Attracting Investment in Tourism: Tanzania's Investor Outreach Program
Attracting Investment in Tourism: Tanzania's Investor Outreach Program
Attracting Investment in Tourism: Tanzania's Investor Outreach Program
Copyright 2005 the World Bank group/mIgA 1818 H street, nW Washington, DC 20433
All rights reserved manufactured in the United states of America First published in october 2005 Available online at www.ipanet.net/investing_in_development/tanzania
For more information contact: mIgA operations 1818 H street, nW Washington, DC 20433 t. 202.458.2076 f. 202.522.2650 see also www.fdipromotion.com the material in this publication is copyrighted. requests for permission to reproduce portions of it should be sent to mIgA operations at the above mentioned address.
the multilateral Investment guarantee Agency (mIgA) of the World Bank group was established in 1988 to promote the flow of private foreign investment to developing member countries. mIgA offers political risk insurance coverage to eligible investors for qualified investments in developing member countries. mIgA also offers technical assistance programs to develop and implement effective strategies for attracting and retaining foreign direct investment. this hands-on technical assistance focuses on three primary areas: dissemination of information on investment opportunities and business operating conditions in developing member countries through online services; capacity building of the organizations and institutions involved in the promotion of foreign investment; and, investment facilitation activities supporting the efforts of developing countries to identify and attract investment.
the Investing in Development series of case studies is intended to stimulate discussion and learning regarding investment promotion agencies. It is not meant to provide complete or comprehensive case histories, but rather to highlight important aspects relevant to investment promotion. the multilateral Investment guarantee Agency is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, site selection, or other professional advice or services, and shall not be responsible for any loss sustained by any person, company or organization that relies on this publication as a substitute for such professional advice or services. Before making any decision or taking any action that may affect your business, you should consult a qualified professional advisor.
Table of Contents
Synopsis
Content
........................................................................................................ 7
Introduction ............................................................................................. 9
A tradition of hospitality ................................................................................ 9
Background ................................................................................................ 9
tourisms role in the economy ..................................................................... 9 Assets and infrastructure ............................................................................ 10
Endnotes ..................................................................................................... 45
Synopsis
tourism is one of tanzanias three leading export sectors, along with mining and agriculture. As the demand for tourism services has increased among World Bank group member countries, so has the multilateral Investment guarantee Agencys (mIgAs) technical assistance focused on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tourism sector. mIgA has several investor outreach programs in Africa and supports these activities with a research program that benchmarks competitiveness factors for FDI in several sectors. one of the investor outreach programs, the mIgA-swiss partnership program for Investments in sub-saharan Africa (msp) with tanzania, is financed in partnership with the swiss government and focuses on improving investment in the tourism industry. this program is showing results that can be traced to replicable investment promotion activities. the msp partnered with the government of tanzania to organize an investment forum for tourism in 2002, held at the Arusha International Conference Center, and continues to provide follow-up support through an investor outreach program to generate further opportunities for investment. the program has produced a number of investments and related activities (privatizations), including a landmark investment in the Kilimanjaro Hotel in 2003. this case study highlights aspects of the underlying foundation that tanzania created in targeting tourism as a growth sector, and focuses on key elements of the investor outreach program supported by the msp. In particular, two interrelated elements illustrate the specifics of tanzanias practical approach: the investment forum that led to the acquisition and reconstruction of the Kilimanjaro Hotel, and the overall investor outreach process of which the forum was a part. this approach, along with the government of tanzanias commitment to the development of tourism, served to attract the interest of several new investors and to help solidify the countrys reputation as a serious contender for investment in an intensely competitive sector.
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Introduction
A tradition of hospitality
the Kilimanjaro Hotel in Dar es salaam, tanzania opened its doors in 1965 as the governments main hotel for foreigners visiting the country. It was an imposing building on a prime site in the harbor area, designed to provide appropriate business service within the prevailing political climate of the time optimism for a future of self-determination after independence. It served the country well for 20 years, but lost its preeminence as the countrys leading hotel when tanzanias fortunes faltered in the late 1980s. the hotel was starved of funding and did not generate the cash flow to carry out renovations or compete with newer, privately owned hotels. It deteriorated quickly, and in 1996, was forced to close its doors. reduced to a shadow of its former grandeur, the Kilimanjaro was destined to become an ominous presence for nearly 10 years, casting a pall over investment in downtown Dar es salaam and in tanzanias tourism sector as a whole. In a dramatic turn of events and a new socioeconomic environment, the Kilimanjaro reopened as a five-star hotel in August 2005, now owned by the Albwardy group of Dubai and managed by Kempinski, the internationally renowned hotel operator. As an investment project, the Kilimanjaro is noteworthy both as a bellwether in a historically significant sector in tanzania, and as a tangible result of the countrys recent efforts in investment promotion. this case study opens with background on the tourism sector in tanzania: its role in the economy, natural resources and assets, and existing infrastructure in terms of built hotels. next, the case highlights aspects of tanzanias strategy and institutional framework for developing tourism and introduces the key public and private sector players in the sector. the next section focuses on investment promotion activity, including the multilateral Investment guarantee Agencys (mIgAs) work with the swiss government in tanzania, and specifically, the tourism investment forum and investor outreach program. Finally, details of the Kilimanjaro Hotel reconstruction, as a project and product, help illustrate how tanzania met the needs of a particular type of investor. Ultimately, the high-profile nature of the Kilimanjaro project would reinforce the countrys overall tourism strategy and investment promotion program, and influence several subsequent investors. Tourism is a growth sector in Tanzania that creates lifelong jobs, including those at managerial levels and for women.
