Tanzania: Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair Celebrates 10th Anniversary

TANZANIA's Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair, the largest travel industry event in East Africa, will celebrate its 10th Anniversary, June 5-7, 2009. The fair will be held just outside of Arusha city in, Tanzania's safari capital, and will attract travel industry partners from around the world. This is an annual event which is being organized by the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO) with support from Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT). Other sponsors include Galileo Tanzania, Travel Africa Magazine, Gallery Tours and Wild Footprints Ltd. This year's theme of 'Sustainable Partnerships' is strongly represented by exhibitors from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. International visitors from USA, Europe, Asia and Australia as well as African countries have registered. According to organisers of the event, over 250 exhibitors and thousands of regional and international visitors are expected to attend the 2009 Fair, which is open to the trade on June 5th, and the public on June 6th - 7th.

Tanzania Tourist Board's Managing Director Mr. Peter Mwenguo (standing left) during one of the tourism exhibition fair.

Travel industry suppliers, large and small, including tour operators, tourist boards, hoteliers, and support service representatives and equipment manufacturers are typical attendees. International travel trade journalists regularly cover the event along with local media, and "familiarization trips" are being offered to encourage international travel agents to attend. Since America is Tanzania's number one source market for tourists, Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) is making a major effort to attract more travel agents from the US market, says Mr. Peter Mwenguo, TTB’s Managing Director "There are currently over 1000 qualified Tanzania Travel Agent Specialists in the US, and we hope to encourage them to participate by offering special pre and post safaris. This year, for the first time, Karibu is offering a pre-fair safari for agents to the Southern Circuit," Mr. Mwenguo was quoted as saying.