(TAN): French nationals have been ranked as leading inbound travellers coming to Tanzania, reports said.
The Tanzanian government allowed foreign visitors and international flights back into the country in June after a three-month ban due to the Covid-19, becoming the first country in East Africa to do so.
Tanzania National Parks’ Assistant Conservation Commissioner in charge of Business portfolio, Beatrice Kessy, said 3,062 French tourists visited national parks during July to September this year. Kessy said France was followed by the US with 2,327 holidaymakers.
[ALSO READ: Singapore Airlines to restart world’s longest flight to New York]
“We are so grateful to French tourists for casting a vote of confidence in Tanzania as a safe destination. Their arrival plays a key role in spreading trust more widely, with benefits travelling far beyond tourism,” Kessy was quoted as saying by the media.
Tanzania’s Ambassador to France, Samwel Shelukindo said the development was the result of joint efforts spearheaded by both governments and the private sector.
“We have organized several meetings with tour operators and mainstream media to reassure French travellers that Tanzania is a safe destination free from Covid-19,” Shelukindo was recently quoted as saying in a recent interview.
[ALSO READ: Radisson Hotel Group launches new brand — Radisson Individuals]
The envoy also commended President John Pombe Magufuli’s firm position to keep the country open to business other than follow his peers’ decision to lockdown their countries for fear of the virus.
With nearly 1.5 million tourist arrivals annually, wildlife tourism continues to be the leading foreign currency earner in Tanzania, fetching the country USD 2.5 billion.
