Tour operators in Tanzania have asked the government to support their plea to foreign countries to remove a 14-day mandatory quarantine imposed on tourists returning from Tanzania. Tour company owners say the requirement is a major challenge to attracting tourists to Tanzania.

All Africa reports that Sirili Akko, executive secretary of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators, said the restrictions were not helpful to an industry that needed to recover quickly from the adverse financial effects of the coronavirus epidemic.

Tour operator, Shabir Mohammed said they were asking the government to continue holding talks with European countries, the United States and other places, to continue marketing ‘Destination Tanzania’. Mohammed said, “The method used by the Tanzanian government to fight the coronavirus pandemic is well known in the world at the moment, but there are still nations that do not understand us, so there are restrictions on those who visit Tanzania including a requirement for 14-day mandatory quarantine.” He added it was costly for tourists as they are supposed to isolate in their home countries at their own expense.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Tanzania Tour Guides Association, Mr Emmanuel Mollel, said tourists have not visited the country in their usual large numbers due to the impact of COVID-19. Mollel added, “Still the situation is not as good as usual and we think maybe in the future the situation could be better but if there are challenges, we ask for them to be worked on.”

According to All Africa, the Tanzania Tourists Board has held meetings with ambassadors from several countries to assure them that Tanzania was safe. Managing director Devota Mdachi said that “COVID-19 was under control” in Tanzania.

Umm Muhammed Umar