Mwanza — Mwanza tourism stakeholders will tomorrow converge at Bank of Tanzania (BoT) conference hall to deliberate on strategies to promote tourism in the region whose 68 per cent is constituted of the Lake Victoria water body.

Despite being part of the second largest freshwater body on earth and close to Serengeti National Park, tourism is still at its nascent stage in the region, acting Mwanza regional commissioner, retired Col Serenge Mrengo, admitted yesterday.

Mr Mrengo who doubles as Ilemela district commissioner, said the region is now determined to invest heavily in sustainable tourism to generate more revenue from the emerging sector.

"In addition, Mwanza intends to showcase its tourist attractions to place them onto the country's network of tourism circuits," he said, adding that the sector would invigorate the economy of the region.

The two-day conference would, among others, study existing

economic linkages and business ventures that could create a strong base for tourism development.

The conference will also delve into awareness of the sector amongst the residents for them to effectively play their role in promoting the sector in the region. "We will also assess the needs, including recruiting more workers in the tourism sector for the provision of service," he said.

Some of the tourism stakeholders expected to attend the meeting include traders in the tourism sector from across the Lake Zone regions and the Ministries of Natural Resources and Tourism and Industry and Trade.

Others are Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC), Tanzania Confederation of Tourism, airlines such as Precisionair,

Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA), Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), environment experts and activists and Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA).

The conference has been funded by Mwanza City Council, tourism stakeholders, Netherlands International Development Agency, SNV, TCCIA Mwanza chapter, Fortes Safari and Tours, the regional secretariat and special task force created early this year for that purpose.