Tanzania's tourism revenues jump to Sh243b in 2018

Tourists at Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. [Photo: Courtesy]

Tanzania’s earnings from tourism jumped 7.13 per cent last year, helped by an increase in arrivals from foreign visitors, the government said on Friday.

Tourism is the main source of hard currency in Tanzania, best known for its beaches, wildlife safaris and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Revenues from tourism fetched Sh243b (USD2.43 billion) for the year, up from Sh219b ($2.19 billion) in 2017, prime minister Kassim Majaliwa said in a presentation to parliament.

Tourist arrivals totalled 1.49 million last year, compared with 1.33 million a year ago, Majaliwa said.

President John Magufuli’s government said it wants to bring in 2 million visitors a year by 2020.