The case between the South African Predator Breeders Association and two other applicants versus the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism regarding the validity of ToPS regulations designed to regulate the hunting of captive-bred lions was heard on the 1st and 2nd of December 2008 and judgment was handed down yesterday dismissing the application with costs.

“We welcome this judgement and believe that the principles of ethical, humane treatment of all species should never be compromised for the economic enrichment of a few, as has been the case with canned hunting practices in South Africa,” says EWT CEO, Yolan Friedmann. “Mahatma Ghandi believed that you judge a nation by the way that it treats it animals. We therefore believe that if this judgement brings South Africa one step closer to addressing some of the cruel, unethical practices employed for financial gain which cast a shadow on this nation, that it is a breakthrough not only for lions but for all South Africans.”

The case dealt with the challenge launched by a group of lion breeders against the validity of certain provisions of the ToPS Regulations drafted in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 10 of 2004. The Regulations that were challenged dealt with trophy hunting of captive bred lions, or what has been commonly termed as “Canned Lion Hunting”. The breeders requested that the provision requiring captive bred lions to be set free for a period of 24 months before being hunted be removed. The applicants also requested the court to set aside the provisions which render the future breeding of lions for canned hunts, illegal.

Judge van der Merwe, in his ruling, supported a widely held view that the hunting of lions bred and raised in captivity, and which are therefore totally dependent on humans for their survival, “abhorrent and repulsive”. On the facts of the case, the Court found no procedural unfairness in the development of the ToPS regulations. The Court also confirmed that it is practically and physically possible to comply with the provision requiring captive bred lions to be set free for 24 months before being hunted and that the argument that the financial implications of this provision are too onerous was not relevant in the application of these regulations, which aim to provide for the management and conservation of biological diversity within the Republic of South Africa.

Judge van der Merwe further noted that canned hunting is a blight on the reputation of the country and that it does not contribute to biodiversity conservation objectives, is an inhumane and unethical practice and in fact may pose a threat to conservation. The Court also found that “economic considerations may never be used to condone or ignore practices that either compromise the country's biodiversity, undermine the humane treatment of hunted animals, or that may taint the reputation of the hunting industry in the long run”. This is in accordance with the view of most hunters across the globe who ascribe to the principles of fair chase and believe that “the shooting of a lion in too small an enclosure where the game animal has no reasonable chance to escape or has recently been translocated violates the core principle of fair chase".

“What remains to be determined is the fate of the estimated 4 000 lions currently sitting in captive breeding facilities across the country,” says Friedmann.  “We urge government to immediately begin a process of addressing this situation, to avert a welfare crisis in which these animals could fall prey to neglect and further cruel treatment if they have now lost their economic value to the breeders. A victory may have been won in court yesterday but to these animals whose lives so far have been nothing more than a caged existence to provide a trophy to an unethical hunter, their future remains uncertain and may not necessarily be any better.”

The Endangered Wildlife Trust is working with a large number of other NGOs, including conservation, animal welfare and animal protection NGOs, to develop an ethical, humane proposal which may avert the continuance of cruelty being metered down to Africa’s King of the Beasts. We are sure that we speak for all of these organisations when we welcome and applaud the decision of Judge van der Merwe when he ruled on this abhorrent practice.

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) is a non-governmental, non-profit, conservation organisation, founded in 1973 and operating throughout southern Africa. The EWT conserves threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa by initiating research and conservation action programmes, implementing projects which mitigate threats facing species diversity and supporting sustainable natural resource management.

Source: Received via email from Yolan Friedmann | Endangered Wildlife Trust | 12 June 2009

Rich in diversity: the Vhembe biosphere reserve

South Africa added a sixth biosphere reserve to its tally when the Vhembe region of Limpopo province became one of 22 newly proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

The 22 new biospheres, located in 17 countries, were added to Unesco's World Network of Biosphere Reserves during the 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme. The total now stands at 553 sites in 107 countries.

Unesco's Man and the Biosphere programme addresses the impact of man on the environment by studying the social, ecological and economic implications of biodiversity loss. It then takes steps to minimise this loss through sharing of knowledge, research and monitoring, education and training, and multilateral decision-making.

Biosphere reserves are nominated by their governments for inclusion to the Man and the Biosphere programme.

