Ministers call on ATA members to support association

Africa Travel Association (ATA) members have been asked to support the association’s Board of Directors in raising sufficient funds to market the continent as a tourist destination.

The request was made recently by the Gambian Minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, after her election as new ATA president at the association’s just-ended 35th Annual Congress held at Banjul.

She succeeds Tanzanian Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism Shamsa Mwangunga, who was appointed ATA president in May 2008 at the 33rd Annual Congress in Arusha.

Speaking to ATA delegates, at the closing session, Jobe-Njie outlined three areas of priority for ATA members in order to meet the intended goals during her presidency.

She noted that as ATA's members “we need to help the Board of Directors to raise sufficient funds to carry out the socuiety’s programmes; we have to be very aggressive in the membership drive; and make sure that the members actively participate in the association.”

To accomplish the goals, she asked for “the members support and the stakeholders of tourism in Africa so that we can meet the intended goals”.

Highlighting the importance of tourism as an engine for economic growth and prosperity, she said that due to that aspect ATA members needed to join their efforts with and work in partnership with members of the public to promote the travel and tourism industry to and within Africa.

“As Gambia we are very glad to host this event and hopes that our infectious spirit will inspire other countries and tourism stakeholders to take action,” she said.

For his part, ATA's Executive Director Edward Bergman, said the association’s members, friends and supporters have shown that “we are truly committed to promote tourism to Africa as a means to forstering socio-economic development,”

“I know that when we go back to our home countries, we will continue to work in partnership with tourism stakeholders in the public and private sectors to promote the industry and inspire others to follow our example,” Bergman said.

Also during the on-going congress, ATA announced a number of milestones for making a strong case for increased investment in Africa’s tourism industry. They include the launch of a joint effort by New York University’s Africa House and the World Bank and ATA to make a case for developing Africa’s tourism industry with the preparation of the joint publication—the State of Tourism in Africa. Using facts, figures and stories, the report paints a picture of the current and potential impact of tourism on both a country’s and a region’s development strategy.

The report also advocates for increased attention and resource allocation from national governments to the tourism industry.

Apart from that the Gambia Organising Committee announced its commitment to hosting the first “Carbon Off-Set Free” ATA congress.

During the industry workshops and networking events, ATA and UNWTO engaged in discussions on how the two global organizations would pursue collaboration and cooperation in the areas of travel and tourism development in Africa in the future.

In what has become an ATA congress tradition over the last few years, Mwangunga hosted a special evening of dinner and dancing.

Top 10 Reasons To Visit Tanzania

Tanzania is country so wealthy that it would practically take years to document all the resources. Not only is the country proud to bear witness to the highest and largest free standing mountain in the world but also to the rich and diverse wildlife concentrations, mineral and other resources available. If Africa's tourism opportunities were to be summarized by one single country that country would be Tanzania.

Visit Tanzania For Its:

1. Wildlife Watching and Nature Safaris: Tanzania prides huge numbers of wildlife spread all over the country and each of these wildlife display their own characteristics particular to the ecosystem. With Tanzania's national park and game reserves located so remotely such as Selous and Mahale Mountains, Ilmaasai Expedition guests have the opportunity to view one of Africa's few resources preserved by nature and almost untouched by mankind. Tanzania's rich biodiversity can be done by taking a count of the following: 3000 lions in the Selous, regular sightings of African Hunting dogs in Ruaha extinct in most parts of Africa, Chimpanzees in Mahale and Gombe in their natural habitat, circumambulation of a million wildebeests in the Serengeti and the list goes on.
Visiting Tanzania On A Wildlife And Nature Safari Ascertains A Once In A Lifetime Experience Unlike Anything Guests Have Encountered.

2. Specialized Chimpanzee Safari Program: Tanzania hails the great majestic mountains of Mahale, home to hundreds of chimpanzees. Guests visiting Tanzania can undertake a specialized Chimpanzee trekking safari to the southwestern national parks of Mahale Mountains and Gombe Stream.
Visit Tanzania And Undertake A Specialized Chimpanzee Safari.

3. Active Adventure: Climb the "Natural Wonder Of The World". Mount Kilimanjaro being easily accessible has been the dream of many athletes and adventurers who wish to experience and pride themselves of having been to the roof of Africa. The variety of routes suited for varying lifestyles makes Mount Kilimanjaro a must climb for people who just want to experience nature or view the ecosystems and terrains. For those ready to take up the challenge, opportunities exist to make it all the way to the top with the help of professional and certified guides and porters. If climbing Mount Kilimanjaro isn't a thrill enough, Ilmaasai guests can trek up Ol Donyo Lengai Mountain of God, which remains an active volcano mountain to date. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life was filmed at Ol Donyo Lengai - Mountain of God.
Experience Authentic Adventure, Filled With Fun Like Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, A Possibility For Most Any Individual. 

