TANZANIA (eTN) – It was Obama, Obama in all local dailies here in Tanzania Monday, while almost all residents in Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam were speaking of nothing more than this American President whose roots are in Africa.

It sounded like a holiday before and after Mr. Obama landed at the Julius Nyerere International Airport at 1440 hours (1340 GMT). All roads leading to the center of the Dar es Salaam city remained with no vehicles while few passenger buses plied the roads.

“We are happy to see our African brother coming to visit us here in Africa. We humbly welcome him to his continent of origin,” a cheerful Mary Paul told eTN while waiting for Mr. Obama’s speeding motorcade.

While in Tanzania, Obama is expected to sign an executive order aimed at combating wildlife trafficking in Africa, particularly the sale of rhinoceros horns and elephant tusks.

The US State Department will provide US$10 million to train and assist African authorities fighting the illegal poaching and selling of animals and animal parts. Grant Harris, the Senior Director for Africa for the National Security Council, said rhinoceros horns sell for US$30,000 a pound on the black market.

There has been an outcry from wildlife conservationists, asking the US President to address poaching problems facing elephants in Tanzania and Africa, coupled with illegal export of live animals from Tanzania and Africa.

Under the order to be signed Tuesday (today) by Mr. Obama, the State Department will provide US$10 million to train and assist African authorities fighting the illegal poaching and selling of animals and animal parts.

Mr. Obama will announce and unveil a new US$7 billion “Power Africa” program to enhance Africa’s electric power networks. He will deliver a speech on electricity access in Africa before returning to Washington early in the afternoon.

On his way to visit the power plant, Mr. Obama will stop at a memorial for the deadly 1998 embassy bombing, just outside the Dar es Salaam city center.

He held a meeting on Monday with Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and discussed trade with business leaders before a joint dinner.

In view of the official visit of American President Barack Obama to Tanzania, there is a big demand for more international hotels to be established in strategic cities, including Dar es Salaam and Arusha which all play key role to host international visitors and high-profile personalities.

Taking a quick survey in most parts of Dar es Salaam, all big and international class accommodation facilities have been booked to accommodate a big delegation accompanying the US president.

Other than the US Head of State, several meetings have taken place during a week ahead of Mr. Obama’s official visit. Lack of many standard and international high class hotels had so far denied Tanzania a chance to reap more revenue from these facilities.

Damas Mfugale, Chairman of the Hotels Association of Tanzania (HAT), said Tanzania needs high-class hotels and lodges in strategic cities to cater to big events like the visit of Mr. Obama, the just-ended Smart Partnership Dialogue Meeting, and the First Lady’s meeting, which all brought to the country prominent personalities.

“We need more standard and classified hotels of the international standards and calibers. We need these facilities to provide visitor services when Tanzania gets a big delegation like the one accompanying the American President,” he said.

There has been a crisis weeks before Mr. Obama’s visit in which several visitors and tourists complained of failing to book rooms in big hotels as most were booked for Mr. Obama’s delegation and other accommodation facilities were fully booked to accommodate heads of state who were attending the Smart Partnership Dialogue meeting which ended last weekend.

All five- and four-star hotels have been fully booked a week earlier. Hotels located at the city center of Dar es Salaam and beach hotels were booked in advance by different delegates accompanying Mr. Obama.

Mr. Obama’s delegation comprises some 500 American businessmen, Secret Service agents, about 200 journalists, and other supporting staff.

The accommodation crisis was observed when about 15 heads of state and government and business executives from around the world attended the Smart Partnership Dialogue meeting which ended last weekend. All the presidents and first ladies brought with them tens of aides and body guards.

A combined capacity of 1,300 rooms in fairly luxury hotels such as Serena, Hyatt Regency Kilimanjaro Hotel, Southern Sun, Double Tree, Holiday Inn, and White Sand were all fully booked for the official events, while tourists and other guests were directed to book and stay in Bagamoyo beach resorts, some 65 kilometers from Dar es Salaam.

Mr. Mfugale said his association, HAT, was looking at getting classified hotels which would meet demands for the growing tourist sector and business in Dar es Salaam, coupled with the fast-growing investment opportunities in Tanzania.

Hotel investment in Tanzania has been moving at a snail’s pace, derailing tourism development in terms of visitor arrivals. Tanzania is facing a shortage of tourism rooms in key tourist sites, towns, and the capital city of Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam leads in accommodation facility investments, mostly big hotels of international standards, including Serena Hotel, Southern Sun, Hyatt Kilimanjaro Hotel, Peacock Hotel, Double Tree Hilton Hotel, and Sea Cliff Hotel. In total, Tanzania has 174 registered hotels, lodges, resorts, hostels, and guest houses – all located in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Mwanza, Mbeya, Dodoma, Tanga, and other regions.

According to an official from the Ministry of Tourism, a big chunk of registered hotels, lodges, and guest houses have not been graded while carrying out their business unprofessionally with poor services delivery.