Improved road accessibility in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area could help strengthen Tanzania’s tourism sector, with a parliamentary committee commending ongoing infrastructure works while urging the government to involve neighbouring communities more closely in conservation.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Tourism, chaired by Timotheo Mnzava, said on Thursday, October 15, 2026, that roads in the conservation area were now more accessible than before, describing the improvements as an important step towards boosting tourism.
The committee made the remarks after receiving a report from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism on the performance of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) at Parliament in Dodoma.
Beyond infrastructure, lawmakers called for stronger relations between NCAA and communities living around the conservation area, saying residents should be treated as partners in protecting natural resources rather than being alienated from conservation efforts.
The committee urged the ministry to establish strategies that would enable neighbouring communities to participate in sustainable conservation, an approach that could help strengthen public support for protecting the area’s wildlife and natural heritage.
The call highlights the importance of balancing conservation objectives with the interests of communities living alongside protected areas, whose cooperation is essential to long-term conservation efforts.
The committee also urged the ministry to embrace digital technology to market Tanzania’s tourism attractions more effectively, including through artificial intelligence (AI), social media platforms and digital applications.
It cited the Destination Tanzania application as an example of how digital tools could help promote the country’s tourism products and reach potential visitors in domestic and international markets.
Effective use of these platforms could expand the visibility of Tanzania’s attractions as the country seeks to strengthen its position in the competitive global tourism market.
Responding to the recommendations, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ashatu Kijaji pledged that the ministry and its institutions would continue implementing the committee’s guidance.
Dr Kijaji said the recommendations and advice from MPs had provided important direction for progress in the conservation and tourism sectors.
She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with its institutions to implement the committee’s recommendations and advance the development of the sector.
The committee’s recommendations place road infrastructure, community participation and digital promotion among the priorities for strengthening tourism and ensuring the sustainable management of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.