Arusha launches Think Asia campaign

The Tanzanian government has launched a campaign entitled "Think Asia" which is aimed at attracting tourists from Asia. Tanzania hopes that the strategy might attract at least 50,000 visitors out of the contintent's 90 million people who travel abroad each year and is the world's fastest growing tourist market.

The government has been in close discussions with its high commissioners from Japan, China, Malaysia, India and Russia on how best to promote the country's tourist attractions to an Asian audience. The Tanzania Tourist Board said it was diversifying from its traditional tourist markets such as Europe and North America which amount to 80 per cent of all visitors.

The Travel Journal International estimates that the number of Japanese and Indians holidaying overseas in 2011 is expected to reach 17 and 15 million respectively, spending a combined $31 billion, while it is estimated that last year's 54 million Chinese tourists spent $48 billion abroad.