Whether they are terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine in nature, all are experimental areas where different approaches to integrated environmental management are tested. This is important as it helps to deepen our knowledge of what works in conservation and sustainable development.

The other new world biosphere sites range from the sacred Mount Myohyang in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to the tiger reserve of Similipal in eastern India and the island of Fuerteventura off the coast of Spain, and Australia's Great Sandy marine area.

Vast biodiversity
South Africa's six biosphere sites are Kogelberg (added in 1998), Cape Winelands (2007), Cape West Coast Reserve (2000, with an extension in 2003), the Waterberg (2001), the Kruger to Canyons Reserve (2001), and Vhembe. This is a tshiVenda name for the mighty Limpopo River symbolising life. 

The new addition is situated in the northeast of Limpopo province. It is famous not only for its bird and animal life, but also for its rich cultural history, dating far back to the awe-inspiring rock paintings of the San people. Vhembe encompasses the ancient African kingdoms of Thulamela and Mapungubwe. The latter is one of South Africa's eight world heritage sites and was inscribed on the Unesco list in 2003.

Vhembe includes the northern part of the Kruger Park, the Makuleke Wetlands, which are protected under the international Ramsar Convention, the Soutpansberg and Blouberg bio-diversity hot spots, and the Makgabeng Plateau, which boasts hundreds of rock art sites.

Economy in the region is driven mainly by agriculture. As it falls into the subtropical belt of the country, crops are usually fruits and vegetables. There is also a substantial cattle farming industry.

Natural treasures
Vhembe is preceded by five biosphere reserves that cover an amazing diversity of landscapes, plants and animals. 

The 100 000ha Kogelberg reserve on the country's southern coast sits in the middle of the world heritage Cape Floral Region. Home to an extravagant 1 880 different plant species, 77 of which are found only in this region, the Kogelberg is richer than the South American rainforest in terms of sheer biodiversity. Economy is boosted by apple farming, commercial pine forests, and tourism.

The Cape West Coast biosphere reserve starts in Cape Town in the southern suburb of Diep River and stretches up the west coast as far as the Berg River. Also encompassing parts of the Cape Floral Region, the reserve includes the Ramsar-protected Langebaan lagoon as well as Dassen Island, a penguin colony. The Koeberg nuclear power station falls within its boundaries. The main economic activities are fishing and agriculture.

The Cape Winelands biosphere reserve includes a part of the Cape Floral Region as well as the world-famous wine-growing region. Here, too, lie the historic settler-founded towns of Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Agriculture and tourism are the main sources of income.

In the northern reaches of South Africa lies the Waterberg biosphere reserve, an area of some 400 000ha in Limpopo. It is an important catchment area for the Limpopo Basin, with four large rivers originating within its borders - the Lephalale, the Mokolo, the Matlabas and the Magalakwena Rivers. San rock art abounds, as does the flora and fauna of the area. The main economic driver is tourism.

The Kruger to Canyons biosphere reserve is so named because it stretches from the Kruger National Park to the spectacular Blyde River Canyon. It is an important conservation area in South Africa because it also covers three biomes, or communities of plants and animals living together in a certain climate - the Savannah woodlands, montane grasslands, and forest. The economy revolves around mining activities, forestry, and fruit and vegetable farming.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za/

Changes to RAF Act has serious implications for motorists involved in accidents, writes David Jackson.
Recent legislative changes to the Road Accident Fund (RAF) could have serious implications for consumers, particularly people living with permanent or total disability.

According to David Honeyman, head of sales and marketing in the accident and health division of Cre8 - a division of Alexander Forbes Cre8 - many people are underestimating the shortfalls in the amended legislation, or simply do not fully understand them.

One of the most significant changes is that the common law right to sue for damages against an alleged guilty party - the driver, the vehicle owner or their employer - has now been removed. There is also a significant reduction in the amount of expenses that may be claimed for loss of earnings and for medical expenses.

US Tour Operators Association (USTOA)

A recent member survey by the US Tour Operators Association (USTOA) revealed a range of savings, from 10% to more than 50% for the same vacation when compared to last year. In fact, tour operators have lowered prices an average 20% compared to 2008 on many vacations, in response to the soft economy and stronger US dollar in many destinations, the survey found.

