Tanzanian sailors who have travelled to different parts of the world say they will use their international networks to promote the country’s tourist attractions after a visit to Ngorongoro gave them a firsthand experience of its wildlife and landscapes.
The sailors, members of the Tanzania Old Navy Association, said the visit had changed their perception of domestic tourism and strengthened their resolve to encourage more Tanzanians to visit attractions that continue to draw thousands of foreign tourists.
The association’s secretary, Daniel Masele, said Tanzanians should stop viewing national parks and other attractions as destinations meant primarily for foreigners.
“Some of the things we have seen in Tanzania are unique. We have travelled to many places, but there are things here that we have not seen elsewhere,” he said after visiting the Ngorongoro Crater.
The sailors saw animals including lions, rhinos, zebras and hippos during the visit, experiences Masele said would make it easier for them to speak about Tanzania’s tourism potential based on personal experience.
He said sailors were well placed to promote Tanzania because their work exposes them to people from different countries.
“Instead of only hearing about these places, we have now seen them ourselves. When we meet people from different parts of the world, we can tell them what Tanzania has to offer,” Masele said.
The association’s chairman, Mohamed Said Ngamba, said the decision to establish the Old Navy was also informed by the opportunity sailors have to promote Tanzania while working and travelling abroad.
He said the sailors had followed government efforts to market the country internationally, including through the Royal Tour initiative, but believed they could also contribute by sharing their own experiences.
“Whenever we travel, we meet people from different countries. We should use that opportunity to tell them about Tanzania and encourage them to come and experience it themselves,” Ngamba said.
The association has started visiting attractions as part of its wider plan to expose its members to Tanzania’s tourism potential.
Ngamba said the group had already visited Mikumi and planned to visit other destinations, including Mount Kilimanjaro.
He said personal experience would give the sailors greater credibility when promoting the country abroad.
The initiative also highlights the potential role of domestic visitors in Tanzania’s tourism economy, particularly as the country seeks to expand the benefits of the sector beyond international arrivals.
Tourism stakeholder Isaya John of Mbapari Tourism Company said Tanzanians should take advantage of entry fees set for citizens and visit national parks and other attractions.
He said domestic tourists should not leave the responsibility of exploring and promoting Tanzania solely to foreign visitors.
“If we know our attractions, it becomes easier for us to explain their value to other people and encourage them to visit,” he said.
The sailors Omary Said Kipelele, Siwatu Hassan Sembi, Fahad Mohamed and Miraji Omary—said they would use their contacts at home and abroad to encourage more people to visit Tanzania.
They also thanked Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Minister Ambassador Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo for supporting efforts that enabled them to visit national parks and gain firsthand knowledge of the attractions they intend to promote.
The call for greater domestic tourism promotion comes amid increased interest in exposing visitors and professionals to Tanzania’s attractions.
More than 1,700 people attending the National Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Week 2026 in Arusha also visited Ngorongoro and other attractions during the event, held from September 22 to 26 at Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge.
Yasin Msangi, Director of Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said more than 1,000 participants travelled in more than 100 vehicles from different African countries to visit Ngorongoro.
He said the visits allowed participants to experience attractions they would otherwise encounter only through reports, photographs or other promotional materials.
For the Old Navy members, however, the Ngorongoro visit is not intended to be a one-off trip.
The sailors said they plan to visit more destinations across Tanzania so that when they speak about the country’s tourism potential abroad, they can do so from experience rather than hearsay.