Background
Tourisms role in the economy
In the recent past, mining and tourism have been the fastest growing sectors in tanzania with average growth rates of 10% and 5.5% between 1998 and 2002. this growth has coincided with a relatively strong performance in non-traded sectors such as construction, transport and communications. Agricultures performance was less notable, with growth declining from 5.5 to 4.0% in 2003, due to droughts in most parts of the country. Agriculture, however, remains the largest sector of the economy, contributing more than 40% of the gross domestic product (gDp), 70% of employment, and a large share of foreign exchange earnings. total employment in the tourism sector was almost 200,000 in 2004. From an operational point of view, room occupancy was 53% in 2004 up six points from 2003; the average length of stay was 11 days and the average daily expenditure was Us$188 for visitors on package tours and Us$119 for those traveling alone.
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total foreign exchange earnings from tourism were Us$746 million in 2004, more than from any other sector in tanzania. (See Table 2-3 in Annex 2: Tanzania Statistical Data.) tanzania had no foreign direct investment (FDI) in 1990, but it rose rapidly to Us$240 million in 2000 and Us$248 million in 2003, as shown in Figure 1.1 the rising share of tourism within a national economy is sometimes considered surprising. As growth sectors, manufacturing or agriculture are typically understood, but the role tourism can play as a source of growth, diversification and poverty alleviation is not always recognized. rather, tourism may be perceived as a volatile industry that creates only menial jobs, and which is dominated by foreigners whose profits stay overseas. In tanzania, this characterization is certainly not true. tourism has been growing steadily (with only slight deviation in 2001) for 10 years. As an industry, it creates life-long jobs, often requiring superior people skills, including specialized positions at the managerial or supervisory levels and careers open to women. tanzanians own many hotels in tanzania. the foreign-owned firms bring skills in marketing, finance and management with their investments. much of tourisms revenue does remain in tanzania, and the country has the potential to supply the industry more via locally produced goods. In every year since 1995, foreign exchange receipts2 from tourism have been the largest item in tanzanias exports of goods and services (30-45%). Within the domestic economy, the trade, hotels and restaurant sector is the second largest sector after agriculture, accounting for 16% of gDp between 1990 and 2003. (See Box 1: Whats Different About Tourism?) While some uncertainties remain, tourism is now gaining recognition as a valid sector for sustainable development. If managed properly, tourism can contribute jobs and wealth, address social issues and ensure conservation of natural and cultural resources.
the trend lines reflect data for tourism receipts from two different sources. Sources: Ministry of Tourism; International Monetary Fund Balance of Payments (BOP) Statistics
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beaches north and south of Dar es salaam, the spice Islands of Zanzibar, and abundant waters for sport fishing off pemba and mafia, all locations rich in the swahili and Arab cultures that dominated the east African coast from the Arabian gulf states as far as mozambique. olduvai gorge, in the interior of the rift valley, is
2. Tourism spans a range of activities instead of being a single good. tourism is really an agglomeration of related but separate, crosscutting services: transport, lodging, food service, recreation and attractions. All these services are assembled either individually by the traveler or commercially by a network of wholesale and retail services (tour operators, global Distribution systems, and travel agents, etc.) into a tourism package. tourism products represent final commodities, and efficiency through competition in tourism markets has repercussions throughout the supply chains (meats, fish, poultry, dairy and vegetables, etc.) and manufactured goods, such as furniture and equipment. these backward linkages can enhance or reduce the economic returns to tourism and exert an influence on markets. Hotels, for example, require many inputs. to the extent that these inputs are produced locally, they can enhance value added; to the extent that they are imported, they generate leakages of money flowing out of the economy. But there are also forward linkages as products and services are added outside hotels. Handicrafts and shopping are good examples. In the modern tourism sector, the way in which these opportunities add value, or differentiate the product, has an important impact on tourisms overall success. Where that creativity is lacking or there are no intermediaries (tour operators) to construct innovative packages, tourism is likely to be a shallow industry. An efficient and competitive tourism sector will translate into economy-wide improvement in private sector investment and growth via an improved business climate and improved market discipline.
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the site of discoveries of the traces of earliest man. tanzania also offers interesting culture and crafts, notably the maasai culture and makonde wood sculptures. the growth in tourism and hospitality services in tanzania is evident at several levels. In terms of capacity, tanzania has 31,000 rooms with 56,200 beds. A number of new hotels have been built recently, including large international chain hotels3 and many other medium-sized hotels. the travel industry, represented by the tour operators and travel agencies, has been improving the products and services offered in the country. through the creative packaging of different experiences, tourists can now choose from wildlife and beach vacations, niche products
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such as soft adventure, birding and hunting, and regional packages that involve multi-country visits. tanzania also aims to raise the quality of service to a higher standard by focusing on vocational and managerial training.
The Strategy
The Tourism Master Plan
With financial support from the european Union, tanzania produced a tourism master plan in 1996 that serves as a roadmap and strategic framework for the sector. the plan was updated in 20024 and is widely circulated in tanzania, serving as a useful document to guide the sectors growth. the tourism master plan focuses on: enhancement of the northern Circuit and its extension to the Usumbara mountains in the east, with the pangani river and the port of tanga; a strong southern Circuit building on the four national parks in that area;5
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development of coastal zones and the off-shore islands; enhancement of Dar es salaam and its waterfront; and ultimately, linking the northern and southern Circuits via a corridor. It also emphasizes the importance of encouraging niche products, such as soft adventure, birding, better resort facilities and cultural/historical products. the tourism master plan also emphasizes the need for clusters, aggressive management to stay abreast of trends and the importance of differentiating products to add value. A draft tourism plan for Zanzibar was also completed in 2003. (See also Box 2: Tanzanias Main Natural Resource Attractions, and Map 1: Tanzanias National Parks and Reserves.)
