AWOTTA WERE PROUD TO ORGANISE THE 1ST UWANDAE EXPO DURING 2019!
Tanzania’s first Domestic Tourism EXPO, 15th-17th February 2019
AWOTTA MEMBER DEVOTA MDACHI HONOURED
29th November 2019
AWOTTA would like to congratulate one of our leading members, Devota Mdachi, who has been recognised as one of the Top 50 Women in Management 2019.
Devota is Managing Director of the Tanzania Tourist Board and is dedicated to the development of tourism within Tanzania. As a leading light in our industry she has become a influential role model not only for AWOTTA members, but women in the tourism industry across sub sahara Africa. Well done Devota, we are all very proud of you!
1st AFRICAN WOMEN IN TOURISM EMPOWERMENT CONGRESS
25th – 26th November 2019
From 25-26 November 2019, Ghana hosted the first United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Regional Congress on Women empowerment in the Tourism sector – with a focus on Africa.
The main objective of this maiden congress was to discuss the inhibiting factors and opportunities for women’s empowerment in the tourism sector, and to create a synergy within the African region and other players in the industry for their economic development.
The event was attended by Tourism Ministers from across Africa and over 500 participants from around the world.
TTB Managing Director and AWOTTA member Devota Mdachi attended this event, connecting with tourism leaders and representing Tanzanian women in tourism at important meetings.
AWOTTA visit Arusha, Moshi & Kilimanjaro Region
6th – 10th November 2019
AWOTTA members Mary Kalikawe, Joyce Samwei Msigwa and Carol Mrema Lemski departed Dar es Salaam for a 4 day trip to the Kilimanjaro region on 6th November. The objective of their visit was to meet with existing AWOTTA members, sign up new recruits and meet with a cross section of women who work in tourism with the aim of understanding their needs and challenges in order to succeed in this core industry for Tanzania.
In the first half of the trip AWOTTA had the great honour of meeting with the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Anna Nghwira, Kilimanjaro National Parks administration, Kilimanjaro Mountain Ports & Guides Association (inc. 40 female guides and 100 female porters) and Women tour operators based in the Moshi area (a meeting was held at Weru Weru Lodge).
The second half of their trip was spent in Arusha, where they held meetings at TANAPA with the Commissioner of Human Resources, TATO (the Tanzania Tour Operators) and the local branch of the Tanzania Tourist Board. The finale saw AWOTTA host their first domestic tourism conference in the region.
For more information see: Kilimanjaro Region website
ARUSHA CONFERENCE
9th November 2019
AWOTTA hosted a successful conference at the Corridor Springs Hotel in Arusha on Saturday 9th November, in support of the development of the Tanzanian Domestic Tourism market and UWANDAE EXPO2020.
The discussions focused on the role of stakeholders in this emerging tourism sector; and the opportunities it offers for business, women and youth employment as Tanzania races towards a middle income status by 2025.
The conference resulted in delegates leaving with a new awareness and greater understanding of the huge potential domestic tourism offers; and AWOTTA leaving with a list of practical actions to drive forward in its capacity as representing the women of Tanzania in the tourism industry.
For more information see:
Thank You!
We would like to extend a very special thank you to the following members and their companies who so generously provided our party with transport, accommodation and support services ensuring an impactful and cost effective trip to the Kilimanjaro Region.
Silashi Car Hire generously provided AWOTTA a fully fuelled private car to take members from Moshi to Arusha.
Zainab Ansell owner and director of award winning Zara Tours based in Moshi, generously arranged our transport and stay at the beautiful Springland Hotel.
See: Zara Tours website
AWOTTA at World Travel Market London
4th-6th November 2019
(1) Tanzania Stand (2) Zurab Pololikashvili (UNWTO Secretary general General) greets AWOTTA Partner Julie Ralston (3) Zainab Ansell of Zara Tours in conversation with Dr Asher-Rose Migiro, UK High Commissioner of Tanzania (4) Julie meets with Sabaah Saleh Ali, Chairperson Zanzibar Commission For Tourism)
AWOTTA members took the opportunity to meet each other and introduce the organisation to high profile figures at the 40th anniversary of the World Travel Market in London.
Our London based international partner, Julie Ralston, attended the long-awaited launch of the 2nd edition of the Global Report on Women in Tourism published by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in collaboration with UN Women, The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), World Bank Group and Amadeus The report highlights the progress that the global tourism sector has made in advancing gender equality (today 54% of the industry is made up of women), with key case studies and statistics from around the world.
