By Charles Mkoka
Dar
es Salaam – In celebration of 60 years of diplomatic
relations between China and Tanzania, the highly anticipated film "Amazing
Tanzania" has been officially launched in Dar es Salaam. The film
features Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Zanzibar President Dr.
Hussein Mwinyi, and renowned Chinese actor Jin Dong.
Aimed
at promoting Tanzania’s unique tourism opportunities in China, the film’s
inauguration was attended by high-ranking officials from both nations. Tourism
Minister Ambassador Dr. Pindi Chana represented President Samia at the event,
while Deputy Minister of Tourism Mr. Lu Yingchuan attended on behalf of Chinese
President Xi Jinping.
Tourism
Minister Dr. Pindi Chana highlighted the impact of the film since its premiere
in Beijing in May, noting that Chinese tourist numbers have risen
significantly—from 44,000 last year to 54,000 by September 2023, an impressive
increase of 10,000 visitors. She credited the efforts of the Tanzania Tourism
Board and its partners, who have diligently worked to increase tourism from
China and other Eastern nations.
This
surge in tourism supports the objectives of the Five-Year Development Plan III
(FYDP III 2021/22-2025/26), which prioritizes MICE (Meetings, Incentives,
Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism to help Tanzania reach its goal of
attracting five million tourists and generating $6 billion in tourism revenue
by 2025. "Amazing Tanzania" is part of a broader effort to
boost these numbers, alongside initiatives like the recent Swahili
International Tourism Expo (S!TE), aimed at strengthening Tanzania’s global
tourism appeal.
Dr.
Hassan Abbasi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and
Tourism, who oversaw the production of "Amazing Tanzania" and
the previous Royal Tour documentary, shared some of the challenges in
coordinating with high-level leaders for the film. “One of the biggest
challenges was coordinating with high-level leaders, especially given their
limited time. Getting them to re-record if something wasn't completed properly
was difficult,” he explained. However, he emphasized the project’s success in
positioning Tanzania as a top destination.
Chinese
tourists have consistently been among the top spenders in global tourism, with
an annual expenditure of over $200 billion, according to recent reports. By
capturing the allure of Tanzania’s natural beauty and cultural richness, the
film is expected to significantly boost tourist arrivals from China.
The
"Amazing Tanzania" film underscores the strong China-Tanzania
relationship and highlights Tanzania’s commitment to expanding its tourism
sector, building on a strategic vision of sustainable economic growth through
international partnerships.