"In countries as diverse as Greece, Egypt, South Africa, Australia and Italy, the US dollar has gained in strength, while domestic destinations like Hawaii are offering good deals in response to a soft tourism year," said Bob Whitley, USTOA president.

Real spending on travel and tourism fell at an annual rate of 5.9 percent in the first quarter of the year, compared to a 6.9 percent drop in the fourth quarter of last year, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

By comparison, real gross domestic product decreased 5.7 percent in the first quarter of 2009, compared to a decrease of 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Leading the decline was passenger air transportation (28.7 percent) and traveler accommodations (15.1 percent), according to the report.

Real spending on domestic flights fell for the sixth consecutive quarter. However, real spending on international flights rose 10.5 percent after an increase of 10.1 percent in the previous quarter.

Spending on accommodations fell 18.6 percent in the first quarter, compared to a 10.4 percent decrease in the fourth quarter of last year.

Despite reduced room rates, the hotel industry also continued to experience declining demand.

Source: www.bizjournals.com

Flying the flag: Iraqi fans at the opening game of the Confederations Cup between Iraq and Bafana Bafana

Flying in from Canada to experience African football first-hand, Peter Severinac from Ontario, Canada was blown away by the electric atmosphere inside the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Wednesday evening, when Bafana Bafana took on New Zealand in a 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup match.

Surrounded by thousands of celebrating South African fans, all making their way out of the stadium, Severniac could hardly contain his amazement at what he experienced during the game.

"Those trumpets are great, I have never experienced anything like it," Severinac said, referring to the air horns that distinguish football matches in South Africa from anywhere else in the world. "Nothing compares to the feeling of being in the stands with all that dancing and noise.

"They treated me like a member of their family when they found out I was from outside South Africa. I will definitely be back next year for the World Cup, and will bring back as many friends as I can," said Severinac before he was swallowed up by the moving crowd.

Benito Lenon, who travelled from Madrid, Spain to watch La Furia Roja play in Fifa's "Festival of Continental Champions", said South Africa "seems like such a good country.

"I have been here for six days now watching football, and I really love the friendly people here," Lenon said. "I must tell you, South Africans are the most friendly and hospitable people I have met."

Although Spain were playing Iraq in Bloemfontein on the same day, Lenon chose to experience a Bafana Bafana match in Rustenburg instead, having heard from friends that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to celebrate football in South Africa.

He certainly wasn't disappointed.

As tens of thousands of spectators made their way to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium before the game, the city of Rustenburg, in South Africa's North West province, came alive with the sound of a distinctively African Fifa Confederations Cup.

The drone of vuvuzelas competed with hooting and cheering as fans made their way toward the stadium through the city, hoping for – and getting – a night of celebration as South Africa beat New Zealand 2-0.

Hours before the match had even started, crowds were gathering outside the stadium as music and dancers entertained the excited crowd.

"I am here to support my country, and the vibe around the city is great," said Lebogang Molefe, adding that the Confederations Cup was all about showing the world what South Africa is all about.

"We are a nation that likes to sing, and we are a happy nation," Molefe said. "I hope our visitors see this now and on television, and I hope they come back for the 2010 World Cup".

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za

With under a year to go, South Africa needs all its citizens to get behind the 2010 Fifa World Cup to ensure that it is indeed the greatest World Cup of all time.

Click here for a few suggestions on how to get involved in the 2010 World Cup:

• Get excited about the 2010 World Cup: It is going to be a great tournament. South Africa will be ready in time and we are going to dazzle the world.
• Keep up to speed with developments: Follow the news and know how South Africa is doing in getting ready for the World Cup. Visit Fifa.com, www.sa2010.gov.za and www.sagoodnews.co.za for updates about our progress.
• Inform your friends: Armed with all your knowledge, keep your friends informed.
• Inform the world: If you read an article with incorrect information in the local or international press, write them a letter and let them know!
• Become a 2010 World Cup volunteer: Nearly 40 000 South Africans applied to be volunteers for the Confederations Cup 2009. The volunteer application process for the 2010 World Cup opens at Fifa.com on 1 July 2009.
• Get the gear: Buy official 2010 World Cup merchandise at Edgars stores and at the OR Tambo International Airport’s 2010 World Cup merchandise store.
• Be proudly South African: Buy a South African flag, put a SA flag sticker on your car, talk positively about your country. We have achieved so much and have much to be proud of.
• Learn the words to the national anthem: It’s not that hard, it just takes a bit of work! Practice it before Bafana Bafana and Springbok matches and wherever you do your singing, from the shower to the car!
• Be a travel agent: Encourage your South African friends and family that are overseas to be back in South Africa for the tournament. And tell your non-South African friends to come and be part of a fantastic African event.
• Get graded: Get registered as an official accommodation provider for the 2010 Fifa World Cup by visiting the Tourism Grading Council website at www.tourismgradingcouncil.co.za
• Start a virtual conversation: If you are techsavvy, then blog and tweet about the tournament. Get a debate going. Start a conversation.
• Think global, act local: It is fine to continue to support the Liverpools and the Manchester Uniteds of the world, but it is much cooler to also support a local PSL team.
• Live and direct: Go to a PSL game and take in the unique atmosphere. Take a friend to a match.
• Enjoy the ladumas and the shibobo!
• Find out what laduma and shibobo mean: They're our South African contribution to the soccer lexicon.
• Learn how to blow a vuvuzela: On TV it just sounds like a drone, but at the games, in the stadiums, it is a musical language.
• Do the Makarapa: Like the vuvuzela, this is something that is unique to the South African soccer experience. A cleverly reconditioned miner’s helmet, it is a work of art and could become an internationally recognised icon.
• Visit our new stadiums: Go to the visitor’s centre at some of the new stadiums (Durban, Green
• Point and Soccer City) and learn how these stadiums are changing the face of our cities.
• Become more of a local: Learn some Zulu & Xhosa words and phrases – such as “Hello!”, “How are you?” and “Where are you from?” – to teach to visitors to our country. You’ll give our guests the gift of our beautiful languages.
• Say “Hola!”: Learn a few words in the native language of the teams that are playing in your city. You’ll make our guests feel welcome and at home.
• Learn the rules of football: Especially the offside rule. The more you know, the better it gets!
• Support Bafana Bafana: They’re on a bit of a roll at the moment and have been on a winning streak. Get behind the boys. Let them know that the nation is behind them. The hosts normally play well... but they need your support!
• Support the FIFA Confederations Cup: Encourage your company to buy tickets. When last were you able to see the likes of Torres, Kaká, Pirlo and Ronaldinho live in action?

With only two days to the first match of the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 on 14 June - with Bafana Bafana facing Iraq at Ellis Park - more than 70% (438,000) of tickets have been sold.

Tickets can be purchased (even on match days) at:
Main Ticketing Centre at Sandton Isle, Corner of Rivonia Road and Linden Street, Sandown/Johannesburg;

Mangaung/Bloemfontein Venue Ticketing Centre - Lochlogan Waterfront Mall, Corner of Charles Street and 1st Avenue;

Rustenburg Venue Ticketing Centre - Waterfall Mall, 1 Augrabies Avenue;

Tshwane/Pretoria Venue Ticketing Centre - Brooklyn Mall, Corner of Middel and Fehrsen Street, New Muckleneuk.

The ticket centres will be open from 9am-6pm, seven days a week.

To further assist football fans, a Ticketing Call Centre has been established and fans can call 083 2010 010 to book their seat at the Fifa Confederations Cup. There will be no ticket sales at the four stadiums.

Get your 2010 tickets NOW: Tickets for the 2010 FIFA World Cup have been on sale since the 20th of February 2009 - and they've been going fast!

Visit Fifa.com's ticketing website to book your tickets to witness history as Africa hosts its first soccer World Cup, and the best World Cup ever.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za

Fancy world-class football in South Africa alongside a trip to the Victoria Falls or a Namib desert safari? This is possible, according to FIFA 2010 organisers and regional countries that want Africa's first ever World Cup to spill over into South Africa's neighbours.

"The idea is that this soccer World Cup taking place in South Africa will be an African cup because it's the first one in Africa," said FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot.

Local organisers have already contracted rooms in neighbouring countries in the hope of enticing some of the 450,000 fans expected to descend on South Africa for the tournament.

