120 American Tour Operators Visit Tanzania to Explore Key Tourism Attractions
Serengeti. A delegation of 120 tour operators from American travel companies has arrived in Tanzania for an extensive familiarization trip to the country’s premier tourist destinations, including the renowned Serengeti National Park. The visit is part of Tanzania’s ongoing strategy to increase international tourist arrivals and strengthen its position in the global tourism market.
The initiative aims to promote Tanzania as Africa’s premier tourism destination, showcasing the country’s diverse natural heritage and world-class attractions to key industry professionals who can influence travel decisions across international markets.
During a briefing at Serengeti National Park, several travel agents shared their enthusiasm about Tanzania’s tourism offerings and committed to promoting the destination to their clients.
Patricia Walker from Nexion Travel in the United States described fulfilling a lifelong ambition to visit Tanzania and experience its unique attractions firsthand.
"I have always wanted to travel to Tanzania and experience its unique attractions, especially the Serengeti National Park. I’m delighted to have finally fulfilled my dream," she said. "After seeing what we have witnessed here, we believe we will help to increase the number of visitors through the various travel packages we offer back home."
Catherine Alexander, another member of the delegation, highlighted the hot air balloon safaris as a standout experience that allowed the group to observe wildlife from an aerial perspective. She noted that the tour operators were also eager to explore Tanzania’s cultural attractions.
"We had the opportunity to see animals and other attractions from above, which was truly a unique experience. We also plan to visit the Hadzabe, Datoga, and Maasai communities to learn about their traditional cultures," Alexander explained.
Justin Garfield, managing director of Excellent Guide Tours and Safaris, revealed that the familiarization trip would span 12 days, during which agents would visit multiple attractions and gain comprehensive knowledge of Tanzania’s tourism products to better market them internationally.
"I believe that after this trip we will continue to receive even more visitors. Some of these agents have been to Tanzania before, but for many this is their first time, which will further stimulate growth in the tourism sector," Garfield stated.
Stephano Msumi, Senior Assistant Conservation Commissioner and Chief Park Warden for Serengeti National Park, welcomed the visitors and encouraged them to become ambassadors for Tanzania’s tourism sector.
"We welcome you to Serengeti and to Tanzania as a whole. We believe you will be good ambassadors for our attractions and help the country shine even brighter on the global tourism stage," he said.
The visit comes as Tanzania’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong growth. During recent World Tourism Day celebrations, Dr. Hassan Abbasi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, announced that the government remains committed to working with stakeholders to expand the sector, which generated $3.9 billion (approximately Sh9 trillion) in 2024.
Tourism has proven to be a significant driver of economic growth in Tanzania, with international visitor numbers surging from 922,000 in 2021 to 2.14 million in 2024. Domestic tourism has also experienced remarkable growth, increasing from 788,000 to 3.12 million visitors during the same period.