Tanzanias strategy called for developing new market segments and added value products to complement the countrys image as an upscale destination that commands higher rates.
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, Tanzania
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The Players
Project sponsors
The investor. Albwardy Investment,8 founded in 1976 by United Arab emirates (UAe) national, mr. Ali saeed Juma Albwardy, is the new owner of the Kilimanjaro Hotel. With a current annual turnover exceeding one billion dirhams (more than Us$270 million), Albwardy Investment retains individual enterprises in the group with an autonomous management team, one company director on the board and mr. Albwardy as the chairman. the 40 or so companies in the group, many with an Iso accreditation, are in food distribution and logistics, industrial construction and engineering, and leisure and lifestyle in Dubai, europe and Africa. Before deciding on the Kilimanjaro, Albwardy had been looking to invest in a hotel in Zanzibar (now under construction) and had contacted Christies in london, one of the largest real estate brokers in tourism. In exploring Zanzibar, the selous (the southern Circuit) also came to Albwardys attention. Ultimately, one of the project consultants in Dubai made contact regarding the Kilimanjaro. The management company. Kempinski Hotels9 is a well-established, internationally recognized hotel management company owned by the thai royal family (85%) and Bahrain interests (15%). Founded in germany over a century ago, Kempinski has approximately 40 hotels in 20 countries, located in many of the worlds best-known cities. some of its hotels are grand and others are modern; a few are older hotels with individual charm. In addition to operating many of the worlds finer city hotels, Kempinski also operates international resorts. In Africa, it operates hotels in mali and morocco and has its African headquarters at a resort in Dubai.
Government
responsibility for tourism policy in tanzania lies with the ministry of natural resources and tourism (mnrt). mnrts key divisions are: (a) the tourism Division, responsible for sector policy, planning, supervising the Hotel and tourism training Institute and the tourist Agency licensing Authority (tAlA); and (b) the Wildlife Division, responsible for wildlife management outside designated national parks and for issuance of hunting concessions and licenses. Also, the tanzania national parks Authority (tAnApA) leases sites for photographic safari lodges from time to time, within and surrounding national parks. the Department of tourism has been very active in promoting investment in tourism, particularly in selling the portfolio of state-owned hotels and lodges, working with the privatization Commission. the tanzania tourist Board (ttB), responsible for destination marketing, also plays a role in investment promotion. (See Annex 3: Tanzanias Institutional Framework for Tourism.)
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growth), and priority sectors (those the government wants to encourage). As a lead sector, tourism projects are exempted from import duties during construction and value added tax (vAt) is deferred. In addition, corporate tax is set at 30% and losses may be carried forward for five years. Up until 2003, tIC had approved a total of 422 tourism projects, including new and upgraded hotels, tour companies and travel agents and restaurants. (For more detail on TIC, see Annex 3: Tanzanias Institutional Framework for Tourism.)
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Center, in cooperation with the ministry of natural resources and tourism, to prepare a tourism investor outreach program, launched at a major investment conference, with subsequent follow up. the msp contributed to the privatization of the Kilimanjaro Hotel, among other investments, and continues to support the investor outreach program.
The initial planning group envisaged a forum of some 100 participants with a focused, tight program and a series of site visits for serious investors.
r r
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decided to hire two consulting firms, one familiar with investors on the African continent (DCDm) and the other with experience of european and middle eastern investors (trI International). the consultants targeted investors and identified over 400 candidates, both firms and individuals. At the same time, DCDm was actively involved in the design of the forum. (After the forum, DCDm, in cooperation with a tanzanian firm, DAImA Associates, provided follow-up support for the tourism investor outreach program.) the event would take place at Arushas well-known International Conference Center, which had hosted many conferences attracting world attention. A stakeholder meeting was then organized to elicit responses from participants on the issues and opportunities facing tourism. (See Box 4: The Stakeholder Meeting.) this meeting was held in Dar es salaam14 and attracted 100 participants from all over the country. they included both private sector interests, such as representatives from professional associations and individual entrepreneurs, and government officials from mnrt as well as from other interested agencies, such as the ministries of Finance, lands, and public Works, and agencies such as tAnApA (national parks). Among the issues discussed were: perceived high levels of taxation (including prepayment of taxes in some cases and weak procedures for reimbursement of vAt); complicated and costly licensing processes and procedures; and the need for better infrastructure and promotion of the destination.15 one subject sparked heated debate at the stakeholder meeting. smaller investors operators of lodges, small tour companies and restaurants raised the issue of whether tanzania really needs big outside investors rather than the small and medium-sized enterprises (smes) that typically characterize the tourism industry. this led to an agreement to provide additional support for smes in the form of capacity-building sessions on how to prepare a business plan and craft a marketing program. the discussion also led to development of proposals for a guarantee fund and a business incubator scheme, both of which were adopted in a comprehensive, World Bank-financed program to support the private sector.
