Tanzania’s minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Dr Hamisi Kigwangalla has outlined Standard operating procedures to see the reopening of the tourism industry in Tanzania after having a meeting with major stakeholders in the tourism industry. The SOPs are expected to be tabled within different levels of the government, so that they can be adopted as measures to protect the lucrative industry and businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism in Tanzania is a major Economic activity with the minister saying that for each tourist visiting the country, there are 12 job employment created. He further warned that nearly 500,000 people will be rendered jobless if the situation does not normalise by October 2020, with revenue collections shrinking and arrivals likely to drop from 1,867,000 to 437,000.
Among the SOPs outlined, all hotels and tourist facilities in the country will now be required to bear Covid-19 certifications, a move that seeks to protect visiting tourists from contracting and spreading the deadly viral disease. Such certifications will be placed at the entrances of the facilities with the government eager to descend on those found flouting the regulations.
The stakeholders also agreed that every tourism entity must appoint and adequately train a Covid-19 Liaison Officer who will be the point of contact with the Health Ministry. The Liaison Officer will be expected to keep abreast of all health protocols and preventive measures outlined.
The stakeholders also proposed that all tourism operators who are required to interact with their guests, to protect themselves by having sanitisers and gloves available at their workplaces such as vehicles, stalls and vessels.
All arriving flights are required to have an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), compliant so as to allow the Tanzania’s Immigration Department and Airport Authorities to receive and interrogate the flight manifest for possible high-risk passengers. Additionally, any passenger aboard the flight who has travelled to and from any of the listed high-risk countries or regions may be subjected to tests by the Ministry of Health Officials.
The minister said that they came with the above measures as they are unsure when the world will become safe again and they had to gather their strengths and resources and reopen the sector while taking great caution to protect natives and tourists they highly value.
Dr Kigwangalla directed his ministry to conduct frequent training to personnel working in the tourism and hospitality sectors on how to receive and cater for tourists during the pandemic as tourism remains a vital pillar in the county’s economic growth.