The report highlights 7 key findings, action points and recommendations which will provide stakeholders with the tools they need to empower women in the tourism industry – the fine details of which AWOTTA is assessing in helping drive out across Tanzania.
AWOTTA’s VOICE IS HEARD AT THE TPSF AGM
SEPTEMBER 2019
Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson AWOTTA) was honoured to be invited to attend the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) 2019 AGM to talk as a panelist on the theme of “How to elevate the voice of women in business?”. Mary called upon over 30 years of wisdom and experience in working within the tourism industry, and also that of AWOTTA members who she proudly represents.
The guest speaker at the AGM was Hon. Angela Kairuki, Minister of State for the Prime Minster’s Office responsible for Investments (see photo above).
TPSF is the voice of the private sector in Tanzania promoting its development as well as effective engagement between its members, stakeholders and the Government of Tanzania.
See: https://tpsftz.org
AWOTTA SPEAKS AT JAMAFEST 2019!
23rd SEPTEMBER
This week, Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson AWOTTA) was delighted to be invited to speak at JAMAFEST about UWANDAE EXPO2020. Much interest was shown by delegates and leads are currently being followed up with potential donors, sponsors and exhibitors.
JAMAFEST (Jumuia ya Afrika Mashariki Festival), was held in the National Stadium, Dar es Salaam from 22nd-29th September. The 2019 theme was: “Cultural Diversity: A Key Driver to Regional Integration, Economic Growth and Promotion of Tourism”.
This important regional festival is organised by the East Africa Commission to celebrate and share culture among its partner States: Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. It aims is to promote regional socio-cultural integration through arts and culture by providing a platform to showcase culture as a primary driver of regional integration.
AWOTTA SUPPORTS UNITED NATIONS WORLD TOURISM DAY 2019
27th September 2019
Theme: “Tourism and Jobs: A better Future for All”
Join the celebration: #WTD2019
A personal message from Mary Kalikawe, Chairperson AWOTTA
“Bed Capacity Full!”
Over the weekend in Dar es Salaam I took a lazy rest in my sitting room. However, I had a smartphone in my hands, which unfortunately did not allow me to rest as I kept jumping from one app to another searching for what was new! I came across two quotes on tourism which I found myself agreeing with: “It is bad manners to let a vacation wait,” and “Once a year go somewhere you have never been before” (the Dalai Lama).
Something on television later caught my attention which brought these quotes to life. It was about a soccer game that was being played before World Tourism Day (26 September 2019) between Kagera Sugar Factory football club (Wanankurukumbi – Kagera province’s strongest team) and Simba Sports Club (Tanzania’s strongest soccer team). For some reason, Simba usually gets beaten by the Kagera Sugar Factory team causing hundreds of unbelieving eyeballs, and leading to many people to travel across Tanzania to Bukoba’s Kaitaba football stadium to see for themselves the outcome of this entertaining, exciting and unpredictable game.
This is domestic sports tourism at its best. People seizing the moment to come together to experience a memorable occasion; some visiting Bukoba for the first time; all happy to exchange their hard earned money for quality goods and services, ensuring that the towns bed capacity is full!
Around the world, the tourism sector is a leading source of employment, supporting many millions of jobs and driving economies forward, both at the local and the national level. Let us all celebrate the tourism industry today and all the good it brings in building a better life and future for everyone.
HAPPY WORLD TOURISM DAY!
AWOTTA showcases Tanzania to the Women In Tourism International Alliance (WITIA)
WITIA is a non-profit association of tourism professionals that facilitates the exchange of accurate and trusted tourism information worldwide. Members are encouraged to travel to other countries to gain a greater understanding of them, and to meet with fellow travel professionals to mutually share knowledge.
This year we were honoured that WITIA accepted Mary Kalikawe’s proposal to visit Tanzania.
From 3rd to 7th September an itinerary was set to showcase the best of Tanzania to WITIA, with AWOTTA members meeting with the group during the evening.
We would like to thank WITIA members for visiting our wonderful country and for sharing their memorable and inspiring experiences with colleagues and clients back home to encourage more visitors to our shores.
AWOTTA continues to connect with other influential women’s groups from across Africa
Mary Kalikawe had the honour and pleasure to meet with Dr Dimatkaso Malwela, President of Women of Value South Africa (WOVSA) & Managing Director NKPI Holdings, at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting on 9-10th August 2019 in Dar es Salaam.
