AfricaPress-Tanzania: Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Mary Masanja has called on researchers from the University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM) to intensify their research efforts to identify new tourist attractions in the Lake Region.
Masanja made the remarks at the opening of the Lake Region Sustainable Tourism Workshop held at the National College of Tourism in Mwanza region.
In his speech, he commended the local researchers who decided to focus on conducting research in the region that supports the Tourism Sector noting that the role is important in today’s world which is highly competitive in the tourism market. “Researchers should conduct research that will help identify tourism products in all six regions of the Lake Region,” Masanja said.
He said, the Government intends to develop and promote all the tourist attractions in the Lake Region. In addition, he noted that it has upgraded some areas of the former National Parks to become National Parks a step that increased the number of National Parks to 22 in 2020 from 16 existing in 2015.
He said in the Lake Region, the Government has successfully established six new National Parks which are Burigi-Chato, Ibanda Kyerwa, Ugala River, Kigosi Moyowosi, Nyerere and Rumanyika-Karagwe and strengthening the Tourism Network in the Lake Region where there is now a total of parks. eight (8) nationalities including Rubondo Island National Park, Saanane Island National Park, Serengeti National Park.
He said in order to facilitate tourism activities in the country, the Government through its institutions will continue to engage and make full use of researchers and the Private Sector “. He commended the leadership of the University of Dar es Salaam for the success of the Lake Region Tourism Development Forum.
For his part, the Executive Director of the National Museum, Dr Noel Lwoga said the Lake Region has many attractions but has not yet been developed. He said the Lake Region has a wealth of tourist attractions apart from forests and wildlife.
SIDA project coordinator from the University of Dar-es-salaam (UDSM), Prof. Wineaster Anderson said through the Sustainable Tourism Research Project they are conducting research to visualize tourism products in Simiyu, Mara and Shinyanga regions. He said through the project, they have been able to fund eight graduates in PHD studies.