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the material from the stakeholder meeting was ultimately included in the sector study produced by mIgA for the forum. entitled tourism in tanzania: Investment for growth and Diversification, it was both a policy-based document and a source of information on investing in tourism in tanzania. two thousand copies were printed and subsequently distributed to attendees, donors and other interested parties. the sector study later became a reference for economic work related to the integrated trade policy framework for tanzania.16 Planning the conference. mnrt took the lead in organizing the logistics, working with a local conference planner, tanzania Conference services, ltd., while mIgA prepared the documentation, highlighting the opportunities in the tourism industry and covering marketing costs. (See Box 5: Handling the Investment Forum Logistics.) Admission to the conference was set at Us$100 per participant, consistent with the idea that a conference of value is worth a fair admission price. thus, the bulk of the costs was met by the participants. registrations for the forum were very slow at first. Indeed, three weeks before the forum, there were still no paid-up registrants. However, in the last ten days, registration was brisk and the initial target of 100 attendees was quickly exceeded, ultimately reaching 280. During the planning, one of the consultants pointed out that investors would not attend this sort of conference unless specific investment proposals were made available. the feeling was that good investors do not have the appetite for long meetings; they want to get to the meat right away. It was decided that the best way to offer specific investment opportunities was to have business plans or feasibility studies ready to share with potential partners and financiers. then these proposals could be discussed on a sound basis. In fact, business proposals were sought ahead of time but none materialized, except those for big projects that were already on the table. the Wildlife Department, responsible for concessions for hunting, actually awarded several contracts before the forum and thus lost the opportunity to auction lots under competitive conditions.17 mIgA reached out to other donors18 who agreed to provide budgetary support and resource persons to speak at the forum. this enriched the content of the final program by providing a more comprehensive perspective on tanzania for investors. For instance, the World Bank discussed private participation in infrastructure projects, particularly related to weaknesses in infrastructure provision in tanzania.
The investment forums agenda was arranged so that President Mkapa could meet personally with investors, a key benefit noted in advance on the invitation.
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the Development Bank of south Africa (DBsA) addressed its special Development Initiatives transport corridors designed to attract multiple investment activities. International Finance Corporation (IFC) explained its experience with investing in east Africa. the european Union, which had provided an adviser to the mnrt, presented tanzanias tourism master plan and other key documents. the conference date of october 2, 2002, was set as a function of president mkapas availability. two letters of invitation were sent under the signature of the minister of mnrt. the first letter was attached to a flyer announcing the forum, and the second letter was sent with a brochure and more detailed information on tanzania. telephone follow-up calls were made. A forum website was also set up that provided a contact point for investor queries. It included general information on tanzania, background studies including the mIgA sector study and the newly revised tourism master plan, the agenda and potential investment sites. Following the forum, the website was updated and re-launched. Evaluating the results. two hundred and eighty delegates attended the forum. the largest group included representatives from existing tour operators, hotels and airlines in tanzania, as well as tanzania-based representatives of international firms. About 30 international investors, mostly from Africa, and a handful from europe, UAe and the UsA also attended. the international investors represented tour operators and hotels, and a few financial institutions. (See Box 6: Admission Fees and Attendance for more details.) several speakers enlivened the forums agenda. the president of the republic, the Honorable Benjamin mkapa, opened the day with a rousing speech in which he welcomed both foreign and local investors and presented his vision for tanzania. the president of Zanzibar, the Honorable rais Karume, delivered his remarks to close the forum. throughout the program, numerous officials and the Deputy secretary general of the World tourism organization, Dr. Dawid de villiers, offered their perspectives. In a particularly inspirational anecdote, the tanzanian owner of
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the peacock Hotel in Dar es salaam shared his story of starting from scratch with little education, but a lot of humility and perseverance, to build his business over the course of a lifetime. He recounted how his son went on to earn a university education, the first in his family to do so, and now runs the hotel and participates in tourism associations. the process at the forum was fairly unique. rather than the more usual one-onone meetings between prospective investors and partners, the letters of invitation had suggested that interested investors would be invited to meet the president of tanzania and representatives of tIC and mnrt. this proved to be a popular decision and serious investors were introduced to the president. two key meetings related to the future of the Kilimanjaro Hotel. the government had been negotiating with an investor to buy the Kilimanjaro, yet protracted discussions had continued long after the investors exclusivity period and the deal was expected to be confirmed at the forum. When the deal could not be confirmed, the president advised the investors agent that tanzania considered itself free to proceed with other investors. the next potential investor to meet the president was a director of Albwardy Investments of Dubai. He made a firm offer for the Kilimanjaro and immediately a deal was struck. the Kilimanjaro Hotel was sold for Us$3 million as a sale of assets. Although there were many factors leading to new investment announcements, the following projects can be traced, directly or indirectly, to the forum. reflecting an expected total value of over Us$100 million, these projects include:
r r r r r
purchase and redevelopment of the Kilimanjaro Hotel (Us$35 million) the first investment in Kikoni camp in the southern Circuit (Us$0.5 million) Zamani Hotel, Zanzibar (Us$36 million)19 Finalization of sale of mafia lodge (an estimated Us$0.6 million) IFA Hotels and resorts (a proposed Us$50 million investment in Zanzibar)
Although not a result of the forum, the French ambassador chose the occasion of the investment forum to announce that France would finance the construction of a Us$4.6 million Hotel school near the state House in Dar es salaam.20 parallel financing from the european Union of Us$3.1 million21 has been secured for curriculum development and recurrent costs. this was certainly welcome news; the school will meet a pressing need for local training and puts emphasis on tanzanias quality of service in tourism. the investment forum also received considerable free publicity through local newspapers and the international media. three interviews were given on BBC.com: one from Washington in advance of the conference; the second to the consultant preparing the conference; and the third to president mkapa, a 25-minute session that was handled expertly and served to showcase tanzania as an investment destination. these contacts were arranged by a group of specialists in new York closely associated with the Africa travel Association, whose president at the time was the minister of tourism for tanzania.
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forum raised a number of issues requiring follow-up, and helped to set priorities for the investor outreach program. to supplement existing capacity in the coordinating institutions, a consortium of two consulting firms was engaged to facilitate the follow-up process.22 Among the pressing issues following the forum, several took shape as actionable guidelines for the program: r the new master plan should be implemented. (See Box 7: Locations for Tourism Investment and Tourism Products and Characteristics for an overview of the sites for tourism investment and tourism activities.) expressions of interest from investors should be followed up. Information generated at the forum should be made available for a wider readership via a special website. Capacity building should include capacity for preparing business plans and for locating facilitation and support mechanisms, and for financing facilities for private investors. mnrt would continue to work with the private sector to find solutions to the outstanding issues and problems that had surfaced at the investment forum. mechanisms for continuous dialogue between the public and private sectors would be strengthened. the government should facilitate the strengthening of the tCt. At the operational level, a steering Committee and a technical Committee were formed with members from four key institutions: mnrt, tIC, ttB and tCt. these committees would take responsibility for coordinating follow-up promotion and facilitation of tourism investments.
r r r
The forum raised a number of issues requiring follow-up, and helped to set priorities for the investor outreach program.