Women of Value SA (WOVSA) is an NPO that empowers women and youth nationally, and was founded in 2011 by the Chairperson of Southern Africa Women in Tourism (SAWIT) Dr Dimakatso Malwela. Their mandate is to play an advocacy role in bridging the gap between the community, Government and the private sector on socio-economic issues. They facilitate, co-ordinate, monitor and evaluate all the programmes set to change lives.
2019 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM), held on 2nd May in Dar es Salaam
Thank you to everyone who attended our 2019 AGM, with a special welcome to new members.
It was a very productive meeting with a variety of important actions agreed for 2019-2020.
Minutes are available by contacting Mary Kalikawe, AWOTTA Chairperson.
AWOTTA LEAD 1st MARKET RESEARCH STUDY OF DOMESTIC SPORTS TOURISM – APRIL 2019
MARKET RESEARCH STUDY OF TANZANIA DOMESTIC SPORTS TOURISM
CASE STUDY: AFCON U17 HOSTED IN TANZANIA, DAR ES SALAAM 14 TO 28 APRIL 2019
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) seeks to develop the domestic tourism market and diversify Tanzania’s tourism offering i.e. to build on the success of wildlife-based tourism and expand into other areas to meet the needs of the Tanzanian people and create more job opportunities. One of these areas is sports tourism.
Soccer was chosen to focus on, as travel for playing, watching or participating in matters related to soccer is known to be the biggest and fastest growing form of tourism worldwide. AFCON U17 was used for this inaugural case study (i.e Africa under 17’s Cup of Nations, which is a bi-annual football competition organised by the sport’s African governing body, CAF).
AWOTTA, MNRT, National College of Tourism (NCT) and Meltores Professional Research were the natural partners to complete the study, having worked together during UWANDAE EXPO 2019 (Tanzania’s first domestic tourism expo held in February). The aim of the study was to collect much-needed data that will identify the size of the soccer tourism domestic market and the magnitude of demands that will justify investment. Present service providers were also approached for their take on transportation, accommodation, food and other suppliers to this market.
This study offered a benchmark on how existing services can be improved to stimulate accelerated travel for soccer. The bigger the numbers travelling, the bigger the need for new and improved investment, which will lead to more jobs and income generation by the domestic sports tourism sector.
AWOTTA would like to acknowledge the input from teachers of the NCT for their contribution to data collection. For more information about the study and its findings please contact AWOTTA Chairperson Mary Kalikawe or Joyce Msigwa of Meltores Professional Research.
AWOTTA supports International Women’s Day
8th March 2019
Campaign theme: #BalanceforBetter
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender balance.
A balanced world is a better world. Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage …
Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive.
AWOTTA is committed to help achieve gender balance across the Tanzanian tourism sector.
A message from AWOTTA Chairperson on IWD2019
Mary Kalikawe
Balance Better for Development
AWOTTA has just finished staging Tanzania’s first domestic tourism trade conference and exhibition – UWANDAE EXPO2019! The successful launch of this nationwide event, hosted at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam from 15-17th February 2019, is testimony to the ability of women within the tourism sector to come together, elevate our voices and contribute significantly to the development of our nation.
When organising UWANDAE EXPO2019, some participants asked whether the event was only for women. Once we said it was for everyone, no one saw a lack of balance. There were as many men exhibiting as there were women!
Within Tanzania, despite national census data showing that women outnumber men, and the gender gap is slightly narrowing, our society is still strongly male dominated.
We, as women and mothers, do however, have the opportunity to influence the character of our children – to shape the perceptions of future generations that women and men are equal, and by working together we can achieve so much more.
As women, we also have a responsibility to change our own mindset, and we must demonstrate that we have the capability to excel and contribute to the development of our nation. If we have confidence in ourselves, before requiring others to tell us we are able, I believe that we can positively influence the balance that is required in society immediately. Let gender balance start from within, and help make it self perpetuating across our industry!
According to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), greater equality is an essential component of a sustainable tourism industry. The correlation between gender-balanced management teams and key performance indicators is compelling. Research from around the world clearly shows that teams with a male–female ratio between 40% and 60% produce results that are more profitable, sustainable and predictable than those of unbalanced teams. With this in mind, we shall be teaming up and working arm in arm with men and women across Tanzania to develop our domestic tourism industry, and stage an even more successful UWANDAE EXPO in 2020!
From today onwards, let us all work together towards a better gender balanced world.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Mary Kalikawe
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson)
phone: (+255) 07594 24933 or (+255) 07135 26649
email: mkalikawe@awotta.org
