Tanzania see tourist numbers rising by 13-26 percent in 2011 buoyed by a new marketing strategy and the recovery of the global economy from the financial crisis, the tourism minister said.
Tourism has traditionally been the east African country's foremost foreign exchange earner, but mining has overtaken it in the past two years.
About 794,000 tourists visited Tanzania in 2010, below a 1 million target.
“This is largely due to the effects of the global financial crisis,” Tourism and Natural Resources Minister Ezekiel Maige told Reuters.
“The government's goal is to attract 900,000 to 1 million tourists in 2011 and we believe we are now better equipped to achieve this target.”
Earnings increased by 11 percent in 2010 to $1.28 billion, helped by the global economic recovery.
Despite attractions such as the Serengeti game park, Africa's highest mountain Kilimanjaro, and the sea resort of Zanzibar, Tanzania has not hit targets due to inadequate marketing of the country and poor infrastructure.
“We have doubled the budget for promoting Tanzania as a tourist destination and we now attend more than 25 travel shows a year across the world to showcase our unique tourist attractions,” said Maige.
Maige said Tanzania was keen to tap into the global appeal of English football to give a new kick to its tourism industry.
“Tanzania's tourist attractions are now being advertised in a number of football stadiums in England, including Liverpool's home ground, Anfield, and at Manchester City's stadium,” he said
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