With several match stadiums within easy reach of southern Africa's multitude of pristine game reserves and untouched beaches, it is hoped that fans will add the area's tourism jewels to football itineraries.

"It is not unreasonable to think that some Europeans or Americans will stay in Botswana and will fly into the venue for the match," explained Adam Brown of MATCH South Africa, FIFA's official hospitality partner.

South Africa's north-western Rustenburg stadium, where some of the games will be played, is just 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Botswana. Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit lies just an hour drive from the Mozambican border.

And Namibia's sweeping desert dunes and wildlife safaris are also just a few hours by road to Cape Town.

"During the World Cup in 2006, people from the Netherlands went to Germany for the day. There is no difference," said Didi Moyle, president of the South African tourism committee.

FIFA has already secured some 4,000 rooms outside South Africa with 3,200 on the island of Mauritius with its famous beaches, which are a four-and-a-half hour flight from Johannesburg.

In addition, a few hundred rooms have also been secured in Namibia and Botswana.

A MATCH team was sent to Zambia and even Zimbabwe, still reeling in a protracted economic crisis, to investigate the possibility of accommodation near the country's top tourist spot, the Victoria Falls.

Governments in neighbouring countries are also hoping to attract players and fans.

Mozambique has set up a interministerial cabinet dedicated to the World Cup. The capital Maputo's airport is under full reconstruction and a national stadium is being built on the outskirts.

Authorities are also planning to simplify red tape at the border with South Africa.

In December, South Africa's department of Home Affairs announced that it will issue a special Event Visa to fans travelling to the country for the World Cup. The visa will be issued free of charge to visitors in 2010.

Zimbabwe, despite its challenges, is also seeking visitors.

Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi visited Brazil in May to convince the football team to train in his country.

Overall, MATCH intends to secure 6,400 rooms outside South Africa: a drop in the ocean with the overall total of 55,000 beds needed.

A key issue for fans amid the current global downturn could be the cost faced with travelling to South Africa, a long-haul destination.

The minimum package from Europe is 1,500 euros (2,120 dollars) to watch two matches on local soil without taking in neighbouring attractions, according to travel agents.

Despite the enthusiasm from neighbours and organisors, travel agencies admit they have received very few requests for bookings in South Africa's neighbouring countries.

A France-based tour operator said he would prefer to book his clients in South Africa, so that they can be closer to the games.

"The cost of a trip to South Africa from Europe is extremely high, so people will prefer to stay only in South Africa," said Jonathan Goos.

"I prefer putting my clients in the heart of the event," he added.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za

As the impact of the ongoing economic crisis hits Tanzania's fragile tourism industry, nearly 1,160 breadwinners have lost jobs.

A lion share of the disappeared jobs was held by men, who worked as tour guides in Tanzania, pushing thousands of women in Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit to be the primary breadwinner.

Tour operators have opted to pay out millions in redundancy payments to thousands of workers rather than retain them as the recession worsens.

Around 30 percent of 3000 Tanzania tour guiding workforce, nearly 900 jobs evaporated since the recession began late 2008, sending economic woes and anguish into homes of affected families.

Figures show that Thomson safaris, a leading American associated tour firm, had laid off 45 workers out of its 140 Arusha staff, leaving behind an employment blow in Tanzania’s northern tourism circuit.

The 95 remaining workers had since May been enduring 10 percent cut from their usual monthly salary packages.

A written notice to affected workers says the move was inevitable. “Due to dramatic events outside our control in the world financial markets, as a result of a recession that has devastated tourism industry worldwide,” the notice stated.

The company says tourist’s bookings had plunged by as much as 40 percent, sustaining a “serious economic blow” to the tour firm thus calling for measures to cut down overhead costs.
The first measure was to retrench staff from various departments, according to the directive sent to workers by the general manager, Elizabeth McKee.

Salaries cutback move is also embraced by most of tour firms, among them the probably, East African giant tour firm, Leopard Tours, where all workers including the Managing Director had opted to endure a certain percent wage cuts in an effort to retain its entire workforce.

Environment-friendly Nomad Adventure Tours, had also retrenched nearly 35 workers, as safari bookings shrinking due to great recession.

