Tanzania to Attract SAFARI HUNTING Tourism Market

LOCAL NEWS:

Tanzania has long been recognized for its superb trophy hunting(also known variously as sport hunting or safari hunting).This reputation arises from the varied game found in Tanzania, from the high quality of its trophies, from the vast areas of wilderness and magnificent scenery, and from the caliber of its top professional hunters.

Since the 1960s Tanzania has aimed to conserve its wildlife resources using strategies that include utilization for the benefit of the people of Tanzania. Because trophy hunting involves the off-take of mature males from populations managed through issuing low quotas, high quality trophy hunting has long been as a sustainable form of wildlife use

Trophy hunting by tourists has also long been recognized as an economically viable form of wildlife use that is consistent with promoting high quality, yet low density tourism. Therefore ,trophy hunting by wealthy tourists can contribute significantly to government revenues. Furthermore, trophy hunting is an important way to utilize wildlife sustainably in remote areas that are not visited by game viewing tourists, and to provide benefits to local people from wildlife.

Tanzania is seeking to attract well-off Americans as it targets the growing game hunting tourism market.

Last week, Tanzania Tourism Minister Damas Dumbaro was in Las Vergas to market the country’s hunting safaris at the 50th Annual Hunting Convention.

Dodoma said the tour was meant to ‘market Tanzania’s hunting blocks before the rich American hunting tourists and other trophy hunting investors around the world’.

Dr Ndumbaro led a delegation of tourism officials to the World Hunting Association meeting, which brought together 870 exhibitors showcasing trophy wildlife parts from several countries.

“We will market hunting blocks then attract international hunting companies, while learning about new strategies that would make hunting safaris more profitable to earn more revenues to the government,” the minister said.

Tanzania is focusing on attracting high-spending tourists such as those who can afford a 21-day hunting safari that cost about $60,000, excluding flights, gun import permits and trophy fees.

Trophy fees for hunting an elephant and a lion are the most expensive. Hunters are required to pay $15,000 to kill an elephant and $12,000 for a lion under strict regulations by wildlife authorities.

Hunters are only allowed to kill stray elephants and lions and the aged, and unproductive animals.

US hunting ban

The US had in 2014 imposed a ban on all wildlife-related products from several African countries including Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia after rampant poaching was reported by the American media and wildlife protection campaigners. It lifted the ban in 2018.

Former US President Barrack Obama had in 2013, during his visit to Tanzania, issued the executive order to fight wildlife poaching in African countries.

Tanzania is currently allocating wildlife hunting blocks through auction, aiming to increase transparency and allow competition to raise more revenues.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism said it collected $8.2 million during the seven-day hunting blocks allocation auction held in January.

Under the new system, first and second class hunting blocks will be held by the owner or hunting company for 10 years, an increase from the previous five years, while owners of third class hunting blocks will run them for 15 years.

Tanzania has also waived various taxes charged to foreign hunting companies to attract more hunters.

Eligible hunting companies can be allocated up to five hunting blocks each.

Hunting blocks in Tanzania are confined to 38 wildlife reserves, controlled game reserves and open areas.

The Wildlife Act 2009 gave professional hunters rights under the Tourist Hunting Regulations.

The international hunting client sees hunting in Africa as the ultimate hunting experience. Furthermore, the hunting client believes that hunting provides a direct incentives for sustainable use of wildlife for otherwise impoverished rural people.

International hunters can be proud of their participation in conservation in Africa. SCI will do everything in its power to stop any unnecessary interference with conservation options and intrusion upon sovereignty of range states. Range states must spend their money on more important activities than providing to other nations that low volume off-take such as tourist hunting is not detrimental. This issue needs co-operative work, and Tanzania is to be complement on its stance thus far.