Tanzania’s tourism: Anderson says boom needs bigger ambition

The world is coming to Tanzania, and industry veterans say the country must prepare to meet the moment

DAR ES SALAAM

Anderson Mhina has spent more than a quarter of a century guiding travellers through Tanzania’s vast wilderness, and few people speak about the country’s tourism future with as much optimism, or urgency. To him, Tanzania is standing on the cusp of becoming a global powerhouse.

“We have everything a traveller could dream of,” he says. “This is our moment to lead, and we can push even further if we make it easier and more rewarding for people to choose Tanzania.”

For one of East Africa’s most seasoned tourism professionals, the country’s record‑breaking success last year is not a finish line but a springboard. The challenge now, he argues, is to match Tanzania’s natural abundance with equally ambitious policy and investment choices.

Anderson says the danger is complacency at a moment when Tanzania is enjoying the highest tourism revenue in its history. The boom, he warns, should be a wake-up call, not a victory lap. That urgency, he argues, is the missing ingredient in a sector that has just delivered the highest revenue in the nation’s history.

Anderson’s sentiments land at a time when Tanzania is enjoying unprecedented visibility. The country welcomed more than two million international visitors between January and November 2025, a 9 per cent rise that analysts say reflects sustained global demand. Tourism revenue hit $4.2 billion, cementing the sector as Tanzania’s leading source of foreign exchange.

But Anderson warns that the numbers, impressive as they are, can mask structural weaknesses. “We did extremely well last year, but we cannot rest on our laurels,” he observes. “Lower visa fees, reduce park charges, and simplify the tax regime. That’s how you push numbers to the top of the world charts.” His argument is not merely about affordability. It is about competitiveness in a region where every country is recalibrating its tourism strategy. Kenya is investing heavily in coastal tourism. Rwanda has positioned itself as a premium gorilla-tracking destination. South Africa continues to dominate the continent’s urban and adventure travel markets.

In this landscape, Anderson believes Tanzania must widen the gap, not simply maintain it. Tour operators have long complained about the complexity of Tanzania’s tax and fee structure. Levies on vehicles, accommodation, park entry, and visas can inflate the cost of a safari package, making Tanzania one of the pricier destinations in East Africa.

For travellers comparing itineraries across borders, even small differences matter.

“Tourism is a price-sensitive industry,” Anderson notes. “Lowering fees is not a loss; it is an investment in volume. If we want to attract new markets, especially in Asia and Latin America, we must rethink how we price the experience.”

Economists agree that a more flexible pricing regime could unlock new demographics. The Southern Circuit, including Selous, Ruaha, and Mikumi, remains underdeveloped but could become a major draw if infrastructure and pricing align.

Anderson, who is now a businessman with vast real estate interests in Arusha, Tanga and Bagamoyo, also believes Tanzania’s greatest untapped asset is its people. Tour guides and drivers, he says, are the country’s frontline ambassadors. The storytellers who shape a visitor’s experience long after the trip ends.

“Our training colleges must up their game,” he offers. “We have thousands of young people joining the industry every year, but the quality of training is uneven. A well-trained guide can elevate Tanzania’s brand in ways marketing campaigns cannot.”

He is calling for more tourism colleges to meet rising demand, stricter regulation of guides and drivers, a standardised curriculum emphasizing natural history, conservation, hospitality, and foreign languages.

For him, the country’s vast and underexplored attractions, from Lake Tanganyika to the Southern Highlands, require a new generation of professionals capable of interpreting them for the world. Tanzania’s global profile has never been higher. Last year, it was named Africa’s Leading Destination and the World’s Leading Safari Destination at the World Travel Awards. The country will host the World Tourism Awards this December, a milestone expected to draw global media, investors, and industry leaders.

Dr Ashatu Kijaji, the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, has described the sector as “solid and vibrant”, calling it a source of national pride and a testament to years of investment in conservation, infrastructure, and marketing. The government has expanded airports, improved roads to key parks, and strengthened anti-poaching efforts. But industry veterans like Anderson argue that the next phase requires a more strategic approach, one that blends infrastructure with incentives, training, and long-term planning.

Tanzania stands at a crossroads. A booming industry, global recognition, and a natural endowment that few countries can match. Yet the question is whether it can convert this momentum into sustained leadership. For Anderson, the answer lies in the choices made today. “We are blessed with so much,” he notes. “But blessings alone do not build an industry. We need to put in a little more effort, and the world will reward us.”

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