Conference Tourism
Conference tourism is a booming industry in Tanzania, with groups wanting to take advantage of the full range of facilities on offer and to tour the country’s spectacular sites once their work is done. From a safari in the Serengeti, to days spent lounging on a tropical beach in Zanzibar, conference incentives take on a whole new meaning in Tanzania.
Luxury hotels in Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar and Arusha offer slate-of-the-art facilities in central locauons Conference facilities are available at all of the major hotels, with special bookings and tour packages available year round. NGOs and special interest groups from Tanzania, East Africa and around the world have chosen to host conferences in Tanzania, both to offer their conference-goers a special experience in unique surroundings, and to lake advantage of the tour packages and safari options the country has to offer. Annual conferences for UN branches, pan-African business organisations and special interest groups attract a growing number of delegates every year.
In Tanzania’s commercial center of Dar es Salaam, most hotels are located in the business district of the city and on the waterfront nearby. Palm trees and lush gardens are an important part of their design and make the general environment one of peace and tropical tranquility.
Conference equipment from whiteboards to data projectors, plus reliable computer and lntemet access, are widely availalsle. Most hotels will specially cater for a conference group, and meals on the Indian Ocean coast incorpoiate the freshest seafood with crisp highland produce from the Usambara Motmtains. Snark. tea breaks, and special surprises are all worked into your specially planned schedule.
In northem Tanzania, the town of Arusha boasts a number of high-quality hotels in the commercial area, all shaded by stately trees and with expansive views of nearby Mt Meru. On-site conference facilities cater for large and small groups. Conference coordinators, who work on-site to make sure everything goes smoothly, are becoming a popular option in the leading hotels. For large functions, the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) is centrally located within the city. With facilities for delegates numbering in the thousands, the AICc has hosted the United National Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and other high-profile intemational conferences.
Zanzibar has also developed a growing infrastructure for conference hosting. A number of hotels now offer conference facilities and provide a perfect setting to enjoy a conference. jump into the island’s warm tropical waters between sessions, should you so desire.
ln any conference, breaks are an important part of people on track and Tanzania’s conference facilities offer everything from traditional entertainment to special team-building adventure. Day excursions to local markets and workshops offer the moment to find a special gift for colleagues, family, and friends back home.And if the delegates want a change of scene, Arusha, Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam have a wide range of local restaurants and evening spots where they can sample the best in international cuisine. Dine on the beachfronts, or sample regional spepecialties while looking out towards Kilimanjaro.
Of course, incentives are always part of a conference package, and here Tanzania truly outshines the rest. Conference coordinators provide an option of incentive packages to suit every itinerary, schedule and budget. Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are right on Arusha’s doorstep, and short safari packages for small or large groups are an essential part of conference hosting in northern Tanzania. In Dar es Salaam, day trips to the beaches and ruins of bagamoyo or short safaris to Mikumi National Park ensure delegates see the very best the country has to offer. Zanzibar can offer world-class snorkeling, dolphin viewing or a trip to jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park. There are tours to spice farms and an abundance of historical and cultural day trips. ln short, a conference in Tanzania can provide the setting, not only for highly productivity, but for a relaxing experience too.
