Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/19029
DR. ALOYCE K. NZUKI APPOINTED MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE TANZANIA TOURIST BOARD H.E. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, appointed Dr. Aloyce K.Nzuki as the newman- aging director of the Tanzania Tourist Board. Dr. Nzuki brings years of experience in the tourism industry to the position. He pre- viously worked with Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources andTourism as an assistant direc- tor in Tourism Development and Tourism Research, Training and Statistics. Under Dr. Nzuki’s direction, the Tanzania Tourist Board will continue to promote sustainable tourism domestically and internationally. “As Tanzania’s tourism industry, which accounts for 17.2 percent of the country’s GNP, keeps grow- ing, we will remain focused on high quality, low impact tourism to ensure the sustainability of the tourism product. We look forward to continuing the momentum started in the United States, which remains our number-one market,” said Dr.Nzuki. Dr. Nzuki studied Statistics at Makerere University in Uganda and completed a master’s degree in Tourism Marketing at University of Surrey in England. He holds a doctorate degree in Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management from Clemson University of South Carolina. Until recently, Dr. Nzuki was an assistant professor of International Business Administration at the College of Applied Sciences in Salalah,Oman. He has also worked as a member of theUnitedNationsWorldTourismOrganization’s World Committee on Tourism Ethics, the body responsible for interpreting, applying and evaluating the provisions of the Global Code of Ethics forTourism. WEST AFRICA COOPERATION URGED ON MARINE TOURISM Senegal andTheGambia should investmore in developing marine tourism, together, before the big cruise lines increase arrivals inWestAfrica, urged a development expert. “Once the big cruise companies start sailing into West Africa – which they will because of rising fuel prices and the need for fresh destinations,”predicted Lelei LeLaulu, co-chair- 54 man of Innovation for Sustainable Development Centre,“if there are no local arrangements for their passengers, they are likely to build their own on-shore facilities, there- by decreasing cruise revenues for the host countries.” “WestAfrica should learn from the Caribbean experience where cruise lines have built their own destinations with beaches, shops and touristic activities where infra- structure was absent,” stated LeLaulu, a director of the CaribbeanMedia Exchange for SustainableTourism(CMEx), who admitted marine and cruise tourism can be good for Africa ifmanaged sustainably. Speaking to reporters at Senegal’s first “Salon TICCA,” showcasing tourism, cultural industries and art from Africa, LeLaulu, an adviser to theAfrica TravelAssociation, said the Gambian River “should be developed to enhance the tourism offerings of theWestAfrican region.” “For example,you should be able to fly fromthe heart of the ancient desert kingdomofTimbuktu, inMali, onto a tradition- al, ormodern fishing boat, and sail betweenDakar and Banjul in amatter of hours,” asserted LeLaulu,who also advisesCDC Development Solutions, aWashington DC agency which links tourismto business development in severalAfrican countries. The marine, river and coastal assets ofWestAfrica offered “huge opportunities for multi-day cruises which both Senegal andThe Gambia can jointly develop – there are well over 500 species of birds and an abundance ofwildlife to drawvisitors to the river and itsmany waterways,” he opined. “Gambian and Senegalese companies have the means to really turn the Gambian River into an attractive destination – it has rich human assets with several culturally distinct peoples sharing the waterway, as well as the architectural heritage of the Portuguese,French and English colonial periods,”LeLaulu asserted. “And for those yearning for the fruits of the deep, it has some of the best fishing on the continent, with record deep water catches recorded off theWestAfrican coast,” he report- ed, “while the Gambian river delta and waterways boast a cook’s seafood delight.” LeLaulu also urgedmoremarine transportation:“there are high-speed boats in Senegal and Gambia which can ferry pas- sengers between the twoWestAfrican capitals in two hours for those wanting to avoid driving to and from airports for the shortDakar-Banjul flight.” Black Meetings & Tourism September/October 20010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com