By ADAM IHUCHA --In a move to raise its tourism profile,
Tanzania has completed its
costly hotel classification exercise in Manyara region, only to find out that
just one lodge qualified for five-star status.
Experts say that the wildlife-rich-country, needs more five-star hotels to attract
high-class tourists and global competitiveness in the hospitality industry.
The exercise that
cost nearly Tsh 100 million ($62,500) involved a total of 33 hotels and lodges where,
in turn, it unearthed heart-broken truth that majority of properties
are bearing the hotel or lodge tags, but in reality are mere guesthouses.
In the process, a
total of 12 facilities were disqualified as unfit for classification, whereas the
remaining 21 properties underwent the assessment process.
Recently, Permanent secretary for Natural Resources and
tourism, Ms Maimuna Tarishi conferred Tarangire Sopa Lodge
with a five-star ranking, becoming the first and only property in the wildlife-rich-region of
Manyara to attain such status.
Located within Tarangire, one of the key
national parks forming the legendary Tanzania northern tourism circuit, experts
say, sopa lodge has met all the five-stars hotel criteria set by the East
African Community (EAC).
“Aided by the rolling plains of
Tarangire national park with awe-inspiring views, Sopa lodge with 75 luxurious
rooms, is the best both in terms of structures and personalized services,” says
the expert, Doroth Massawe.
Commenting, a Sopa
lodge group operations Manager, Kennedy Ayoti, HSC, says the five-star award is
a reflection on the efforts put in by management and staff.
“Quality is our key driver in all we do
as a team and the people are our greatest source of pride as a business. They
have passion for customer service and that sets us apart!” Mr Ayoti explains.
Testifying, one of
Sopa lodge staff, Veronica Mbise says the management normally offers them an
opportunity for regular carrier advancement in a bid to cater for tourist’s
diversities.
Tarangire Sopa Lodge Manager, Dedan Ogelo said his lodge
offers modern hotel services and amenities and that’s what makes them different
in the entire Tarangire national Park.
Four-stars and others
According
to the list, two hotels
have managed to scoop four stars, eleven others earned three stars, and four
properties got two stars status.
The Arusha Regional
Commissioner, Mr Magessa Mulongo who handed over the issued certificates and
hotel grading star placards declared And Beyond, Lake Manyara Tree Lodges, as
the two which earned four stars rankings.
Facilities that won
three stars include the Tarangire Safari Lodge, Kirurumo Under-Canvas Lodge,
the Eco-Science, Science Centre & Luxury Lodge, Un-Lodge En Afrique Tented
Lodge, Tarangire Tree tops Lodge, Maramboi Tented Lodge and Roika Tented Lodge.
Campsites were also
not left behind with Kikoti Safari Camp getting four stars, Sanctuary Swala
Tented Camp earning three stars, Balloon Tarangire Tented Camp also getting
three stars.
Three stars also
conferred to Maweninga Tented Camp, and Tarangire River Camp.
Oliver’s Camp,
Manyara Ranch Conservancy Tented Camp and Lake Burunge Tented Camp have been awarded
two stars each as far as the Manyara hotel classification exercise is
concerned.
This is the second
leg after the pioneer hotel-grading exercise was conducted in Dar es Salaam and
Coast Regions in the first half of 2010 covered a total of sixty six (66)
accommodation establishments where only three of hotels qualified for the
top-end five Stars status.
The Hotel which used
to be known as Kilimanjaro Hotel Kempinski during the grading exercise (Now
Hyatt Regency) and the one which was then called, Movenpick Royal Palm (Now
Serena) Hotel and the Sea Cliff Hotel are the only ones that scooped the five
Star’s mark.
In Dar es Salaam,
most of the classified properties were found to be of three star grades
accounting for 25 of the hotels, while the four stars were just 12, those with
two stars were 16 and the lowest single star grade was attained by 10 properties.
Should the current
global economy remains unwavering, Tanzania hopes the number of tourist
arrivals in will hit 1.2 million this year, up from one million visitors in
2013, earning the economy close to $2.25 billion, up from the last year’s $1.88
billion.
According to the
five-year marketing blueprint rolled out in 2013, Tanzania anticipates to
welcome two million tourists by the close of 2017, boosting the revenue from
the current $1.88 billion to nearly $3.8 billion.
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