THE STORY OF UWANDAE EXPO

TANZANIA’S PREMIER DOMESTIC TOURISM EVENT FOUNDED BY AWOTTA

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UWANDAE EXPO DOCUMENTARY

BACKGROUND

In November 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) of the United Republic of Tanzania endorsed an initiative from Mary Kalikawe (Chairperson of the Association of Women in Tourism Tanzania aka. AWOTTA*) to organise and launch an exhibition dedicated to the development of domestic tourism within Tanzania, to be known as ‘UWANDEA EXPO’.

Such an event would support the UN Sustainability Development Goals and Tanzania’s tourism policy, which singled out the role of women in contributing to the growing tourism sector and positively influencing its sustainable development.

The inaugural UWANDAE EXPO was staged just four months later, in February 2019, at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam, thanks to the dedication of AWOTTA members and friends, the support of the Tanzania Tourist Board, Tantrade & Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce, and donor funding provided by GIZ (German International Cooperation).

UWANDAE EXPO was held over three days in 2019 and 2020.

A month after UWANDAE EXPO 2020 ended, the World Health Authority announced COVID-19 as a pandemic. The global tourism industry came to an abrupt standstill and the EXPO was postponed in 2021 and 2022.

Future events are under consideration.

UWANDAE EXPO OBJECTIVES

To showcase the diversity of tourism activities practised by Tanzanians whilst uniting the sector and facilitating business partnerships to help grow the emerging domestic tourism market.
To facilitate investment in the domestic tourism market and its supply chain for economic growth and sustainable job opportunities.
To address the growing demands of the domestic travel population for products and services.
To promote and develop equal work opportunities for women in tourism.
To support and contribute substantially to Tanzania’s national tourism policy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030).

2019

The first UWANDAE EXPO was held at the National Museum in Dar es Salaam (15th-17th February) in 2019. It was attended by 43 exhibitors from 10 industry sectors and over 550 visitors, including government organisations, public institutions, private businesses, journalists, students and the general public. The event included indoor and outdoor exhibition stands, a one-day domestic tourism conference, a business networking event, and family entertainment, including games, traditional music, and dance.

Objectives met: Regional councils focused on developing tourism destinations to increase jobs and local income; new commercial partnerships were forged; increased product sales for EXPO exhibitors; and a greater understanding of what the domestic tourism market is and the opportunities it offers Tanzania.

2020

UWANDAE EXPO2020 continued to build on the success of 2019 with an added focus to seek partnerships for long term sustainability of the event. This years theme of “Growing Domestic Tourism to support Tanzanian Development” was actively supported by local government ministers and allowed for the involvement of potential African partners with a similar and shared agenda from South Africa, Angola, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. Supporters also attended from the UK and the German Embassy. Exhibitors came from as far afield as Bukoba, Arusha, Moshi, and Zanzibar, with visitors entertained by local musicians and traditional dancing.

Objectives met: Heightened exposure of, and opportunities within, the emerging domestic tourism market including a primetime news conference by government ministers; attendance by representatives from several African countries who pledged their ongoing support for helping drive the domestic tourism agenda with a particular focus on supporting opportunities for women. After the event the African Tourism Board officially pledged their commitment to co-organise UWANDAE EXPO2022 in Tanzania and spread this initiative across the continent.