Program priorities
the investor outreach program was twice advertised in the local press and responses received from local investors were encouraging, including the investment profiles described below. several key elements helped to shape the programs services in working with potential foreign and domestic investors going forward. many of these elements can be traced to specific needs identified as a result of the initial stakeholder meeting that kicked off planning for the investment forum. these key program elements include: Contact database. As noted earlier, two consultant teams identified a list of contacts. this list was subsequently strengthened with the addition of attendees at the conference and other new contacts and inquiries. the resulting comprehensive list covers close to 200 investors, and is available from mIgA. While it is primarily intended as a database for tanzania, the list is also useful in other countries in Africa, especially those in eastern and southern Africa. Information on financing sources. Avenues of finance for investors in tourism are still perceived as insufficient. For instance, while tanzania claims over 20 commercial banks, access to credit so far has been limited to a few high-value borrowers with adequate collateral. (lending on cash flow is not seen as likely in the near future.) since 2002, however, with financial sector reforms, local banks have become more aggressive and lending rates are coming down; rates of 7-12% are becoming more common, compared to 12-18% rates a couple of years ago. In addition, a few venture capital, leasing, and credit guarantee funds are emerging. IFC recently opened an office in tanzania and is involved in leasing and support for smes.
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Box 7: Locations for Tourism Investment and Tourism Products and Characteristics
the potential sites for tourism development in tanzania are well known and include: r National Parks, Game Reserves, and Conservation Areas: sites are available for photographic and hunting safaris (in well-separated areas) in and around tanzanias national parks and reserves. r The Coastline and Off-Shore Islands: tanzania has an 804-kilometer coastline, mostly of unpolluted beaches and shores with good fishing and diving prospects. mafia Island is now a marine park devoted to big game fishing and diving. Zanzibar and pemba islands have beaches and historical settings. the mainland cost also offers many opportunities. r Historical Sites and Archaeological Treasures: tanzania has a rich heritage of archaeological, historical and rock painting sites, a number of which have been designated as World Heritage sites (e.g. the olduvai gorge, Kilwa Kisiwani, Bagamoyo and Zanzibars stone town). r Mountains: mount Kilimanjaro, Africas highest mountain and the worlds highest freestanding mountain, and the Usumbara mountains, have a terrain and climate in stark contrast to those of the coastal areas. r Lakes: the three large lakes with tourist potential include lake tanganyika as one of the worlds deepest and longest lakes (772.4 meters deep); lake victoria as source of the largest reserve of fresh water and the longest river in Africa, the nile; and lake nyasa. All three lakes provide opportunities for water sports. Tourism Products and Characteristics tanzanias tourist product is generally characterized by: its abundance, diversity, reliability and visibility (in the case of wildlife); quality and beauty of its environment and scenery; low tourist density at sites and parks; authenticity and the unique African experience and friendliness of the tanzanian people; safety; and beaches. A standout-feature in tanzanias tourist product is its ability to offer a wide range and packagable experiences and activities. given this potential, tanzania promotes the following tourism products: r Soft Adventure and Wildlife Safari Products: nearly 25% of tanzanias land has been set aside as wildlife and botanical sanctuaries, for conservational, educational, scientific, cultural and recreational purposes; Special Interest Products: these products include the coastal and island resources for marine-based interest; mountain climbing, hiking and walking; and possibilities for those seeking to pursue aspects of cultural interest; Resort Products: attractions exist to help develop resorts on the coast and on the islands, in the mountains and by the lakes, which can provide the services and facilities for quality resorts; Cultural and Historical Products: with its varied culture, tanzania has the capacity to provide a rewarding and satisfying cultural experience for a wide range of tourists. programs are underway to further conserve historical sites and areas alongside development of interpretative centers and promotion of cultural activities. A good success story is the Cultural tourism program in Arusha, which was developed via a Dutch aid project.
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Under the investor outreach program, a series of memoranda on institutions financing tourism projects was completed and made available for investors. It includes 35 international and four local financial institutions. Investment profiles. the investment profiles have proved vital for keeping in touch with potential local and foreign investors, and for encouraging the maximum involvement of business associations, such as tCt. through this element, potential investors and local developers (promoters) are kept informed of available investment opportunities and programs. In addition, investors can learn how to strengthen their proposals and meet potential partners. Following the media advertising in mid-2004 that invited local investors to send in proposals, 38 tourism investment project profiles were compiled and classified into five categories as follows: beach tourism; city properties; wildlife resorts; tour operations; and other. Investments are in the range of Us$100,000 Us$2,000,000 equivalent. Best efforts were made to ensure that the data supplied is accurate, but a full due diligence process was beyond the scope of the project. the consultants reiterated the idea that an anchor project would add interest for investors. At an earlier stage, a land reclamation and real estate development on the Dar es salaam waterfront had been proposed, but was subsequently withdrawn as too politically sensitive. the Aga Khan investments on Zanzibar (refurbishment of stone town waterfront; expansion of serena Inn) were placed on hold until after the presidential elections. Business assistance and capacity building. the msp sponsored a workshop for smes and provided technical assistance in developing business plans. mIgA developed proposals that were adopted for financing the business incubator and the guarantee fund under World Bank assistance to the private sector.23 the program also provided support to strengthen tourism-related associations, such as tCt, tanzania Association of tour operators (tAto) and the Hotel Keepers Association of tanzania (HKAt), which stepped forward to play leadership roles in partnership with tIC, mnrt and government. However, more discussion was required and additional sessions were scheduled to hammer out programs on, for example, linkages and localization of purchases. Investor outreach. to prepare for investor outreach, a full-day strategy session moderated by experienced international consultants was held in Dar es salaam. mIgA was present, along with other stakeholders. the session helped formulate a strategy targeted at investment in the context of tanzanias tourism master plan. Following this session, two outreach missions were completed: attendance at the mozambique tourism Investment Forum in maputo in october 2004; and individual representation for tanzania at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai in April 2005. the maputo mission provided an opportunity for tourism investors to interact with like-minded individuals and companies from tanzania. As a result of the Dubai mission, tanzania was offered a speaking slot for 2006 and will be the featured country for Arabian investments in sub-saharan Africa.
