Catalyzing Tourism Development for Conservation in Southern Tanzania: A Master Plan for Public and Private Sector Investment
- Client: Dalberg Global Development Advisors, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Partners: Government of Tanzania (GOT)
- Project Duration: January 2015 – May 2015
Project Description
Solimar was engaged to help draft a master plan for conservation-friendly tourism development in southern Tanzania, including national commitments by tourism-dependent businesses to participate and invest. The master plan articulates a shared roadmap for tourism development in the South including physical infrastructure and investments as well as policy and regulatory concerns to enhance tourism in the region.
The Government of Tanzania aims to leverage the success of tourism in the north of the country to expand conservation-friendly tourism development to the southern part of the country. The majority of Tanzania’s elephants live in Ruaha National Park and south to the Mozambique border, framed by mountains in the west and beaches to the east in an area that is relatively undiscovered but has significant potential for travelers. In addition to bringing much needed employment and trade, development of sustainable tourism in the south is anticipated to raise revenue for conservation while discouraging poaching and forest degradation that threaten the region.
Developing a Master Plan required an assessment of the tourism products, market potential, and associated public and private sector investment required to develop tourism in southern Tanzania. In close collaboration with the government of Tanzania and tourism stakeholder, this information was then distilled into a master plan for the region.
Major Activities
- Conduct stakeholder consultations in person and workshops in support of Master Plan development.
- Field assessment of tourism circuits, issues and opportunities in Southern Tanzania and their potential impact on conservation including consultation, document review, and analysis.
- Draft Tourism Master Plan with information, analysis and recommendations based on the assessment.
- Conduct a secondary workshop to present findings to tourism and related stakeholders and seek further input into the draft Master Plan.
- Finalize Southern Tanzania Tourism Master Plan.
Anticipated Results
- Increased collaboration among the Government of Tanzania, the private sector, and conservation stakeholders.
- Define a vision and road map for the development of conservation friendly tourism in southern Tanzania
- Implement the Master Plan to expand conservation-friendly tourism development to the southern part of the country and discourage poaching and forest degradation in the region.
- Generate expressions of interest from potential private sector developers and investors for tourism in southern Tanzania.
