Home

KARIBU HII NI AWOTTA!

ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN IN TOURISM TANZANIA

AWOTTA is a non-profit organisation established in 2011 to help empower women to reach their true potential, gain equality of opportunity and attain financial security within the Tanzania tourism sector

A Personal Message from

Mary C. Kalikawe – Chairperson

Thank you for visiting our website today.

We look forward to welcoming all visitors to Tanzania and serving our people through the emerging domestic tourism market during 2025.

Through the continued development of tourism, Tanzania will prosper and AWOTTA is committed to playing a key role in making this happen. Women make up 50% of the population and we will work tirelessly to ensure they have a fair and equal opportunity to achieve their aspirations whilst contributing to our country’s socio-economic objectives through participation in the tourism sector.

We are driven by the popular saying “Nani kama Mama”, which means that the children of Tanzania look to the next generation of women to lay the ground that will lead to their prosperity. We are proud to embrace this tradition within the tourism industry and I invite you to join us today in taking on this responsibility.

FIND OUT MORE & JOIN US TODAY!

AWOTTA IS PROUD TO REPRESENT TANZANIAN WOMEN IN TOURISM ON REGIONAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAGES

A Message from Mary Kalikawe on World Tourism Day 27th September 2025

Theme:

‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’

This year, we proudly join the world in celebrating the theme of Sustainable Transformation. But let’s be honest—transformation is rarely simple. It can feel a bit like hosting lunch for 20 relatives: there’s lots of talking, laughter, disagreements, and opinions shared, yet in the end, everyone goes home wiser about themselves and each other, helping us all move forward ‘together’ in our lives.

At the Association of Women in Tourism Tanzania, we believe the real recipe for success lies in these powerful forces: unstoppable women and social and environmental progress.

Our mission is clear: to empower women to shine a light on Tanzania’s treasures—its rich heritage, culture and natural beauty. To equip them with the skills, knowledge and confidence to shine not only for themselves, but for their families and the world around them.

By empowering women to lead in tourism, we don’t just grow businesses—we uplift entire communities. Studies show that women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families and local economies. That makes women not only guardians of culture and heritage, but also true engines of sustainable development.

This World Tourism Day, let us embrace transformation, approach challenges with optimism, and work together to ensure tourism continues to drive inclusive growth for our people, our country and the planet. With innovation, humour, and resilience, we can build enterprises that make our towns—and our spirits—shine brighter than ever.

Happy World Tourism Day to you all. May Tanzania’s heart, heritage, and hospitality continue to inspire every visitor who discovers it.

Visit UN World Tourism Africa updates

Theme: ‘Accelerate Action’

Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality.

Step forward in solidarity for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 on March 8 to help #AccelerateAction.

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.

Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasizes the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.

So, together, let’s Accelerate Action across Tanzania and help to speed up the rate of progress worldwide.

How to Accelerate Action