By ADAM IHUCHA--
Tanzania is undertaking a major onslaught on illegally
run tour firms over non-payment of taxes and the possibility of being a hideout
for criminal elements.
A scrutiny which
begun in May 2013, has so far, identified nearly 100 unlicensed companies, denying
the state around Tsh 320 million or $200,000 in license fee alone.
More
recently, the deputy director of tourism, Mr Zahoro Kimwaga presented the blacklisted tour firms to Tanzania nation
parks (TANAPA) headquarters in Arusha for action.
TANAPA Spokesperson, Pascal Shelutete says that they
have circulated the blacklisted firms to the chief park wardens in all 15
national parks in a bid to deny the firms access to the parks.
Mr Shelutete said that the chief park wardens are
expected to display the names of the alleged unlicensed tour companies at their
respective parks entrance.
“The exercise is extremely complex on our part as we
do not want disappoint tourists who have booked safaris through these
blacklisted tour companies” he explained.
Controller and Auditor General (CAG) Ludovick Utouh
said that the treasury in 2012 lost $158,000 or Tsh252.8 million as fees from
dishonest tour operators alone.
“This is contrary to regulation 4 of the tourism
(fees and charges) regulations of 2009,” says Mr Utouh in his latest report.
Key industry players say that there are hundreds of unlicensed tour operators than what the CAG has managed to unearth.
“There could be 750
bogus or briefcase tour firms operating in Tanzania. Going by annual license
fee of $2000, it means that treasury loses $1.5 million or Tsh 2.4 billion
annually” Arusha based tour operator said in condition of anonymity.
Tanzania is a home
to nearly 1,050 tour companies, but it is estimated that only 300 firms are
genuine firms with clean record.
Tanzania
Association of tour Operators Association (TATO) with 302-membership base
commended the government for the move, saying the crook tour operators cause
irreparable damage to the tourism destination.
“These illegal tour
companies are
posing unfair competition in the tourism at the expense of reliable firms and
thus denying the treasury taxes” TATO Acting Executive Secretary, Sirili Akko says.
Mr Akko was
of the view that the state should also prosecute the culprits behind the bogus
companies, vowing to provide all necessary support.
Intelligence
sources say that the far-reaching
onslaught on illegal tour operators is also meant to trace criminal elements.
“There are crooks who tarnish the country’s image by
blackmailing tourists. We want to get rid of this menace for our best interests
of tourism growth” the source said.
Few months ago, four tourists from Norway were
blackmailed $12,000 or Tsh 19.2 million in Arusha by unscrupulous tour
operator, compelling Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) in collaboration with police to
rescue the innocent visitors.
Tourism industry contributes immensely
to the Tanzania national economy.
For instance, in 2012, tourism figures stood at one million foreign visitors
and leave behind a $1.8 billion, equivalent to nearly 17.6 percent of GDP.
Tourism provides 400,000 direct jobs to
Tanzanians; over one million Tanzanians earn an income from tourism.
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