THE 2010 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS’ EXIT SURVEY REPORT

In order to sustain development in the tourism industry, availability of reliable tourism information for policy formulation and decision making is crucial.
Realizing this importance, participating institutions namely; the Ministry of National Resources and Tourism, Bank of Tanzania, National Bureau of Statistics, Immigration Department, the Zanzibar Commission for Tourism and Tourism Confederation of Tanzania; agreed to conduct international visitors’ exit surveys on annual basis in order to;

• • Update information on tourist earnings for improving compilation of National Accounts (NA) and Balance of Payments (BOP) Statistics.
  • Gather information for tourism promotion and macroeconomic policy formulation.
    
    The survey has been carried out annually since 2001. The 2010 survey conducted at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), Zanzibar Airport (ZAA), Namanga (NAM), Kasumulo and Tunduma border points for the period of two weeks from 23^rd August to 5^th September 2010.

Main Findings were:

• The tourism earnings grew by 8.2 percent to USD 1,254.5 million compared to USD 1,159.8 million recorded in 2009. These earnings accrued from 782,699 international visitor arrivals to Tanzania.

• Source markets for Tanzania’s tourists continue to be dominated by countries from Europe and America namely Italy, United Kingdom, and USA which, in aggregate, accounted for 43.7 percent of tourists who visited the country in 2010.
  

• Most visitors came for leisure and holiday purposes and fall within the age group of 25 – 44 years.
  

• Majority of visitors came under package tour arrangement because it is well organized and consumers are able to choose from wide options such as air tickets, accommodation, food and drinks.
  

• Wildlife tourism is the main activity for Tanzania tourists reflecting the country’s wealth in National Parks and Game Reserves. Other main activities include beach tourism and mountain climbing.
  

• Most visitors expressed concerns on the state of roads, airport facilities as well as check in procedures at JNIA and Zanzibar airport.

• The 2010 International visitors’ Exit Survey report has been printed and copies will be found in participating institutions, University of Dar es Salaam and Planning Commission. The report will also be found in the following websites: www.mnrt.go.tz, www.bot-tz.org, www.zanzibartourism.net, www.nbs.go.tz and www.moha.go.tz

It is expected that the report will be a useful source of information to policy makers, investors, academicians and other stakeholders in the tourism industry

(Chanzo - www.mnrt.go.tz)