Valentine Marc Nkwame
31 May 2008
Arusha — The annual Arusha -held international Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair is once-more here and the event is scheduled to take place from the 5th to the 8th of June at Kisongo's Magereza grounds.
This year's Karibu Fair comes a bit late compared to previous editions which used to be held from the end of May. However, this year's event is much longer, covering four days instead of the usual three.
'Karibu' travel fair which is so far the only such exposition taking place in the East and Central African region, is not only back for its ninth installment, but has also grown even bigger, with enlarged exhibition space and extended days.
Victor Mollel the Karibu fair manager has explained that this year's exhibition of the annual Karibu Travel and Tourism Fair has been organized with the 8th Leon Sullivan Summit in mind and a special program to cater for the Summit delegates is already in place.
The Sullivan event bring its Eighth Summit to Arusha as from the 2nd to the 6th of June this year, with about 3000 delegates expected to attend. Over 1500 have already registered at the Arusha offices so far. Karibu Fair organizers have also prepared something for the Sullivans.
A total of 250 companies will be taking part in the Karibu fair, among them 172 locally owned firms, Victor Mollel said about 211 out of the 250 participating companies are operating from Tanzania while the other 49 are foreign firms.
Last year the prestigious Travel Fair had attracted 210 exhibitors. There is an increase of 40 this year and the organizers have added 36 more tents. The show usually takes more than 100 large tents. Overall there will be 432 stands at this year's Karibu.
Karibu is a Swahili expression meaning "welcome" and the event draws exhibitors from the East and Central African region that are involved in or related to the tourism and 'Safari' industry.
Africa has only two Travel fairs, the Durban held 'Indaba' of South Africa and Arusha held 'Karibu' in Tanzania.
Karibu fair in its ninth year operates in association with the Tanzania Tourist Board and the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators.
This year, in order to accommodate delegates attending the Sullivan Summit in Arusha, the fair has been extended to four days. The first two days of the event are restricted to only the members of the travel trade and Sullivan delegates.
The remaining two days, Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of June will be open to the general public.
The theme of this year's fair is "Get Connected", reflecting the major goals of the fair, which are to:
Raise the regional profile by promoting East African tourism to the global marketplace, to produce the premiere travel and tourism trade fair in East Africa and to bring all key industry stakeholders in East Africa together in one place, at one time.
The fair is also aimed at; Creating opportunities for international visitors and overseas tour agents to meet and network with members of the East African tourism industry; Bring new destinations, facilities and products to the attention of overseas tour agents; Facilitate opportunities for overseas tour agents to visit the national parks and properties.
For the past eight years Karibu fairs have Generated direct spending in local economy; Created direct and indirect employment by assisting development of small and medium enterprises; Built alliances with neighboring East African countries and brought together key tourism stakeholders, through combined efforts to promote regional tourism.
Total exhibitor space has been increased this year to a total of four hundred and two exhibitor stands with participant businesses representing Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.
Delegates from Australia, USA, Europe and the UK as well as points in Africa have registered. Event organizers have re-arranged the layout of the fair with a special section for exhibitors from Zanzibar and a "Grand Pavilion".
Record turnout is expected again; the 2007 event drew over four thousand attendees a number set to double this year. With increased days, display arena and bonus Sullivan delegates the organizers are expecting to attract some 10,000 attendances.
Meanwhile initial preparations are already underway for the tenth anniversary of Karibu Fair to be observed this time next year.
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