Massive public and private investments in transport infrastructure and hospitality facilities are reshaping Mikumi National Park into a key tourism gateway for Tanzania’s Southern Circuit, with government officials projecting longer tourist stays, rising revenues and expanded business opportunities for local communities.
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the government will continue investing in strategic infrastructure to strengthen Tanzania’s position as one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations.
Speaking during the launch of the modern Mikumi Wildlife Lodge on Friday, Dr. Nchemba said improvements in roads, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the Kikoboga airport project and accommodation services are changing the tourism landscape in Morogoro and the wider Southern Circuit.
“The quality and standards of this hotel will elevate the profile of Mikumi National Park and attract more tourists and investors,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that the tourism industry heavily relies on private investment, with more than 70 percent of the sector driven by private sector participation.
He said the growing number of modern facilities inside and around national parks reflects increasing investor confidence in Tanzania’s tourism prospects.
Dr. Nchemba also linked the recent tourism momentum to President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s international tourism promotion campaign through the documentary The Royal Tour, which has helped market Tanzania’s attractions to global audiences.
He said improved connections between Mikumi, Nyerere National Park, Udzungwa Mountains National Park and Zanzibar are expected to create an integrated tourism circuit capable of increasing visitor numbers and extending tourists’ average stay in the country.
“This integration will increase the time tourists spend in our parks, create jobs, expand investment opportunities, raise government revenue and stimulate local businesses,” he said.
Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima said the region is already experiencing rapid tourism growth driven by infrastructure upgrades and rising domestic tourism.
According to him, around 5,000 tourists travel to Morogoro every weekend from Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Zanzibar to visit Mikumi National Park, creating new opportunities for hotels, tour operators, transport providers and small businesses.
“The region is now witnessing significant growth in tourism and hospitality investments due to improved accessibility,” he said.
Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji said tourism remains one of Tanzania’s most important economic sectors, contributing about 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product and supporting more than 2.7 million jobs.
She said the number of tourists visiting Tanzania has surpassed 5.9 million following government efforts to improve the investment climate and aggressively market the country’s attractions abroad.
Dr. Kijaji added that Mikumi National Park still has room for further investment, with five out of 11 designated investment areas inside the park still available for developers.
“We invite more investors to seize these opportunities and continue supporting the growth of the tourism sector,” she said.
Mikumi Wildlife Lodge Director Gulam Ismail said the hotel is 100 percent locally owned and part of a broader portfolio of 24 tourism-related projects under development across the country.
He argued that empowering local investors is essential for ensuring tourism earnings remain within the domestic economy and contribute directly to national development.
“As local investors, we have a responsibility to reinvest in the country and strengthen Tanzania’s tourism industry from within,” he said.