4. Indian Ocean Beach Vacation: Ilmaasai Expedition guests can take time from their busy schedule to enjoy a real vacation far away from anything they normally do. Tanzania's multiple Indian Ocean Islands provides guests the opportunity to select their beach spot just they way they prefer it. Considering that less than a million visitors come to Tanzania over a given year, guests can be assured their experience remains personalized and private. While in Zanzibar, sit out on the soft white sandy beach under a palm thatch umbrella watching the sparkling turquoise blue waters totally mesmerize you.
Visit Tanzania And Have The Option To Select From The Islands Of Zanzibar, Pemba And Mafia Or Visit The Coastal Shores Of Tanzania To Experience A Relaxing Beach Vacation.

5. Eco-Tourism Experience: More increasingly our guests are asking us for a true genuine African experience vacation. An African experience that is run by indigenous people of Africa in a environment where your stay is at accommodations built by indigenous people of Africa, and where the revenue from your spending actually and directly assists the indigenous population be self sufficient and self reliant. Apart from visiting the Maasai homesteads, take for example the experience at Chumbe Island where the accommodation has been designed in natural material. Food served comes from the freshest produces. While guests staying there have the opportunity to enjoy the offerings such as snorkeling and also learning about the lodge's effort in preserving and sustaining the islands ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Come Visit Tanzania And Experience What The Country Is Doing To Preserve The Environment While Creating Superb Tourism Opportunities For AfricanMecca Guests.

6. Historical Experience: Walk in the footsteps of great explorers and adventures that roamed Tanzania. Visit the exact spot in Ujiji, southwestern Tanzania, where centuries ago the phrase "Dr Livingstone I presume" was uttered. Visit Zanzibar and Bagamoyo and learn about slave trade history and its effects or at Kilwa were incredible ruins that are extant till today.
Come To Tanzania And Experience History As It Is Unfolded.

7. Cultural Experience: Tanzania's varying tribes and cultures provides an excellent opportunity for guests to encounter other ways of life, rites and rituals. Guests visiting the various parts of the country such as the Usambara Mountains can take a tour of the local communities or can visit Zanzibar and interact with the Zanzibaris participating in their day-to-day activities. Also, in Zanzibar guests have the opportunity to under take spices tours, which will liven the human senses with sweet smelling aromas of the various plants used in our food today.
Visiting Tanzania Definitely Adds A Whole New Perspective To The Human Experience.

8. Marine Experience: Tanzania's offers an underwater paradise for marine enthusiasts visiting Pemba, Mafia and Zanzibar with many interesting reefs featuring shallow rocky areas that suddenly drop off into vertiginous crevasses, 40 meters deep. With steep walls covered in colorful sponges and Gorgonia, divers will find such diverse life as Brittlestars, Langoustines, and Moray Eels. Some reefs are like undersea mountains, wreathed with seaweeds and corals, and teeming with colorful fish.
Tanzania Provides A Wonderful Opportunity To View The Diverse Marine Species In Various Locations Within One Country.

9. Relaxation, Peace and Pristine Beauty: Tanzania's offers peace and relaxation program where guests can take off to remote places like Kigoma located on the shores of the great Lake Tanganyika and spend their days from the comforts of their room gazing at the majestic vistas of the lake and further, or visit remote islands of Mafia where they can have their rooms facing the ocean. Guests can relax and enjoy the warm Indian Ocean breeze and spend their best moments of their life in Africa.
Experience Complete Relaxation In Tanzania Far Away From Your Daily Activities

10. Eight Wonder Of The World: If all the above reasons have not made you certain that Tanzania is the place to visit, the presence of Ngorongoro Crater, the undocumented "Eight Wonder of the World" should change your mind. Sit back and relax in the comforts of your lodge balcony and view the incredible awesomeness of the crater.
Visit Tanzania And Witness The Eight Wonder Of The World

Colors of the maasai

The Great Migration

Above are the season of the extraordinary annual Great Migration of wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. It is one of the greatest spectacles in the natural world. Over two million herbivores partake in this journey, with about 200 000 zebra and 500 000 Thomson's gazelle behind the main players... one-and-a-half million wildebeest!