Moving forward
the current phase of tanzanias investor outreach program, in cooperation with the msp, will soon be completed, although pressing activities await implementation. It is important that the remaining services under the investor outreach
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program be realized efficiently and effectively in order to foster continued support, and ultimately to help take tanzanias tourism to a higher level. three main areas of planned activities are due to be implemented: information dissemination, new market outreach and capacity building. Information dissemination. this area of activity includes circulating the investment profiles to potential partners on the list, and updating investors on recent progress in tax reform and the tourism market. timely data of interest to potential investors is available that needs to be directly communicated to investors by e-mail newsletter and through the project website. New market outreach. Investment promotion trips to saudi Arabia, Qatar, oman, and Kuwait, and possibly malaysia, are necessary to help broaden tanzanias base of investment prospects. the regional focus is based on the fact that significant investment capital is currently emanating from the middle east close to Us$300 million in sub-saharan Africa in the past two to three years.24 However, this effort does not recognize that the smaller investments important to tanzanias overall plan may have little appeal in that market. sme investment could be bolstered through enhanced outreach to investors in the north still open to opportunities in tanzania; with the northern Circuit effectively under a moratorium, certain investors may be willing to look to the south. Capacity building. now that capacity building has been absorbed under the World Bank-supported private sector development (psD) operation, opportunity exists to apply appropriate funds to direct investment promotion efforts.
The Kili reopened under new ownership as the five-star Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel.
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the Kilimanjaro Kempinski aims to be the leading hotel in Dar es salaam and will levy tariffs slightly above those of other top hotels, which currently charge about Us$135 per night, plus vAt. the hotels management plans to build a large local meeting and restaurant business, and will keep restaurant and bar prices modest by international standards in tanzania. Although some investors have found tanzania a difficult environment in which to operate, this has not been true for Kempinski. the company is drawing high marks for its relations with the community. However, Kempinski did report a problem of pilfering at its work site and had to redouble its efforts in this regard.
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each with: make-up mirror and hair dryer In-room safe minibar Bathrobes Hotel Services Butler service 24-hour concierge service 7 restaurants and bars Foreign currency exchange Hairdressing salon travel agent emergency services Health and beauty spa Business center
private club luggage storage shops and boutiques Florist security parking limousine service Car rental translation services
private beach club 15 km from hotel 13 meeting rooms accommodating from 2 to 500 people Source: Management of Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel
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Next Steps
A few people have questioned the wisdom of the Kilimanjaro deal, including some who were frustrated at their own earlier efforts to close on the property. However, for the most part the project has been favorably viewed by many people and considered a catalyst for improvement in tanzanias investment climate and growth in the tourism sector, particularly among the countrys supply of high-quality hospitality services. the Kilimanjaro project certainly focused attention on Dar es salaam. the royal palm, a locally owned hotel managed by legacy of south Africa (and formerly sheraton) changed hands. It is now owned by the Kingdom group of saudi Arabia and operated under the mvenpick brand. the Kingdom group also holds the Four seasons and Fairmont brands, and it is rumored that the royal palm will be refurbished and perhaps rebranded and upgraded to five-star status. there is also word that a new conference facility may be under consideration. If true, this sort of development would create a new dynamic of both synergy and competition among investors for Dar es salaam to become a conference destination in its own right. At the same time, it is reported that a number of lesser-known hotels outside the city may be having difficulties and are threatened with challenging market conditions. With good cooperation among the key players, short-run excess capacity can be offset by a proactive approach to the conventions and incentive travel business, designed to attract large groups to the city for conventions and corporate meetings. tanzanias tourism infrastructure is also improving to handle higher travel volumes. As one example, Dar es salaam is enjoying better air service than it has for some time. It is served daily by emirates from Dubai; Klm provides daily service from Amsterdam, while south African Airways/Air tanzania provide daily service from Johannesburg; British Airways and swissair each provide service three times weekly from and to london and Zurich, respectively. As tanzania moves ahead in its development of the tourism sector and its investment promotion program, several lessons are evident in the experience that ultimately resulted in the Kilimanjaro Kempinski Hotel project and several other investments. First, development of tourism is a cross-sectoral undertaking that required a foundation and plan spearheaded by tanzanias government in conjunction with several key agencies and organizations. It was only after progress had been made on several concurrent fronts in creating and supporting a viable strategy for building the sector and coordinating the players that an investment such as the Kilimanjaro was possible. second, the tourism sector and specific investors were proactively targeted and cultivated through a highly customized program geared to the needs of both foreign and local investors. the investment forum was carefully orchestrated with the presidents full participation, which helped close the Kilimanjaro deal on the spot. moreover, the forum was not a one-time, isolated activity; its planning and follow-up activities helped put a framework and process in place to support a sustainable, scalable investment promotion program that could serve more investor markets and prospects over time. Finally, the competitiveness and growth of the tourism sector in tanzania depends largely on the quality of its services and the efficiency of other sectors involved, such as agribusiness, for example. A plan is in place to differentiate the tanzanian
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tourism product through quality and added value. While tanzanias government is not able to provide all the answers or resources alone, with a keen involvement of private sector and foreign capital in partnership, the future for tourism in tanzania is very bright.
