotion strategy.
Dr. Nchemba further instructed the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to strengthen tourism-related training programmes at the Vocational Education and Training Authority (VETA) centre in Mikumi so that youth from surrounding communities can directly benefit from opportunities created by the sector.
He said President Samia’s vision is to align vocational training with economic activities dominant in specific regions, including tourism, agriculture and fisheries.
Earlier, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Dr. Ashatu Kijaji said Mikumi National Park has recorded rapid growth in tourist arrivals and revenue collection over the past few years.
She said annual tourist numbers increased from about 60,000 in previous years to 174,808 visitors last year, while tourism revenue rose from Sh2.5 billion to Sh9.81 billion.
By March 31 this year, the park had already received 151,275 visitors and generated Sh10.12 billion in revenue.
Dr. Kijaji also revealed that the government has set aside Sh4 billion for the construction of a new park gate on the Kilosa side, a move expected to significantly improve accessibility for tourists using the SGR.
“With the SGR, a visitor arriving at Kilosa station will take only about 20 minutes to access the park,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Simon Nguka said the construction and renovation of the 48-room Mikumi Wildlife Hotel cost Sh26.8 billion.
The hotel is fully Tanzanian-owned and forms part of Wellworth Group’s wider tourism investment portfolio, which includes hotels, lodges, resorts and luxury camps valued at approximately Sh640 billion.
