AWOTTA members get together and look forward to 2021!
TANZANIA TACKLES COVID & REOPENS FOR TOURISM
Our thoughts go out to all of those who have been affected by the global COVID pandemic during the year.
After a period of adjustment, Tanzania received a ‘Safe Travel Stamp’ from the World Travel and Tourism Council and welcomed tourists back from July 2020.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism issued National Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the management of COVID-19 in the Tourism Business which were adopted for the health, safety and security of employees and tourists in our country. AWOTTA appreciates the efforts taken by our government during these challenging times and thanks them and other organisations around the world for their continued support in protecting Tanzania’s invaluable tourism assets, so aiding the survival of hundreds and thousands of women and their communities who rely on this sector for their livelihoods.
AWOTTA continues to monitor and adjust to the consequences of this devastating global pandemic, and represent the voices of women in tourism whose work makes a major contribution to the identity, unity, sustainability, growth, and prosperity of our country.
Members shared ideas, thoughts, and information whilst supporting each other via our whatsapp group.
Devota Mdachi MD of Tanzania Tourist Board & AWOTTA member
AWOTTA SUPPORTS AFRICA TOURISM DAY!
26th November 2020
Africa Tourism Day’s informative and inspirational online conference was welcomed by members on Thursday 26th November 2020. It celebrated Africa’s rich, diverse cultural and natural heritage, creating awareness and discussion on the issues and opportunities within the tourism industry across our continent.
This maiden event was hosted online from Nigeria and was the brainchild of AWOTTA’s supporter and ATB Ambassador for Nigeria, Ms Abigail Olagbaye. Subsequent events will be rotated amongst the countries of Africa.
AWOTTA Secretary Lydia Lukuba with the Minister for Tourism Dr Hamisi Kigwangala and other fire fighting team members.
MOUNT KILIMANJARO FIRES!
11th-21st October 2020
On 11th October 2020, fires broke out on Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s tallest peak and one of our most iconic tourist destinations.
A statement from the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) confirmed that 500 volunteers worked tirelessly, in difficult conditions and over several days, to put out the fires and so limit their devastating impact on the mountain’s unique flora and fauna.
AWOTTA sends its heartfelt wishes and support to all who have been affected by the fires.
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR FOUNDING MEMBER
AWOTTA members would like to send their congratulations and deepest respect to founding member and Board Trustee, the Honorary Zakia H. Meghji, on receiving this prestigious Financial Women’s Award.
Hon Zakia H. Meghji was the first woman to be appointed as the Minister of Finance for Tanzania and remains the longest-serving Tourism Minister for our country (1996-2005).
CONGRATULATIONS ZARA TOURS!
AWOTTA member Zainab Ansell (MD of Zara Tours) was honoured to be awarded the best mountain tourism company in Tanzania by the International Tourism Alliance (November 2020) after picking up 5 awards at the TANAPA Tourism Awards in August for the outstanding contribution her company has made to the Tanzania tourism industry.
Congratulations Zara and all your wonderful team!
AWOTTA SUPPORTS WORLD TOURISM DAY
27th September 2020
Theme: “Tourism and Rural Development”
Today we celebrate the unique role that tourism plays in providing opportunities outside of big cities and preserving cultural and natural heritage all around the world. This has never been more important in the current climate.
Please find out more below.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) 2020
5th September 2020
AWOTTA’s AGM took place on Saturday 5th September 2020 via video call to ensure pandemic guidelines were followed whilst maximising attendance.
It was a very successful event with members participating from across Tanzania who shared their ideas and gave a commitment to develop and drive our organisation forward over the coming year – thank you to all those who took part.
Please contact Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson) for more details about the outcome.
UWANDAE EXPO!
TANZANIA’S ANNUAL PREMIER DOMESTIC TOURISM EVENT
FOUNDER & ORGANISER: AWOTTA
AWOTTA WERE LEAD ORGANISERS OF UWANDAE EXPO2020
6th-8th February 2020
Theme: ‘Recognise the value of Domestic Tourism’
A global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
AWOTTA is committed to help achieve equality within the tourism sector as an equal world is an enabled world.
Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day.
We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements.
Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world.
Let’s all be #EachforEqual.
I AM GENERATION EQUALITY: Realising Womens Rights
AWOTTA has just completed staging the second UWANDAE EXPO2020 (Tanzania’s premier annual Domestic Tourism EXPO), and in doing so has shown to the world the important role that women can play in bringing development to our societies.
We would like to thank the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, the Tanzania Tourist Board and Tantrade for their continual support of this event. We would also like to send a special word of thanks to all the men and women from across Tanzania, South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, Germany and the UK whose participation made it such a success.
The African Tourism Board (ATB) chairman Mr Cuthbert Ncube and CEO Mrs Doris Wörfel flew from South Africa to join us and throughout their time, rallied support on the development of domestic tourism across Tanzania and how women’s empowerment is essential to its success. Their support for AWOTTA’s goals and objectives was unequivocal and we are delighted to announce that the ATB have extended an offer to support AWOTTA in staging the next UWANDAE EXPO (2022).
Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson AWOTTA) & Cuthbert Ncube (Chairman African Tourism Board) shake hands on an equal partnership in staging UWANDAE EXPO2022!
We are honoured and proud to embrace this partnership with the ATB and for Tanzania to be the first host of such an important continental initiative. AWOTTA’s involvement will highlight women as important agents of change and also give us strength in our continuous fight for equality within our own industry. We know through conversations with members across Tanzania that exploitation of women is still rampant and multifaceted within our sector as indicated by: lower literacy levels for girls resulting in reduced work opportunites; cultural/social norms hindering career progression; unequal pay and limited access to funding; sexual harassment in the work place; the absence of separate accommodation and child care facilities for women tour guides, drivers or porters.…the list goes on and on.
AWOTTA will continue to chip away at addressing such injustices and inequalities at every opportunity, but today feel energised by the fact that UWANDAE EXPO on a continental level, will make a significant contribution in helping us achieve gender equality not only within our own country but across our great continent. The increased investment, employment, income and cooperation opportunities that UWANDAE EXPO will foster, can accelerate women and men working together in unity for many years to come.
We ask all AWOTTA members to play their part in making a gender equal world and to stand up today and make the pledge “I am generation equality”!
2020 Campaign theme: #EachforEqual