UK-affiliated Abercrombie & Kent Tours is understood to have been cuts nearly 30 jobs, while Tanganyika Expeditions is also laid off around 10 professionals with Ndutu Lodges sending home 15 workers as they struggle to survive in the face of the economic crisis.

Impala Hotel Groups comprising Naura Springs Hotel, Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge and Impala Hotel are reported to have sent off nearly 50 of its workers as the hotel’s marketing fail to fill hundreds of empty hotel rooms in the face of recession.

Sources close to the multi-millions-dollars says the 1155 retrenched figure is only a tip of the iceberg because the hardest hit hotels sub-sector could have been secretly sent home double of the figure.

Executive secretary for Tanzania Tour Guides Association (TTGA), Michael Pius, is brokenhearted to witness his men either being retrenched or placed under an indefinite “waiting list.” “This is very difficult moment in life! Unfortunately enough some of the tour companies have been capitalizing on the recession to either exploit or retrench tour guides at their will even when it is not necessary,” Pius said.

The TTGA chief is also restless over the growing tendency to among tour operators of keeping thousands of tour guides under probation period for years, compelling them to survive on tourists’ tips.

Tourists allure lost glory
The wildlife, tropical climate and white sandy beaches of Tanzania for the time being have lost their attraction for long-distance visitors facing recession and unemployment as a result of the global credit crunch.

Briton tourists Joshua Simpson and Martin Thomas agonized for six or seven months before deciding to take their dream holiday in Tanzania--the Kilimanjaro mountain climbing tour. "A lot of people I know are staying home or taking holidays at camp sites in the UK. I’ve got friends who, in the past few years, would have gone overseas but a tent holiday is far cheaper than booking four seats on a plane," Simpson said.

Thomas failed to hoard his feeling, when he said: “Tanzania has unsurpassed tourist’s attractions across the African continent, but it is fairly expensive destination particularly in the face of recession.”

Analysts say the downturn is threatening to plunge the revenues and majority of people in Africa back into poverty and thwarting efforts to meet the target of halving the share of the population living on less than a dollar a day by 2015.

TANAPA trim down earnings
This might be true because Tanzania’s National Parks Authority (TANAPA) had forced to trim down its 2009 tourism earnings forecast by 32 percent.

Expectations were high that this year TANAPA could reap nearly US$75.7 million (about Tshs 100bn/-) from 574,000 visitors, but now it would pocket merely US$51.5million (nearly Tshs 68bn/) due to the global economic downturn.

This implies that national parks custodian would record a slump of US$24.2 million (nearly Tshs 32bn/-) equivalent to 32 percent fall in tourism earnings, as the raising heat of global economy downturn continues to scorch.

“Our tourism revenues will shrink from Tshs 100 billion (nearly US$75.7million) to 68 billion (about US$51.5million), ” the director general for TANAPA, Gerald Bigurube said.

Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) also trimmed down its tourism earnings projection for 2009 by 3 percent, according to its managing director, Peter Mwenguo.

TTB cut down the 2009 tourism earnings forecast of US$1 billion (nearly Tshs1, 320 billion) from 950,000 visitors, by about 3 percent also due to the global economic downturn.

However, a Bank of Tanzania (BoT) statement shows that, tourism receipts recorded an increase of $14.5 million (about Tshs18 billion) from US$510.8 million (about Tshs 675 billion) during the first half of 2007/08 to US$535.3 million (nearly Tshs 706 billion) in 2008/09.

The increase is partly associated with efforts by the government and other stakeholders in promoting Tanzania as a unique tourist destination.

In its Monthly Economic Review for January 2009, BoT reveals that travel, which accounts for 60.3 percent of total service receipts rose to US$1.2 billion (over Tshs1,320 billion) in 2008 from US$1.5 million (nearly Tshs 198 million) recorded in 2007.

Tourism is vital sector in Tanzania contributing 17.2 percent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Tanzania’s the economy earned close to US$ 1.3 billion in 2008 from about 840,000 visitors. Tourism is the country's leading foreign exchange earner.

The second largest economy in East Africa, targets to hit a million tourists arrivals in 2010, and if its target succeeds, the industry would add an extra US$1.7 billion in 2010.

Source: www.eturbonews.com