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Annexes
Annex 1: Annex 2: Annex 3: Annex 4: Annex 5: Acronyms & Glossary Tanzania Statistical Data Tanzanias Institutional Framework for Tourism A Short History of the Kilimanjaro Hotel Evaluating The Investor Conference as a Promotional Tool
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Glossary
Includes ngorongoro Crater, serengeti plains, lake manyara and tarangire national parks and mt. Kilimanjaro olduvai gorge southeast of serengeti maasai mara on northeast border of tanzania, mostly in Kenya southern Circuit Includes the selous game reserve, ruaha and mikumi national parks Western areas gombe stream, Katavi and mahale mountains Islands Zanzibar, pemba, mafia Island other major reserves Ugalla river, Uwanda, moyowosi and Kigosi game reserves northern Circuit
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Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, Tanzania.
least competitive is 0.0; most competitive is 100.0. most competitive is number 1; least competitive is number 212. Data is not available.
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International arrivals 360,000 482,331 627,325 501,669 525,122 575,296 576,198 582,807
International hotel arrivals 345,000 457,331 564,593 479,652 501,081 550,000 552,000 562,332
Vacation and recreation 246,000 299,946 383,155 339,596 341,329 358,000 337,000 458,679
Earnings (US$ millions) 392.41 570.00 733.28 739.06 725.00 730.00 731.00 746.14
Average daily expenditure (US$) 145.00 155.50 152.00 162.8 172.58 1531 822 Number of hotels 213 215 321 326 329 465a 469a 476a 1531 822 1881 1192
Number of rooms 7,470 7,500 9,575 10,025 10,325 25,300a 30,600 30,950a
Number of beds 13,248 13,400 17,235 17,303 18,284 45,500a 55,500a 56,200a
Total tourist bed nights (in '000) 1,479 1,695 2,534 1,888 1,955 2,146 2,153 2,193
Employees in tourism 110,000 132,000 148,000 156,050 156,500 157,200 198,000 198,557
Sources: Ministry of Tourism and Natural Resources and the National Bureau of Statistics, Tanzania
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tanzania national parks Authority (tAnApA) ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (nCAA) College of African Wildlife management (CAWm), at mweka serengeti Wildlife research Institute (sWrI) tanzania Wildlife Company (tAWICo)
Within the mnrt, Forestry and Fisheries each has a division responsible for policy and planning. the Fisheries Division is responsible for marine parks. the Antiquities section was recently moved to the mnrt and is responsible for management of the countrys cultural heritage and patrimony, and the national museums. the mandate of the ttB is to promote and develop all aspects of the tourist industry. It is the agency authorized to promote tanzania by undertaking market research, generating and providing relevant tourist information and promoting tanzania internationally. Its marketing budget in 2004 was Us$600,000. the tanzania national parks Authority (tAnApA) is a management authority (of trustees) for the national parks of tanzania, created under the national parks ordinance. the trustees are under the authority of the minister. the general powers, duties and functions of trustees are to control, manage, administer and maintain the national parks. Because these national parks are the principal focus of tourism activities in
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Figure 3-1: Organization Chart of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) for the Republic of Tanzania
Minister Minister
Internal Auditor Internal Auditor Manpower Development, Manpower Development, Finance & Administration Finance & Administration
Antiquities Antiquities
HTTI HTTI
Hotel & Tourism Hotel & Tourism Training Institute Training Institute (HTTI) (HTTI) Principal Principal
Tanzania Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) Tourist Board (TTB) Managing Director Managing Director
Tourism Development Tourism Development Section Section Assistant Director Assistant Director Schedule Officers Schedule Officers
Research, Training Research, Training & Statistics & Statistics Assistant Director Assistant Director Schedule Officers Schedule Officers
Licensing & Licensing & Control Section Control Section Assistant Director Assistant Director Schedule Officers Schedule Officers
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tanzania, tAnApA is a major institution in the tourism sector. Its responsibilities include:
r
recommending sites suitable for the erection and operations, by other persons, of hotels or other buildings, for the accommodation of visitors, shops or similar undertakings; and, Controlling, operating, establishing or managing any such undertaking, or granting concessions or licenses to other person to operate such undertakings in buildings under the control of the trustees or on behalf of the trustees.
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Tanzania Air Operators Association (TAOA). tAoA represents the interests of air operators in tanzania, whose chief concern is the requirement for multiple licenses. An air operator must have four different licenses: a business license from the ministry of Industries and trade, an Air service license & Air operator's Certificate from the tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, a tAlA license from the mnrt, and a local Authorities license in the area of operation. Tanzania Hunters Association (TAHOA). tAHoA represents hunting interests in the policy dialogue with the government. the Association sets standards for its 20 members and admits as members those who observe tAHoAs code of ethics. Its members represent the larger hunting organizations and, therefore, a majority of visiting hunters. the complex regulations for the hunting concessions are established by the Department of Wildlife. In the case of a member having legal problems because of its hunting operations, tAHoA pays the legal fees, on the grounds that success for the respective member benefits all members by establishing a legal precedent.
