TANZANIA TO RAISE GAME PARK FEES

EAC citizens currently paying Tsh1,500 ($0.833), will now pay Tsh20,000 ($11.11).

Tanzania's tourism sector is bracing for a difficult period as state-run conservation agencies intend to increase their fees despite low tourist figures.

Key players in the sector said business is down by 60 per cent due to low arrivals. Nevertheless, the Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) is set to enforce its new tariffs on concession fees for hotels located within parks, while Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) also plans to raise its entry fees in April 2015.

Tanapa plans to raise its concession fee for each visitor spending a night at a hotel within its parks from $10 to $60 on average.

READ: Tanapa and villagers fight over park fees

The new tariffs were to be effected in August 1, 2011, but Tanapa could not enforce them after the Hotel Association of Tanzania and Tourism Confederation of Tanzania filed a case in protest at the High Court. However, the High Court issued a verdict in favour of Tanapa in September 12, 2014, directing the state to issue a government notice to allow the parks authority to enforce the new rate.

READ: Tanzania plans to confine tourists to national parks

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism Adelhelm Meru is currently in the process of issuing the notice in a bid to give Tanapa the legal power it needs to effect the new tariff.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lands, Natural Resources and Environment James Lembeli said both Tanapa and NCAA have been losing Tsh26.7 billion ($14.8 million) in concession fees annually between 2011 and 2014.

On its part, NCAA plans to enforce the new entry fee in April. EAC citizens currently paying Tsh1,500 ($0.833), will now pay Tsh20,000 ($11.11).

The entry fee for non-East African tourists will increase from $50 to $60, with the fee for each vehicle carrying them increasing from Tsh25,000 ($13.90) to Tsh150,000 ($83.30).

The East African