The agreement was signed in Tanzania’s commercial city of Dar es Salaam between Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Ms. Angellah Kairuki and Qatari Ambassador to Tanzania Mr. Fahad Rashid Al Marekhi.
“We believe Tanzania will be able to promote its tourism attractions during forums, including exhibitions, to be held in Qatar,” said Kairuki at the end of talks held between the two senior officials at the headquarters of the Tanzania Tourist Board. She said the agreement will also enhance cooperation between Tanzania and Qatari tourism stakeholders, including tour operators, travel agents, and hotel associations.
The two countries agreed to hold tourism forums in both countries to promote the tourism sector, Kairuki added. Qatar and Tanzania have earlier agreed to forge stronger bonds in cultural heritage development between the two states.
The partnership between Qatar and Tanzania was aimed at enriching cultural exchanges and invigorating artistic and sporting landscapes.
Qatar Airways currently flies to Tanzania and has been a major carrier in getting visitors to various tourist attractive sites including the wildlife parks.
Tanzania is expected to participate in the third edition of Qatar Travel Mart (QTM2024) to take place from November 25th to 27th this year at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
Qatar Travel Mart aims to support and enhance the competitiveness of the tourism sector in Qatar by bringing together inbound and outbound tourism, providing a market for mutual relations between tourism companies inside and outside Qatar, and promoting tourism resources and cultures, reports from Doha said.
The event is expected to attract several countries around the world and will showcase popular travel destinations and the latest trends in Business, Leisure, Luxury, Medical, Cultural, Sports, and Halal tourism.
It will also provide opportunities for new investments in the development of tourism and include a high-level conference for discussions and insights from regional and international tourism experts. The event will be attended by international associations, senior-level executives, and decision-makers from the tourism sector, QTM 2024 organizers said in a statement.
Other than tourism, Tanzania is eyeing the expanding meat markets in the Middle East, mostly in Qatar and its neighboring Gulf States taking advantage of Qatar Airways flights to Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
Qatar is currently the leading importer of meat from Tanzania, consuming about a quarter of Tanzania’s total meat export per year with expectations to surpass 5,112 tons per year in forthcoming years.
Reports from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries in Tanzania show that Qatar is currently the leading importer of fresh meat from Tanzania among the other twelve major importers of Tanzanian fresh meat.
Qatar imported about 8,425 tons of meat worth about US dollars 35 million ($ 35 million) between 2022 and 2023, a report from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said.
Tanzanian meat processing companies have exported about 14,701 tons of beef worth over US dollars 57 million ($ 57 million) to the Gulf States and South East Asia during the past two years.