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tAnApA has initiated several activities in community involvement, including those in conjunction with the marine parks and reserves Board, UsAID/AWF, the Cultural tourism program and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). through tAnApAs Community Conservation services program, local communities living around national parks derive benefits as incentives for conservation through a special fund. the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has funded tanzanias program, traveling Fair: Developing and marketing tourism ventures with southern Communities. the programs objective is to enable coffee-farming communities in two communities in tanzania with established tourist industries to diversify their income streams by developing sustainable, community-owned tourism enterprises.
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at 30% and losses may be carried forward for five years. As is the case in many countries, tourism investment promotion is often carried out separately from other investment promotion by a related tourist agency. In fact, ttB and the Department of tourism are both active in promoting investment in tourism in tanzania. Up until 2003, tIC had approved a total of 422 tourism projects, including new and upgraded hotels, tour companies and travel agents and restaurants.
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the Kilimanjaro had dropped to about Us$3 million. there was uncertainty as to whether the old hotel could be refurbished or whether it would have to be razed and rebuilt from the ground up. Under either scenario, it was clear that substantial investment was required to return the Kilimanjaro either to its original state or to a much higher standard. the Kilimanjaro Hotel was sold for Us$3 million as a sale of assets to Albwardy Investments of Dubai, following a deal struck at the investor forum in Arusha in october 2002.
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Hone and update their investment message Identify and resolve contradictions test perceived areas of national competitiveness Update their marketing materials and refresh mailing lists spread the net to catch hovering prospects reinforce the confidence of current investors motivate administrators and politicians and support the public-private sector dialogue Update both local and foreign investor prospects on opportunities offered in the economy spread the word on the locations commitment to investment throughout the society provide a host of new prospects for subsequent follow up.
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Understand the pitfalls. In the worst case, a conference is organized on very short notice (less than six months), the countrys investment promotion intermediaries devote considerable effort to the planning, and routine business (including investment facilitation) is set aside. little strategic preparation is undertaken, and the multi-day conference comprises a succession of political and bureaucratic leaders delivering lectures (most running over time) to an audience of administrators and a few local organized business participants and local investors, who use the opportunity to reinforce their political access. After the conference, exhausted investment promotion staff return to deal with routine business, and little, if any follow-up to the event is conducted.
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Endnotes
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It is interesting to note that UnCtAD entitles its World Investment report, 2004, the shift towards services. see: http://www.unctad.org. earnings for tourism are from the ImF, Balance of payments (Bop) statistics; exports of goods and services data are taken from the balance of payments data from the economic survey 2004, government of tanzania. these hotels include: the Holiday Inn Hotel with 152 rooms, golden tulip Hotel with 100 rooms, the mvenpick royal palm Hotel with 250 rooms, Courtyard Hotel with 55 rooms, Beachcomber Hotel with 48 rooms, Blue Bay Beach Hotel (Zanzibar). United republic of tanzania, ministry of natural resources and tourism, tourism master plan: strategies and Actions, Final summary Update, April 2002. selous, mikumi, Udzungwa and ruaha. 1999 was the peak year with some 627,325, but this may be a statistical error. World travel and tourism Council, london, an international association of chief executives in the travel and tourism industry, which has emerged as the industrys advocate in world fora. Adapted from the website, www.albwardy.com, and an interview with company officials. Adapted from www.Kempinski.com. no. 26 of 1997. Detailed information about tanzanian investment incentives can be found on mIgAs website, www.mIgA.org, or tICs website at http://www.tic.co.tz. privatisation in tanzania, october 2004, prepared by the psrC, United republic of tanzania. this program funded a review of tourism in tanzania and FDI exchange trips with Asia. see evaluation of the promote Africa program, an independent study conducted by mIgA for the government of Japan, policy and Human resources Development Fund, June 2002. At the sea Cliff Hotel. It is interesting to note that in the budget speech of 2005, the minister of Finance removed the prepayment condition, struck down a number of nuisance taxes and introduced reforms to the tanzania revenue Authority. At the same time, the mnrt is introducing a new tourism law, whose principal goal is to simplify licensing by introducing a single license application process, although there are still multiple licenses.
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tanzania, Diagnostic trade Integration study, may 2005, World Bank, Washington D.C. A closed bidding process can contribute to an environment in which the same insiders bid on all investment projects, foreclosing access to investment opportunities by new entrants. the World Bank, IFC, Development Bank of south Africa and the european Union participated. By Albwardy Investment, the same group investing in the Kilimanjaro Hotel. the school will be located behind the Holiday Inn. e2.5 million; based on conversion rate of 1eUr = 1.255 UsD. the two consulting firms were DAImA Associates and DCDm. It was beyond the mandate of mIgA to directly finance the business incubator and the guarantee fund. For example: Kilimanjaro, Zamani and mali Kempinskis, sale of royal palm, Dar es salaam (now mvenpick); sale of Kampala sheraton; in mozambique, rani investments (pemba Beach and Indigo Bay hotels), sale of polana Hotel to serena (Aga Khan) and its refurbishment. the ministry of trade, marketing, Industry and tourism is responsible for tourism policy and its implementation in Zanzibar. there are three agencies responsible for tourism in Zanzibar: the Zanzibar tourism Commission, created under the tourism promotion Act of 1996; the Zanzibar Investment promotion Agency (ZIpA) created under the 1986 Investment Act; and the Commission for land and environment. Detailed information about tanzanian investment incentives can be found on mIgAs website, www.miga.org, or tICs website, www.tic.co.tz. World Bank project Completion report June 29, 1989. the total project cost was Us$20 million, of which the credit was Us$14 million. the project covered rehabilitation of seven hotels and five lodges owned by ttC, equipping of a hotel training facility, technical assistance and vehicles and equipment to enable tAnApA and ngorongoro Conservation Authority in its anti-poaching efforts. the tAHI lodges are: loba lodge (manyara), serenero lodge (serengeti) and the ngorongoro lodge (ngorongoro).
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www.miga.org