By Adam Ihucha
Published December 19, 2017
Tanzania has unveiled a new structure for its Tourism Business License (TTBL) fees for both foreign and local operators to replace the flat-rate ones.
Tanzania has been charging flat-rate fees of US$5000 for the TTBL for foreign-owned tour companies and US$2000 for locals, regardless of the company’s size and volume of business.
Natural Resources and Tourism Minister, Dr Hamis Kigwangala, says the new fees to be enforced in January 2018, reflect the size of the company and volume of business to create fair competition for all.
Foreign investors with between 10 and 30 vehicles will pay US$5000; 31 to 50 cars will cough up US$7500; while those with 51 vans and more will incur US$10000 for TTBL per annum.
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A local investor with between one and three tourist vans will pay a TTBL fee of US$500, while each of those with between four and 10 vehicles will pay US$2000; 11 and 50 cars US$3000; while with 51 or more vans US$5000.
“The idea of the new TTBL fees structure is to make tourism more inclusive by taking onboard all lower-end tour operators with one to 3 vehicles,” Dr Kigwangala said during Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO)’s annual gala dinner held at FourPoints by Sheraton Hotel in in the northern town of Arusha.
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The tourism policy had locked out small-scale tour operators with single to 3 tourist vehicles, making them operate illegally at the expense of legal tour operators and the exchequer.
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TATO Chairman, Willbard Chambulo, expressed his appreciation to the minister for working on the issue, which has been a hard nut to crack for years.
Wildlife tourism attracts about a million guests with US$2.05 billion, equivalent to nearly 17.6% of Gross Domestic Product to Tanzania annually.
Tourism employs about 600000 Tanzanians.
An eTurboNews article