Tanzania is seeking to use Qatar as a gateway to attract more international visitors and investment into its emerging mineral tourism market, as the Government looks to turn the country's rich mineral resources into wider economic opportunities.
Deputy Minister for Minerals Dr Steven Kiruswa led a Tanzanian delegation in talks with Qatar's tourism authorities and industry stakeholders, seeking stronger cooperation in marketing Tanzania's mineral attractions alongside its wildlife, beaches and Zanzibar destinations.
The initiative is aimed at expanding the market for Tanzania's tourism products while creating opportunities for businesses and communities to benefit from increased visitor spending, investment and employment.
Dr Kiruswa said Tanzania had a wide range of attractions that could be marketed jointly with Qatar, including mineral tourism, wildlife, the coastline and Zanzibar.
“Tanzania has many tourism attractions, including mineral tourism, wildlife, the sea and Zanzibar. We want to use this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Qatar to promote our attractions and increase the number of tourists visiting Tanzania,” he said.
The Government's focus on mineral tourism comes as Tanzania seeks to extract more economic value from its mining sector beyond the sale of minerals.
The country is known internationally for tanzanite and other gemstones, offering opportunities to link mining with tourism through visits to mining areas, gemstone markets, processing facilities and other sites associated with the country's mineral heritage.
Dr Kiruswa said the Government was ready to work with Qatar to promote Tanzania's attractions and attract more tourists.
He said increased tourism activity would contribute to higher revenues while creating jobs and other economic opportunities for citizens.
Tanzania's Ambassador to Qatar, Habibu Mohamed, welcomed the proposed cooperation, saying stronger links between the two countries' tourism sectors would increase awareness of attractions available in both markets.
He said the partnership could help increase tourist arrivals while strengthening economic relations between Tanzania and Qatar.
Qatar Tourism Chairman Saad Bin Ali AlKharji welcomed Tanzania's initiative and pledged cooperation in promoting the country's tourism attractions, including mineral tourism, in Qatar.
He said the support would help give Tanzania's attractions greater exposure in the Qatari market and encourage more tourists to visit the country.
The initiative comes at a time when Tanzania is seeking to diversify international tourism markets and increase the economic contribution of tourism.
For local businesses, increased tourist arrivals could translate into demand for accommodation, transport, food, tour operations, handicrafts and other services.
The mineral tourism drive could also provide a new way of connecting Tanzania's mining and tourism sectors, allowing more businesses and communities to participate in economic activities associated with the country's mineral wealth.
The Tanzania-Qatar engagement is therefore expected to open additional opportunities for marketing Tanzania's mineral attractions internationally while supporting tourism-related investment, employment and other economic activities.