THE implementation of the East African
Common Market Protocol has so far not benefited the local tourism sector
due to policy failure and poor set up that clogs up business
opportunities for the country.
This is according to Vice- Chairman of
the Tourism Confederation of Tanzania Leopold Kabendera, who also chairs
the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators.
Mr Kabendera said Tanzania is supposed to attract the highest number of tourists in the region but, unfortunately, the country still lags behind. He said small countries like Rwanda were likely to overtake Tanzania.
Rwanda receives 600,000 tourists, closely trailing
Tanzania’s 800,000 while Kenya and Uganda last year received 1.2 million
and 900,000 tourists, respectively.
The marketing of destination Tanzania through holistic approaches and getting rid of over regulations in the tourism sector are inevitable to increase the number of tourists in the country, said Mr Kabendera.
The marketing of destination Tanzania through holistic approaches and getting rid of over regulations in the tourism sector are inevitable to increase the number of tourists in the country, said Mr Kabendera.
According to Chairperson
of Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA-Arusha)
Adolf Olomi, despite the gains made in tourism sector in recent years,
reinforcement of marketing efforts are critical to tap
business
opportunities under the Common Market Protocol.
“The more tourists we attract, the more the economy improves,” said Mr Olomi, noting that other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing would grow further if the number of tourists in the country doubles or triples.
He said TCCIA-Arusha has commissioned a research into the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the EAC common market protocol and the country’s role in creating attractive environment for increased private sector activities across the borders.
Meanwhile, TCCIA Morogoro has commissioned an independent study on challenges facing Value Added Tax (VAT) registered businesses in operating Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) in Morogoro, Iringa and Njombe regions.
“The more tourists we attract, the more the economy improves,” said Mr Olomi, noting that other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing would grow further if the number of tourists in the country doubles or triples.
He said TCCIA-Arusha has commissioned a research into the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the EAC common market protocol and the country’s role in creating attractive environment for increased private sector activities across the borders.
Meanwhile, TCCIA Morogoro has commissioned an independent study on challenges facing Value Added Tax (VAT) registered businesses in operating Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) in Morogoro, Iringa and Njombe regions.
TCCIA Morogoro Regional Chairman, Bachoo Bachoo said in a
statement that Morogoro region is ranked in group A in tax payment, but
efficiency or inefficiency of EFDs were increasingly becoming a serious
business issue.
“Many of our members are not happy with
most of EFDs. That is why we saw it necessary to do a study that would
show how traders could deal with the challenges of using the devices,”
said Mr Bachoo.
The government, through the Tanzania Revenue Authority
(TRA), introduced the EFDs in the Finance Act, 2010 to replace
Electronic Cash Registers, with the view of enhancing VAT collections.
Source: The Daily News, http://www.dailynews.co.tz
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